| What People are Saying:
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I gigged the Vox for the first time last night – what an awesome guitar ! I promised to give you a run down on how it played.
Firstly, this is the first time ever that I’ve played a guitar that feels the way this does. You may think I’m losing the plot slightly, but there’s something about it that just feels, well, alive !
It’s incredibly responsive & feels as if it’s leading your playing – you always feel that you can play something better, or smoother, or more dynamically, more emotionally – and you do.
I’ve owned & played all manner of guitars over the past 35 years, Gibsons, Fenders, Guild, Ibanez, Yamaha etc etc, the odd custom guitar, even down to a bunch of good copies & homebuilts but nothing that quite feels like this one. It’s a joy to play, set up incredibly well & with a vintage sound that makes your ears smile.
So speaking of sound, it’s very varied. The baseline is definitely vintage strat & you can pull out all the usual nasal quacking funky strat stuff, but it also has a bit of tele-type bite about it, particularly on the centre & bridge pickups.
The neck is very different though & you could easily sometimes think you’re playing a PRS, it still has the base strat sound but it’s also quite creamy, rich & smooth.
Favoured position is with neck & centre selected – it has a full-range sort of feel, sort of ballsy Strat with an edge, but roll off a wee bit of tone & you’re easily into PRS territory.
At higher gain settings the bridge pickup has a nice saturation about it without being too brittle & will happily feedback when required whilst still being very controllable. It’s easily better than my old Ibanez S540 for high-gain lead work – the Ibanez always sounded a bit flimsy, this one has punch & edge but still retains a fullness at the high end. Nice. Extremely positive comments on the sound from the rest of the band & our roadie.
Tuning & stability – excellent even under hot lighting. Neck – great feel. Narrower than I usually like them, but very easy to adapt to & at higher registers the string spacing is good.
I have to say that I think that both Lucy & yourself have done a phenomenal job & this is one superb guitar which will work well across the range, from light clean picking work through jazz, funk & soul into blues & rock.
I didn’t feel the need to get the 6 month old VG Strat out last night, this 47 year old instrument took 2 ½ hours in it’s stride without even losing tuning. Awesome.
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Mungo Duncan
Huggy Flares
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Hi Ray & Lucy,
Thanks for fitting the Juicy pickups and the Washburn trem system onto my Gibson SG Supreme.
The guitar sounds and feels great now. I played it the very same night that I picked it up from you at our gig in Camden.
I thought the sounds coming out of my SG were wicked, and judging by the enthusiastic response from the crowd, they thought so too!!
So thanks once again for your skill, care and craftsmanship on another Elixir axe.
Take care,
Phil,
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Phil Denton
Elixir
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Dear Ray & Lucy,
I would like to state on record of your professionalism in fitting juicy Lucy’s pickups for my bass and many thanks to ray for making it sound superb.
I could not have asked for more but to me using my GK amplifier, it makes a vast difference in the quality of sound. I cannot emphasise more than that the pickups are
What makes the sound of bass crispy and taut in producing the sound I like it to be.
Many Thanks for all your hard work in advising me of what I needed and creating it for me
Kumar
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Kumar & Kandy
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Hi both.
Yesterday I spent a very pleasurable couple of hours playing my dear 'ol jazz bass and felt moved to send you this note.
This bass has a long story attached to it. Thankfully, it has a happy ending and one day I fully intend to write it all down. Suffice to say that the previous owner had not cared for it and when I happened upon it many years ago it was badly in need of some serious TLC and what better people to give it a new life than Ray and Lucy. Ray rebuilt it for me.
The end result is truly a work of art and has to be seen to be believed. The final touch was the recent addition of Lucy's pick-ups which has given it the rich and classic vintage voice that it deserves. Think early Robert Palmer and Little Feat.
It has a great range of sounds. Both pick-ups pushed nearly to their limits is frankly an awesome sound. Amazing bottom end a very clear mid punch. Wind off the neck pick-up a little, tweak the tone and you are given a lovely tight funky sound. Perfect for 'popping the octaves'. It is also impossible to get a harsh and brittle top end. Whatever combination you choose these pick-ups only deliver warm sounds.
They are highly recommended.
For this gift I am forever in your debt.
Lord Rippington of Fishery.
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Graham Wright
The Guv'nors
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I have been using Ray and Lucy for the past couple of years and I wouldn’t let anyone else fiddle with my G-string!
For over a year I used Seymour Duncan pickups on my Tele and could never get to grips with how disappointing their tone was.
However all it took was one conversation with Lucy and Ray and I was given a pair of the finest hot vintage Tele pickups I have ever heard!
