We ordered up a set of THC H450/H455 humbuckers in antique chrome with two-conductor leads, unpotted, and with double cream bobbins for both. Tom reminded us that we won't see the double cream underneath the covers, but perhaps we might unleash them raw in the Goldtop if ever we felt like it, and we like just knowing the vanilla goodness is under there. They were left on the porch, even though we were supposed to sign for them, and we noted that the shipping box had a hole in it about the size of a half dollar that looked as if someone had tried to pry their way in, but the pickups were inside and had traveled just fine. Soldering these in was going to be a treat; we could hardly wait.
Why do we like writing about the ins and outs, the trials, small victories, and oddball errant foibles of shipping our hallowed gear? Because it's a necessary rite of passage and comes with the territory. Horrifyingly and disappointingly, we just sent a vintage amp to Indiana to Mr. Valco, where the FedEx driver left it a block away in the snow, in a field, at a random 4-way road far from Valco's place, faked the signature, with no proof of delivery photo added. Valco went down there and found it, but you can bet we both had nice conversations with FedEx national supervisors. We say it again: It was a vintage Fender sitting there in the snow by the road for over an hour, where anyone could have taken it. Sweet geezus.
Thankfully, these Holmes 'buckers were ready to go, and we wasted no time, loading up a fresh set of pure nickel .011s and the darkback Goldtop, which has a vintage 1958 harness, and headed on down to Rockin' Robin's Guitar Shop to see TQR Advisory Board Member Clancey Compton. Needless to say, over the course of the next three hours, we soldered in eight different sets of 'buckers so we could hear them side by side, and we enjoyed each and every moment of it. Then, we rolled on home where we spent days cranking them through different amps.
Anymore, it is so easy to tell you about these, for better or worse, since we have played so many, and have even owned a few vintage PAFs. We will cut to the chase here and tell you the Holmes are unequivocally outstanding. The neck measures 7.41 ohms and the bridge measures 8.54.
They are so stellar. They both have big, big shoulders, and this is such a woody, resonant neck pickup. The bridge has ever stout, gorgeous, open notes and chordal bloom. It is magically authoritative, and really detailed. Both pickups are beautifully and remarkably responsive to your hands. These are serious pickups, and having gotten to play the Holmes set in a dark 'burst that TQR Founder David Wilson cherished for years, we know what Holmes should be. We have to say, this set is even a few notches better. These are a "game over" set, if you can somehow get on the list and wait for them. For days, we have awakened before sunrise, still thinking about them, with the warmest glow in our grateful hearts, and immediately fired up the amp to play them, even while the coffee was just getting going. So perfectly sublime and head-shakingly wonderful. TQ—Riverhorse
