How do I buy a Whiskerbucker/Bernie Bucker/’57 GT but with different specs?
We make the above pickups with specific specs as that’s what was agreed with the artist for their signature models, namely single conductor wiring & bare nickel covers. If you would like to order the same pickup(s) but with a change in spec, we suggest a Scan 3 (Whiskerbucker), Scan 2 (Bernie), or Scan 4 (‘57 GT). These feature the same bobbin winding pattern and materials but allow us to do any combination of wiring/cover. The Scan series come in a standard box and are not serial numbered.

Do you make any unpotted pickups?
We don’t tend to do any completely non-potted pickups as our wax recipe leads to a lot less ‘smothering’ of the pickup than can sometimes be heard with other brands. In a few reviews they have been mistakenly referred to as  unpotted because they still sound so clear. All our pickups are lightly potted in such a way as to protect against feedback while maintaining an open, clear sound.

Are the Boleros RW/RP?
The middle pickup on a Bolero set is reverse wound/reverse polarity so the set of 3 will be hum-cancelling in positions 2&4. It will also hum cancel when paired with one of our humbuckers in say the bridge when the HB is split, where the slug bobbin is the one left on and not the screw side. It can get a bit more complicated combining with other manufacturers due to different wind directions/magnet orientations between different brands.

Where do the different wires on a humbucker go?
In general: Red – Hot

Yellow and white – Connected for series link

Black & bare – Connected to ground

Due to some supply issues during Covid, we had to buy different 4 conductor wire occasionally, this means that on some older pickups yellow sometimes becomes green and vice versa.

What pots should I use?
Most humbuckers are used with 500/550k pots as they allow the tone to come through nicely without cutting any of the higher frequencies that a 300/250k pot would. The latter values are commonly used in a strat/tele to tame the increased treble of single-coil pickups, something that humbuckers don’t need as much due to their fatter sound. Never be afraid to experiment though!

Which capacitors should I use?
For humbuckers, a 0.022uF in the bridge is always a good choice, and a 0.015uF cap in the neck will allow for a mellower sweep on the tone control. Paper in Oil caps are a great addition for a bit of that vintage mojo. Single coils are well suited to a 0.047uF cap, as the higher value lets the tone control take off more treble than you would need to with fatter-sounding humbuckers.

What height should the pickups be?
Feel free to experiment with the height of the neck pickup - we usually like to set the bridge around 2/32" on the treble side as you measure from the top of the poles to the bottom of the string when depressed at the last fret, and 3/32" on the bass side. We then set the height of the neck pickup so it gives me an equal volume. You can also back off the pole pieces to adjust the balance between the strings.

If you have any pickup-related questions please email us hello@creamtcustomshop.com