I've been looking for a bridge PAF that checked alot of boxes.....I ordered a Duncan Steckel Candy

  • Thread starter Thread starter harddriver
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harddriver said:
There was an option to have the pickup wax potted on the order form and I selected mine to be wax potted. I am surprised Knaggs didn't have them wax potted as a standard issue since Mr Steckel plays with tons of gain. through those Mezzabarba amps.

I also asked them to err on the side of overwinding the 7.68K spec.
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Good to know. I bought used, so presume mine's not potted. Might have to look into that. Thanks a lot.
 
I bought a set of these and was disappointed. I thought they were bland in the Knaggs I had. Custombuckers (which are also AlNico III with similar measurements) in an LP sound much better

I think his amp does most of the work
 
harddriver said:
YUP....................This pickup seems to really deliver...............
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lighters concert.jpg
 
Fiesta Red said:
I bought a set of these and was disappointed. I thought they were bland in the Knaggs I had. Custombuckers (which are also AlNico III with similar measurements) in an LP sound much better

I think his amp does most of the work
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Entirely possible. I won't know until I play it through my setup..............It wouldn't be the first time something looked good in specs and was a disappointment.:doh::LOL:
 
harddriver said:
I've been interested in these pickups since they were released, after looking around at all the PAF offerings out there including vintage Duncans in this Ohm resistance range I just finally said fook it and ordered the Steckel bridge from the Custom Shop today. I just love the clarity and grind to it.

Apparently his 1960 Les Paul had the AlNico III magnets in them with the neck resistance of 7.55K ohms and 7.68K for the bridge.

https://customshop.seymourduncan.com/eric-steckel-signature-candy-humbucker-set/

The Steckel Signature Humbuckers are spot-on recreations of the Alnico III humbuckers found in “Candy,” the 1960 Les Paul behind Steckel’s signature Knaggs guitar. From boasting the exact pickup readings to matching relic’ing—by Knaggs Guitars’ own Joe Knaggs and Lukas Fronzoli—every detail of the originals are represented. The “Candy” Humbucker Set is also available in a variety of options, including single or 4-conductor wiring, covered or uncovered, aged or unaged, and more. So no matter what look you’re after, you’ll enjoy the same level of nuanced response that inspires Steckel every time he picks up his guitar.


Neck Humbucker DC Resistance: 7.55k


Bridge Humbucker DC Resistance: 7.68k



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guy rips and awesome rock tones!
i can understand the interest and like that lower PAF output range.
 
mentoneman said:
guy rips and awesome rock tones!
i can understand the interest and like that lower PAF output range.
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It isn't a Tom Holmes 455 but I like what I hear......................:yes:

Mr Steckel enters the woodshed..... only to tear it all down in the process.:worship:
 
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Just an update... the Seymour Duncan custom shop notified me TODAY that my Steckel Candy bridge humbucker was completed and shipped.

UPS just pulled up 5 minutes ago and handed me the new pickup! :shocked::2thumbsup::2thumbsup::2thumbsup:

I don't know how they pulled that one off.................

I unboxed it and MJ built the pickup and wound it to 7.79K yea......exactly where I wanted the ohms resistance........The custom shop team was great to work with, sent prompt emails and allowed me to request slightly overwinding it above the standard spec of 7.68K but under 8.0K.......and 7.79K is perfect........I couldn't ask for better service, especially during the holiday season!

I can't wait to compare this to my ole 78 model AlnicoII PAF...............:yes:

Thank You MJ! Now I have three pickups built by the famous MJ.............................
 
mentoneman said:
preach

my 7.8k Holmes 450 in the bridge agrees with this message.
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I finally got around to installing the Steckel Candy bridge pickup over the weekend. I also installed an old Duncan 59 Neck since the Schaller neck p/u magent was out of phase with the Steckel Candy when in the middle switch position, the 59N took care of the phase issue.

