Description
Raw, in-your-face, distinctive Alnico-5 hot P.A.F attitude. With an upper-midrange punch and sizzling – not harsh – high end, they’ll deliver the power to cut through. The Marshallhead pickups were brought about by the desire for a pickup that captures more of the “overwound” original 59 P.A.F pickups without sacrificing clarity, detail and that great P.A.F “honk”. A bright, yet fat and clear top end compliments a cello like bottom and hollow honky midrange so unique to the 50’s originals. Using plain enamel wire, Alnico 5 magnets, and no wax potting, the Marshallhead pickups have really raised the bar on the hotter P.A.F type winds.
Want a darker, “smoky” tone? Ask about the Alnico 2 mod!
Bridge is 9k, neck is 8.2k .
The Marshallhead bridge pairs especially well with the Dr. Vintage neck to create an incredible range of tones.
Steve Ouimette and the Marshallhead/Dr Vintage pair, Whole Lotta Tone, and a breakdown of how he got it.
Steve Ouimette performs “All Right Now” with the Marshallhead bridge.
Bob Pare, Marshallhead bridge
’79 Kalamazoo LP Marshallhead BR, 2553 Marshall into a 2045 Marshall 2×12 cabinet
We’re often asked if the Marshallhead is suitable for classic 80’s metal.
Adrian D (verified owner) –
This pickup is really amazing and as is advertised. I highly recommend this to anyone who want to upgrade their gears. I have installed this in my Tokai guitar and damn!, it has all that the sound i have been craving for. To all tone freaks out there, try this one and i bet you’ll be satisfied like i am.
Bryan S –
Pickup is amazing. Great for distorted tones and cleans up nice as well
Carl –
I bought this pickup second hand off a guy a few cities over and put it in my 95′ Les Paul that still had the stock pickups in it. I had issues with the stock pickups due to one becoming microphonic so i swapped it with a Marshallhead in the bridge. If I’m lyin’ I’m flyin’ and my feet haven’t left the ground if it wasn’t the single most impressive thing I’ve seen, my 95′ went from being a guitar I picked up only here and there to now being something I play daily and I owe it entirely to this pickup. It went from a nasally, super mid based tone to a wide open, hot as a firecracker, airy, sizzle that sounds unbelievable when ran through my EVH amp on any setting. Its good enough to warrant me now replacing my bridge with, most likely, a Dr. Vintage as well. I rarely say it often but I can’t recommend this pickup enough for any Les Paul player.
hank knight (verified owner) –
I absolutely love the marshallhead! Swapped out the stock pickups on an 03 SG. It sounded good before but now this thing has the Warren Haynes govt mule tone i was looking for. If you are thinking of trying a set out, quit thinking and buy these bad mofos! Customer service is top notch as well, you won’t be sorry!! THANK YOU WOLFE!
Pete Kearney (verified owner) –
I assembled a LP style guitar with a beautiful body and neck from Warmoth. I contacted Wolfe for recommendations and he recommended the Marshallhead for the bridge and Dr. Vintage for the neck. I used a Jimmy Page setup and I have to say that these pickups are an amazing pair for my guitar. In standard configuration, they love to be pushed and provide something completely different to my sonic palette of mostly single coil guitars. When in the out-of-phase position I found an incredible and unexpected brightness but with some kick ass thump. Thank you Wolfe!
Michael Dehner (verified owner) –
Totally blown away! Have a beautiful Custom Shop Les Paul Custom which plays fantastic but never sounded like I thought it should or could. It’s a fairly bright guitar and I had swapped out the pickups for another set made by a Texas company which did tame the shrill bridge but still didn’t deliver what I was hoping. Neck was muddy and bridge lacked punch even after adjusting every possible way. I was thinking Dr. Vintage but Wolfe recommended Marshallhead with A2 mod for bridge and MKII with degaussed A5 in neck. All I can say is OMG!! My guitar now sounds like a beast and has more tonal response and nuance than I ever thought possible! I could go on & on but suffice to say I cannot imagine anything better than what Wolfe delivered. Thanks so much Wolfe!,
@JoeBob_giitaar (verified owner) –
Got these for my Epi Les Paul Studio. I got the alnico 2 option in the neck.
