MY humbuckers are scatterwound, or actually handwound in the case of The Accidental Humbucker. Each pickup is scatterwound at slow speed with 42 AWG (46 SWG) or 43 AWG (46.5 SWG) plain enamel or formvar copper wire before being wax-potted in a combination of beeswax and paraffin (though you can order them unpotted - the first ever set of unpotted Creamery Humbuckers can be found in my 007 Explorer and I like the difference.)
At The Creamery I wind all humbuckers with a small coil offset of a few hundred turns just to open up more frequencies. A humbucker by nature cancels some of the buzz you get with 60 cycle hum but in doing so a whole lot of other frequencies are shut out too which can lead to a somewhat sterile sound. I try to claw some of these frequencies back by stepping the coils a little.
Handwound at my workshop here in Manchester
You can buy a complete set of Creamery Classic Humbuckers (Bridge & Neck) in the online shop. You can even mix and match the Alnico magnets to create your own set.
If you're after a custom set of Humbuckers, just get in touch with details of the kind of voice/tone/output you're after and I'll see what I can do.
Lower Output Humbucker Pickups
Hollowbody Humbucker Pickup
Magnet: Alnico 5
Coil Wire: 42AWG Plain Enamel
Lead Wire: Vintage Braided Pushback
Bridge Humbucker Output: 7.3k
Neck Humbucker Output: 6.4k
A humbucker pickup specifically designed for hollow & semi-hollowbody guitars. Slightly brighter with less distortion and a tighter bass than the Creamery classic humbuckers.
The lower number of windings and offset coils give these pickups more air in the tone, real room to breath giving great string definition in chord work. A great pickup that sweetens up when you roll off the tone.
You can buy a complete set of Creamery Classic Humbuckers (Bridge & Neck) in the online shop. You can even mix and match the Alnico magnets to create your own set.
Medium Output Humbucker Pickups
Classic Creamery '57 Humbucker Pickup
Magnet: Alnico 2, 4 or 5
Coil Wire: 42AWG
Lead Wire: Vintage Braided Pushback or 4way
Bridge Humbucker Output: 7.8k
Neck Humbucker Output: 7.0k
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. A sweet humbucker tone with more snarl when overdriven, this is a great lead pickup.
The Alnico 5 Humbucker. Balanced mids, snappy lows and a top-end with room to breath. The Alnico magnet is brighter sounding than the Alnico 2 or 4, giving this humbucker pickup more of a snappier tone.
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.
If you'd like a more modern humbucker sound get in touch and I'll wind you a custom pickup set. You can combine humbuckers to buy a set here (with a little discount).
Classic Creamery '59 Humbucker Pickup
Magnet: Alnico 2, 4 or 5
Coil Wire: 42AWG
Lead Wire: Vintage Braided Pushback or 4way
Bridge Humbucker Output: 8.2k
Neck Humbucker Output: 7.3k
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.
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.
If you'd like a more modern humbucker sound get in touch and I'll wind you a custom pickup set. You can combine humbuckers to buy a set here (with a little discount).
Higher Output Humbuckers
Classic '83 "Hair Metal" Humbucker
Magnet: Alnico 5, 8 or Ceramic
Coil Wire: 43AWG Plain Enamel
Lead Wire: Vintage Braided Pushback or 4way
Bridge Output: 13.6k
Neck Output: 11.7k
The Hair Metal Humbucker
Similar in output to the Dirty Shirt Humbucker but with a tighter focus, the Classic '83 has thicker mids, a little more in the bass whilst keeping those fatter higher frequencies.
Choose from Alnico 5, 8 or ceramic magnets - The 5 will give you a more rounded, vintage high output tone. The Alnico 8 is a great balance between the the 5 & Ceramic option, giving more treble but with a smoother roll-off to the mids whereas the Ceramic option works to emphasise those biting higher frequencies at gain.
Great clarity & definition for a higher output humbucker. Avaialble in chrome or Gold H-Cover, simple open black, white or zebra bobbins.
You can buy a complete Classic '83 "Hair Metal" Humbucker Set (Bridge & Neck) in the online shop.
"Dirty Shirt" Alnico 8 Humbucker
Magnet: Alnico 8
Coil Wire: 43AWG Plain Enamel
Lead Wire: Vintage Braided Pushback or 4way
Bridge Humbucker Output: 13.6k
Neck Humbucker Output: 9.7k
A hot, overwound humbucker pickup that sounds neither muddy or shrill - The custom Alnico 8 magnet helps to give the pickup great bottom-end, punch in the mids while the high end is smoother than the harshness often associated with ceramics. Great clarity & definition for a higher output humbucker. A pickup with great warmth.