The amount of clarity with the Steckel is outrageous, it's really crunchy yet it grinds like a mofo when you dig in and the low end is super tight but still with some give and dynamics but way tighter than my Alnico2 78 model PAF. I still can get plenty of pinched harmonics with the pickup but the lower wind does make you work for it a but more but the dynamics are all there.

I'm really digging it. I initially hooked everything up with tone controls and the original Schaller neck but after needing to swap out the stock Schaller neck I decided to try it with just a 500K volume pot as I wanted to hear it inadulterated wit no tone controls. The pickup is definitely brighter and more strident with no tone controls.

Into my plexi it sounds great with plenty of output but into my 2203 it does sound a little lean and a bit thin with just the 500K volume pot.... I think I'm going to reconnect the tone controls, as that does roll off the strident highs some even with the tone pots on 10 and see where that takes me.

Overall I really like the pickup and it sound like Jim Gaustad's FW video, which is what I was looking for. I think I would like this wind just a tad hotter like 8-8.5K but I really wanted to hear an underwound PAF and it lives up to the hype if you are looking to something similar.:2thumbsup:

Overall I still like my 78 model 9K Alnico2 a little better so far but the 7.78K Alnico 4 Steckel Candy does sound great.
 
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harddriver said:
I finally got around to installing the Steckel Candy bridge pickup over the weekend. I also installed an old Duncan 59 Neck since the Schaller neck p/u magent was out of phase with the Steckel Candy when in the middle switch position, the 59N took care of the phase issue.

Well the amount of clarity with the Steckel is outrageous, it's really crunchy yet it grinds like a mofo when you dig in and the low end is super tight. I still can get plenty of pinched harmonics with the pickup but the lower wind does make you work for it a but more but the dynamics are all there.

I'm really digging it. I initially hooked everything up with tone controls and the original Schaller neck but after needing to swap out the stock Schaller neck I decided to try it with just a 500K volume pot as I wanted to hear it inadulterated wit no tone controls. The pickup is definitely brighter and more strident with no tone controls.

Into my plexi it sounds great with plenty of output but into my 2203 it does sound a little lean and a bit thin with just the 500K volume pot.... I think I'm going to reconnect the tone controls, as that does roll off the strident highs some even with the tone pots on 10 and see where that takes me.

Overall I really like the pickup and it sound like Jim Gaustad's FW video, which is what I was looking for. I think I would like this wind just a tad hotter like 8-8.5K but I really wanted to hear an underwound PAF and it lives up to the hype if you are looking to something similar.:2thumbsup:

Overall I still like my 78 model 9K Alnico2 a little better so far but the 7.78K Alnico 4 Steckel Candy does sound great.
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I can see the writing on the wall. Once the honeymoon is over, you’re kicking her ass out.
 
LP Freak said:
I can see the writing on the wall. Once the honeymoon is over, you’re kicking her ass out.
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I'm so used to 9K and above pickups it's really a different experience......I'm not sure what I will decide in the end yet.

I did put it in a Floyd Poplar bodied Kramer so it isn't apples to apples in my Fender bridged Northern ash guitar, we'll see with some more play time.
 
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Man, I’m telling you check out a SD Saturday Night Special. They’re like a little thicker sounding PAF with more balls
 
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LP Freak said:
Man, I’m telling you check out a SD Saturday Night Special
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I just got done wiring up the tone pots back in and it is much less strident in the highs and sounds/feels better now.

I'm enjoying the pickup for the moment and what it brings to the table....It does perform like I thought it would, whether or not it is a keeper for me I'm still not sure. So far I don't have the inclination to pull out my 78 model in my other guitar as I like the extra push of the 9K wind and it just does alot of things so well.
 
Oh damn. I missed this thread. Came right when I was studying for finals.

Yeah A3 PAFs at 7-8k are IME the clearest, most responsive PAFs. They lack output, but if you're not using your pickups to goose your amps, they make up for it in clarity.

I personally go for A2s, then A5s and A4s, but if I ever get around to it, might get a Les Paul with an A3
 
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