Customer Testimonials
Thanks to everyone who has phoned or written. I must say we appreciate each and every call and email. And, I can’t remember a single constructive criticism that we could not agree with.
Here are just a few of the comments we receive every day from guitar players worldwide. It is refreshing to hear these comments because they keep us focused with the knowledge that we are simply not drinking our own cool-aid.
Thank you all
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6/30/10
Hey all....here's another artist comment from Rich Eckhart, guitarist for Toby Keith. Check out Rich's new CD, "Cottage City Firehouse" on his website at www.richeckhardt.com........Frank
Hey Frank,
I've got a few shows under my belt using the Joe Barden humbucker and absolutely love how it sounds. It has bite and cuts without sounding brittle and it breaks up nicely without being overly distorted. It's exactly what I was hoping it would be. Thanks so much for making such a great pick-up.
Keep Jammin'
Rich
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06/28/10
Hi all......here's one from Clay Sears, guitarist for Queen Latifah and now currently on the Janet Jackson tour this summer in response to his new S-Deluxe HSS Set...... Frank
Hey Frank,
Got the pickups, popped 'em in last night...WOW!!!
Thanks for everything Frank.
Clay
PS. You bet I took him up on his offer for a video/sound clip ! Stay tuned to our site for that one.....Frank
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03/17/10
Hi all,
Was idly browsing your testimonials page and thought I’d add my bit.
My main guitar is a 1987/8 rosewood Telecaster, that I bought new. For years I ran it with stock pickups and a little battery-powered preamp under the control plate. Sound was good, but the battery kept running out, changing it was a hassle, and the more you go in and out of there fumbling with batteries the more you inevitably break a connection somewhere sooner or later.
I’d decided I would treat myself to new pickups a couple of years back and researched various makes and models. I had it down to a particular manufacturer – and would probably, I guess, have been happy with their product – but in the end, I decided on a whim to push the boat out and spend a little extra on Joe Bardens.
The transformation in the guitar has been nothing short of remarkable. The clarity of the notes I play was shocking at first, because every little error was apparent, but that provided an incentive to sharpen up my playing. The more I got used to it, playing that guitar is a dream. I have a few guitars, and the one possible downside of fitting Bardens to the Telecaster is that it opens up such a gulf between that guitar and my others that the others don’t get played any more.
I know – maybe I need to fit all the others with Bardens too. This is under consideration!!
All the best, and thanks for the pickups. I believe in what goes around should come around, so I hope you’re all well and happy in life.
Keith
Cambridge, UK
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Frank -
I told you I would let you know my "findings" when I tried your pickups. I managed to purchase an HB T/T and since my custom setneck isn't routed yet, I dropped it into a Carvin thru-neck. What can I say . . . it is EXACTLY what you described! I can't believe how "stratty" it sounds and it is fairly close to a classic '57 humbucker too. In "strat" mode, I kept finding myself forced to play Blackmore's riff for "Man on the Silver Mountain". lol I felt I might need to do an "afterburner" for the metal stuff but as I've been playing it, nothing seems to be lacking. I'm getting some nice harmonics and a nice response to pick attack. Alot of people were reviewing the pickup as not for the metal crowd but for those of us playing metal with dynamics, this is THE pickup! Now I can't wait to hear it in my custom (walnut body and madagascar rosewood neck!). I'll be getting an S-dlx and another HB T/T to complete the project (H S H). Thanks for the details and recommendations!
- Jason "Shreddah" Felger
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Here's a testimonial from the Faroe Islands located way out in the North Atlantic.
Just goes to show that the quest for Tone and JBE pickups have few limits. !
Feb. 2010
Hey Frank.
I said I would write you back when I had tried the Pick-ups.
And let me tell you... They are great!!! ;-).
They are very powerful and honest, if you can use that word.
I played a gig on saturday and I was blown away by their power.
The low end comes out LOUD and a crispy midrange.
I have a Fender Jazz Bass '08, a Mark Bass Little Mark II amp and Eden cabs.
And now JBE Pick-ups. ;-). All in all at really good set up.
