Q-Tuner ..... anyone heard of these/tried 'em?

[luve2fli]

.... I'm intrigued

http://www.q-tuner.com/index.shtml

[Dave W]

I've heard of them and seen the website. Erno Zwaan, who designed them, seems to think that a pickup ought to have a flat response. That's exactly the opposite of what I'm looking for. Pickups ought to have character, just like acoustic instruments. A flat response is what you need for playback, not to make music. If you want flat response in the instrument, get a Casio keyboard. 

[Barklessdog]

Laklands Chisonics are Neodinium pickups and have a very full character that is both responsive to the touch and to your settings for a large varity of tones.

They have sound samples on the Lakland page. So far I really like them.



Unfortunately Lakland wants the same crazy price @ $150 each.

[Dave W]

Don't assume that the q-tuners are anything like the Chisonics just because they use neodymium magnets. That's just one factor in the design.

The MM Bongo pickup also uses neodymium magnets.

[chromium]

I think Shadowcastaz has a Q-tuner in one of the basses he built, IIRC...

Can't wait to hear the Decade, Barkless!  Looks great!  Those q-tuners are 'spensive too.  I was looking at one for my scroll bass, but ended up using a Pitbull - which I think offered more of the tonal character I wanted there (and actually cost about the same too - what is it with pickup prices?).  I guess it was worth it, though, as it made the bass useable.  It came to me with some awful scooped-mid sounding pickup in there when I bought it.

[JimmyBond8]

I posted this vid a while back from youtube where someone replaced the stock humbucker of an Eastwood EEB-1 with a Q-tuner. I think it has a pretty good sound.