Post by antigua on Jan 20, 2019 5:00:26 GMT -5
bootstrappickups.com/products/bootstrapt-54-vintage-pro-set-for-strat®-flat-poles
bootstrappickups.com/products/bootstrap-golden-ale™
Bootstrap is a new single proprietor pickup shop ran out of a garage in Ohio. Usually I'd want to review pickups of a company that is well established, so that I can trust that the pickups and the data will still be relevant in a years time, but there is a lot of interest in this brand because the proprietor is selling the sets at such a low price point. The pickups also have some interesting characteristics described below.
For American made pickups, these Bootstrap sets are very low cost, $40 for three vintage style Strat pickups. The only other company I know of offering a similar value proposition is Planet Tone. I don't know how they turn a profit with such a low price point, but of the modern innovations that are occurring with electric guitar, I think figuring out how to offer vintage correct gear for the lowest price possible makes sense in a nostalgia driven market.
I bought a couple Strat sets, intending to install one of the sets after I learned more about their specific transfer functions. They arrived in just under two weeks, packed with brown wrapping paper, and screws and rubber mounting tube.
Bootstrap '54 Vintage Pro Set for Strat
Bridge
- DC Resistance: 5.745K ohms
- Measured L: 2.085H
- Calculated C: 189pF (199 - 10)
- Gauss: 1050G (AlNiCo 5)
Middle
- DC Resistance: 5.591K ohms
- Measured L: 1.971H
- Calculated C: 201pF (211 - 10)
- Gauss: 1050G (AlNiCo 5)
Neck
- DC Resistance: 5.761K ohms
- Measured L: 2.091H
- Calculated C: 189pF (199 - 10)
- Gauss: 1050G (AlNiCo 5)
Bridge unloaded: dV: 17.2dB f: 7.81kHz (black)
Bridge loaded (200k & 470pF): dV: 8.3dB f: 4.17kHz (blue)
Middle unloaded: dV: 17.2dB f: 7.81kHz (red)
Middle loaded (200k & 470pF): dV: 8.3dB f: 4.17kHz (green)
Neck unloaded: dV: 17.2dB f: 7.81kHz (pink)
Neck loaded (200k & 470pF): dV: 8.3dB f: 4.17kHz (gray)
This set is three of the same pickup, with an RWRP middle. This set is meant to be a vintage correct "three of a kind" low output set. It's transfer function is on par with Fender 57/62's or CS 69's, though with a higher Q factor. The inductance and DC resistances are on the low side, compared to the average "vintage" Strat pickup.
The plot shows that the electrical performance of the pickups are essentially identical. The capacitance of around 200pF is high compared to most Strat pickups, which tend to range from 90pF to 140pF, but the inductance very low at 2.0 henries, so the loaded resonant peak (with 470pF added on intentionally) of 4.17kHz ends up being standard or pickups such as the Fender Original ’57/’62, or Custom Shop 69, which have nearly the same peak, but with higher inductance and lower capacitance. The higher capacitance might owe to tight coil winding, uniform layers, or thin wire insulation, hard to say which. Even though the capacitance is high compared to other Strat pickups, it's more typical of Telecaster neck pickups, with their 43 AWG wire.
Another interesting thing about these pickups is that they have a rather high Q factor compared to most AlNiCo 5 Strat pickups Ive tested. At the resonance, there is a +17.2dBV peak unloaded, and +8.3dB with a 200k parallel resistance added, where as an unloaded peak of 14dBV and loaded peak of 5.5dB are the averages from similar pickups I measured, which suggests that the AlNiCo pole pieces have a lower conductivity than is typical. The 8dB peak is high enough that it almost approximates what would happen if you were to use higher value pots with a pickup of average values, but in any case, it can be knocked back down with the tone knob if you perceive it to sound too bright.
The dimension of this pickup, and the Golden Ale below, appear to be standard, except that the upper piece of flat work, the top of the bobbin, is a bit smaller than typical, so the coil comes right up to the edge of the bobbin's end, where as most Strat pickups have some space to spare on the top by the time they've hit 6k worth of turns. When the pickups are loose, the cover is able to rattle around a bit, but once installed, it would be firmly clamped down.
