I got Blues Engines in a 50s standard Les Paul and I've been thinking about putting Rolling Mill O/W in my Custom (both Epiphone.) Trying to get them a little more in the ball park in comparison to their expensive counterparts and this video has really helped. thanks!
Nice video! I came to your video because I have a Harley Benton fusion with a Rolling Mill set on it and I left the guitar aside because I got a new guitar and when I came back I had the impression the tone pot was broken because it was sounding very dark - but I realized the pickups are just very warm and I love it, they are nicer than some more expensive pickups I have! I might try the blues engine on it one day also. Thanks!
Thank you very much Felipe! Yes the RM is a full sounding pickup with lots of warmth. The blues engine is a really nice pickup, too. How do you like the HB fusion? I'm really interested in trying one.
@@AlexisGuitars I have the Fusion 2 HH EB. I love everything in this guitar except the neck which is uncomfortable to me - it's a thin neck. Not too thin but I prefer a slightly bigger neck. This guitar made me save money for a Suhr and after I bought it I almost haven't played it anymore but last week I picked it up just to compare and I'm almost giving up on selling it. A few notes: it's more resonant than my Suhr and much much warmer. The sound is full, reminds me of a Les Paul (ish) sound. The bridge works very well and the tuning machines are ok. And finally the Roswell pickups are ok but I think they are warmer than the RM. I may do some experiments on it and let you know the results.
Yes please let me know if you do any mods to it. I know what you mean about a thicker neck. The guitar I made for the great guitar build off 2021 has a super thick neck, and since then everything else feels too thin haha. Interesting to hear just how different the HB and the Suhr are. I've heard lots of people say that the roswells are the weakest points of the HBs
That rolling mill certainly sounded more together to me as in more bass to balance out the treble side although as mentioned elsewhere it could partially be the cover. I think the blues engine might be a nice one for the neck, help balance out the lows you get up that end. After watching the vid comparing the dirty torque and hot slag I'm leaning towards the dirty torque bridge and blues engine for neck so far but I do like the sound of that rolling mill.
The Dirty Torque/blues engine would be an great combo. I really enjoyed playing through the overwound rolling mill in this guitar. I installed it in another guitar which I made (robinia body, oak top) which is apparently quite a lot darker sounding as it didn't quite have the attack or definition as the rolling mill did in this video
Ah so you need to do another vid then? Lol I'm currently making a body from an elm burl with a little bit of oak on the back to thicken it up. This is the one I'm mainly thinking of for the new pups although I have another with mahogany back and spalted beech front just running some wilkinson things just now, that needs upgraded.
It's nothing that increasing the treble of your amp can't fix, but my amp only has one tone knob haha. I actually did a video on just that using the rolling mills in the darker sounding guitar: ua-cam.com/video/Z3MgSTk6068/v-deo.html The guitar you're making sounds great. Elm burl is beautiful
This is the review I've been needing to hear. Those blues engines sound unbelievable brilliant and I'm buying a set tomorrow. Planning putting them in a vintage V100, is it worth upgrading the pots and capacitors as well?
Really glad you found the video helpful! Yes the Blues Engines are great. A lot of clarity even with crunchy tones! I don't know how the electronics in the V100 are unfortunately so I can't say if it's worth upgrading on that specific guitar. However, quality pots do give more reassurance regarding longevity, so I tend to upgrade on a lot of my guitars. Let me know how you like the pickups!
