Creamery Handwound Pickups - Custom Replacement Humbucker Pickups (2024)

Classic/Vintage Humbucker Pickups

The Classic Clean Humbucker Sound

Clear, clean humbucker sound / more snarl when overdriven

A classic humbucker sound, rich and full of warmth with great harmonics. A real creamier humbucker sound when overdriven.

Brighter than the Alnico 2 Humbucker but warmer than the Alnico 5, the Alnico 4 humbucker pickup has a darker low, more clarity in the mids and a wider extended range than the 2.

As with all my humbucker pickups, the coils are asymmetrically wound giving more dynamics, clarity & string definition. A rich, vintage tone.

Available in Chrome, Nickel covers or open with black or zebra bobbins.

The Classic Bluesier, Rockier Humbucker Sound

Classic Rich, Fat PAF/Humbucker Sounds

A slightly higher output than the Creamery '57 with a little more in the mids and slightly smoother in the highs but still with that classic rich warm tone with great harmonics. A real creamier humbucker sound when overdriven.

Brighter than the Alnico 2 Humbucker but warmer than the Alnico 5, the Alnico 4 humbucker pickup has a darker low, more clarity in the mids and a wider extended range than the 2.

As with all my humbucker pickups, the coils are asymmetrically wound giving more dynamics, clarity & string definition. A rich, vintage tone.

Available in Chrome, Nickel covers or open with black or zebra bobbins.

The Classic '70s brighter, attacking sound

Classic T-Top punk, sizzle & attack

A lower output than the Creamery '59 with custom offset windings and custom sized, strong Alnico 5 or Ceramic magnets.

Partly based on the '70s Gibson T-Top humbuckers and the bright, aggressive punk sounds of the era, its a real brighter, more focussed, punkier humbucker sound for those looking for that brighter, muscular attack and crunch that cuts through the mix a little more.

As with all my humbucker pickups, the coils are asymmetrically wound giving more dynamics, clarity & string definition. A rich, vintage tone.

Available in Chrome, Nickel covers or open with black or zebra bobbins.

Creamery Custom '87 Replacement Humbucker Pickup

The Classic 'Appetite' Sound

You can guess the inspiration behind my '87 Humbuckers and although you can order them with different magnets, the custom Alnico 2 set will give you that rich sound, full of warmth with great harmonics. A real creamier humbucker sound when overdriven, rounder, a little softer in the bass response.

Partly based on the '70s Gibson T-Top humbuckers and the bright, aggressive punk sounds of the era, its a real brighter, more focussed, punkier humbucker sound for those looking for that brighter, muscular attack and crunch that cuts through the mix a little more.

The Alnico 2 magnets and moderate outputs help give a warm, sweeter sound allowing the strings to vibrate that bit more naturally, that bit more freely for great sustain - giving great rounded cleans. The moderate output and custom magnets let the amp & pedals take care of the overdrive - giving you that classic, sweeter humbucker sound synonimous with the inspiration behind it.

As with all my humbucker pickups, the coils are asymmetrically wound to custom specifications giving more dynamics, clarity & string definition and a richer overall sound. With my '87 Humbucker I experimented with a number of different coil offsets, along with different Alnico 2 magnet specs & sizes to get the final design I was after - It took me a good while but I'm really happy with the final results.

Available in Chrome, Nickel covers or open with black or zebra bobbins.

Creamery Custom, Modern & Alternative Design, Replacement Humbucker Pickups

Clarity, Definition, Sparkle and Versatility

The True Wide Range sound in a standard Humbucker size

Classic fat single coil sound - Great clarity and string definition with a bright chime & warmth.

Individual threaded pole magnets charged to around 2/3rds capacity allow you to dial in each string. A warmer mid-range than standard single coils and with a higher output, they're great for breaking up an amp. With a great fat bridge tone sounding akin to a "doubled-up" Tele and a neck with a warm, sweet brightness, these Wide Range / Thinline Humbucker style pickups are a great if you're looking for something more to replace a standard humbucker.

As with all my humbucker pickups, the coils are asymmetrically wound to custom specifications giving more dynamics, clarity & string definition and a richer overall sound.

>PLEASE NOTE: These pickups are a direct drop-in to fit a standard humbucker size cavity/scratchplate.

