Calig Alnico 2 strat pickups

[tubenit]

Just an FYI .........

Having built 20+ electric guitars (mostly Tele shaped but strats also),  I've come to really like the Alnico 2 pickups both in humbuckers and in single coils.  (and in humbuckers,  Alnico 3 in the bridge)    Alnico 2 strat pickups are not nearly as common as the Alnico 5 pickups & I prefer the Alnico 2 more.

Both of my Tele's with H-S-H pickups started out with DiMarzio Fast Track 1 or Cruisers as the "S" middle pickup.  I ended up replacing both of those middle pickups with the Calig alnico 2 strat pickup for around $20.

It's a super nice pickup!  I love the tone of it.  Very warm sound to it and a true strat sound to my ears.  I have NO idea if any of their other pickups are any good or not? 

I just built another Tele using a set of Alnico 2 strat pickups where the middle one is reversed wound for a hum cancelling feature in 2 & 4 on a 5 way switch.   I also added a mini-toggle to the guitar to combine the neck with bridge pickup when I want.

I'm VERY happy with these pickups!    I've mostly used DiMarzio's over the years but also StewMac's  "Golden Age" single coils and humbuckers and some Seymour Duncan pickups.

As far as warm strat tones and reasonably nice "quack/percussive tone" in 2 & 4 position, these are a winner for me!  And for a single coil, I think they are relatively quiet (I use copper foil inside the control cavity) and in the 2 & 4 position - they are certainly as quiet as any humbuckers I've used.

Tone wise, I'd describe them as a very clear tone with warmth. They are somewhat percussive, but that could be connected to body and neck woods on the guitar?   Since my amps tend to have reasonably high gain, I strongly prefer lower gain pickups. Chording and rhythm with these are great, you can easily hear each note.  Zero mud.  I think one would probably want the overdrive on or a Timmy or Zendrive or something to boost for good lead solo's.

The set I got has good definition between the neck, middle and bridge & the middle pickup actually has a good tone to it which I will use. 

http://www.caliguitar.com/pickup/s11.htm

with respect, Tubenit

*  This guitar is actually solid instead of semi-hollow like I typically do.  It's basswood capped by a 3/16" maple slightly figured top.

[John]

beautiful! I believe you make the bodies yourself, no?

[tubenit]

I believe you make the bodies yourself

Yes, that's correct.

with respect, Tubenit

[Platefire]

Here is the site with all the prices. Very reasonable! Thanks! Platefire
http://www.caliguitar.com/pickup/guitar_pickups.htm

[knotscott]

Apologies for dredging up a nearly 12 month old thread, but does anyone know if the Calig pickups are made by Artec?

[Tone Junkie]

I’m a little late to the party . But your guitars are beautiful Jeff. I so love a nice figured maple top.

[Joel]

I don't think they're Artec.  I didn't end up digging for information too much since the price with shipping to Australia is pretty much the same as Tonerider pickups for me.  I already own a couple sets of Toneriders and I know I love them.  If shipping wasn't effectively doubling the price, I'd give some Caligs a shot.