Telonics Pickups

Mark Dunn · Post by **Mark Dunn** » 8 Oct 2011 1:18 am

I've heard it said so many times... it doesn't matter what gear you have it's your ability and technique that creates a good sound. Well, that may or may not be true, but occasionally a product comes along that benefits players of all abilities and really is a game changer.

I've been playing around with a set of Dave Beaty's new 84's pickups, on both necks... I have to say, as a home recordist I've frequently struggled to get a good recorded sound, especially straight out of a preamp. Well, what can I say... the sound you hear is straight out of the back of the PRE1000, no EQ added after recording... And look at the tone controls!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vyUEB4aUa3k

Dave's team are working on the fine detail of getting them into production at the moment, they'll hopefully be in full production shortly.

Further details can be seen on the new tpa website.

http://www.tpa-az.com

Cheers

Mark

Billy Easton · Post by **Billy Easton** » 9 Oct 2011 10:55 am

I have been using the Telonics pickups and have to say they are the best I have ever played through...on both the E9th and C6th. Do yourself a favor and give them a test run so that your own ears can tell you what you have been missing!!

Billy Easton
Las Vegas, NV

Bob Lawrence · Post by **Bob Lawrence** » 11 Oct 2011 12:51 pm

Wow! great playing and tone.

Do we have any info on theory of operation?

Paddy Long · Post by **Paddy Long** » 11 Oct 2011 1:40 pm

I have been lucky enough to be part of Dave's test team and have 2 different types on one of my Zum's
The type 84 (pictured above) on the E9th neck and the type 34 on C6th - this one has a bar on the neck side and a row of hex screws on the changer side!
Very impressive pickups - in fact they are so good I have been loath to swap them around and try them on the other necks !
Love the punch and definition on the lower strings on the C6th !

Bob Lawrence · Post by **Bob Lawrence** » 11 Oct 2011 2:02 pm

re: type 34 on C6th

Roger Crawford · Post by **Roger Crawford** » 11 Oct 2011 2:44 pm

Are the pole pieces adjustable? Can thay be wound to individual impedance preferences?

Mark Dunn · Post by **Mark Dunn** » 12 Oct 2011 12:56 am

I'll have a stab at answering the two questions: The theory of operation... The general operating principals of this range of pickups aren't really ground breaking. What is ground breaking is the amount of research Dave and his team has done on this particular design, not to mention the work done to select this particular design in the first place.

What they haven't done is simply try to recreate a classic design, because that only allows you to match the best. Dave wants to push the envelope and make pickups that deliver a consistent sound that exceeds the best... if possible.

Initially they had to establish why certain guitars sounded so good; not an easy task! They then had to research a range of electrical, magnetic and mechanical parameters that might be linked to creating a good sound. During this research they built 100's of variations of this pickup, carefully measured parameters and carried out extensive listening tests. At this stage they've developed two 10 string designs that produced exceptional results, the 34's and 84's and they've almost completed work on the equivalent 12 string designs.

In answer to your question Roger; impedance is only three simple measurements, XL, XC and Resistance. As Dave demonstrated to me when I was in Phoenix, impedance is only part of the equation. There are many other parameters that affect the sound and all parts of the equation must balance to achieve a good sound. In other words, if you simply change the impedance or thinking even more basic just change the resistance by putting on a few more turns you completely upset the balance of the design.

I hope that helps.

Mark

Mark Dunn · Post by **Mark Dunn** » 12 Oct 2011 12:59 am

Yes, the pole pieces are adjustable.

Mark Dunn · Post by **Mark Dunn** » 12 Oct 2011 2:37 am

I just picked up an email this morning from Dave to say production should start in November. Check out the http://www.tpa-az.com site for prices.

Hook Moore · Post by **Hook Moore** » 12 Oct 2011 3:27 am

Cool !

Gary Cosden · Post by **Gary Cosden** » 12 Oct 2011 3:54 am

Mark, on the site there is a picture showing a plastic tube of some sort under the stings of a ShoBud labeled
"Telonics Polymer Tube". It appears to be lifting the strings about 3" of the neck! What is going on in this shot?

Jerry Overstreet · Post by **Jerry Overstreet** » 12 Oct 2011 4:07 am

My guess is that it's used to hold the strings out of the way while you install the pickup. So's you don't have to pull off the strings?

Gary Cosden · Post by **Gary Cosden** » 12 Oct 2011 4:16 am

I am so used to my keyless that I did not think of that Jerry. On my keyless there is nowhere close to enough excess string length to loosen them that much! I can see how that might not be the case on a keyed guitar with enough wraps on every string.

Jerry Overstreet · Post by **Jerry Overstreet** » 12 Oct 2011 4:24 am

Yeah, I like keyless too.....that's just a guess on the tube....Mark can give the definitive answer.

Interesting pickup. Be watching the reviews.

Mark Dunn · Post by **Mark Dunn** » 12 Oct 2011 4:36 am

Yes, you are correct Jerry. The poly tube holds the strings out of the way just enough to allow installation of the pickup. It was Stacy Beaty's idea for doing a quick change. Stacy assisted Dave with the development of this pickup. You can imagine he was keen to speed up the process after doing it several times a day!

I'm not sure about the keyless issue: It's a good point. I guess you might have to take the strings off a keyless guitar.

Mark

Jerry Overstreet · Post by **Jerry Overstreet** » 12 Oct 2011 4:55 am

That's a great idea the Stacy came up with. I've seen the time after loading a pickup that I was ready to pull it right back out. Ingenious.

Joe Naylor · Post by **Joe Naylor** » 12 Oct 2011 6:34 am

I have the good fortune to visit Dave and Stacy often. All I can say is stay tuned - there are lots of good ideas.

The volume pedal was only a beginning - I have set there for half a day or more listing to different GREAT players set there and change pick-ups over and over. The first time I walked in there and saw an eight foot long table covered in pick-ups that were all just a little difference.

I have to admit that after 3 or 4 hours (and even before that) a person gets to where they start sounding similar and the players start trying to figure out words to describe the difference in sound.

All good steel guitar fun.

And besides all that there are a great bunch of guys.

Joe Naylor
www.steelseat.com

Bob Lawrence · Post by **Bob Lawrence** » 12 Oct 2011 3:52 pm

Type 84 (10 String) $185.00
Type 34 (10 String) $185.00
Type 128 (12 Sting) $195.00
Type 151 (12 String) $195.00

Rich Peterson · Post by **Rich Peterson** » 17 Oct 2011 6:50 pm

I won't say better, because it's a matter of taste. But definitely different, very clear. Wouldn't hide my sloppy technique, at all.

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Telonics Pickups

Telonics Pickups

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