Travis Bean® Gibson / PAF Size

Fat Full clarity & crunch with great String Definition

The Classic Travis Bean® Design in the Gibson/PAF Humbucker Size

Classic fat single coil tones - Great clarity and string definition with a bright chime & warmth.

I spent a good while working on these trying to get the design just right, balancing the original with a modern voice. Not your standard humbucker sound but more of a fat, crunchy "doubled-up" single coil tone - like a doubled-up tele Bridge pickup, clear and powerful. Another direct drop-in replacement for Humbucker size. Based on the classic Travis Bean® Design, these pickups feature great string definition & clarity due to the 12 individual rod magnets that offer true single coil tones when split. A rich attack with the warmth, crunch. The internal steel plate helps focus the sound whist also increasing the perceived output

PLEASE NOTE: These pickups are a direct drop-in replacement to fit standard Humbuckers and the output can also be custom to your requirements.

Available in closed chrome or nickel covers

Custom Designed with Bernard Sumner of Joy Division / New Order

Classic PAF on the higher G, B & e strings, much more clarity & string definition under the E, A & D

Three types of custom magnets for crunchy, crisp, clear & defined lower strings - sweeter, creamier, milkier higher strings for a richer sound. Custom designed with Bernard Sumner of Joy Division / New Order.

We worked on the design of this pickup together when he wanted something edgier from the Gibson LP Jnr Double Cutaway he picked up. He has a number of vintage guitars (and old Vox amps) but wanted something different for the new live dates and recording. We spent time playing his old original Gibson ES 330 that just sounded perfect, just a really sweet yet gritty sound that really snarled when pushed. It has Dogear P90s but they just had something more than the standard P90 sound but the two issues he had where, it had just been too precious to take out on tour for a number of years and with it having single coil P90s, it hummed, both live and in the studio with all the synths & equipment. In comparison, his Gibson SG and the early 90s LP Jnr he picked up just sounded a little sterile in comparison.

Clearer, more defined E, A & D strings - Creamier, Warmer G, B & E strings

So the task was not to recreate the sound of the ES 330 but take its characteristics and make a similar Dogear P90 size pickup to fit the new LP Jnr that kept the colour and edge to the sound but with clearer, more defined and ‘punkier' lower E, A & D strings whilst somehow being warmer, creamier & milkier on the higher G, B & E strings. So rather than try and make some kind of hum-cancelling P90 we decided to just start again from scratch and make a new design of pickup to balance these two ideas, clearer, more defined & crunchier E, A & D strings whilst somehow being able to roll off the treble slightly on the higher G, B & E strings for less of a single coil sound and more towards the richer, fuller humbucker sound. To get the crisper, crunchier lower notes in a humbucker often means less coil and a lower output which can give the higher strings more treble - the task was to reconcile these two ideas, clear, crunchier lower strings with warmer highs with a higher output to push the amp a little more.

This is where the unique design came about after a few different prototypes - Individual sets of custom made & sized threaded rod magnets of opposing polarity and different strengths underneath the lower E, A & D strings with a double pole humbucker design underneath the G, B & E strings, again with custom made magnets hidden away underneath the offset coils for these strings. Outputwise, we wanted it to really push his naturally brighter vintage VOX AC30 amps for a really attacking, edgier sound.

Road Testing on Tour

He took the final prototype out on tour and chose to showcase the new design live onstage as they played their first new material in years at the Lollapalooza festival (I was streaming it live)

After the gigs, and with the pickup performing well onstage he asked me to make a bridge & neck humbucker sized set to the same spec for his ’62 SG These are the same ones now available in the larger Fender Wide Range Humbucker size.

He took these back out on the road and gave them a good road test on the short US tour later that month and his final review was

Back home now and gave the pickups a good trial on tour. Verdict fantastic! Improved both my guitars. The humbuckers have bags of tone and character! The old Gibson ones sound cold and neutral in comparison. Totally pleased. You’ve sure done something right and well impressed the band, me and the crew! I’ve been bigging you up to everyone!"

A great replacement humbucker for PAF/Gibson sized Humbuckers if you're looking for a fatter, grittier, dirtier, crunchier alternative sound.