Really good review and I agree with you - Blues engine for the cleans but the Rolling Mill more gainey stuff. I have a Gretsch semi hollow 2622 that has the first generation Broad’tron pups, and they’re a bit fuzzy/mushy sounding. I’m not too sure whether to put two normal covered Rolling Mill pups in, or a RM in the bridge combined with a covered Blues Engine in the neck - I’m guessing the semi hollow body might give the BE a bit more low end in the neck position…?! I’m a bit confused, so if you can offer any advice, that’d be mucho appreciated :)
Thank you very much Amanda! I've had the RM set in a guitar for a while and in the neck position it sounds great clean. I find it a bit "full" sounding for gainy rhythm - it gets a little muddy like a lot of neck humbuckers. I have limited experience with the BE neck position but remember being very impressed with it. I personally would go for a BE in the neck but you don't know how it'll sound until it's in! Let me know what you go for and how you find it :) thanks for watching
Hi Alexis! Please help me decide for my L7 (mahogany body). Need to cheange the bridge, I’m not sure what to pair with the Blues Engine. I’m undecided between another Blues Engine, the Rolling Mill, or the RM Overwound. I play Guns N’ Roses, AC/DC, Aerosmith, and Bon Jovi. Thanks a lot!
Hi mate, I really like the blues Engine bridge. I enjoyed the tones from the OW RM in one of my guitars which tends to be pretty bright anyway, in another darker guitar of mine it was too dark. Blues Engine would be my choice. I don't want to tell you what to buy, though! Enjoy the tones :)
I was thinking rolling mill o/w in neck and hot slag in bridge on my 2017 epi lp std pro pt. Want something hot like a john birch magnum 4 in bridge and something along the lines of a Gibson burstbucker 2 in bridge. Eventually it will end up in a 24 fret SG or esp viper. Damn good picking sir!!
Yes I really liked both pickups. I have since tried the overwound rolling mill in another guitar (guitar 2 from my video "blues engine in 3 guitars") and find it quite dark sounding (but the guitar itself is dark), so I would only install it on brighter sounding guitars.
Hey Alexis, Was wondering if you could help me out. I'm Wiring an overwound Rolling Mill and Alchemist P90 into a scratch build. I cannot find a diagram that uses the braided cable for the ground and the hot in the way say an SG would be wired. I also want to use the tone pot for the RM to coil split. Any advice? Ideas or maybe you can make a video...LOL! Struggling to make these diagrams make sense with what I want to do.
Hi Michael, thanks for the question. I hope I can offer something helpful haha! The A90 and overwound RM sounds like a great combo! A couple questions: How many volume/tone pots are you using, and are you using a 3 way switch like gibson-style, or a 3-way blade like on a tele? Also, which pickup has the braided wire?
Hey man! Awesome video. Loving the OW rolling mill. Looking to swap out the SD Full Shred in the bridge of my Charvel DK24 HSS. How would the rolling mill OW work in and alder bodied, maple neck & board? Playing rock/punk stuff mainly. Using a crunchy amp rolling the volume knob down for cleaner tones. Cheers in advance!
Hi mate thanks so much! From my experience with the OW RM it can handle pretty much any rock genre very well. I was really impressed. I can't say how it would be in the Charvel (awesome guitar btw) but I think it would suit a guitar with woods associated with brighter tone very well! If you go for it, let me know what you think! The Hot Slag from my other comparison video might be another option if you want high output, punchy tones. Thanks for watching
I personally would go for either the blues engine neck OR an alchemist 90 (p90 sized humbucker). I've only tried the blues engine neck position a couple times but I remember it having a lot of clarity for a neck humbucker. I have a video on the A90 set. Thanks for watching!
Which ones are the closest to gary moore sound?? On them website they have a lot of valid option but im getting confused on which kind of pickup they are replicating
Hi, I can't be too specific with saying which will help get a closer Gary Moore tone. The Blues Engine is closer to a classic PAF wheres the overwound RM is quite a bit hotter with a fuller sound - quite a pronounced midrange I think. Hope that somewhat helps!!
Hi there, I can't recommend anything based on the wood, but in my experience the OW RM sounds best in guitars which are inherently brighter as opposed to warmer. Hope that helps!
@@AlexisGuitars Thank you so much. I'm going to put a Dirty Torque in the bridge and a Rolling Mill overwound in the neck of my Ash Ibanez with maple fretboard. Should sound amazing with that combo. 👍
I'm a big fan of the dirty Torque. Only thing to consider with the OW RM in the neck is that it only comes in bridge position (OW) and therefore bridge position spacing. The strings and the screws of the pickup might not match up. I don't know if that affects tone - possibly the output consistency between strings if anything. Just thought I'd mention! Hope you enjoy the new pickups :)
To my ears the overwound rolling mill would do a better job but neither are suitable for metal. If you only play metal here and there then the OW Rolling Mill will cover you, but check out my other comparison video with the Irongear Hot Slag. That ventures more into high gain territory. Thanks for watching mate!
I'm thinking that an engineer would prefer the Rolling Mill as it stakes its ground in the mix and holds it. Particularly good for hard rock a la Lizzy, Free etc. I have the standard Rolling Mills on one guitar and the Dirty Torque/Blues Engine combo on another; all good.
Nice! Both great pickup sets. I have the OW rolling mill set in one guitar and they sound fantastic. How do you find the rolling mill neck compared with the blues engine neck?
@@AlexisGuitars Sorry for the delay, missed your reply somehow. I've shifted the two around guitars a few times and I have found that the more neutral sounding Rolling Mill neck sounds best of the two on a livelier, more resonant guitar whereas the more ebullient Blues Engine neck sounds best of the two on a deader, less resonant guitar. The Rolling Mill requires more careful matching to the guitar in my opinion. That's how I have them now and both sound great; though they are now paired with Hot Slag and Dirty Torque respectively.
Extremely good review and comparison video Alexis. I am and I am gay fan boy, and have fitted them into my Gibson Les Paul collection. However, I do have to politely point out that the rolling mills were covered Whilst the blues engines were uncovered, which would account for (at least some) the consistent higher treble response of the latter. Make a new video!! I’ll definitely watch it!
Thank you very much mate! Really appreciate the feedback. I know... as soon as the video was done I was like "I forgot to mention the pickup cover!!" haha. I have a Hot Slag with and without a pickup cover and I am planning on doing a comparison video of that to see what differences can be heard. More Irongear vids to come too when I have time! Which Irongears have you installed? Or, which are your favourites?
I think the blues engine has been the most consistent pickup. I've tried it in a few guitars now and it always sounds good. Thanks for watching and commenting!
A mix of both would be perfect. Maybe the standard rolling mill is exactly that. Blues engine maxbe just a bit thin. And ow RM lacks just a bit clarity
The standard rolling mill might be what you are looking for in the IronGear range. I did another comparison video with the standard rolling mill and tesla shark where you can hear how nice the rolling mill sounds. Thanks for watching!
@@AlexisGuitars yes. And since i always include bass cut pots in my hb guitars i can always thin it out for cleaner or rhythmic stuff and go full for lead. Should be perfect. And with this bass cut i dont need a coil split either.
@@BlackBalloonGraz a bass cut is a great idea! I'm definitely going to look up how you do that mod. I normally include a "straight to output" switch or pot which boosts some treble
IronGear Blues Engine Vs Hot Slag Bridge Pickup comparison: ua-cam.com/video/igFYSMbNcZs/v-deo.html
Great comparison, Sir! Thank you for the quality content.
Thanks a lot mate! Glad you enjoyed it
That blues engine is a hidden gem.
I got Blues Engines in a 50s standard Les Paul and I've been thinking about putting Rolling Mill O/W in my Custom (both Epiphone.) Trying to get them a little more in the ball park in comparison to their expensive counterparts and this video has really helped. thanks!
Glad it helped mate! Thanks for watching
Nice video!
I came to your video because I have a Harley Benton fusion with a Rolling Mill set on it and I left the guitar aside because I got a new guitar and when I came back I had the impression the tone pot was broken because it was sounding very dark - but I realized the pickups are just very warm and I love it, they are nicer than some more expensive pickups I have! I might try the blues engine on it one day also. Thanks!
Thank you very much Felipe! Yes the RM is a full sounding pickup with lots of warmth. The blues engine is a really nice pickup, too. How do you like the HB fusion? I'm really interested in trying one.
@@AlexisGuitars I have the Fusion 2 HH EB. I love everything in this guitar except the neck which is uncomfortable to me - it's a thin neck. Not too thin but I prefer a slightly bigger neck. This guitar made me save money for a Suhr and after I bought it I almost haven't played it anymore but last week I picked it up just to compare and I'm almost giving up on selling it.
A few notes: it's more resonant than my Suhr and much much warmer. The sound is full, reminds me of a Les Paul (ish) sound. The bridge works very well and the tuning machines are ok. And finally the Roswell pickups are ok but I think they are warmer than the RM. I may do some experiments on it and let you know the results.
Yes please let me know if you do any mods to it. I know what you mean about a thicker neck. The guitar I made for the great guitar build off 2021 has a super thick neck, and since then everything else feels too thin haha. Interesting to hear just how different the HB and the Suhr are. I've heard lots of people say that the roswells are the weakest points of the HBs
That rolling mill certainly sounded more together to me as in more bass to balance out the treble side although as mentioned elsewhere it could partially be the cover.
I think the blues engine might be a nice one for the neck, help balance out the lows you get up that end.
After watching the vid comparing the dirty torque and hot slag I'm leaning towards the dirty torque bridge and blues engine for neck so far but I do like the sound of that rolling mill.
The Dirty Torque/blues engine would be an great combo.
I really enjoyed playing through the overwound rolling mill in this guitar. I installed it in another guitar which I made (robinia body, oak top) which is apparently quite a lot darker sounding as it didn't quite have the attack or definition as the rolling mill did in this video
Ah so you need to do another vid then? Lol
I'm currently making a body from an elm burl with a little bit of oak on the back to thicken it up. This is the one I'm mainly thinking of for the new pups although I have another with mahogany back and spalted beech front just running some wilkinson things just now, that needs upgraded.
It's nothing that increasing the treble of your amp can't fix, but my amp only has one tone knob haha. I actually did a video on just that using the rolling mills in the darker sounding guitar: ua-cam.com/video/Z3MgSTk6068/v-deo.html
The guitar you're making sounds great. Elm burl is beautiful
This is the review I've been needing to hear. Those blues engines sound unbelievable brilliant and I'm buying a set tomorrow. Planning putting them in a vintage V100, is it worth upgrading the pots and capacitors as well?
Really glad you found the video helpful! Yes the Blues Engines are great. A lot of clarity even with crunchy tones! I don't know how the electronics in the V100 are unfortunately so I can't say if it's worth upgrading on that specific guitar. However, quality pots do give more reassurance regarding longevity, so I tend to upgrade on a lot of my guitars. Let me know how you like the pickups!
@@AlexisGuitars will do buddy, awesome review!!
Really good review and I agree with you - Blues engine for the cleans but the Rolling Mill more gainey stuff. I have a Gretsch semi hollow 2622 that has the first generation Broad’tron pups, and they’re a bit fuzzy/mushy sounding. I’m not too sure whether to put two normal covered Rolling Mill pups in, or a RM in the bridge combined with a covered Blues Engine in the neck - I’m guessing the semi hollow body might give the BE a bit more low end in the neck position…?! I’m a bit confused, so if you can offer any advice, that’d be mucho appreciated :)
Thank you very much Amanda! I've had the RM set in a guitar for a while and in the neck position it sounds great clean. I find it a bit "full" sounding for gainy rhythm - it gets a little muddy like a lot of neck humbuckers. I have limited experience with the BE neck position but remember being very impressed with it. I personally would go for a BE in the neck but you don't know how it'll sound until it's in! Let me know what you go for and how you find it :) thanks for watching
Excellent vid, thanks so much.
Thanks a lot mate! Really glad you enjoyed the video
I like Blues Engine......
Hi Alexis, In my opinion both of them match well with a SD 59 in neck position. Do you agree? Thanks
I haven't tried the sd 59 neck unfortunately! Both these pickups are pretty versatile, especially the blues engine. thanks for watching!
Hi Alexis!
Please help me decide for my L7 (mahogany body). Need to cheange the bridge, I’m not sure what to pair with the Blues Engine.
I’m undecided between another Blues Engine, the Rolling Mill, or the RM Overwound.
I play Guns N’ Roses, AC/DC, Aerosmith, and Bon Jovi.
Thanks a lot!
Hi mate, I really like the blues Engine bridge. I enjoyed the tones from the OW RM in one of my guitars which tends to be pretty bright anyway, in another darker guitar of mine it was too dark. Blues Engine would be my choice. I don't want to tell you what to buy, though! Enjoy the tones :)
@AlexisGuitars clear!
Thanks for your advice!
I was thinking rolling mill o/w in neck and hot slag in bridge on my 2017 epi lp std pro pt. Want something hot like a john birch magnum 4 in bridge and something along the lines of a Gibson burstbucker 2 in bridge. Eventually it will end up in a 24 fret SG or esp viper. Damn good picking sir!!
That'll be an awesome combination! Perfect for an SG. Thanks for watching mate!
Good review man. It's a tough sell both are good but I prefer the Blues Engine. It's in my cart at Irongear.
Yes I really liked both pickups. I have since tried the overwound rolling mill in another guitar (guitar 2 from my video "blues engine in 3 guitars") and find it quite dark sounding (but the guitar itself is dark), so I would only install it on brighter sounding guitars.
Hey Alexis, Was wondering if you could help me out. I'm Wiring an overwound Rolling Mill and Alchemist P90 into a scratch build. I cannot find a diagram that uses the braided cable for the ground and the hot in the way say an SG would be wired. I also want to use the tone pot for the RM to coil split. Any advice? Ideas or maybe you can make a video...LOL! Struggling to make these diagrams make sense with what I want to do.
Hi Michael, thanks for the question. I hope I can offer something helpful haha! The A90 and overwound RM sounds like a great combo! A couple questions: How many volume/tone pots are you using, and are you using a 3 way switch like gibson-style, or a 3-way blade like on a tele? Also, which pickup has the braided wire?
Hey man! Awesome video. Loving the OW rolling mill. Looking to swap out the SD Full Shred in the bridge of my Charvel DK24 HSS.
How would the rolling mill OW work in and alder bodied, maple neck & board? Playing rock/punk stuff mainly. Using a crunchy amp rolling the volume knob down for cleaner tones.
Cheers in advance!
Hi mate thanks so much!
From my experience with the OW RM it can handle pretty much any rock genre very well. I was really impressed.
I can't say how it would be in the Charvel (awesome guitar btw) but I think it would suit a guitar with woods associated with brighter tone very well!
If you go for it, let me know what you think!
The Hot Slag from my other comparison video might be another option if you want high output, punchy tones.
Thanks for watching
? In a two humbucker guitar, If using the blues engine at the bridge what would you put at the neck? Thank you.
I personally would go for either the blues engine neck OR an alchemist 90 (p90 sized humbucker). I've only tried the blues engine neck position a couple times but I remember it having a lot of clarity for a neck humbucker. I have a video on the A90 set. Thanks for watching!
the blues engine is my favorite pickup ever
It's definitely one of the ones I'd go for from irongears range
Which ones are the closest to gary moore sound?? On them website they have a lot of valid option but im getting confused on which kind of pickup they are replicating
Hi, I can't be too specific with saying which will help get a closer Gary Moore tone. The Blues Engine is closer to a classic PAF wheres the overwound RM is quite a bit hotter with a fuller sound - quite a pronounced midrange I think. Hope that somewhat helps!!
Would an overwound Rolling Mill bridge sound good in a mahogany Ibanez Jem or a Basswood body guitar? Many thanks.
Hi there, I can't recommend anything based on the wood, but in my experience the OW RM sounds best in guitars which are inherently brighter as opposed to warmer. Hope that helps!
