What customers are saying about their Iconix Pickups:
Here is a great testimonial from Garuda Custom Guitars. Please check them out.
"We have been installing Iconix pickups in our guitars since day one unless our customers ask for something else. And even then, we try to let them know what they'll be missing out on. Here's what we have to say about some of the Iconix Lineup...by name:
Black Mass Humbuckers: Harmonically rich, very heavy, very articulate pickups. If you are a shred-head or just like to chug around in the low-tuned mud of modern rock, these pickups deliver in a big way. Very responsive to picking attack and use of volume and tone knobs. For heavy rock and metal, accept no substitutes! These pickups birthed the hashtag #meltyfaces on our social media sites because they do just that!
T-Bone Humbucker: A solid, all-around, great pickup. If you are looking for a humbucking pickup that pretty much has you covered - no matter what style you play - look no further. This pickup is tight, and just slightly vintage sounding with a little more beef than you'd expect. It has some top end chime, but not enough to be harsh. It's very articulate and even complex chords ring out under overdriven tones. Clean, it has a heft to it without being "bonky" like some other bridge HBs out there. Just a great jack-of-all-trades pickup!
Custom-Wound P90: We had a customer as for a P90 to match the T-Bone that he had put in his bridge spot. So we asked Don about what he could so to match up a killer P90 in the neck to compliment the T-bone HB in the bridge. What Don managed to spin up is seriously one of the best P90 pickups we have ever heard! It was well, balanced - despite being hotter than your average P90 (output was set to match the bridge HB output). There was no signal drop at all between the T-Bone and this P90. It had that lush, velvety single coil sound you expect from a P90, but with increased responsiveness, volume...and it was dead quiet - even when overdriven.
Dan Cord "Wet Works" Signature Humbucker: Dan Cord from the American Hitmen came to us and wanted a guitar with a single humbucker wired straight to a volume knob. But he had some very specific demands. He wanted that one pickup to be able to ran the gambit from modern country to classic rock, all the way into modern rock territory and wherever else the Hitmen's auditory shenanigans might take him. So Don and I pitched ideas back and forth and finally decided on the Alnico * based design that became the Wet Works humbucker. This pickup literally does it all. From a tele-inspired spank to straight-up tear-your-face-off metal, this pickup delivers. It's incredibly responsive to volume knob adjustments and pick attack. Very well-defined tones even in high gain conditions. If you need a pickup that will deliver white-hot, modern, defined tones this is definitely the one you want!
Deth Punch Humbuckers: Kyle Zampedri of the up-and-coming rock band Zamtrip, reached out to us at Garuda to come up with a signature guitar for him and his brother. He was currently playing on PRS guitars and we knew we would have a lot to do to get him what he wanted - including killer tones from under the hood. So we talked to Don and landed on the Deth Punch HBs. The body of Kyle's guitar is ash, so we needed something beefy with solid but not harsh top end, and Don knew the Deth Punch 'buckers would do the trick. He was right. These pickups are the best-sounding modern rock pickups out there that don't run on batteries. Seriously, if you want something that will push your tone into the realm of active pickups without the batteries and the harsh clean tones, make sure to check the DPHBs out. These pickups kill! And with the hand-created blood splatter tops, it looks like they have killed before and aren't afraid to kill again!"
Garuda Customs
"We have been installing Iconix pickups in our guitars since day one unless our customers ask for something else. And even then, we try to let them know what they'll be missing out on. Here's what we have to say about some of the Iconix Lineup...by name:
Black Mass Humbuckers: Harmonically rich, very heavy, very articulate pickups. If you are a shred-head or just like to chug around in the low-tuned mud of modern rock, these pickups deliver in a big way. Very responsive to picking attack and use of volume and tone knobs. For heavy rock and metal, accept no substitutes! These pickups birthed the hashtag #meltyfaces on our social media sites because they do just that!