Thank you very much Frank for everything. You made me a happier man. ;-)
All the best my friend.
Jens
Faroe Islands
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12-2009
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Hello Barden Engineering,
I just wanted to send along a photo of my Barden Engineering bridge plate and Telecaster pickups installed in my recently completed Kingbee Guitar’s “Danny Gatton Tribute” guitar (her name is “Holly”).
The quality of the bridge/saddles along with the pickups make this guitar a player that transcends a real 1952 Telecaster (former Gatton project guitar w/Christian pickup installed) that I had owned in the past. I can’t say enough about Joe’s pickups. I have been a user of these pickups since the day Joe installed the first set in my 52 Tele back in the mid 80’s. They are simply “The best pickups on the planet !!!” .
Thanks again,
Bruce
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Centreville VA
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Hi There,
I just got the JB Gatton T-Style pick ups today and a buddy of mine put them in. They were an upgrade from the standard Fender Vintage
Spec pick-ups that come in the '52 Reissue. Let me tell you, these baby's sure can rock. As soon as I got my guitar in tune and plugged
it in, it was like I was listening to a new instrument. Clear tone, great twang, absolutely ZERO hum (other than what was coming from my
amp). I've fallen in love. I would never recommend any other brand of pick-up, even the ones I haven't heard, and I would never not buy
these for any future electric I get. They're way too awesome not to have!
Dave
Philadelphia, PA
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To Joe Barden Pickups
Just had a set of S-Deluxe Pick Ups installed in my "The Strat" at the
Music Zoo In NY. . They're everything your ads claimed; super quiet and
maintain the sound of single coils but with even more amazing detail.
Super job can't say enough!!!!
Ron in. NY
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(From Switzerland)
I put the Gatton pick ups in my Tele today and ....WOW!
I have heard a lot about them over the years, play Tele for years and
have tried god-knows how many pickups over the years, - and was never more
than fairly happy.
Yours are a different case, I was amazed.
My E string doesnt sound weak anymore and the whole guitar has a
depth and sparkle that it has never had. I like the no hum and increased
output too, but there is a clarity and honesty of tone that Ive never
had before.
Now I really have to play it!
I have other Teles too but they will have to wait for the treatment.....
thanks and a lovely day to you all
Duncan (Switzerland)
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Here's one from a great guy and good friend of JBE. Aside from simply being a good guitar player. Johnny demonstrates clearly that JBE pickups are versitile for any genre of music. And, if you think he only plays Smooth Jazz, think again. He wailed at the 2008 show at Wolf Trapp in Virginia when he stepped out for a few really tasty solos.
Hi Frank-
Hope this note finds you well.
It’s been a while since we’ve talked, and I just wanted to tell you that my love affair with the Strat pickups is definitely not over.
These pickups are amazing! They have it all- sweet, chimey, punchy, and they can scream! And for the first time in my life I can actually use the bridge pickup all by itself.
I tell every strat player I know about them. And the tele pickups in my Don Grosh (Tele style) are working out fantastic too, but that’s a given!
My tech Bob Gilles and I continuously rave about the sounds after every gig. Really- I’m not kidding. Sorry to go on and on and on… I just had to get this off of my chest.......I feel much better now.
We’ve got some interesting gigs lined up for ’09- Touring in Romania, Bulgaria, Turkey, Poland, Ireland, Germany, England, Holland, France, Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, Taiwan, and a few other spots, as well as some extensive US runs.
Anyway, just wanted to touch base and let you know how happy I (still) am with your pickups!
Cheers,
Johnny Ray
Kenny G band
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Jeff A. Columbus Ohio
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Hello,
My name is Gabriel, I'm a guitarist, singer and soungwriter. I've been playing Barden pickups for 11 years now, and just wanted to write a quick "thank you" note. I'm so glad to see you're back and stronger than ever. A world without Barden Engineering is truly an uglier place.
I've been playing my Tele for such a long time, it's like part of me.. I can't imagine it without its Barden's. They're it's voice, and mine too, for that matter. I've been recording my first demo of my own material, (having mostly be a sideman,) and once again, the Barden pickups have made recording so much easier. The best tone in the world, and no noise. I have an ES-335 with HB Two-Tones with those two guitars, I can get just about every classic guitar sound, albeit with greater freq. response, dynamic range, transparency and clarity.
I mainly play country-rock, but I also love blues, jazz and r&b, and i don't have to switch guitars in order to have he right tone, and a killer sound.
I just posted this on a pickup forum, when another player asked me about some noiseless pickup choices:
Joe Barden: These pickups are in their own league: they've incredibly clear sounding, and show every nuance of your playing and style. They're very transparent, and incredibly powerful. That said, they're not "hot" pickups like Hot Rails at all. Unlike those kinds of pickups, they don't cover up your tone: they let your voice shine through. They've got the feel and response of single-coils, but they have much more bass, mids and treble.They have a wider frequency range, and are the most responsive, dynamic pickups you can buy. They are like a waterfall; pure, crystal clear, incredibly beautiful but dangerously powerful.
Anyway, one day, (soon I hope,) I'll be getting another electric guitar. And i'm so happy that I'll again be able to equip it with the finest pickups in the world: Barden pickups.
Thanks a million!
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Hi,
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Dec 2008
Back in 2003 I got a set of T-style pickups for my self-made Danny Gatton tribute Tele. From the moment I fired it up I knew I'd done the right thing for that guitar. I was heartbroken when I found out the old company had disappeared from John Page at the Fender custom shop, and elated to find out that Joe was back with a new company. Over the past five years I have played that tele all over the country, Jazzfest in New Orleans and those pickups have never given me a problem. They basically look like new with only minor traces of wear on the top flatwork. The blades have never tarnished or rusted. Amazing.
I have worked as a professional guitar tech for 25 years and over 10 as a Fender-certified tech, and the durability of your product over the long haul is outstanding! I'm getting a set of S-Deluxes for my main strat to replace a really nice set of Suhr pickups (Very good, but can't hold up to the output of the Bardens in my tele) so I don't have to reset everything when I change guitars. Thanks to Joe for as DG said "The Best Pickups On The Planet"
Keith T.
Guitar Doc
Lake Charles
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I wanted to follow up on the Barden pickups after I had a chance to use them and compare them with single coils..I have to say Wow!!! I love the Bardens..All the richness clarity of single coils with more muscle(output) and no 60 cycle hum..What??? I can have my cake and eat it too??
Fino Roverato
Guitarist
Franki Valli Band
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Heard these 2 weeks ago at a session and immediately started ordering
parts for a custom top of the line tele for myself. Got it all together
last night and after the final tweaking this morning I had to write to
tell you these are the greatest pickups I ever played/heard in 34
years. They sing ,they cry, they scream. They give me the sound i've
searched for. Worth every dollar I spent on them. BTW these sound great
with the tele 4 way mod. Ole Danny sure knew what he was talking about,
on and off the fretboard.
Thanks for making em!
Carl Pepka
Kenosha WI
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Greetings,
I just wanted to thank you for designing and producing such a wonderful product. I've had this set of Strat Deluxe pickups sitting on a shelf in my basement for years - I sold the original instrument for which they were purchased, and had sort of forgotten about them. Last week I saw them sitting there and decided to install them in a Strat with which I'd no complaints - it sounded pretty good. Now is sounds <expletive deleted> awesome. It's easy to read the description of these pickups on your website and dismiss it as propaganda - of course Joe Barden is gonna say such things, he selling a product. Well, in short your description is dead-on accurate. These are incredibly articulate and touch-sensitive pickups. I've set them fairly low in the instrument's pickguard and performed a volume pot mod so that the tone is fairly glassy when the volume is reduced. By turning down the volume I can get a great vintage Strat pickup tone that's glassy, more 3D, more round (I've been playing/gigging Strats for over 20 years and have owned my stock 1961 Stratocaster for most of them; it is a tone-beast, so I know that of which I'm speaking), and more articulate than anything Leo Fender produced. If I turn the volume knob up I get great sting, punch and sustain, if I crank the volume knob my amp is pushed (wonderfully) to break up and the bridge pickup snarls with authority. There are no other pickups on the market like these, and I couldn't be more pleased. Many thanks.