The bridge is twangy but still sweet, it can push the front and off your amp in really nasty ways if you dime the guitar volume, but can still clean up.
The neck is a wooly mammoth! It is a touch boomy, but that translates to it doing absolute magic with a dirty fuzz into a clean tube channel. Really mellow, and still capable of some articulation when you EQ for it.
Really pleased with the products, and the customer service as well!
Greg Dunn (verified owner) –
Wicked, cleans up amazing but definitely will scream like a banshee when pushed. I use it in the bridge position and paired with the Dr V in the neck I couldn’t be more pleased. This is how a pickup should sound.
Prina (verified owner) –
I heard about Wolfetone on the PRS forum where a number of very experienced members are big Wolfetone fans. My first set was a Marshallhead A2 bridge / Dr V neck that went into a LP’ish PRS SE245. The set nails the vintage tone with great clean sounds and the bridge is a strong, dirty, nasty gal giving a tasty Marshall crunch!
Wolfe also recommended the short legs for the PRS which is something that I would have missed.
Brian Mentzer (verified owner) –
My Gibson Les Paul Classic quickly became my ‘number 1’ guitar since I purchased it almost 3 years ago. I never bonded with the OEM pickups and after some experimentation, settled on a Dimarzio 36th Anniversary for the neck position, but could not find a pickup I liked in the bridge. The guitar is naturally bright so I was looking for something with some fat, yet articulate tones, with a treble that had some cut but not overly bright. Wolfe and I spoke on the phone and emailed, he finally suggesting the Marshallhead with “A2” magnet in the bridge position. Admittedly, I was a little skeptical but Wolfe listens and is thoughtful in his questions and recommendations. I purchased the pickup, installed it and liked it right away. But the real test came on a live gig last week. It gave me what I wanted in spades- raunch with clarity (yeah, I know- seems contradictory), cleans up with guitars volume and has a powerful sweetness in that respect. The songs were were playing called for a lot of bridge pickup, but I even used it successfully, on a song that I usually use the neck pickup for. Good compliments from bandmates and some audience friends who will tell me the truth. The pickup is staying: I’m happy; I’m sold! THANKS Wolfe. Hopefully some audio recording forthcoming…Brian
Chris P. –
Got a used Marshallhead to replace the original bridge PU (that I had modded to Alnico 3) of my Les Paul. I’m never going back to stock. The Marshallhead has so much ”bite” in the best way. It sounds like every great recorded Les Paul tones you may love.
Brian Mentzer (verified owner) –
I became a Les Paul lover later in life, and for years played them with OEM pickups. When I finally got a Gibson core model, I absolutely loved it except for the harshness of the bridge pick up. I wanted PAF tonality but without the bite and harsh upper end. I went through two or three aftermarket pick ups, including one from a very well-known “high-end“ builder. Just couldn’t get what I wanted, and after reading many reviews and listening to many YouTube video demonstrations, I decided to give Wolfetone a call. Wolfe listened to what I was seeking in a bridge pick up for my Les Paul, and suggested a Marshallhead Bridge pick up with an AlNiCo 2 magnet. He told me he really believed it would give me what I wanted, but if for some reason it didn’t, he would work with me to“get there“.
I was pleasantly surprised when I installed the Marshallhead and with a minimum amount of adjustment, got exactly what I was looking for. A very present high end, still having girth, and a low end that was punchy, but not boomy. I found myself using the Bridge pick up more than ever when playing and when I bought a Les Paul standard, and found the 61 burst bucker, lacking, I again turned to Wolfetone for the solution, and again was not disappointed.
I can’t recommend the Marshallhead A2, enough, for those looking for a great lead tone with body and presence, without harshness or a boomy bass.
And Wolfe offers a significant discount, if you’re willing to accept a blemished bobbin or cover. I selected that discount for both pick ups that I purchased from Wolfetone and try as I might, I couldn’t find anything blemished, and certainly nothing that the attracted from the appearance of the pick ups!
I’m a believer… And I think you will be also! No affiliation, just a very, very satisfied customer!
Perry Rice –
I put these in a 2002 McCarty with solid rosewood neck. I loved how the guitar played, and now I love how it sounds. Clean to roar, its all there now
Wolfe Macleod –
Test review because reviews aren’t working