~~~
Bootstrap Golden Ale™ Set for Strat
Bridge
- DC Resistance: 7.295K ohms
- Measured L: 3.382H
- Calculated C: 137pF (147 - 10)
- Gauss: 1050G (AlNiCo 5)
Middle
- DC Resistance: 5.685K ohms
- Measured L: 2.370H
- Calculated C: 200pF (210 - 10)
- Gauss: 650G (AlNiCo 2)
Neck
- DC Resistance: 5.671K ohms
- Measured L: 2.328H
- Calculated C: 200pF (210 - 10)
- Gauss: 650G (AlNiCo 2)
Bridge unloaded: dV: 18.5dB f: 7.13kHz (black)
Bridge loaded (200k & 470pF): dV: 6.7dB f: 3.32kHz (blue)
Middle unloaded: dV: 14.4dB f: 7.63kHz (red)
Middle loaded (200k & 470pF): dV: 7.2dB f: 3.89kHz (green)
Neck unloaded: dV: 14.4dB f: 7.37kHz (pink)
Neck loaded (200k & 470pF): dV: 7.2dB f: 3.89kHz (gray)
This set has a hotter bridge pickup with AlNiCo 5 pole pieces, with a lower wound neck and middle with AlNiCo 2 pole pieces.
As seen with the '54 Vintage set, the capacitance is higher than typical, and the Q factors are higher than average, but only by about 1dBV with an added 200k load, a load meant to represent the effect of the tone and volume pots.
The 470pF loaded resonant peak of 3.32kHz on the bridge puts the pickup in Tele bridge pickup territory. The neck and middle have loaded peaks of 3.9kHz, which is similar to Fender Fat 50's pickup, even though you'd never have guessed it from the lower DC resistance.
There is a small benefit to having a guitar pickup achieve a target resonant peak with a higher intrinsic capacitance, in that reduces the significance of the capacitance introduced by the guitar cable. Suppose a Strat pickup has an inductance of 2.4 henries, with 600pF capacitance you get a peak frequency of 4.2kHz. Now you add 200pF with an longer guitar cable, for a total of 800pF, that drops the peak frequency to 3.6kHz, a 600Hz drop. Now, let's say the inductance starts out lower, 2.0 henries, but the capacitance is higher, it would have to be 720pF to get the same peak frequency of 4.2kHz. If you add 200pF of guitar cable to that for a total of 920pF, the resonant peak only drops to 3.7kHz, a drop of only 500Hz. It's not a big difference, but it is a difference.
The technical distinctions of these pickups with the capacitance and the Q factor are ultimately not detrimental to the performance, and they're a killer deal for $40. In situ, they will function as well as Fender pickup sets costing $110. They could double the price and it would still be a good deal for an American made pickup set. I'm planning to install the Bootstrap '54 set, expecting they will perform similar to Fender 57/62's.
bootstrappickups.com/products/bootstrap-golden-ale™
Bootstrap is a new single proprietor pickup shop ran out of a garage in Ohio. Usually I'd want to review pickups of a company that is well established, so that I can trust that the pickups and the data will still be relevant in a years time, but there is a lot of interest in this brand because the proprietor is selling the sets at such a low price point. The pickups also have some interesting characteristics described below.
For American made pickups, these Bootstrap sets are very low cost, $40 for three vintage style Strat pickups. The only other company I know of offering a similar value proposition is Planet Tone. I don't know how they turn a profit with such a low price point, but of the modern innovations that are occurring with electric guitar, I think figuring out how to offer vintage correct gear for the lowest price possible makes sense in a nostalgia driven market.
I bought a couple Strat sets, intending to install one of the sets after I learned more about their specific transfer functions. They arrived in just under two weeks, packed with brown wrapping paper, and screws and rubber mounting tube.
Bootstrap '54 Vintage Pro Set for Strat
Bridge
- DC Resistance: 5.745K ohms
- Measured L: 2.085H
- Calculated C: 189pF (199 - 10)
- Gauss: 1050G (AlNiCo 5)
Middle
- DC Resistance: 5.591K ohms
- Measured L: 1.971H
- Calculated C: 201pF (211 - 10)
- Gauss: 1050G (AlNiCo 5)
Neck
- DC Resistance: 5.761K ohms
- Measured L: 2.091H
- Calculated C: 189pF (199 - 10)
- Gauss: 1050G (AlNiCo 5)
Bridge unloaded: dV: 17.2dB f: 7.81kHz (black)
Bridge loaded (200k & 470pF): dV: 8.3dB f: 4.17kHz (blue)
Middle unloaded: dV: 17.2dB f: 7.81kHz (red)
Middle loaded (200k & 470pF): dV: 8.3dB f: 4.17kHz (green)
Neck unloaded: dV: 17.2dB f: 7.81kHz (pink)
Neck loaded (200k & 470pF): dV: 8.3dB f: 4.17kHz (gray)
This set is three of the same pickup, with an RWRP middle. This set is meant to be a vintage correct "three of a kind" low output set. It's transfer function is on par with Fender 57/62's or CS 69's, though with a higher Q factor. The inductance and DC resistances are on the low side, compared to the average "vintage" Strat pickup.
