ThroBak Guitar Lounge

We Restored a Forgotten Fender Pickup Winder… and Discovered Something HUGE

We Restored a Forgotten Fender Pickup Winder… and Discovered Something HUGE | Ep. 052 Upgrade your guitar with ThroBak Pickups 👉 https://www.throbak.com/ Welcome to Episode 052 of the ThroBak Guitar Lounge Podcast — a very special episode marking one full year of weekly podcasts from ThroBak! 🎉 To celebrate, Jon Gundry and Matthew Quail unveil the fully restored Fullerton 457 pickup winder, the historic vintage Fender-era winding machine purchased from the Jim Irsay Collection auction. Is it Fender's first pickup winding machine? In this episode’s feature presentation, Jon presents an in-depth 19-minute “ThroBak Home Movie” documenting the restoration process and explaining why he believes the Fullerton 457 Winder may be one of the earliest Fender pickup winding machines ever discovered. Even more surprising, this historic machine appears to possess unique mechanical characteristics that directly influence the sound and feel of the pickups wound on it. For vintage Fender enthusiasts, pickup historians, and tone fanatics chasing true early Fender sound, this is an episode you do not want to miss. 🎸⚡ Episode Breakdown 🎉 Celebrating One Year of the ThroBak Guitar Lounge Podcast Jon and Matthew kick off Episode 052 celebrating a full year of weekly ThroBak Guitar Lounge episodes and reflect on the incredible response from the guitar community. 🎞️ ThroBak Home Movie – The Fullerton 457 Pickup Winder Restoration A detailed 19-minute feature presentation documenting the restoration of the historic Fullerton 457 Fender pickup winder. Jon Gundry explains the machine’s unusual construction details, early Fender-era design characteristics, and the evidence suggesting this may be one of the earliest surviving Fender pickup winding machines. Along the way, Jon reveals several unexpected features that may actually affect pickup tone and winding behavior. 🎸 Pickups of the Week – NEW ThroBak T-’52 MXV Telecaster Pickups Episode 052 also marks the debut of a brand-new ThroBak prototype pickup model: the T-’52 MXV Telecaster Set — wound on the Fullerton 457 itself. Based on an original 1952 Telecaster pickup set that came through the ThroBak shop for repair, these pickups aim to capture the raw snap, dynamic response, and harmonic character of the earliest blackguard-era Telecaster tones. ⚡ Hear the T-’52 MXV Telecaster Pickups in Action Jon and Matthew plug the new T-’52 MXV set into a Fender Telecaster and put them through their paces, exploring the touch sensitivity, clarity, attack, and vintage character produced by pickups wound on the restored Fullerton 457 machine. 🔥 The Guitargument – Good, Great & Exceptional Aftermarket Pickups Are premium aftermarket pickups really worth the cost? Jon and Matthew debate what separates “good” pickups from truly exceptional vintage-accurate reproductions. This segment offers a deeper look into the philosophy behind ThroBak pickups — where absolute vintage accuracy in tone, winding techniques, materials, construction, and cosmetics comes first, and the cost of achieving that level of authenticity follows naturally from the process. 😎 The Cool Down Jon and Matthew unwind after a massive episode with more guitar talk and reflections. 🎸 Rorschach Riffs with Matthew – Electric Guitar Edition Matthew returns with another electric guitar round of riffs to identify. 📀 Matthew’s Musical Musings – Matthew closes the episode with a discussion on the legendary Michael Bloomfield. ThroBak Electronics is a world leader in classic reproduction guitar pickups. To learn more visit.: https://www.throbak.com/p90-pickup.html https://www.throbak.com/paf-pickups.html https://www.throbak.com/stratocaster-pickups.html https://www.throbak.com/telecaster-pickups.html https://www.throbak.com/alnico-magnets.html https://www.throbak.com/pedals.html https://www.throbak.com/strings

We Plugged a Telecaster Into a Marshall… This Happened!?

What happens when a classic Telecaster meets a roaring Marshall amp?  Upgrade your guitar with ThroBak Pickups 👉 https://www.throbak.com/ In Episode 051 of the ThroBak Guitar Lounge Podcast, Jon Gundry and Matthew Quail dive headfirst into one of the most unexpected tone pairings in electric guitar history. Known for its snap, twang, and cutting clarity, the Telecaster isn’t usually the first choice for Marshall-driven rock tones—but what unfolds might just change your mind. From sparkling cleans to gritty crunch and full-on overdrive, we explore how this iconic guitar responds when pushed through a legendary British amp, revealing tones that blur the line between country, blues, and classic rock. If you think you know what a Telecaster can (or can’t) do, think again. 🎸🔥 Episode 051 Breakdown: 📬 ThroBak Mailbox – A look at ThroBak’s growing global reach 🌍 and a discussion around a recent rig rundown featuring Jack Ruch. 🎸 Pickups of the Week – The spotlight is on the ThroBak T-'59 MXV Telecaster pickups, paired with a Marshall for a tone test that challenges expectations. 🔊 Hear the Pickups – Listen to the T-'59 MXV Tele pickups in action through a Marshall—clean, crunch, and driven tones that redefine what a Tele can do. 🎲 Rorschach Riffs (Electric Edition) – Matthew reacts in real time with spontaneous riffs and tonal explorations. ⚡ The Guitargument: Lightning Round – Fast, fiery takes on hot-button guitar topics—no time to overthink, just pure instinct. 🧊 The Cool Down – Slowing things down with reflections, takeaways, and tone talk after the storm. 🎶 Matthew’s Musical Musings – A spotlight on Charlie Sexton, exploring his tone, style, and influence. 👋 Outro – Wrapping up the episode and final thoughts on this surprising Telecaster + Marshall pairing. 🎸 Gear Featured in This Episode ThroBak T-'59 MXV Telecaster Pickups  https://www.throbak.com/throbak-t-59-telecaster-pickups.html Fender Jimmy Page Signature Telecaster Marshall SV20H Studio Vintage 20-watt Amplifier Head Thanks for watching Episode 050 of the ThroBak Guitar Lounge Podcast—be sure to like, subscribe, and let us know in the comments: Which P.A.F. tone wins for you… high output or low output? 👇🔥 👉 Explore ThroBak Pickups: https://www.throbak.com 🔔 Subscribe for more deep dives into vintage tone, pickups, and guitar gear. ThroBak Electronics is a world leader in classic reproduction guitar pickups. To learn more visit.: https://www.throbak.com/p90-pickup.html https://www.throbak.com/paf-pickups.html https://www.throbak.com/stratocaster-pickups.html https://www.throbak.com/telecaster-pickups.html https://www.throbak.com/alnico-magnets.html https://www.throbak.com/pedals.html https://www.throbak.com/strings.html ThroBak Electronics, located in Grand Rapids Michigan, was established in 2002 to bring the best of vintage tone back to the guitar player of today.Make sure to watch the ThroBak Guitar Lounge Podcast each Saturday on YouTube.

High Output vs Low Output P.A.F. Pickups – Which Sounds Better Through Fender?