@@AlexisGuitars Thank you so much. I'm going to put a Dirty Torque in the bridge and a Rolling Mill overwound in the neck of my Ash Ibanez with maple fretboard. Should sound amazing with that combo. 👍
I'm a big fan of the dirty Torque. Only thing to consider with the OW RM in the neck is that it only comes in bridge position (OW) and therefore bridge position spacing. The strings and the screws of the pickup might not match up. I don't know if that affects tone - possibly the output consistency between strings if anything. Just thought I'd mention! Hope you enjoy the new pickups :)
How do you think these would do for metal?
To my ears the overwound rolling mill would do a better job but neither are suitable for metal. If you only play metal here and there then the OW Rolling Mill will cover you, but check out my other comparison video with the Irongear Hot Slag. That ventures more into high gain territory.
Thanks for watching mate!
If you like Sabbath tones (sludgy metal) though, I think the Blues Engines might just be the thing, they have the right amount of mud!
I'm thinking that an engineer would prefer the Rolling Mill as it stakes its ground in the mix and holds it. Particularly good for hard rock a la Lizzy, Free etc. I have the standard Rolling Mills on one guitar and the Dirty Torque/Blues Engine combo on another; all good.
Nice! Both great pickup sets. I have the OW rolling mill set in one guitar and they sound fantastic. How do you find the rolling mill neck compared with the blues engine neck?
@@AlexisGuitars Sorry for the delay, missed your reply somehow. I've shifted the two around guitars a few times and I have found that the more neutral sounding Rolling Mill neck sounds best of the two on a livelier, more resonant guitar whereas the more ebullient Blues Engine neck sounds best of the two on a deader, less resonant guitar. The Rolling Mill requires more careful matching to the guitar in my opinion. That's how I have them now and both sound great; though they are now paired with Hot Slag and Dirty Torque respectively.
Extremely good review and comparison video Alexis. I am and I am gay fan boy, and have fitted them into my Gibson Les Paul collection. However, I do have to politely point out that the rolling mills were covered Whilst the blues engines were uncovered, which would account for (at least some) the consistent higher treble response of the latter. Make a new video!! I’ll definitely watch it!
Thank you very much mate! Really appreciate the feedback. I know... as soon as the video was done I was like "I forgot to mention the pickup cover!!" haha. I have a Hot Slag with and without a pickup cover and I am planning on doing a comparison video of that to see what differences can be heard. More Irongear vids to come too when I have time!
Which Irongears have you installed? Or, which are your favourites?
I put the headphones on for this Blues Engine for me,
I think the blues engine has been the most consistent pickup. I've tried it in a few guitars now and it always sounds good. Thanks for watching and commenting!
A mix of both would be perfect. Maybe the standard rolling mill is exactly that.
Blues engine maxbe just a bit thin.
And ow RM lacks just a bit clarity
The standard rolling mill might be what you are looking for in the IronGear range. I did another comparison video with the standard rolling mill and tesla shark where you can hear how nice the rolling mill sounds.
Thanks for watching!
@@AlexisGuitars yes. And since i always include bass cut pots in my hb guitars i can always thin it out for cleaner or rhythmic stuff and go full for lead. Should be perfect.
And with this bass cut i dont need a coil split either.
@@BlackBalloonGraz a bass cut is a great idea! I'm definitely going to look up how you do that mod. I normally include a "straight to output" switch or pot which boosts some treble
@@AlexisGuitars i just ordered blues engine/rolling mils in raw nickel. I told them i come from you :)
Thank you for the mention :) I'm really glad the videos were helpful! Please let me know what you think of them!
Blues Engine!
Haha a fine choice!
Iron Gear😂 pickup's sound great 👍😸 But I would get rid of that guitar 🎸 before the Guitar Police turn up and plead dimished responsibility.
It's great 👍 to see you're sense of humour.I know you make some fantastic guitars also. Best Regards 😃. John.
Haha yeah the comment made me laugh! This guitar was the first body I made. Long before I knew what I was doing 😂