The plot shows that the electrical performance of the pickups are essentially identical. The capacitance of around 200pF is high compared to most Strat pickups, which tend to range from 90pF to 140pF, but the inductance very low at 2.0 henries, so the loaded resonant peak (with 470pF added on intentionally) of 4.17kHz ends up being standard or pickups such as the Fender Original ’57/’62, or Custom Shop 69, which have nearly the same peak, but with higher inductance and lower capacitance. The higher capacitance might owe to tight coil winding, uniform layers, or thin wire insulation, hard to say which. Even though the capacitance is high compared to other Strat pickups, it's more typical of Telecaster neck pickups, with their 43 AWG wire.
Another interesting thing about these pickups is that they have a rather high Q factor compared to most AlNiCo 5 Strat pickups Ive tested. At the resonance, there is a +17.2dBV peak unloaded, and +8.3dB with a 200k parallel resistance added, where as an unloaded peak of 14dBV and loaded peak of 5.5dB are the averages from similar pickups I measured, which suggests that the AlNiCo pole pieces have a lower conductivity than is typical. The 8dB peak is high enough that it almost approximates what would happen if you were to use higher value pots with a pickup of average values, but in any case, it can be knocked back down with the tone knob if you perceive it to sound too bright.
The dimension of this pickup, and the Golden Ale below, appear to be standard, except that the upper piece of flat work, the top of the bobbin, is a bit smaller than typical, so the coil comes right up to the edge of the bobbin's end, where as most Strat pickups have some space to spare on the top by the time they've hit 6k worth of turns. When the pickups are loose, the cover is able to rattle around a bit, but once installed, it would be firmly clamped down.
~~~
Bootstrap Golden Ale™ Set for Strat
Bridge
- DC Resistance: 7.295K ohms
- Measured L: 3.382H
- Calculated C: 137pF (147 - 10)
- Gauss: 1050G (AlNiCo 5)
Middle
- DC Resistance: 5.685K ohms
- Measured L: 2.370H
- Calculated C: 200pF (210 - 10)
- Gauss: 650G (AlNiCo 2)
Neck
- DC Resistance: 5.671K ohms
- Measured L: 2.328H
- Calculated C: 200pF (210 - 10)
- Gauss: 650G (AlNiCo 2)
Bridge unloaded: dV: 18.5dB f: 7.13kHz (black)
Bridge loaded (200k & 470pF): dV: 6.7dB f: 3.32kHz (blue)
Middle unloaded: dV: 14.4dB f: 7.63kHz (red)
Middle loaded (200k & 470pF): dV: 7.2dB f: 3.89kHz (green)
Neck unloaded: dV: 14.4dB f: 7.37kHz (pink)
Neck loaded (200k & 470pF): dV: 7.2dB f: 3.89kHz (gray)
This set has a hotter bridge pickup with AlNiCo 5 pole pieces, with a lower wound neck and middle with AlNiCo 2 pole pieces.
As seen with the '54 Vintage set, the capacitance is higher than typical, and the Q factors are higher than average, but only by about 1dBV with an added 200k load, a load meant to represent the effect of the tone and volume pots.
The 470pF loaded resonant peak of 3.32kHz on the bridge puts the pickup in Tele bridge pickup territory. The neck and middle have loaded peaks of 3.9kHz, which is similar to Fender Fat 50's pickup, even though you'd never have guessed it from the lower DC resistance.
There is a small benefit to having a guitar pickup achieve a target resonant peak with a higher intrinsic capacitance, in that reduces the significance of the capacitance introduced by the guitar cable. Suppose a Strat pickup has an inductance of 2.4 henries, with 600pF capacitance you get a peak frequency of 4.2kHz. Now you add 200pF with an longer guitar cable, for a total of 800pF, that drops the peak frequency to 3.6kHz, a 600Hz drop. Now, let's say the inductance starts out lower, 2.0 henries, but the capacitance is higher, it would have to be 720pF to get the same peak frequency of 4.2kHz. If you add 200pF of guitar cable to that for a total of 920pF, the resonant peak only drops to 3.7kHz, a drop of only 500Hz. It's not a big difference, but it is a difference.
The technical distinctions of these pickups with the capacitance and the Q factor are ultimately not detrimental to the performance, and they're a killer deal for $40. In situ, they will function as well as Fender pickup sets costing $110. They could double the price and it would still be a good deal for an American made pickup set. I'm planning to install the Bootstrap '54 set, expecting they will perform similar to Fender 57/62's.