Warmest regards,
Jay B.
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And here is another follow-up from Jay after asking him if we can use his comments. I think he wanted to add just a bit more…..(we’re blushing!)….(Frank at JBE)
Gentlemen,
Your pickups are the real deal. As my wife says - "It is what it is...."
Please, by all means - use my email. I really think your potential customers need to know the truth, which is tough to do without gushing. There really aren't words to capture it. I spent about an hour experimenting with pickup height and found my sweet zone. I played the guitar for about 15 minutes, then stopped, sat it upright in a lounge chair and just looked at it. Amazing. It was like dialing in "good stuff you like" and dialing out "stuff you don't like" about Stratocaster pickups. They are more round, glassy, and present than the pretty darned good-sounding pickups they replaced. Power is on demand at your fingertips - want more grind from your amp? Dig into the strings harder. What a cleaner tone? Soften the attack on the strings. Amazing. There is no other pickup like these. I can play finger-style passages and hear fingertips and nails distinctly. They are hi-fidelity and 3D. I am far more in control of my sound - volume, drive, and sustain are very much at my fingertips. They are the difference between seeing a picture of the Grand Canyon and standing on the rim in awe of nature. All of that would be cool, and worth the price of admission. Did I mention that they're quiet too?
Thank you for an outstanding product.
Warmest Regards,
Jay B.
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Just a quick note to let you know how absolutely thrilled I am with my new tele neck pickup. I’ve had a half a dozen pickups in this slot... I should have just bought a barden from the get go! This tele I have has always felt like home...now FINALLY it sounds like home. Makes me think about getting your strat pickups... Yes, the custom shop Fender strat has been moved to backup for this old crappy frankintele...the one with your pickups.
New Joe Barden enthusiast,
Geoff
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My grandson recently purchased a set of pickups for his American Made Tele. I installed them a couple of nights ago. I felt I had to tell you, these pickups are the finest sounding pick ups in the world. They are clear bell like sounds, no hum, no noise, just perfect. It made an entirely new guitar out of that Tele with your wonderful pickups.
Bill
Green Bay, WI.
PS When we asked Bill if we can use his comments he said this :
You have my permission to use the information I sent you as a testimonial. No problem. I feel very honored to report the truth on how well your products work. Like country folk here in the north country..." No Brag Just Fact" is how we operate....
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Here’s one from a real supporter who got caught in the cracks of the old company going “commercially unavailable” in 2002 and the establishment of the new Joe Barden Engineering in 2006. We were pleased we could finally get things squared away to Jay’s satisfaction.
Hey fellas.
Those Tele pickups you sent me were installed and they sound fabulous.
They're in a 2000 Japanese Tele and make all the difference.
I'm glad we both stayed the course on those, and now I barely remember the wait.
Continued success in the future.
Jay H.
Minneapolis
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Installed my Tele set, and just wanted to say OUTSTANDING ! ! I (like many others) have waited a long time for a set Joe Barden pickups, and I'm glad you are back!
Here's wishing your new business continued success!
All the best.
Jay O.
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Just wanted to give a quick thanks, I installed my Danny Gatton Tele set today and I must admit these pickups are still the best! The craftsmanship and sound are exquisite! It was well worth the wait. And to all the Ebay-ers that think the older Joe Bardens are better than what’s being made now, bullsh_ _! Go ahead and spend $600 or more for a used set, my next (third) set will be brand new from Joe Barden.
All the best,
Brian V.
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Hi Frank and all at Barden Engineering,
I just thought I had better let you know the pickups arrived in the UK without a problem, and thank you for your help.
And I'm having great fun with them! I get to try a lot of pups, and generally find I prefer the original Fender sound ahead of many 'aftermarket' pickups. That said I had been hankering after a set of Bardens for one of my Tele's for a long time, and I couldn't be happier. I find they have the typical Tele/Fender sound I like, but with much more 'punch' in the dynamics of the sound, making them very expressive. Nice!
