Reviews

Based on 834 reviews
91%
(756)
4%
(30)
2%
(20)
1%
(7)
3%
(21)
G
Custom Universal for Tele®
Greg S (Sydney, AU)
Guitar Model: Telecaster Thinline 72
Install Time: 20 - 30 minutes
Build Quality:
Very bad
Excellent
Functionality:
Same as stock
Greater range of sounds
Sound:
Terrible
Amazing
Telecaster Custom Universal

This is my first build using top shelf components and I could not be more pleased with this quality product. Professionally boxed and well packaged the postage was also amazingly fast. I will be a return customer.

Great but !

I stalled it no trouble,sounded great good quality switch in my opinion.
I am now going to change it out, it has a different thread,so i cannot use the silver switch top & gold screw that i like.

Guitar Model: Squier classic vibe
Build Quality:
Very bad
Excellent
Functionality:
Same as stock
Greater range of sounds
Sound:
Terrible
Amazing
Still banginn along

Had this installed for about a yer now. Still functions exactly like i want and puts out some really good tones. The easy installation makes this a no brainer. Yes, it costs a few bucks, but its worth it.

Guitar Model: 1998 Big Apple Stratocaster
Install Time: 30 - 60 minutes
Build Quality:
Very bad
Excellent
Functionality:
Same as stock
Greater range of sounds
Sound:
Terrible
Amazing
Finally!

I have a 1998 Fender Big Apple Strat that has always had a disappointing sound. Back when it was my go to I spent loads of cash on pedals, amps, pickups etc... trying to get the thin sound out of it. Nothing helped so I put it away and moved on. Recently I wanted to at least put the original pickups back in it, but wanted to upgrade the electronics. Being as I wanted to be able to swap pickups, if the old ones sounded the same, I bought this baby and all I can say is WOW! She never sounded this good before, I haven't put it down in a week. I loved it so much I bought one for a tele build I'm doing. Thanks Obsidian!!!

W
Universal Blender for Strat® // (HSS, HSH, SSS, HHH)
William Tippett (Fleming Island, US)
Install Time: 20 - 30 minutes
Build Quality:
Very bad
Excellent
Functionality:
Same as stock
Greater range of sounds
Sound:
Terrible
Amazing
Strat blenderControls

I only could install this onto a pick guard and do a tap test, When I actually get it put together with a beautiful Strat with a mohpgany neck with a ma[le fret board I will give more pf a review. The tap test went well with some old ceramic pickups.

Guitar Model: Mexican standard strat
Install Time: 30 - 60 minutes
Build Quality:
Very bad
Excellent
Functionality:
Same as stock
Greater range of sounds
Sound:
Terrible
Amazing
From a good Strat to great Strat

Bought the 7 way Gilmour mod to put into my 2017 Mexican standard Strat. Added a whole new dimension to the sound. So pleased with the mod and would highly recommend it to any Strat owner. Fairly easy to install with no soldering. The harness comes with a new input jack which I also installed. I did struggle to get the new jack wires to lock into the block, but managed it eventually. All in all, well worth the money.

Guitar Model: 59 reissue stratocaster
Install Time: 11 - 20 minutes
Build Quality:
Very bad
Excellent
Functionality:
Same as stock
Greater range of sounds
Sound:
Terrible
Amazing
Outstanding

Installed custom 7 way in what was already a fantastic guitar, set the switch to clean and the sound is superb. Very, very happy.

Great

Guitar Model: Fender Player II Strat HSS
Install Time: 1 Hour +
Build Quality:
Very bad
Excellent
Functionality:
Same as stock
Greater range of sounds
Sound:
Terrible
Amazing
Obsidian Wired-Up

Excellent product and reasonable pricing. Installed new pickups on a Player II HSS Strat and this kept everything neat and organized. Biggest problems were finding larger spacers for SD single coils and the Shawbucker II wire colors were questionable because of conflicting online contradictions. OW was indeed correct. Blender really brought out the best of the pups and they complement each other well, especially with the blend capabilities.

Seems ok

Works as described.

M
Custom HSS / HSH for Strat® Gen2
Matthew (Santo Domingo, DO)
Guitar Model: Partscaster/Stratocaster
Install Time: 11 - 20 minutes
Build Quality:
Very bad
Excellent
Functionality:
Same as stock
Greater range of sounds
Sound:
Terrible
Amazing
Amazing quality

Amazed how great this looks; it works so well, it’s easy to install, sounds great. I’m more than satisfied. Great customer service too.

J
ALNICO IV CLASSICS Humbucker Nickel AC4
Jonathan Shodean (Albuquerque, US)
Sound:
Bad
Amazing
Quality:
Bad
Excellent
Value:
Expensive
Amazing value
My Ears Really Like These

Hey there folks.
I wanted to give a quick review on this pickup based on my last 30 days of usage. I put these in my 1996 Les Paul Studio.
The original pickups were 490R and a 498T. Don't get me wrong, the stock pickups are good but I always found them to be too dark for my liking.
I put these in along with the JP pots found on this website and to my ears they are amazing.
These pickups are clear but have a warmth to them. They are not dark and dank, but they don't have a super bright chime. I think these are really a great middle ground for magnets and tone.
I have always found many Les Paul pickups to be too muddy for my liking. Not all, but many seem to be.
I tend to gravitate towards a brighter sound (not necessarily a lot of treble, but rather clarity) so I can shape the tone with different effects and pedals. I am not a pedal junkie by any means, but I know the tones and sounds I like.
I really like the dynamics of these pickups at differing volume levels rolled back from the guitar and they take OD and dirt pedals really well.
These pickups seem to have a more even frequency curve and cut the lows and highs. At least to my ears anyway. There is still plenty of sustain to be had here, and it didn't take away from the characteristics from my guitar. The pickups seemed to balance the tone a bit.
So far, I really like them and they have helped keep me coming back to this guitar to play. I have enjoyed getting to learn the dynamics and controls.
I hope this helps in some way. The cool thing about playing the guitar is that it's a life long pursuit. So it's cool to experiment a bit.