High Output vs Low Output P.A.F. Pickups – Which Sounds Better Through Fender? | ThroBak Guitar Lounge Podcast Ep. 050 Upgrade your guitar with ThroBak Pickups 👉 https://www.throbak.com/ Welcome back to the ThroBak Guitar Lounge Podcast! This week, Jon Gundry and Matthew Quail put two very different P.A.F. pickup recipes head-to-head through a killer 1979 Fender Deluxe Reverb to answer one big question: do high output P.A.F. pickups deliver the ultimate rock tone, or do low output P.A.F.s reveal the sweeter, more dynamic side of vintage humbucker tone? We compare the powerful ThroBak MC-102B Custom P.A.F. Repros against the articulate ThroBak ’57 SteelHead MXV A4 low output P.A.F. Repros, exploring clean tones, dirty tones, touch sensitivity, and what really works best with a classic Fender amp. If you love vintage guitar tone, boutique pickups, and real-world pickup shootouts, this episode is for you. 📬 In ThroBak Mailbox, we tackle the issue of counterfeit ThroBak ’64 Strat pickups showing up in the market—how to spot them, why it matters, and how to protect yourself when buying boutique pickups online. Then we bring you another exciting update on the legendary Fender/Irsay Pickup Winder, the historic machine tied to Charlie Davis, Fender history, and the Jim Irsay Collection that continues to spark major interest in the vintage guitar world. 🔥 Pickups of the Week features a full tone shootout between the high-output ThroBak MC-102B Custom P.A.F. Repros and the low-output ThroBak ’57 SteelHead MXV A4 P.A.F. Repros. Hear both sets through a killer 1979 Fender Deluxe Reverb and decide for yourself—which P.A.F. recipe gives you the best clean tones, breakup, and dirty rock sounds? ⚡ We break down amp settings on the ’79 Fender Deluxe Reverb before comparing: • MC-102B Custom P.A.F. Repros – Clean & Dirty Tones • ’57 SteelHead MXV A4 Low Output P.A.F. Repros – Clean & Dirty Tones 📸 Paul Hudson shows us what he is working on this week and shares his homemade chocolate cookies with the Jon & Matt.  🎙️ In this week’s Guitargument: *The Vintage Guitar Steal: What Would You Do?* If you stumble across an unbelievably underpriced vintage guitar… do you tell the seller the truth, or quietly walk away with the deal of a lifetime? Ethics vs opportunity—this one gets spicy. ❄️ Then we hit The Cool Down before Matthew takes over with another electric edition of Rorschach Riffs 🎸 🎼 Finally, in Matthew’s Musical Musings, we explore Open Reel Ensemble and ask: Is this the future of music? Tape machines as instruments, experimental performance art, and where creativity meets technology. 🎸 Gear Featured in This Episode ThroBak MC-102B Custom  P.A.F. Repros ThroBak '57 SteelHead MXV A4  P.A.F. Repros 1979 Fender Deluxe Reverb Nobels ODR-1 Gold Edition 2023 Gibson 1958 Historic Reissue Les Paul 2004 Gibson 1957 Historic Reissue Les Paul Thanks for watching Episode 050 of the ThroBak Guitar Lounge Podcast—be sure to like, subscribe, and let us know in the comments: Which P.A.F. tone wins for you… high output or low output? 👇🔥 👉 Explore ThroBak Pickups: https://www.throbak.com ThroBak Electronics is a world leader in classic reproduction guitar pickups. To learn more visit.: https://www.throbak.com/p90-pickup.html https://www.throbak.com/paf-pickups.html https://www.throbak.com/stratocaster-pickups.html https://www.throbak.com/telecaster-pickups.html https://www.throbak.com/alnico-magnets.html https://www.throbak.com/pedals.html https://www.throbak.com/strings.html ThroBak Electronics, located in Grand Rapids Michigan, was established in 2002 to bring the best of vintage tone back to the guitar player of today.Make sure to watch the ThroBak Guitar Lounge Podcast each Saturday on YouTube.

High Output P.A.F. Pickups Through a Marshall – The Best Rock Tone Ever!?

High Output P.A.F. Pickups Through a Marshall – The Best Rock Tone Ever!? | ThroBak Guitar Lounge Podcast Ep. 049 Upgrade your guitar with ThroBak Pickups 👉 https://www.throbak.com/ Welcome back to the ThroBak Guitar Lounge Podcast! This week, Jon Gundry and Matthew Quail dive deep into one of the biggest tone debates in vintage-style humbuckers: do high output P.A.F. pickups deliver the ultimate Marshall rock tone? 🎸⚡ 📬 ThroBak Mailbox We return to the incredible story of the historic Charlie Davis Fender pickup winder from the Jim Irsay collection and share the latest update on this remarkable piece of guitar-making history. A true piece of Fender history and an amazing chapter in the Charlie Davis story. 🎯 Pickups of the Week – ThroBak MC-102B Custom P.A.F. Repros We put the ThroBak MC-102B Custom P.A.F. Repros head-to-head through a Marshall SV20H Studio Vintage 20-watt Amplifier Head to hear exactly what high output P.A.F. pickups bring to the table—from thick, aggressive dirty tones to articulate cleaner sounds. Then we compare them directly to the lower output ThroBak '57 SteelHead MXV A4 P.A.F. Repros to hear just how much output changes your tone, feel, and response. ⚡ The Guitargument – Lightning Round Fast takes. Hot opinions. Potential controversy. Jon and Matthew fire through rapid guitar debates guaranteed to start arguments in the comments. 🎨 Rorschach Riffs with Matthew – Electric Edition featuring special guest Todd Dhyne! A fan-favorite creative segment returns with riffs, reactions, and some electric guitar curveballs. If you're chasing the ultimate Les Paul + Marshall tone, this episode is for you. ⚡ Which sounds better to you—high output or low output P.A.F. pickups? Let us know in the comments! 🎸 Gear Featured in This Episode ThroBak MC-102B Custom  P.A.F. Repros ThroBak '57 SteelHead MXV A4  P.A.F. Repros Marshall SV20H Studio Vintage 20-watt Amplifier Head 2023 Gibson 1958 Historic Reissue Les Paul 👉 Explore ThroBak Pickups: https://www.throbak.com 🔔 Subscribe for more deep dives into vintage tone, pickups, and guitar gear. ThroBak Electronics is a world leader in classic reproduction guitar pickups. To learn more visit.: https://www.throbak.com/p90-pickup.html https://www.throbak.com/paf-pickups.html https://www.throbak.com/stratocaster-pickups.html https://www.throbak.com/telecaster-pickups.html https://www.throbak.com/alnico-magnets.html https://www.throbak.com/pedals.html https://www.throbak.com/strings.html ThroBak Electronics, located in Grand Rapids Michigan, was established in 2002 to bring the best of vintage tone back to the guitar player of today.Make sure to watch the ThroBak Guitar Lounge Podcast each Saturday on YouTube.

This Legendary Fender Pickup Winder Has Been Silent for Decades—Until Now

This Legendary Fender Pickup Winder Has Been Silent for Decades—Until Now | ThroBak Guitar Lounge Podcast Ep. 048 Upgrade your guitar with ThroBak Pickups 👉 https://www.throbak.com/ Welcome back to the ThroBak Guitar Lounge Podcast — and the story continues. After the historic unboxing in Episode #047, the legendary Fender / Charlie Davis / Jim Irsay pickup winder is now alive again. In this episode, Jon Gundry reveals the successful repair of the vintage machine after bringing the original Dayton motor back to working condition, likely for the first time in over 20 years. This isn’t just a repair — it’s the revival of a remarkable piece of guitar-making history tied to Fender’s early pickup winding legacy and Charlie Davis, Fullerton’s unsung hero. We also dive into the latest ThroBak Mailbox, including viewer reactions to the unboxing, speculation on what pickups might be made on the restored winder, and the Guitar Center new guitar story that the podcast may have scooped before anyone else. This week’s Pickups of the Week feature the ThroBak DT-102 MXV Vintage P.A.F. Humbucker Repros, followed by a live playing demo so you can hear exactly what they bring to the table. Then Jon and Matthew take on this week’s Guitargument: 🎸 Is the guitar industry entering a Q1 2026 bubble? A timely discussion on the state of the market, the boutique world, and what might be coming next. We wrap with Rorschach Riffs, amp and pedal settings, this week’s treat, Matthew’s Musical Musings on the 40th anniversary of Robert Palmer’s Riptide Tour, and even a surprising ThroBak connection to NASA’s Artemis II mission. 🔥 Episode Segments Intro The repaired Fender / Charlie Davis / Jim Irsay / ThroBak pickup winder ThroBak Mailbox Pickups of the Week – DT-102 MXV Pickup demo The Guitargument The Cool Down Rorschach Riffs with Matthew Amp Settings – 1979 Fender Silverface Deluxe Reverb Pedal Settings – Nobels ODR-1 Treat of the Week 🍪 Matthew’s Musical Musings 🎶 Artemis II connection 🚀 Outro If you love vintage guitar history, pickup tone, boutique gear, and great guitar debates, make sure to like, subscribe, and join us in the Lounge. 👉 Explore ThroBak Pickups: https://www.throbak.com ThroBak Electronics is a world leader in classic reproduction guitar pickups. To learn more visit.: https://www.throbak.com/p90-pickup.html https://www.throbak.com/paf-pickups.html https://www.throbak.com/stratocaster-pickups.html https://www.throbak.com/telecaster-pickups.html https://www.throbak.com/alnico-magnets.html https://www.throbak.com/pedals.html https://www.throbak.com/strings.html ThroBak Electronics, located in Grand Rapids Michigan, was established in 2002 to bring the best of vintage tone back to the guitar player of today.Make sure to watch the ThroBak Guitar Lounge Podcast each Saturday on YouTube.