Disclaimer: this is not a review of the pickups per se - it's just a recounting of events when I got to meet Ken yesterday and try out some of his products.
Second disclaimer: Ken has asked me not to use his last name. I won't discuss, but I will assure you that his reasons are sound.
So yesterday I had the pleasure of meeting Ken and demoing his various pickup models in a couple guitars (3 W's and a fender.) Not only was it an exciting opportunity to try out pickups, but it was actually my first time playing on a fully assembled warmoth! :headbang:
My fiance and I are in Portland looking for places to rent and we're getting around entirely by foot and public transportation. Ken went out of his way to pick is up in the city and take us to his house - saving us an hour+ train ride. He graciously invited us into his living room with his wife and daughter, where I jammed out for probably an hour or more with the different models. Ken was articulate in answering any questions that I had and good at explaining some of the technical things that were beyond my understanding. His wife, although she claims not to be a musical person, also made some helpful and interesting comments.
After I'd settled on what I was looking for and informally placed my order, and they fed us a few chocolate chip cookies
blob7, Ken loaded us back in his truck and drove us back to town (to wherever we needed to go.)
All in all, it was just a really positive experience and I'm really excited to get my pickup from Ken. I settled on the same hybrid Special/Fatboy that Ken originally made up for Hannaugh. I was really enjoying the Specials, but when I tried out that hybrid model in the neck position it was love at first sound. It was so gratifying to play some riffs I've written and hear them exactly as they sound in my head. That's the best way I can explain it.
Unfortunately this time around all I need is one neck pickup, but I definitely see myself going back to Ken if/when the time comes for a strat build. I loved the Fatboys in the bridge - it was meaty and articulate and makes me a lot less hesitant to give up a humbucker in the bridge position. Really nice.
I'm also really excited to see what Ken does when he starts workin on humbuckers which, from my understanding, should be in the near future. I'm really happy to support a forumite and a local business. Ken is one of those guys who is clearly passionate about the work he does and you hear it when he speaks. He also has drive to do his own thing, forging forward with his own ideas and having the integrity to stick with them. I think he's a stand-up guy and I would encourage anyone looking for replacement pickups to get in touch with him to see what he has to offer.
Ken - :rock-on:
Second disclaimer: Ken has asked me not to use his last name. I won't discuss, but I will assure you that his reasons are sound.
So yesterday I had the pleasure of meeting Ken and demoing his various pickup models in a couple guitars (3 W's and a fender.) Not only was it an exciting opportunity to try out pickups, but it was actually my first time playing on a fully assembled warmoth! :headbang:
My fiance and I are in Portland looking for places to rent and we're getting around entirely by foot and public transportation. Ken went out of his way to pick is up in the city and take us to his house - saving us an hour+ train ride. He graciously invited us into his living room with his wife and daughter, where I jammed out for probably an hour or more with the different models. Ken was articulate in answering any questions that I had and good at explaining some of the technical things that were beyond my understanding. His wife, although she claims not to be a musical person, also made some helpful and interesting comments.
After I'd settled on what I was looking for and informally placed my order, and they fed us a few chocolate chip cookies
blob7, Ken loaded us back in his truck and drove us back to town (to wherever we needed to go.)All in all, it was just a really positive experience and I'm really excited to get my pickup from Ken. I settled on the same hybrid Special/Fatboy that Ken originally made up for Hannaugh. I was really enjoying the Specials, but when I tried out that hybrid model in the neck position it was love at first sound. It was so gratifying to play some riffs I've written and hear them exactly as they sound in my head. That's the best way I can explain it.
Unfortunately this time around all I need is one neck pickup, but I definitely see myself going back to Ken if/when the time comes for a strat build. I loved the Fatboys in the bridge - it was meaty and articulate and makes me a lot less hesitant to give up a humbucker in the bridge position. Really nice.
I'm also really excited to see what Ken does when he starts workin on humbuckers which, from my understanding, should be in the near future. I'm really happy to support a forumite and a local business. Ken is one of those guys who is clearly passionate about the work he does and you hear it when he speaks. He also has drive to do his own thing, forging forward with his own ideas and having the integrity to stick with them. I think he's a stand-up guy and I would encourage anyone looking for replacement pickups to get in touch with him to see what he has to offer.
Ken - :rock-on:
