One of the more exciting aspects of being a guitar player is the sheer amount of manufacturers, companies that are not afraid to experiment with their creations and think outside the box. With that in mind, I’d like to shine a light on one of my personal favorite pickup manufacturers that I feel doesn’t get as much love as they deserve: Rio Grande Pickups. Whether you’re playing Chicago or Texas Blues — or even West-Coast Jazz — Rio Grande has some vintage, American-made, hand-wound pickups to fit the bill. Below, we take a look at a few of our favorite pickups from Rio Grande.
About Rio Grande Pickups
Rio Grande started building pickups in 1993, when long-time guitar tech and vintage guitar dealer Bart Wittroc finally started up his own pickup shop. Bart had been attending vintage guitars shows since 1978 (the first vintage guitar show ever! Bart was there!) and had been winding pickups as a luthier and dealer since 1972. Bart is thrilled to have his own pickup shop after years of building pickups on his own and has set out to make the highest quality pickups money can buy. Today Rio Grande Pickups makes top-notch replacement electric guitar pickups for all types of guitars, in a shop that is described as a “low tech/high tone” environment. Obviously, Rio Grande is all about that old-school tone.
Rio Grande Greasegunner Telecaster Bridge Pickup
The Greasegunner is a high-gain pickup so powerful it will knock your socks clean off. Built in the double-blade humbucking style, the four-conductor cable allows coil-splitting in various combinations and hum-canceling performance. Designed to be a direct drop-in for most Telecaster-style guitars, the Greasegunner is available in multiple colors for cosmetic enhancement. The dual nickel plated high carbon steel blade has a 12″ radius which will accommodate virtually all guitars. With a DC resistance rating of 8.6 K ohms, it is more powerful than most single coils and will give many humbuckers a run for their money. For those Tele players that need more than the brittle sound of a classic Telecaster, the Greasegunner will boost you into a high-power and high-performance zone and give you everything you ever needed to keep up with the big boys. Get it, got it, done!
Rio Grande Baby Texas BBQ Mini Humbucking Set
After tireless working on countless prototypes, the long-awaited “BABY” Texas and BBQ humbuckers are finally ready for your tonal consumption. Ever since the humbucker was introduced, there has always been a segment of players that feel they come up short in power and presence. Those days are gone now with these bad boys entering the field. Featuring 10k and 12k outputs in the bridge and neck, respectively, the Baby TX & BBQ are hands above the typical humbucker when it comes to raw power. Included are oversized polepieces, radiator baseplate, and a number of finishes including chrome, nickel, and toasted nickel. A “no holes” cover option is also available for applications where a historic look is required. For applications requiring three pickups, we recommend using a Baby BBQ in the bridge and two Baby TX’s. Pickups are double wax potted and 2 conductor braided cable comes standard. With plenty of muscle, output and full-sized pole pieces, the Baby BBQ is here to bring it all home.
Rio Grande Vintage Tall Boy
Rio Grande’s most popular pickup to date, this “non stag” model offers enhanced replication of the good ol’ tonecasters. Not all Strats have “that” sound. From over 30 years of vintage guitar collecting, dealing, and repairs comes the knowledge of which have the tone and why. Lots of other pickup companies know how to make a hot pickup, not many know tone from Diddley. If you crave that classic, vintage Stratocaster tone, do yourself a favor and pick up a set of Tall Boys. Available in white, black, and parchment along with RWRP sets!
Rio Grande Muy Grande Tele Bridge
A powerful replacement for the stock Telecaster bridge pickup, the Muy Grande gives you that classic tone you’ve come to expect, but a lot more of it! This pickup was designed to really push your amp when needed. Of course, you can always back off just a bit for pristine cleans with plenty of articulation and sonic character. No skinny, brittle, tones here. Just big, round, full Tele tones and no compromise. All in all, the Rio Grande Muy Grande is hear to deliver all that extra gain without the pain.