T-Bone Humbucker: A solid, all-around, great pickup. If you are looking for a humbucking pickup that pretty much has you covered - no matter what style you play - look no further. This pickup is tight, and just slightly vintage sounding with a little more beef than you'd expect. It has some top end chime, but not enough to be harsh. It's very articulate and even complex chords ring out under overdriven tones. Clean, it has a heft to it without being "bonky" like some other bridge HBs out there. Just a great jack-of-all-trades pickup!
Custom-Wound P90: We had a customer as for a P90 to match the T-Bone that he had put in his bridge spot. So we asked Don about what he could so to match up a killer P90 in the neck to compliment the T-bone HB in the bridge. What Don managed to spin up is seriously one of the best P90 pickups we have ever heard! It was well, balanced - despite being hotter than your average P90 (output was set to match the bridge HB output). There was no signal drop at all between the T-Bone and this P90. It had that lush, velvety single coil sound you expect from a P90, but with increased responsiveness, volume...and it was dead quiet - even when overdriven.
Dan Cord "Wet Works" Signature Humbucker: Dan Cord from the American Hitmen came to us and wanted a guitar with a single humbucker wired straight to a volume knob. But he had some very specific demands. He wanted that one pickup to be able to ran the gambit from modern country to classic rock, all the way into modern rock territory and wherever else the Hitmen's auditory shenanigans might take him. So Don and I pitched ideas back and forth and finally decided on the Alnico * based design that became the Wet Works humbucker. This pickup literally does it all. From a tele-inspired spank to straight-up tear-your-face-off metal, this pickup delivers. It's incredibly responsive to volume knob adjustments and pick attack. Very well-defined tones even in high gain conditions. If you need a pickup that will deliver white-hot, modern, defined tones this is definitely the one you want!
Deth Punch Humbuckers: Kyle Zampedri of the up-and-coming rock band Zamtrip, reached out to us at Garuda to come up with a signature guitar for him and his brother. He was currently playing on PRS guitars and we knew we would have a lot to do to get him what he wanted - including killer tones from under the hood. So we talked to Don and landed on the Deth Punch HBs. The body of Kyle's guitar is ash, so we needed something beefy with solid but not harsh top end, and Don knew the Deth Punch 'buckers would do the trick. He was right. These pickups are the best-sounding modern rock pickups out there that don't run on batteries. Seriously, if you want something that will push your tone into the realm of active pickups without the batteries and the harsh clean tones, make sure to check the DPHBs out. These pickups kill! And with the hand-created blood splatter tops, it looks like they have killed before and aren't afraid to kill again!"
Garuda Customs
Wanted to give you an update on the pickups you made for my Thinline Telecaster.
Joe installed them this past Sunday and I've played the poo out of that guitar for about six hours over the last two days.
When we talked I described to you what I was after, especially in the bridge pup. The stock one was so brittle it was, for the most part, unusable. I told you my other Tele bridge pup characteristics was what I was after. You suggested a brass plate in the pup, etc.
Well, you nailed it completely! The bridge pup you made has all the twang I could ask for, with out the brittleness for use on super clean country songs, and all the balls-out growl when overdriving it. Furthermore, both the neck (which I like very much as well) and the bridge are so very articulate (for lack of a better word). I can hear every note played so clearly.
I'm a modeler and I've used these new pickups through a Bassman, AC30, Dr. Z, Pete Anderson modified Deluxe, JC120 Roland and my favorite, an Orange 80 watt head models. I play very different styles of music in three cover bands and I need versatility and you delivered!
One more comment. I don't know if you ever recommend to your customers that buy the Tele pickups,to install the four way selector switch, but I believe the four way selector is a must. The combination of these pickups you wound when in series is incredible. Sounds like a P90 with a smooth buttery tone that can be brightened up with the tone knob to produce really amazing tones. The "in series" selection sounds fantastic either clean or pumping high gain (at least as high gain as I ever play). The "in series" sound is so good I'm half way tempted not to take the Tele off that setting, LOL. I love the versatility your pickups have given this guitar.
Great work, Don! Thanks again.
Shawn
This is a screamer!Harmonics jump out of it - WOW. Chris J.