Avaialble in chrome, nickel, gold, H-Cover or simple open black or zebra bobbins.
You can buy a complete Dirty Shirt Alnico 8 Humbucker Set (Bridge & Neck) in the online shop.
"Double Six" Alnico 8 Overwound Humbucker
Magnet: 2 x Alnico 5 & Alnico 8
Coil Wire: 43AWG Plain Enamel
Lead Wire: Vintage Braided Pushback or 4way
Bridge Humbucker Output: 14.5k
Neck Humbucker Output: 11.7k
An even hotter, overwound humbucker pickup that sounds neither muddy or shrill - A trio of custom Alnico 5 & Alnico 8 magnets help to give the pickup great bottom-end & punch in the mids while the high end is smoother, still articulate for higher output playing.
Great clarity & definition for a higher output humbucker. Avaialble in chrome, nickel, gold, H-Cover or simple open black or zebra bobbins.
You can buy a complete Double Six Alnico 8 Overwound Humbucker Set (Bridge & Neck) in the online shop.
Alnico 5 - 12 Pole Humbucker
Magnet: Alnico 5
Coil Wire: 43AWG Plain Enamel
Lead Wire: Vintage Braided Pushback or 4way
Bridge Humbucker Output: 12.2k
Neck Humbucker Output: 9.8k
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.
You can buy a complete Creamery 12 Pole Alnico 5 Humbucker Set (Bridge & Neck) in the online shop.
Custom Humbuckers
Creamery Custom 'Double-Track' Humbucker
Fully Custom Handwound Humbucker
Magnet: Alnico 2,3,4,5 or Alnico 8
Coil Wire: 42 or 43AWG Plain Enamel
Lead Wire: Vintage Braided Pushback or 4way
Bridge Output: Low, Mid or High
Neck Output: Low, Mid or High
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.
You can buy a set of Creamery Custom 'Double-Track' Humbucker Pickups here
Humbucker Sized P90 Pickup
Magnets: Alnico 2, 4 or 5
Coil Wire: 43AWG Plain Enamel
Lead Wire: Vintage Braided Pushback
Bridge P90 Humbucker Output: 8.4k
Neck P90 Humbucker Output: 7.5k
A P90 pickup in a standard Humbucker size. The Creamery Humbucker sized P90 pickup houses two unpolished Alnico 2, 4 or 5 magnets and a fat 43AWG coil wound around a standard P90 bobbin, hand shaped to fit a standard Humbucker cover & mounting ring. Huge, fat single-coil tones still with clarity, presence & a defined voice. Get the grit of a P90 in a standard humbucker size. Great fat, rounded clean tones - turn up the gain and let the pickup scream.
The geometry of the standard Humbucker size as opposed to a standard P90 means there will always be a slight difference in tone between the two pickups - Its for this reason I don't call it a "true" P90 although I've voiced this pickup to sound close. A real higher output, fat single-coil tone.
You can listen to some quick audio demos played on an Epiphone Les Paul Custom fitted with 500k Pots and 0.022 Caps - The tone will be slightly warmer with 0.033 or 0.07 Capacitors.
You can buy a Creamery Humbucker sized P90 set of Bridge & Neck Pickups here
P90 Sized Humbuckers
Pole Magnets: Alnico 2 or 5
Coil Wire: 43AWG Plain Enamel
Lead Wire: Vintage Briaded or 4-way
Bridge: 9.4k
Neck: 8.5k
A 12-pole humbucker pickup inside a P90 that requires no modifications to your guitar at all. My P90 sized Humbuckers even look like a P90 - Once installed, no-one will spot the difference until you plug in and play.
Great string definition & clarity due to the 12 pole magnets. More of a crunchy tone than the fat single coil voice of my classic P90, these new P90 sized Humbucker Pickups give a rich, biting attack.
All the depth of a humbucker with the sparkle of a single coil. The two, thin 43awg coils help to keep the brightness at higher output while the tone is warmed by the design of the pickup.
You can buy a bridge & Neck set of my P90 Sized Humbuckers here.
Reviews of my Humbucker Pickups
"Just love my Humbucker set. The band noticed a real difference in tone straight away. So much power & clarity. Thanks!"