Magnet Options

The magnets under the lower E, A & D strings are custom sized, custom made threaded Alnico 5 whereas the lower G, B & E strings can have either Alnico 2 or the stronger Alnico 5 - Alnico 2, being a little weaker 'holds' the strings a little less, allowing them to vibrate a little more, adding a little more warmth to the overall sound whereas Alnico 5, being that bit stronger, 'holds' the strings a little more for a little brighter attack & focus.

Available in Chrome, Nickel or open bobbin designs

Single Blade in a PAF/Gibson Size

Dirtier, Grittier, Alternative Sounds.

Initially designed for Jaguars guitars, they're now available in a standard Gibson / PAF / Humbucker size too

Designed for players who wanted something darker, grittier, something more savage & physical from their guitars, but keeping a tight, razor focus to really cut through the band mix - Not a traditional rock, metal, indie or blues sound, something much more aggressive & visceral. Essentially the idea was to design a raw, more primal sounding pickup for pure alternative sounds and styles of playing. Much tighter, much more focussed - these were designed specifically to play loud.

A single plated steel blade sits at the heart of the design inside a much more tightly scatterwound coil of thinner 43awg coil wire, and I experimented with a variety of magnet grades and sizes in the initial Jaguar & Strat versions until finally working on a duo of custom square bar Alnico 5s. With a humbucker size however, the internal geometry allows me to really push the overall sound more with some new custom made Alnico 5 or Alnico 8 magnets.

Available in a custom chrome slit groove design cover, the new Dark Line pickups are direct drop-in replacements - I spent a long time getting the design of these just right, putting them aside, coming back to them - a real labour of love.

Sweet Clarity in a PAF/Gibson Size

Custom Designed for a sweet, clear, rich & defined punchy, snappy sound

I've been working on this on and off for a couple of years, trying various specifications and modifications to get the design just right for that rich clean, snappy sound.

I've made parts by hand, had custom parts manufactured specifically and finally, finally, after many, many prototypes & testing sessions they're ready - The new Sweet '14 Foil style pickups. I wanted to create a customisable, standard humbucker/PAF size fatter single coil pickup that had the sweetness & warmth of the original Gold Foils whilst keeping great clarity & string definition with a modern punch & snap that really has a powerful sound when cranked - to really cut through the mix.

The thinner double coated plain enamel 43AWG coil wire helps push the sound that little bit more towards the mid-range for the sweetness I was after and although my personal preference is for an Alnico 2 Bridge/Alnico 4 Neck I decided to offer the full range of magnet options for those who like to create their own combinations - The original 'Gold Foils' people love had weaker rubberised ferrite magnets and although I chose not to use these for the new Sweet '14 Rich Coil pickups as I just wanted something stronger, something a little more modern, I will be using these for the new 44awg true spec/size Gold Foils I'm launching once I've had all the covers & baseplates custom manufactured.

I wanted these pickups to be something different rather than simply re-casing the original design into a humbucker size, as really, for this new Gibson/PAF Humbucker size pickup, I just wanted more snap, more punch whilst keeping that rich sweetness. Ultimately I wanted to create really defined clean sounds that can be the basis for pedals & effects etc.

Magnets don't have 'tone' but what they do have is strength and the custom sizes I've had manufactured do affect the overall sound - all other things being equal. I prefer the Alnico 2 bridge as the slightly weaker magnets help to round out the sound that bit more in the naturally brighter bridge position, whereas the stronger Alnico 4 set helps to keep clarity, definition and snap in the naturally darker neck position.

I've also designed these with a taller coil wrapped around a custom made plated steel blade with a double set of Alnico or Ceramic magnets to really help drive the amp when required for a more modern sound.

Customisable

I often get asked to make pickups with unique or different covers to suit a particular custom guitar and with this in mind, I decided to have my custom rounded edge covers manufactured in an open form design which then would allow the seperate top plate to be completely customisable with any design, colour or finish. Some prefer the old Gold or Silver Foil look whereas others have asked for patterns, prints even material, leather and textured card - to give a unique look and feel to the pickups.

You can see more pictures of custom cover plates and choose either the Gold or Silver Foil versions or just select 'Custom' from the dropdown menu here (single bridge or neck pickup, or calibrated set) and leave me a note at the checkout stage or just drop me an email telling a little more about what you have in mind.