These Iconix Pickups produce a veritable tonal colour explosion. Murray Kuun
Finally had a chance to install and hear the custom 7-string pickup you built for me. I spent about
a week putting it through its paces. Needless to say, I am very impressed! Your
suggestion of the C-8 ceramic magnet matched what I was attempting to explain
completely. The pickup produces a very clear and very tight bottom end with an
articulate chimey top end without being harsh or sizzly. It seemed to combine
the best qualities of both Dimarzio and Duncan. Exactly what I asked for!
Thanks so much! Lance F.
I really like it. It did the trick for this
guitar - taming all of the harshness and shrillness that I couldn't get rid
of otherwise. It still retains the clarity and a little 'sparkle' but it is
very rounded on top. I will be cooking up plans for another pickup or two
(or more) soon! Thanks for the good work man! Landon D.
I LOVE the pickups! The tone is exactly the "Pissed-Off PAF" I was looking for.
I'll definitely be getting more just like them so save the recipe! Jeff Trident Guitars
your pickup sounded awesome. Phil S.
Yeah!! I LOVE THEM!!! Leon P.
These pickups are perfect. Will W.
Your hand wound pickups are an amazing high quality product. Simon G.
I installed the minis on a guitar I took to Pittsburgh. They sound awesome! Jeff R.
Joe installed them this past Sunday and I've played the poo out of that guitar for about six hours over the last two days.
When we talked I described to you what I was after, especially in the bridge pup. The stock one was so brittle it was, for the most part, unusable. I told you my other Tele bridge pup characteristics was what I was after. You suggested a brass plate in the pup, etc.
Well, you nailed it completely! The bridge pup you made has all the twang I could ask for, with out the brittleness for use on super clean country songs, and all the balls-out growl when overdriving it. Furthermore, both the neck (which I like very much as well) and the bridge are so very articulate (for lack of a better word). I can hear every note played so clearly.
I'm a modeler and I've used these new pickups through a Bassman, AC30, Dr. Z, Pete Anderson modified Deluxe, JC120 Roland and my favorite, an Orange 80 watt head models. I play very different styles of music in three cover bands and I need versatility and you delivered!
One more comment. I don't know if you ever recommend to your customers that buy the Tele pickups,to install the four way selector switch, but I believe the four way selector is a must. The combination of these pickups you wound when in series is incredible. Sounds like a P90 with a smooth buttery tone that can be brightened up with the tone knob to produce really amazing tones. The "in series" selection sounds fantastic either clean or pumping high gain (at least as high gain as I ever play). The "in series" sound is so good I'm half way tempted not to take the Tele off that setting, LOL. I love the versatility your pickups have given this guitar.
Great work, Don! Thanks again.
Shawn
This is a screamer!Harmonics jump out of it - WOW. Chris J.
These Iconix Pickups produce a veritable tonal colour explosion. Murray Kuun
Finally had a chance to install and hear the custom 7-string pickup you built for me. I spent about
a week putting it through its paces. Needless to say, I am very impressed! Your
suggestion of the C-8 ceramic magnet matched what I was attempting to explain
completely. The pickup produces a very clear and very tight bottom end with an
articulate chimey top end without being harsh or sizzly. It seemed to combine
the best qualities of both Dimarzio and Duncan. Exactly what I asked for!
Thanks so much! Lance F.
I really like it. It did the trick for this
guitar - taming all of the harshness and shrillness that I couldn't get rid
of otherwise. It still retains the clarity and a little 'sparkle' but it is
very rounded on top. I will be cooking up plans for another pickup or two
(or more) soon! Thanks for the good work man! Landon D.
I LOVE the pickups! The tone is exactly the "Pissed-Off PAF" I was looking for.
I'll definitely be getting more just like them so save the recipe! Jeff Trident Guitars
your pickup sounded awesome. Phil S.
Yeah!! I LOVE THEM!!! Leon P.
These pickups are perfect. Will W.
Your hand wound pickups are an amazing high quality product. Simon G.
I installed the minis on a guitar I took to Pittsburgh. They sound awesome! Jeff R.