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Caparison Pickups
Caparison Humbuckers
| Image |
Description |
Used in |
PH-R & PH-F |
PH-R, PH-F:
High output pickup with exceptional harmonics. These pickups can be either direct mounted or mounted in pickup rings.If the pickup is direct mounted, low-mids will be emphasized giving you more growl and chunk.
The PH-R is by far one of the best pickups around bar none. Tonally it is similar to the Seymour Duncan JB model, DiMarzio Norton and a little bit like an EMG in terms of aggressiveness. Think of it as a Duncan JB without the honkiness or a DiMarzio Norton with slightly more output and more of a mid range spike.
Interesting note: I haven't confirmed this but I've been told that a modified DiMarzio Norton with the Alnico 5 magnet changed to an Alnino 8 magnet sounds very similar to a PH-R. If someone wants to confirm this that would be fantastic, but seeing that the PH-R isn't exactly easy to get all the time, this is a worthy mod for some of you out there..
4-wire conductor
DC Resistance:
PH-R:
12.26-12.60kOhms (Thanks yellowv03!)
PH-F: 11.70kOhms
Magnet Type:
AlNiCo V
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Dellinger-CA(bridge)
Orbit(bridge)
TAT(bridge)
TATII(bridge & neck)
Apple Horn(bridge)
Angelus-ACE SE(bridge & neck)
Dellinger(bridge)
Dellinger II(bridge & neck)
Dellinger II-HGS(bridge)
Dellinger II FX-HGS(bridge)
Anelus-HGS(bridge & neck)
Angelus-HGS GM(bridge & neck) |
PH-IA
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PH-IA:
A high output pickup which is essentially a modified or "arranged" version of the PH-R. Found ONLY on the Caparison Apple Horn-HGS model and is designed to accomodate lower tuned notes without turning into mud. According to Caparison this makes the low notes "clearer" and it's likely that all they did was remove some windings on the slug coil to brighten it up a bit.
Update: After speaking to Itaru Kanno, the PH-IA is really a PH-R with a little less winding to brighten up the pickup. The approx. DC resistance puts it in the same range as the PH-F.
DC Resistance: Approx 11.80-12.20kOhms
Magnet Type:
Uknown: Very likely to be a AlNiCo V Magnet
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Apple Horn-HGS(bridge)
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Tom and Henk |
Caparison Tom & Henk pickups:
Custom wound versions of the Caparison PH-R bridge pickup for Evergrey guitarists Tom Englund and Henrik Danhage. According to Tom, the pickups are very "DiMarzio Sounding" like the "Jeff Beck". I make no mistake about this, Tom literally said it's "some kinda DiMarzio sounding pickup in the bridge, like a Jeff Beck I think...."
From accounts from first hand tests, the T&H pickup has more of a grainy sounding distortion that's very raw sounding.
Closest pickup to this that is available is the PH-R, Duncan JB(close but not really),the DiMarzio Norton, Air Zone or Virtual Hot Paf pickups. Nothing will give you that exact sound but all of the above exhibit some qualities of the Tom & Henk pickup. (it just depends on which quality you want)
DC Resistance: 10-12k
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NOT AVAILABLE |
FK-n & FK-b |
FK-n & Fk-b :
Custom wound pickup for Fumihiko Katsutaka from the band X.Y.Z.->A(that really is their name). Not much info on this pickup other than it being a custom wound pickup just for that model. The older versions of the FKV used the standard BH-R/BH-F pickups so I'm guessing these aren't that far off from them.
If anyone has more info, please let me know.
DC Resistance: ???
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FKV-Premium
FKV SE |
PH-bc & PH-nc |
PH-bc & PH-nc:
These are modified versions of the popular PH-R/PH-F pickups made specifically for the Dellinger MC series of guitars.
According to Mr. Itaru Kanno, while the PH-R/PH-F pickups have a lot of emphasis in the mids, the PH-bc & PH-nc frequency response is quite flat in comparison.
DC Resistance: ???
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Dellinger MC (bridge)
Dellinger II MC (bridge & neck) |
BH-R & BH-F |
BH-R, BH-F:
The older version of the BH-R and BH-F pickups. No longer being used in any production models.