Single Coil Pickup in a PAF/Gibson Size

Humbucker Sized Single Coil Pickup with threaded magnets

A true single coil pickup in a standard Humbucker size. The Creamery Humbucker Sonic-Six pickup for Humucker houses a single, fat 43AWG coil wound around individual threaded Alnico 5 magnets.

The Sonic-Six pickup is shaped to fit a standard Humbucker cover & mounting ring with no modifications necessary. Huge, fat single-coil tones still with clarity, presence & a defined voice with the added bonus of being able to adjust the height to suit the radius of your fingerboard. Get true single coil tones in a standard humbucker size. Great fat, rounded clean tones - turn up the gain and let the pickup scream.

Available in Chrome, Nickel or Open Frame / Black Top Plate.

Twin Single Coil Pickup in a PAF/Gibson Size

Designed for Coil-Splitting

Great string definition & clarity due to the 12 pole magnets that offer true single coil tones when split.

The coils & Alnico 5 magnets give this humbucker a rich, biting attack, the 43awg wire warms the sound ever so slightly while giving a higher output, enabling a great split single coil tone.

NOTE: I can stagger the magnets to follow your neck radius. Just let me know whether you have a 7.25", 9.5", 12" etc etc neck radius and I'll stagger the magnets accordingly. This way you can keep a good action on your setup.

Available in Chrome, Nickel or Open Frame / Open Bobbin

Creamery Gibson / PAF sized Firebird® Design Pickups

The Classic, Vintage Clear Firebird® Sound in a standard Humbucker size

Great string definition & clarity due to the 12 pole magnets that offer true single coil tones when split.

A different design to the Mini Humbucker, namely two coils wrapped around individual bar magnets to give a RW/RP, Reverse Wound / Reverse Polarity Humbucker Pickup. Rich and clear with great harmonics and a fatter, 'doubled-up' single-coil sound. More crunch, spank and a tighter bass response. Just a wonderful clear, defined sound.

Brighter, tighter with more clarity than a humbucker yet fatter than a single-coil, they're great for the neck position or snarly when cranked in a balanced, calibrated bridge & neck set.

As with most of my replacement Gibson / PAF / Humbucker sized pickups, the two coils are asymmetrically wound giving more dynamics, with a richer clarity & string definition. A rich, vintage sound.

Available in Chrome or Nickel.

Creamery Gibson / PAF sized Firebird® Design Pickups

Clear, defined, big, round jazzier sound.

Wound with much thicker coil wire to a seemingly lower output - don't let that fool you. With strong custom made Alnico 5 magnets the Charlie Christian Humbucker size is a fat, round jazzy sound that keeps clarity & string definition. Its a unique sound that works perfect in the neck position for those wanting vintage, jazzier sounds from a direct drop-in replacement Humbucker neck position pickup.

A single plated steel blade sits at the heart of the design inside a scatterwound coil of much thicker 38awg coil wire, and I experimented with a variety of magnet grades and sizes until finally working on a duo of custom made Alnico 5s to get the sound I was after.

Available in a custom chrome slit groove design cover, the new Dark Line pickups are direct drop-in replacements - I spent a long time getting the design of these just right, putting them aside, coming back to them - a real labour of love.

Made with a seperate ground wire for the cover & baseplate to ensure it will work in-phase with other make bridge pickups

Available in Chrome, Nickel or Open Frame / Black Top Plate.

Dual Blade Pickup in a PAF/Gibson Size

Fully Custom Handwound Humbucker

Here it is, the totally custom blade humbucker from The Creamery. You chose the magnets & the output for a pickup or set unique for your sound. Blade pickups are great for string bending as, unlike polepiece pickups, there's no audio drop off when pushing/pulling the string. They also have a slightlier smoother, rounder tone as the string is always over the magnetised rail, great for clarity & definition.

Choose from my:

• Hollow-Body Humbucker output: 7.3k Bridge, 6.4k Neck
• '57 Humbucker output: 7.8k Bridge, 7.0k Neck
• '59 Humbucker outout: 8.3k Bridge, 7.3k Neck
• Dirty Shirt Humbucker outout: 13.6k Bridge, 9.7k Neck
• Double Six Humbucker output: 14.5k Bridge, 11.7k Neck
• or your own choice of output: x.xk Bridge, x.xk Neck

Also, with a complete choice of magnets ranging from Alnico 2, through Alnico 3, 4, 5 up to Alnico 8 you can truly have a custom blade humbucker pickup. There's also an option to have a trio of Alnico 5 & Alnico 8 magnets for a truly powerful, attacking pickup especially designed for high gain playing.