Best regards
Steve
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Thanks so much for takin’ care of me today. I can’t tell you how much I appreciate it. The new pickup sounds great! Remarkable the difference between these & the stock pickups (but you knew that) It’s a totally different guitar now.
Thanks again,
Don
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Dear Frank,
I have received my Tele pickups as you promised and yesterday I picked up my guitar at Bob's Guitar Hospital in Red Bank, NJ. Bob Pinto told me I would be surprised at the new sound emanating from these pickups. Surprised was not as accurate a word as I was AMAZED. I had band practice last night and my band mates were all asking me what I'd done to my guitar. The tones were not only crystal clear, they were inspiring. It was almost as if I could hear the strings vibrating. All of the muddiness of the stock Fender pickups in my Tele Deluxe was history. The chime associated with the Tele on the bridge pickup was crystaline and when I dug in, the growl was there too.
I now have a new favorite guitar. I have had and played a lot of guitars over the last 40 years and as we all know, IT'S ALL ABOUT THE TONE!!!! Thanks for making it happen.
Sincerely,
Kevin C, NJ
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one word......... WOW !
and these are quiet also ?
I am very impressed !
Ron D.
email
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Thank you for the quick response. I installed the pickup this morning and am extremely satisfied with the way it sounds....its like my tele has been let out of its cage....;-) I just purchased a Barden neck pup from ebay to compliment this one....Everything about these pickups is true.....
Rob J.
Email
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Hi Joe and Frank,
I finally had the pickups installed in my Blackguard Partscaster - OH
MY GOD!!! They are all "that" and much more. I'm a believer, and will
tell my pals! I hope to be in the studio in the next couple of months
- If the sessions bear fruit I'll send you some clips. Thanks again
for your great pickups, and you generosity.
Best, Jeff
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Howdy all. Just dropping a line to let you know that I still LOVE my
Danny Gatton T-style set i got a year ago. I find it difficult to
play any of my other guitars especially the other teles (one a thin-
line equipped with a Seymour Duncan Broadcaster in the bridge and
Mini Humbucker in the neck & was my main stage guitar) because I get
every sound I want in your pickups. I am happily a walking talking
advertiser for you guys in the southeast. Thanks again for a superior
product.
Thanks Again,
Dale D.
The Ugli Stick
myspace/theuglistick
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Hi Frank, I recieved the pickup. WOW !! I thank you for your amazing customer service and great communication. You really helped me so much. Thank you again. Barden Engineering ROCKS !!
Chris G. Canada
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Frank,
Sorry it's taken me a while to get back to you. Just wanted to let you
know that I did buy the S-Deluxe pickup following our
previous correspondence. After installing it, adjusting the height on
it as well as my other two pickups, and playing with it on two Sundays,
I can tell you that the pickup solved my problems, met all of my
expectations, and performs to the high standards that it is advertised
to do. Thank you for your assistance, and for the excellent product
that Joe Barden Engineering is producing.
Brad
Churchville, MD
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Here's a brief excerpt from Robert H. who took great pains to be thorough and objective. Robert has several guitars with other pickups so he had as very good basis of comparison. He wrote quite a bit and I could not even extract one negative thing he wrote. The rest was a positive as you see below. Thanks Bob.......Frank T.
My overall take on the Danny Gatton pickups is
I'd been missingmany "parts" of the tonal spectrum. Your
pickups are: clear, immediately responsive, unbelievably responsive
to changes in picking, present and sound better than I've ever heard
on Teles. (By the way, it's also the first time I've ever heard a
fabulous sounding neck pickup on a Tele; definitely is a balanced
match with the bridge pickup)
So, I finally got tired of hearing everyone rave about "Joe Barden"
pickups, and just figured my "main" guitar was worth the investment.
No regrets; I'd purchase your pickups again in an instant. Super
quiet, more shades of the tonal spectrum than I've ever heard on
Teles, very well balanced pair, I am now really "using" my tone
control for the first time ever, and the nuances that get transmitted
from my picking and into the amp are instantaneous and super varied.
Thanks again,
Robert Hinkson
6/26/08
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