Members riffy Posted February 2, 2010 Members Share Posted February 2, 2010 http://www.mp3lizard.com/download.cfm?id=27424A short review of the BG Hellarail Pickup.Bryan Gunsher, is in short a pickup genius. I won't usually resort to such hyperbole to describe an attribute of a person, much less a person as a whole.In this case though, I personally am of the opinion that it is not only warranted,but needed to describe the way he winds pickups.Bryan sent me the #1 prototype of the Hellarail pickup to use. Such a nice gesture to begin with and I surely do not deserve such a kindness, but Idigress. This pickup is a very hot wind. It is up around 17.5K f not a bit hotter.I have never used a pickup this hot to the best of my knowledge, although, I have used and love hot pickups. This pickup is an evil looking black with twoslippery shiny black rails in place of the normal screw or Allen type pole-pieces.To say it is slick looking is an understatement. Simply beautiful work all aroundon this piece.How does it sound you say? Simply stellar in all respects in my humble estimation.It does high gain in an outrageous manner. It is tight and percussive. Palm mutessound thunderous in the room. Chords are tight and articulate, even when playing 7ths and 9ths. I can play minor 9ths and hear every string ring out cleanly. Thereis no slop in this pickup. The lead sounds simply scream off the fretboard. You hear a singing note and will be amazed at the amount of sustain it has. You can make is sharp and biting, or smooth and smoky with equal ease, just dial your ampin and this pickup will sound great. Most high output pickups don't clean up or split really well, but the Hellarail does both. Clean sounds are bright and spanky and would fit in with a funk band just aseasily as it would a heavy metal band in full on distorto mode. I dig the split soundsthat it does in my Les Paul as well. Skanky and snarky are two words that come to mind. Using a wah with this pickup in split mode will give you 'Shaft' sounds all day long or Isley Brothers if that is more your bent.I can't say enough good things about this pickup or Bryan himself. He is the typeperson that everyone wants to deal with. He will sell you his "standard" winds or hewill work with you on any custom wind that you have in mind. His work is stellar asis his service. You won't go wrong with trying a pickup of his or even a set. I personally want a Lizard in the neck position of my Les Paul now to go with the Hellarail. That to me, would be the best of both worlds.I have enclosed a short distorto clip of the Hellarail. I must say though, I don't thinkeither my playing skill or recording chops do this pickup justice though. It is tax return time though, and I will be getting a new recording interface! YAY! So, hopefully, my recording quality will improve by leaps and bounds if my playing abilities won't. Gary Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members dres_x Posted February 2, 2010 Members Share Posted February 2, 2010 I've wanted one of these the moment Bryan announced them hahaha Thanks for the review and clip! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Quarter Posted February 2, 2010 Members Share Posted February 2, 2010 Great clip ... just too short ... I'm going to have to get me a Hella Rail to play with ... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members ExiledCrow Posted February 2, 2010 Members Share Posted February 2, 2010 Damn! At work now, I'll def. have to check this later .... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members _pete_ Posted February 2, 2010 Members Share Posted February 2, 2010 Gary, I agree 1000% with everything you said in your first post except with your opinion of your playing.You are a killer player and way, way, way, way too humble. Clip sounds great as always, Bryan is THE man. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members mistersully Posted February 2, 2010 Members Share Posted February 2, 2010 nice clip Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members peavey_impact Posted February 2, 2010 Members Share Posted February 2, 2010 Great tones in that clip man! I just recently installed a Hellabucker in my Cali and am loving it so far. Hellarail would have visually matched my neck pickup better but unfortunately they only come in black! I have a clip floating around here somewhere... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members jrockbridge Posted February 2, 2010 Members Share Posted February 2, 2010 Very cool! Sounds great! Enjoyed the playing as well! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members ten56gibby Posted February 2, 2010 Members Share Posted February 2, 2010 Too short! That was the most :rawk:ing clip I've heard on here in ages. Sounded AMAZING!! Great playing, and of course great pickups. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Shamdog Posted February 2, 2010 Members Share Posted February 2, 2010 At work now, but will listen as soon as I get home. Why, oh why, does anybody use anything else than BG? