Tell me about Charlie Christian neck pups

[oaklanda]

I've noticed a couple of Rice CTS models with the CC in the neck. I know nothing about this pickup really but am intriguied...what are they like?

[mviator]

I'll even respond to an Oakland A's fan ... ;D (I'm a long suffering Astro's fan)

I am the owner of the lefty CC model #79 on their site. This is pretty much how I responded to Chris Rice on the subject:

I'm very pleased with the CC. At first the difference in treble response with the Lollar bridge PU bothered me, but I got used to that and adjusted. The CC can sound sort of like an old archtop without feedback problems, kind of dark and chalky, or it can push hard when you hit it with a good pedal or heavy tremelo. I love it for slide, and I use it a lot for rhythm. I also find that I'm writing more songs on that pickup. It has a lot of southern charm and an old funky flavor to my ears, not modern sounding at all ... which is just what I wanted.

I have to say that it all depends on your playing style and approach to the instrument. I use 11 gauge strings, don't use a pick a lot, and play a lot of slide guitar. To my tastes the CC has a lot of soul and sounds old. It's not bright at all, kind of like a P-90, but smoother and a little darker. It's certainly not for everyone, but I wouldn't part with it. It gives me a lot of variety on one guitar, and Chris did a nice job of matching it with the Lollar in the bridge.

Hope that helps. You should search for some sound clips if you are interested. I have a demo posted on the Rice's site: look for my name, Mark Viator.

Mv

[Rich]

Well hello, Mark!

Thanks for your insight. Great to see you here!

[mviator]

Hey Rich ... still loving the tele ... best electric I've ever owned or played.

Mv

[chris]

I asked another of our customers (owner of #026) how his CC is treating him. Here's the nice e-mail I got in reply.

Hi Chris,

Good to hear from you. I really like the new stuff you guys are working on. Let me tell you that it took every ounce of self control that I could muster to stop myself from buying that beautiful pine Tele that was up for sale. I badly wanted it but have way to many guitars.

As far as the Charlie Christian pick up goes, I love it. To me it sounds big and clear. I can get great jazz tones out of it. It also matches up great with bridge pick up. I love the middle position. I do think that the great light weight ash body along with the perfect neck combined with the pick ups and other components come together to make one of my favorite guitars. Oh, I forgot to mention the finish. It is just beautiful. I love the color and the super thin nitro. It just plain feels good. I have actually started to sell some of my guitars but this one will never voluntarily leave my position.

Best of luck with all of the new projects. Feel free to post this on your forum if you like.

Take it easy,
Paul

[oaklanda]

Thanks, guys, for the responses. If I had to guess without hearing them my guess would've been "dark and chalky". I'm surprised that the output seems big but not in an overwound 'bucker sense.

Mviator, I like the tone on your track. Very nice. I would've also supposed that it would be somewhat of a one trick pony...but that's not the case at all. These semm to be very versatile with a lot of character.

Well I'll have to give one a try someday down the road.

[oaklanda]

Well, my curiousity got the better of me. I have a project...a beat up HWY 1 Texas Tele that I got for cheap (my 3rd of that model ) that I was going to put a Humbucker in the neck and a stacked pup in the bridge. Well, so much for that...I'm going to put a CC in the neck and a slightly overwound vintage in the bridge instead.

Going to get it from Vintage Vibe whom I have heard many good things about. This is my first transaction with them. Spoke directly with Pete Biltoft. Nice guy and very patient with my many questions. I'm getting the CC with a pickguard which saves me the grief of having to do the CC rout on the PG anyway. He's also sending a template for the pickup cavity rout.

Let you all know how it turns out.

[chris]

Let us know about the Vintage Vibe CC. I've only heard the Lollar, would love to A/B them. I think the design is quite different between them. I have liked every Lollar and Vintage Vibe I've played.

[professor]

OK, I can chime in on this. I have a parts tele with a one-piece swamp ash body that Rich did an exquisite Mary Kaye finish on. I have one of Pete Biltoft's (www.vintagevibeguitars.com) fabulous Charlie Christian pickups in the neck, and his wound-to-match T-style pickup in the bridge. FWIW, I originally had the CC mated to a Duncan Broadcaster in the bridge, but the output on the B-caster was not robust enough to hang with the CC, which has a HUGE (but not overwound) sound.

Here's a picture of it: www.oydesign.com/guitars/teles_0511sm.jpg

With the matching Vintage Vibe set in it, it sounds great! The CC neck sounds like an ENORMOUS Strat neck pickup, all big and chimey and very articulate... the bridge pickup sacrifices a bit of the traditional Tele "twang", but is still very recognizable as a Tele.

It's a great matchup, IMO, and Pete's pickups are much more affordable than Jason's... Definitely worth looking into, and Pete's service is top-notch.

Hope this helps!

[Rich]

Thanks for your reply, Dave. It sounds like the Lollar and the VV pickups are worlds apart.. both very cool and useful, but considerably different aside from looks.

[professor]

admin said:

Thanks for your reply, Dave. It sounds like the Lollar and the VV pickups are worlds apart.. both very cool and useful, but considerably different aside from looks.

Unfortunately, I have not played any of Lollar's CC pickups... yet.

But the Vintage Vibe CCs are, for me, a great blend of a Strat-style neck pickup and a big ol' P90, and sound terrific both clean and cranked...

Seymour also has a CC pickup now, and Dominic Ramos is supposedly working on some, as well.

Great time to be a guitarist... SO MUCH variety out there!

[Rich]

True dat. ;D

[oaklanda]

Well, I'll have a full report in a couple of weeks. I didn't realize there was such a difference between the Lollars & VV's. What drew me to the CC's were the comments about the Lollars, but it looks like I might be getting something much different.

We'll see. I was shooting for a warmer, thicker tone on this one but I'm open minded. If it doesn't work for me I guess I can switch out...I'll have the pickguard and rout going on. But I've heard really good things about the Vintage Vibes too.

I'll let y'all know.

[Rich]

oaklanda said:

Well, I'll have a full report in a couple of weeks. I didn't realize there was such a difference between the Lollars & VV's. What drew me to the CC's were the comments about the Lollars, but it looks like I might be getting something much different.

We'll see. I was shooting for a warmer, thicker tone on this one but I'm open minded. If it doesn't work for me I guess I can switch out...I'll have the pickguard and rout going on. But I've heard really good things about the Vintage Vibes too.

I'll let y'all know.

Any luck yet? I'm pretty curious about the VV pickups...

[oaklanda]

I expect ot have the pickup/pickguard/template package today or tomorrow. I'll still have to rout the body and put the thing back together. May be next week before I have a full report...but I'll definitely let you guys know.