J
Custom Nashville '7-Way' for Tele®
Junji Masayama (Melbourne, AU)
Install Time: 30 - 60 minutes
Build Quality:
Very bad
Excellent
Functionality:
Same as stock
Greater range of sounds
Sound:
Terrible
Amazing

Custom Nashville '7-Way' for Tele®

Guitar Model: Parts Stratocaster with Dimarzio rail types
Install Time: 20 - 30 minutes
Build Quality:
Very bad
Excellent
Functionality:
Same as stock
Greater range of sounds
Sound:
Terrible
Amazing
Awesome Tone

Kit arrived quickly and easily installed, tone is fantastic, my 4th solderless harness!

Install Time: 1 Hour +
Build Quality:
Very bad
Excellent
Functionality:
Same as stock
Greater range of sounds
Sound:
Terrible
Amazing
love it

Very good product.

J
Add Ons
Jorge Sánchez (Carolina, PR)
Perfect.

Product arrived on time and it was exactly as advertised. Neatly packaged and lovely presentation, to boot. Couldn't be happier! Would not only recommend but also planning more purchases soon.

Install Time: 20 - 30 minutes
Build Quality:
Very bad
Excellent
Functionality:
Same as stock
Greater range of sounds
Sound:
Terrible
Amazing
Outstanding

Highly recommend, took my tele to a whole new level. Very happy customer.

Install Time: 20 - 30 minutes
Build Quality:
Very bad
Excellent
Functionality:
Same as stock
Greater range of sounds
Sound:
Terrible
Amazing
Easy assembly

I like the no solder aspect and easy pickup switching. It didn't take long to assemble. I'd like to see the ground block in another location or a terminal block instead, that took the longest, trying to get 3 wires in that block.

Install Time: 11 - 20 minutes
Build Quality:
Very bad
Excellent
Functionality:
Same as stock
Greater range of sounds
Sound:
Terrible
Amazing
Very easy install.

Solderless is the way to go! Wire retaining system is rock, or blues, (insert your genre or style of play), solid. Tinned wires are beneficial ‘though not essential.
Discerning the tone controls in the second position, all three pickups, takes a bit of playing around with to understand.
Primary reason for my interest in getting this switch was for the Telecaster sound of bridge and neck pickups. Push/pull pot is extremely smooth and takes minimal effort to lift. I use the pick to quickly lift it.
Shipping was fast, install was easy, if you’re willing to take your time anyone can perform this mod.

T
CITY LIMITS Strat Pickups TRS2
Tim Schaffner (West Palm Beach, US)
Sound:
Bad
Amazing
Quality:
Bad
Excellent
Value:
Expensive
Amazing value
City Lights Strat Pickups

I put them in a Jet JS300 import guitar and they sound terrific.

Install Time: 20 - 30 minutes
Build Quality:
Very bad
Excellent
Functionality:
Same as stock
Greater range of sounds
Sound:
Terrible
Amazing
Love it

I had the 50s coil split previous version, this is better. Specially the pots feel much smoother, and it turns out I prefer the 60s wiring better too.

S
Custom Universal for Tele®
Steven C (Papillion, US)
Install Time: 20 - 30 minutes
Build Quality:
Very bad
Excellent
Functionality:
Same as stock
Greater range of sounds
Sound:
Terrible
Amazing
Amazing versatility

Super easy to install with vast array of tonal options .

Pick guard

glad I did not pay much for this guard. I have a bullet Strat and took the chance that it would fit since it is an eleven hole guard.the furthest bottom rear screw hole was off by a whole diameter. probably fender doing. so just because you have an 11 hole guard does not mean it will fit on anything but a real Strat !

R
Custom Nashville '7-Way' for Tele®
Robert Bean (Derby, US)
Install Time: 11 - 20 minutes
Build Quality:
Very bad
Excellent
Functionality:
Same as stock
Greater range of sounds
Sound:
Terrible
Amazing
The perfect upgrade

This upgrade was so easy and has made a tremendous improvement to my tele. Top notch quality components. I will definitely be using Obsidian Wire for any future upgrades I do on any of my guitars.

I
Custom HSS / HSH for Strat® Gen2
Ian Pavy (Adelaide, AU)
Install Time: 30 - 60 minutes
Build Quality:
Very bad
Excellent
Functionality:
Same as stock
Greater range of sounds
Sound:
Terrible
Amazing
HSS Fender Ultra Strat Upgrade

Loaded a new pickguard with Seymour Duncan, Classic Stack noiseless singles in the neck and middle and a 59/Custom Hybrid humbucker in the bridge.
I normally wire and solder up my own selection of pots and switches but decided to give the Custom HSS Gen 2 ObsidianWire a try in this build. I'm glad I did as its an all quality unit and the push in wire termination works a treat.
Still run a tiny bit of solder on the pick up wire ends so they would not fray when inserting into the terminal block.
If your thinking about trying this Custom HSS Gen 2 unit you will certainly be impressed by its quality build. I wondered how good the spring tension termination would be to use and it was easy with tight good connections.
It took longer to mount the pickups than to connect them. All up probably took me 1 hour to do a thorough install.