Available naked or with chrome or gold H-Covers & closed covers for a classic look, the Creamery Double Track Humbucker gives you the opportunity to have a truly customised hand-wound pickup or set for your guitar. Have a read through the reviews to see what people are saying about my work.

Available in Chrome, Nickel, Gold, Black H-Gate or Open Frame / Black or White Bobbins.

Replacement Ric® Rickenbacker® Style Pickups - PAF Size

The Full Rickenbacker® range in a Gibson / PAF size

Choose from any of my classic Ric® style designs in a standard Gibson/PAF/Humbucker Size

I had a number of requests to design these classic Toaster® styles but to fit a standard Les Paul or dual Humbucker guitar so here they are.

Low '57

Creamery Custom Ric® Style Low '57 Pickup

The Classic, Late '50s Bright, Jangly Ric® Single Coil Sound

The classic 50's jangle & chime - That bright, jangly, unique sound that cuts straight through the mix.

Bright, tight with great clarity and definition I make my Low '57 Ric® style replacements calibrated with a slightly lower neck pickup output for good volume balance through the positions though do offer them as a more vintage correct set with matching Bridge & Neck outputs.

The thinner 44AWG wire helps give a little more mid-range than the low output would usually dictate and when combined with the tall, strong 1/4" diameter Alnico 5 rod magnets that protrude through the bottom of the pickup, you get that classic, rich, late '50s / early '60s sound.

Toaster® pickups from the '50s tended to have the lower 4.8k-5.0k output whereas into the '60s, the output was increased a little to around 7.5k - So with this in mind you can choose which version you'd like. The 5.0k Low '57 version will sound that little brighter, a little lower in volume than the Mid '63 so if you're after the late '50s sound then go for the Low '57. If you're after that early/mid '60s sound then go for the medium output Mid '63. Both have that sweet, bright sound, the Medium output version being that little fatter, that little bit rounder.

Mid '63

Creamery Ric® Style Mid '63 Pickup

The Classic, Early '60s Bright, Jangly Ric® Single Coil Sound

The classic 60's jangle & chime - Still that bright, jangly, unique sound a little sweeter, a little rounder than the Low '57.

Bright, tight with great clarity and definition I make my Mid '68 Ric® style replacements calibrated with a slightly lower neck pickup output for good volume balance through the positions though do offer them as a more vintage correct set with matching Bridge & Neck outputs.

The thinner 44AWG wire helps give a little more mid-range than the low output would usually dictate and when combined with the tall, strong 1/4" diameter Alnico 5 rod magnets that protrude through the bottom of the pickup, you get that classic, rich, early/mid '60s sound - with slightly rolled back highs, a little more in the mid-range than the Low '57.

Toaster® pickups from the '50s tended to have the lower 4.8k-5.0k output whereas into the '60s, the output was increased a little to around 7.5k - So with this in mind you can choose which version you'd like. The 5.0k Low '57 version will sound that little brighter, a little lower in volume than the Mid '63 so if you're after the late '50s sound then go for the Low '57. If you're after that early/mid '60s sound then go for the medium output Mid '63. Both have that sweet, bright sound, the Medium output version being that little fatter, that little bit rounder.

High '68

Creamery Custom Ric® Style Replacement High '68 Pickup

The Fatter, Higher Output, Late '60s Ric® Style Single Coil Sound

I wanted to make a version of the famous Rickenbacker® Hi-Gain Pickups but with more clarity & definition. The original & Modern reissue Hi-Gain pickup designs utilise a strong Ceramic bar magnet underneath and ferrous pole screws through the overwound coil and as well as making a great sounding modern reproduction, I also wanted to make a replacement that was more true to the original individual Alnico rod magnet design. With the much thinner 44AWG coil wire comes more mid-range, especially in such an overwound coil and after many, many prototypes, I signed off these final designs & specifications.

Available in either Toaster® style with Alnico Rods or traditional open style with Ceramic Bar

Fatter, warmer that pushes the amp more, I've designed my own version of the famous Hi-Gain pickups again with a custom neck specification & pickup output for good volume balance through the positions.

Available in closed or Toaster Style Chrome.