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members riffy Posted February 2, 2010 Author Members Share Posted February 2, 2010 Hey guys! Thanks for all the kind comments. The KUDOS go to BRYAN though. He can sure wind some KILLER pickups that make these kindasounds possible... I sure wish I could get a recording to sound like it does in the room! Gary Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members nuke_diver Posted February 2, 2010 Members Share Posted February 2, 2010 Can't listen to it right now but Bryan's pups are amazing Now if I can only get my playing up to match the pickups Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members diceman1000 Posted February 3, 2010 Members Share Posted February 3, 2010 FACK!!! badass... and i don't even like metal:thu: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members hellion_213 Posted February 3, 2010 Members Share Posted February 3, 2010 Damn sure makes me wanna try one!! Really nice clip, could have been a touch longer though :poke: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members riffy Posted February 3, 2010 Author Members Share Posted February 3, 2010 FACK!!! badass... and i don't even like metal:thu: Thanks man! The Hellarail is kickin' all kinds of butt around here.I am now going to have to have one for my 7 string as well! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Norcal_GIT_r Posted February 3, 2010 Members Share Posted February 3, 2010 Gary, thanks so much for taking the time to do the review and clips. Though I think my wife might disagree with the genius thing. But thanks for the kind words. Your playing and tone in the clips was stellar. I'm looking forward to hearing more. Just so you guys know Riffy has the exact pickup I used to make my video. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members riffy Posted February 3, 2010 Author Members Share Posted February 3, 2010 Gary, thanks so much for taking the time to do the review and clips. Though I think my wife might disagree with the genius thing. But thanks for the kind words. Your playing and tone in the clips was stellar. I'm looking forward to hearing more. Just so you guys know Riffy has the exact pickup I used to make my video. Bryan, Your wife knows... Like most wives she just won't admit it! Thank you so much. I am going to do a bunch more, I can't help it, this pickup just smokes... After I get my tax money back, I am going to be wanting one of these for my 7 string as well!!!!!!!! Gary Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Norcal_GIT_r Posted February 3, 2010 Members Share Posted February 3, 2010 Bryan,Your wife knows... Like most wives she just won't admit it! Thank you so much. I am going to do a bunch more, I can'thelp it, this pickup just smokes... After I get my tax moneyback, I am going to be wanting one of these for my 7 stringas well!!!!!!!!Gary I'm looking forward to more clips.In the mean time here's the video I did with the same pickup in case someone haven't seen it yet.yE9mK2GWCy8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members EJD Posted February 3, 2010 Members Share Posted February 3, 2010 All the positive things I hear about BG just make me GAS for V60s even more. It will be a while to save, as there are many other parts to get for my project, but it's a dead cert that I'm gonna be a BG player Great clip, man Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Fusion1 Posted February 3, 2010 Members Share Posted February 3, 2010 Riffy or Bryan, can you post a close up pic of the Hellarail please? I want to see if it resembles a X2N or a Bill Lawrence L500XL. Thanks. ps. Bryan, will this become a standard production pickup you make? If so I am down for one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Norcal_GIT_r Posted February 3, 2010 Members Share Posted February 3, 2010 Riffy or Bryan, can you post a close up pic of the Hellarail please? I want to see if it resembles a X2N or a Bill Lawrence L500XL. Thanks. ps. Bryan, will this become a standard production pickup you make? If so I am down for one. Here's a photo of 2 of them one shiny and one flat black distressed. They are a regular model now. You can find them on my site right below the HellaBucker. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members riffy Posted February 3, 2010 Author Members Share Posted February 3, 2010 Here's a photo of 2 of them one shiny and one flat black distressed. They are a regular model now. You can find them on my site right below the HellaBucker. Cool Deal!!! Do you think you will be able to do a 7 stringer in the Hellarail Bryan? Tax return money is coming and I have to have one for the 7 stringer now! Gary Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Fusion1 Posted February 3, 2010 Members Share Posted February 3, 2010 I can't tell the difference Bryan. Can you shoot one in natural lighting or with more lighting the top is so dark even with my brightness turned up. I can't tell if the bobbin is fiber or plastic or if it is black or what looks more like charcoal grey. Also are the rails black or chrome it looks like it could be either by that picture. Can you do these in cream or in zebra? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members peavey_impact Posted February 3, 2010 Members Share Posted February 3, 2010 . Can you do these in cream or in zebra? Black only, I asked Unless something has changed recently... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Norcal_GIT_r Posted February 4, 2010 Members Share Posted February 4, 2010 I can't tell the difference Bryan. Can you shoot one in natural lighting or with more lighting the top is so dark even with my brightness turned up. I can't tell if the bobbin is fiber or plastic or if it is black or what looks more like charcoal grey. Also are the rails black or chrome it looks like it could be either by that picture. Can you do these in cream or in zebra? The bobbin is plastic and it's black. The flat black is just the regular glossy bobbin sanded down. It does look like fiber when it's sanded. The rails are black. They only come in black. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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