Todd, I also want to take the time to thank you for everything because of those Michael Kelly guitars. They're the only guitars I play and it's mostly because of those Rockfield pickups. The white one is so frickin' tight sounding and it kicks the Gibson Les Paul's ass because of the tone I'm getting out of those pickups matched with the mass of the wood. I have been planning on putting the spare set of Rockfield's in the Gibson for this reason. Your pickups are serious tone mongers! Seriously!!!!

Gerry Ganaden - George Lynch

Jason Hager of Years of Fire recently became a BC Rich artist. He received an Assassin and asked if he could change out the Rockfields for EMG 81s, the pickups he is used to. BC Rich asked him to spend a little time with the Rockfield Mafia pickups that come in the Assasins. Below is his reply.

I do have to admit that finally getting the chance to crank it through my rig in a full band setting finally I do really like the tone a lot. The tone of the pick-ups up WAY thicker and chunkier, they have a lot more growl to them and a way meaner more raw sound to them... not processed like the EMG 81's. So I'm definitely eating my words on that one....

So let me ask this. Are B.C. Rich opposed to changing any of their pick-ups period, or just replacing the rockfields? Because I noticed that the "V" I wanted comes with the B.C. Rich pick-ups and I would love to get the Rockfield "Mafia" pick-ups instead...


Jason Hager of Years of Fire

Guitar World gear tester Eric Kirkland on the Rockfield equipped BC Rich WMD Warbeast

“The icing on the cake is the Rockfield pickup set. These two pickups generate an incomparable balance of power, sustain and punch, perfectly flattering the Warbeast’s intelligent design.”

“Rockfield’s Fat Ass pickup defined and enhanced these qualities with tight lows, thick crunch and sizzling highs. The Fat Ass’s harmonic enhancement is focused on the guitar’s upper midrange and deep treble tones, creating rich musicality that does not interfere with clarity. This big humbucker also pumps out tons of output, which is unusual for such a clear pickup. Neck position sounds were similarly surprising. The Warbeast’s Mafia humbucker sliced right through my Rectifier’s dense distortion. Its tone was full, crisp and devoid of any nasal quality. Both pickups cleaned up well when I rolled the guitar’s volume down, making it possible to leave my distortion maxed and still get a fantastic rhythm sound.”

“Rockfield pickups have become standard fare on many of B.C. Rich’s finest guitars and have undoubtedly contributed to the company’s recent success. It’s worth noting that this pair of pickups is perhaps one of the best-matched sets for metal guitar applications…”

Hey Todd whats up, hope everything is well. I just wanted to let you know that i got my SWC's and just installed them last week. I could not believe my ears. I am truly pleased with the pickups on my Ibanez SZ. I now play that guitar more than my PRS or my Les Paul and its all thanks to your pickups. They gave that guitar a new life. I was looking for something different and i got what i wanted and more. Just know that you have gained another fan and customer. Keep rocking man, and cant wait to move on to the next guitar!

Chris...www.indiumweb.com

Dear Todd,
I wanted to let you know how blown away I was by the sound of the SWV pickups. I absolutely fell in love with them, when I wanted to play metal they screamed out my leads and the rythms were crunchy and clear, blues played incredible and the PAF type cleans tones gained compliments from even my bands other guitarist who plays an LPS. When it came down to choosing my replacement guitar I could not find anything that matched the amazing sound they produced. I settled on the Schecter (With Seymour Duncan JB (Bridge) and '59 (neck)) only to decide I will be replacing the pickups with SWV's as soon as I have the money (especially the '59 which doesn't produce anything close the the vintage tone I got out of the SWV-Neck). I wanted to send my compliments on a stellar pickup which has completely change the way I assess the tone of guitars I play. You have earned a life long customer...

Jordan Mauriello

Todd , I am the guy that called about the screw size on the SWV pickups this morning. The problem came in to play because the Epiphone Les Paul I bought was made in China so the bolt was metric not American standard like yours I'm all set and the pickups are in the Guitar. Now that said, I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU!! for making a great pickup I'm sure you heard this before but not from me. I can not believe the difference in the sound. Now this guitar is coming alive for the first time in three years.The SWV is all and more you said they would be. Just warm and full sounding, The SUSTAIN IS AMAZING. I am going to go to Harmony Central after I get done here and write a Great review for these pickups.

Thank you again and Keep on Jamming, Don

Hi Todd,
Just wanted to let you know I got the two SWV pickups for my Epiphone Joe Pass signature and they're definitely doing their job.

First, the bridge pickup just came alive. I don't know what epiphone uses there, but the bridge pickup was useless. When changing them I saw that they used the same pickup for both bridge and neck (there was a sticker behind showing it was the same). The neck pickup is more usefull on a jazz archtop, and here it blooms too. I get a cleaner more vibrant sound and I am very happy with it. I tested it yesterday with a line 6 amp simulator and my fender princeton amp.

I really see no point buying Gibson pickups for $120 when I can get Rockfields for less than half that price!

I am now thinking of getting an Epi Les Paul and put SWC's in her (or I'd just get the Michael Kelly Patriot and save the trouble - if only I manage to find them here!)
Thanks,
Oren

Nice talking with you today Todd.

I took my rig in today to my local shop to have it check out and change to heavier gauge strings. The owner, Dustin had studied the info on the Michael Kelly guitars and your pickups. Based on the info I sent him so he was anxious to check it out. He loved it right away and kept saying that everything he's read pointed to your Fat Ass pickups being responsible for the great sound. He thought the construction was sound and loved the features. He told me that the Michael Kelly Patriot Black was an upgrade over the USA Made Peavey Wolfgang, that he modded with EMG actives and Original Floyd Rose. I agreed.
Nate