Andrew Hall
"With the new pickups, the sound is less muddy and clearer in the way I wanted them to be. In terms of output, the pickups are pretty much where the stock units were but the sound has improved immensely with more clarity but with no loss of punch or the sound that made me fall in love with my guitar. I'm very happy with them."
John Haselden
"Every pickup type I have purchased from you has been outstanding value for money and impressed the shit out of me but it has to be said the P90 Humbucker is off the scale man. One word - Awesomeness!"
Allan Hutchison
"Great pickup set. My Epiphone LP came alive!"
John Graham
"I do like the sound of your Alnico 5s"
Ed 'Shed' Mitchell, Guitar & Total Guitar Magazines
"Wow! Put a Creamery 12 Pole in the Bridge to replace my standard tapped Humbucker. The difference is clear. This pickup sings. A great single coil tone with so much power as a full humbucker. Even with effects, the dynamics are still there."
Jim Edwards
"All I can say is thank you for a pair of superb pickups, they are clear, articulate, powerful with lovely sustain and they look great too. I have wired the guitar with both pickups selectable between series and parallel and two choices of tone slope. The Alnico 2/4 combination works extremely well and there is now a very wide selection of available tones. The guitar has never sounded so good, a huge improvement. I hope your business and reputation continue to grow.."
Grahame Roberts
"The pickups were actually for an upgrade to a customer's Epiphone LP so I only played them a bit. I thought the difference was very marked - a lot broader tonal range and very warm yet crystal clear - well named 'classic' actually. The customer is a beginner but he was well impressed with his new sound. I guess you would expect a big difference comparing them with stock Epis but I would recommend them to owners of higher end guitars if that's the sound they want. Your service is good too - thank you."
Martyn Ellison - DoubleStop Guitars
"Pickups fitted and they sound fantastic"
Peter Aviziurs
"My guitar now sounds F'ing amazing. Many thanks for another great pickup!"
Gavin Woodcock
"The P90 sized Humbuckers sound beautiful! Many thanks"
Pete Fletcher
"Earthquake again? No! Your Humbucker sized P90 pickup shakes this house, Thanks."
aki4cris from eBay
"I put my Dirty Shirt humbuckers into my '77 Les Paul and they are perfect. They have the right amount of bite without being harsh or too aggressive. Effects sound nice and clear and the pickups together sound amazing clean or dirty. Overall, these are probably the best pickups that I have ever had in this Les Paul."
Dave Warren
"The Humbucker sized P90 has now had a thorough testing and I have to say i'm very impressed! It's done a few gigs so far and I find it's perfect for my Jaguar. Fender should put these in as standard. It's still very much a jaguar sound but has the extra warmth and beef I wanted without having to mess around with different value pots etc. It still retains the clarity across all six strings and matches the neck pup perfectly. I'm pondering about getting a neck one too now but will see. Many thanks for your perseverence and interest in getting it right. I will pass on the good word about you. Thanks again"
Cliff Preene (Silence Rises)
"The Hollow-Body Humbucker pickups arrived this morning, half an hour with the soldering iron and my beloved ES175 is revitalised, it sounds fantastic! Thanks for a great service, I'll give it test run tonight at Ronnie Scotts."
Matt McGrory
"My band played last night and although your Humbucker sized P90 is in, I am afraid to say, an inexpensive Fender® Jaguar, your pickup gave me the best tone I think I have ever had. My very expensive Custom shop Strat did not get played at all. Thank you!"
David Chesterman
"New custom humbuckers from Jaime @ The Creamery. It's like my guitar's saying "I'm a Les Paul, what the f*ck are you going to do about it?!" Superb. The tone is incredible. Subtlety, presence, rich harmonics, classic '59 tone. Great great great!"
Ben Butterworth
"Hi, got the pickups in a few days ago, been giving them a thorough testing. Really great stuff. If this hum-sized P-90 is anything to go by then I'll definitely be ordering a set of full P-90s from you sometime in the near future. All three pickups are exactly what I'd hoped for. I've had pickups from pretty much every other brand out there, including a couple of other handwound ones, but I've never had a set as responsive as this lot. Great stuff, thanks!"
Sebastian Matthews
"Just a quick email to say a big thank you - had a chance to install the pickups at the weekend and they are even better than I had hoped they'd be and give exactly the sound I was after. Thanks a lot for all your help with this custom order - much appreciated - Ill be in touch the next time I decide to change out some pickups! "
