Railhammer introduces new signature humbucker pickup co-designed by Fu Manchu guitarist Bob Balch.
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This new pickup follows the design of the Chisel model with some important distinctions, most notably the cover and baseplate are brass.
According to Railhammer, brass was used because it reduces output and treble, while enhancing the overall midrange. The resulting tone is referred to as thick with excellent quality that cuts through even with fuzz.
In clean settings, the pickup is also a bit warmer sounding and is said to articulate the nuances of your playing better. The pickups produce tonal characteristics that Bob Balch himself prefers when playing the part of the riffmeister for his band.
This new signature pickup comes in pairs, with the neck pickup version having reduced output for increased clarity and tone, as well as good volume balance with the bridge version.
According to the official press release, “This pickup is designed for stoner rock, fuzz metal, post-Sabbath, or for any player looking for a unique combination of clarity and warm midrange.”
Check out Bob Balch as he tests his prototype Reverend signature guitar that comes loaded with his signature pickup.
Like the other Railhammer pickups, Joe Naylor designed the Bob Balch signature to have thin magnet rails under the wound strings and large magnet pole under the plain strings. The thin rails sense a narrow section of wound strings, producing a tight, clear tone. The poles sense a wider section, producing a fat, thick tone to complement the higher frequencies produced by plain strings. This unique pickup design results in a more tonally balanced sound regardless of which string you are playing.
The official release also mentions, “Touch sensitivity, sustain, and harmonic content are also enhanced by the extremely efficient magnetic structure, and the elimination of any moving parts. The strong magnetic field also prevents any dead spots when bending strings (including on the round pole side).”
Other features of the new Bob Balch pickup include four-conductor wiring with independent ground, universal spacing, and height tapered rails for consistent volume across all the strings.
Head over to Railhammer for more information.
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