Blackwater Bridge

Blackwater – where power meets precision in perfect harmony. Named after Blackwater Falls, WV This pickup embodies the strength and versatility that every modern guitarist craves.

Crafted with meticulous attention to detail, the Blackwater features a commanding large ceramic magnet, providing an unparalleled magnetic field for a robust and dynamic sound. The innovation doesn't stop there – with heavy offset asymmetrical coils, this humbucker takes your tone to new heights.

What sets the Blackwater apart is its daring asymmetry. One coil, wound with 42awg wire, meets its counterpart wound with 43awg wire, creating a captivating imbalance. This intentional departure from perfect phase cancellation results in extended harmonic content that will elevate your playing experience. The asymmetry also lends itself to a gentle midrange scoop, offering a unique tonal profile that sets the Blackwater apart from the rest.

Dive into the world of beautiful split coil tones, thanks to the carefully crafted asymmetry. The 12kohm output ensures that your sound is not only powerful but also clear and defined. The Blackwater is the epitome of high-fidelity (hifi) sound, making it the ideal choice for those in search of a modern active humbucker experience, coupled with the flexibility of a passive pickup.

But the magic of the Blackwater doesn't stop there – its passive nature brings exceptional dynamics to your playing. Revel in the responsiveness and nuance that only a passive pickup can deliver, providing you with complete control over your sonic journey.

For those who demand more from their music, the Blackwater  is the pinnacle of innovation, offering a perfect blend of power, precision, and passion. Unleash your creativity and experience the next level of guitar pickups with the Blackwater – where asymmetry meets excellence.

Specs:

• 12 kohm
• Ceramic Magnet
• Asymmetrical Wind
• 4 Conductor Wiring

Blackwater Build Notes:

I took the standard PAF style blueprint and did the opposite. Because both coils are wound with different wire gauges(42awg/43awg), each coil has its own distinct voice. Perfectly symmetrical humbucker coils filter out low, and top end. That’s what gives symmetric humbuckers such an aggressive midrange, and tight low end. The asymmetry of the Blackwater retains the highs and lows that are normally lost in symmetric construction. And the best part, it still bucks the hum! 

Asymmetry provides more frequencies, which means you have more possibilities. At first glance, the Blackwater feels like it has a scooped midrange. However, it’s because of the extended low and high frequencies. You can turn down the bass and treble knobs and a very distinct midrange comes shining through. This is exactly how I run this pickup in a rig. I use the bass and treble controls more like high and low pass filters to define the midrange. The Blackwater affords you the flexibility to define how scooped or how mid-pushed your tone is by allowing you to define where your high and low rolloffs are. This flexibility is why it’s loved by modern metal players that demand more. Because more is more! 

Using 2 different wire gauges also allows you more split coil possibilities. The 43awg coil approximates a tele bridge, while the 42awg coil approximates a strat bridge. The higher gauss of the large ceramic magnet also helps sell the single coil sounds a bit more. 

Metal tones- 500k Pots

Classic Rock tones- 300k/500k Pots

Edge of breakup/Clean tones - 300k Pots

 

Bottom Line from the Builder:

The Blackwater is for the player who wants total control over their frequency range. Because of the flexibility, it’s so much more than just a metal pickup. It’s at home while playing pristine cleans, edge of breakup tones, as well as huge fat distorted tones. This is probably why it’s my number one selling pickup by a huge margin.