All user reviews for the SP Custom Handwound Pickups Heat Crusher

I used two for a few weeks in the trials for a custom microphone.

This is a microphone that will give the best of himself in a rock record or in a little stoner metal, thrash.

It is very difficult to describe it is both distinctive and clear, it has a grain to it without preventing typing in all styles. The sounds are rich, it feels good sitting low, balanced mids, treble present. All rings, palm mutes, chords, harmonics ... It brings out without asking too clean hands, it is not a surgical micro, rather it is organic, alive, dynamic.

Level I would gain medium, and as SP Custom advises you really do not hesitate to place it close to the strings so it gives the best of himself.

The very big plus is that it is custom made, by hand, by a French, it means that there is a genuine dialogue with the manufacturer of the microphone, he listens to everything he is told and takes into account . This is absolutely great to really get what you want.

I use this mic for almost two weeks on a guitar luthier 7 strings, Sebaston Fate.
I have not tried other models because it was mounted directly on the guitar until I come and take it!

This mic in the bridge position is exactly what I was looking for!
I have a micro versatile enough to sound very organic, warm but also rather accurate!
In distortion or clean the microphone needed, it offers a good compromise between precision and warmth in the mix it is well noted.
To give you an idea, this is somewhere between a micro and a sh5 sh4 custom Seymour Duncan but with a little more precision.

So we end up with a microphone with bass and treble rather accurate pronounced but not too garish, I also think that it is very well worth the great violin guitar.

PS: note that my version of a micro ceramic magnets

Small technical description: The SP is custom handmade by a craftsman in the South of France, this model has the distinction of having two rows of adjustable pads. The link to the product page on the site of custom SP: http://www.spcustompickups.com/humbuckers.html

The ceramic version that I have chosen is expected to be more specific, and make up a little treble and make it more sharp compared to the version AlNiCo V. It is also available AlNiCo 8.

I mounted my 91 SG Standard, plugged into a Laboga Mr Hector and 2 * 12 in V30, and a MXR equalize in the loop

C57 compared to my ex, we already have a much higher output level (comparable to my Washburn SH13), much greater precision, the impression of hearing more and more full sound in the bass, more rocky too. The description "PAF on steroids" is perfect for this little monster.


Level accuracy, it is simply perfect for my taste, neither too much nor too little. And it does not have that smooth side and cold that many pickups have metal. It has gain and grain to spare. This is the first I have ceramic that keeps heat and that does not become stiff if he is not put two tons of gain on the buttocks.

Clean level, it is for a microphone in its class pretty cool, it is not a T Top vintageries or other, but it's honest. It pierces the eardrums too, and did not cruncher amp, unless to attack like a savage. Turning down the volume, it will still better.

A nice little trick, too, is that when you decrease the volume knob, he finds that side PAF, with many attacks plump. That anyway is the objective of the micro: a well-PAF is boosted to ensure metal. To my taste, it's a success.

For the price, or 117E comes with a nickel cover for my part, or thirty euros more than in a micro trade, and a few dollars to a few dozen to a micro boutique, value for money is good, see very good, considering the quality of this microphone. I hesitated a lot with the Bare Knuckle Nailbomb, I have tried. And I do not regret it!

For those looking for a specific metal sound, but organic, it is in my opinion an excellent opportunity. Be careful though, it is not in the register EMG 81, SD blackout and other assets at accuracy, but this is good enough.

9 / 10, nothing is perfect. (But it is not far for my use)