Here's how Caparison describes them:
"vintage class output, well balanced sounds from high range to low"
DC Resistance:
BH-R: Unknown (please submit)
BH-F: Unknown (please submit)
Magnet Type:
Unknown, very likely an AlNiCo or AlNiCo II.
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(No longer in any production model)
Original FKV
Original Angelus (24 fret)
PLM-1
PLM-3 (BH-R)
Angelus-FSW
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BH-IIR |
BH-IIR:
Supposed to be the direct mounted version of the BH-R (I think). Vintage to Medium output, more emphasis on the top end, designed to be more of a solo-style playing pickup. Quite easy to pull off harmonics with this pickup.
This pickup only comes in the Horus models and tonally does not sound as aggressive or heavy as the PH-R.
Quite honestly, 80% of the people I know who own Horus' swap out the BHII-R with something with more output. It's a great pickup but does sound kinda weak. Raising the pickup on the Horus does improve the tone as the output level is increased.
DC Resistance:
BH-IIR: 8.1-8.40k Ohms (Thanks yellowv03!)
Magnet Type:
AlNiCo II
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Horus(bridge)
Horus-HGS(bridge) |
BH3-b/BH7-n |
BH3-b, BH3-n
A specially wound version of the BH series pickups using a AlNiCo 3 magnet.
DC Resistance:
PH-7R: 13.96kOhms
PH-7F: 13.51kOhms
Magnet Type:
AlNiCo III
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Angelus22(bridge & neck) |
PH7-b/PH7-n |
PH-7:
A 7 string version of the PH-R and PH-F. All tonal characterisctics of this pickup are like the 6-string PH-R and PH-F pickups. Also one of the best sounding 7 string pickups around.
Closest sounding pickup you can get outside are apprently the Duncan JB-7, Custom-7 & DiMarzio Air Norton 7.
DC Resistance:
PH-7R: 13.96kOhms
PH-7F: 13.51kOhms
Magnet Type:
AlNiCo V
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Dellinger7(bridge & neck) |
Caparison Single Coil Pickups
| Image |
Description |
Used In |
VS-I |
VS-I:
Vintage class output with a rather dry strat sound. Found only in the Dellinger models in the middle position.
DC Resistance:
VS-I: Unknown
(please submit)
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Dellinger(Middle) |

VS-IA |
VS-IA:
Higher output version of the VS-I. Used primarily in the neck position to balance with a high output bridge pickup.
DC Resistance:
VS-IA: Unknown
(please submit) |
Apple Horn SE SandStone(Neck)
Dellinger-HGS SE(Middle & Neck)
DellingerFX-HGS SE(Middle & Neck) |
All single coil pickups are shielded with copper tape around the coils to prevent excess noise.
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Caparison Single Size Humbucking Pickups
| Image |
Description |
Used In |

SH-N |
SH-N:
Not much to say other than maybe it's the Caparison version of the Duncan Hot Rails. Used mostly in the neck position to match with the PH-R.
Nothing spectacular about this pickup. if it was in the middle position, I wouldn't really care, but in the neck position I'd personally swap it out with a DiMarzio Air Norton S for a fuller neck pickup sound or maybe a Duncan Hot Rails or Lil '59 neck pickup.
DC Resistance:
SH-N: Unknown
(please submit) |
TAT(Middle & Neck)
SUSANOH(Middle & Neck)
Dellinger(Neck) |
SH-27F |
SH-27F:
Used in the neck position exclusively for guitars with 27 frets. Because the neck pickup in the 27 fret guitars are pushed closer to the middle, the pickup was specially designed to produce a regular neck pickup tone. Sounds quite similar to the SH-N or the Duncan Cool Rails.
Nothing spectacular about this pickup either. I'd probably swap it out for a DiMarzio Virtual Vintage Heavy Blues 2, Chopper or Fast Track 2, or if I'm doing with Duncan's I'd go with the Hot Rails or Cool Rails.
DC Resistance:
SH27-F: Unknown
(please submit) |
Orbit(Neck)
Apple Horn(Neck)
Apple Horn-HGS(Neck)
Horus(Neck)
Horus-HGS(Neck) |
| Note: Caparison Pickups are not sold by Caparison. If you want one, you're best bet is to get one from eBay or from someone the forum. |
Information sourced from Caparison DESIGN, re-translated to English by CaparisonFORUM |