If you’re not happy with your pickups then don’t take a chance with ones that are not tailored to your exact specs, otherwise you will never be satisfied!
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Leigh Lewis
Guitarist for White Room
www.myspace.com/whiteroomrock
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We're recording our new demo and my white bass sounds so sweet!
It must be the pick-ups!
Loves you Luc!
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Joe Greenwood
Bass player for White Room
www.myspace.com/whiteroomrock
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Lucy the pick ups in the tokia after having them for 6 months now, I’ am still amazed at the quality of sound they produce!
My son will not use any other guitar!
See you soon,
Ray
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Ray Rockley
kenco-techniques.co.uk
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These pickups have transformed an s.g special into a fire breathing hell bitch. It now sounds better than an s.g supreme! Hand-made, Scatter-wound pickups are the only way forward for the way i play now, which is heavy but tonal, and these cut through beautifully with the alnico V magnet adding big fat balls to the tone. I now have modern power but with vintage airy tone. I am proud to use and endorse these pickups. ....now can i have some more please!
Julian Cooper- Viking Skull
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Julian Cooper
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Hi Lucy,Here is the review as promised...
Lucy has produced these excellent Jazz Bass Pickups that have the vintage clarity and punch plus excellent low mids that cut through and really drive the sound ,
they also have much more power without overload and distortion but they sound alive and sound like they are working to their full capacity.
They are perfect for my twin neck Bass and really make the fretless sing.
Thank you for the good work and bringing vintage sounds with more sonic depth.
Best Wishes Dave Harvey
P.S.Would it be possible to have a copy of those photos you took Lucy because I do not have many of the Twin Neck? Thanks!
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David Harvey
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Hiya.
What can i say, but WOW!
The sound of these things is so close to the 70s tele sound I fell in love with!
I would go to say that they are the nicest sounding pickups I've ever heard -and I've been trying a lot recently!
I won't ever hesitate in convincing every guitarist I meet to upgrade now!
The best thing is the way the chords sound -somehow they just blend together clearly but warmly defined. Finally I have a guitar worth playing -I think your pickups have made the biggest impact on the quality of tone -custon wah circuits, amps, and expensive USA tele's are all a waste of money until the pickups sound right.
Please feel free to quote anything I've said here. I'm very happy to endorse your pickups whole heartedly.
Thanks again.
Ian Stephenson
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Ian Stephenson
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Cheers to Lucy for my PAF clone!!
After 3 versions we got the tone I was after!!
Fantastic, it sounds great in my Les Paul.
Its ALWAYS a pleasure when I visit Ray and Lucy and I'm sure I will be seeing you soon!!!
Cheers, Mark
www.junetheband.com
www.myspace.com/jjuk
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Mark Stow
June and Session Guitarist
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Hi Boys and Girls....
Just a short note to say thanks for bringing my 1955 Gibson Les Paul Jnr back to life. Its never sounded or felt so good.
The attention to detail is astounding!!!
Cooperman and Cooperwoman come to rescue once again!!!
Best Wishes Nick
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Nick Robinson
Session Guitarist
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I have just had Lucy build and fit a Stonking new Vintage Humbucker to my custom Ray Cooper Guitar - the 'Walnut Whip'...
As my fingers fly across the fret board like electric sausages in a sesame seed bun its like a pride (gaggle?) of Angels farting in my earhole.
Bob Marvellous is the bass player for Mundijong and should never be let near a proper guitar.
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Bob Marvellous
mundijong
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You don't have to be an experienced player to benefit from 'Uncle' Ray's craftsmanship!
infact I would
say that novice's to the instrument, (like me), definitely benefit from his expertise, Uncle Ray makes any
production guitar easier to play, as well as sounding better.
I first visited Uncle Ray on a recommendation
from the right honorable Dave 'Bucket' Colwell, and I'm ashamed to say that I have been back
EIGHT times in the past two years as I struggle, (- it's a very enjoyable struggle!), to work out which
guitar style suits me best.
I'm addicted to playing, and keep chopping and changing instruments,
(- eventually I'll do the sensible thing and commission him to make me one), but Uncle Ray patiently nods,
rolls his eyes, and works his magic on each and everyone. Even so- called "Custom Shop' instruments need a
'Ray Cooper' set-up. Admittedly my guitar 'habit' means I am now virtually bankrupt, but I cannot
imagine playing a guitar that Uncle Ray, (and Lucy), HAVEN'T breathed on - in pursuit of tone, what would
be the point? Lovely people, although I'm still convinced Uncle Ray was a great train robber in a previous life...
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Steve Deeks
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Ray Cooper! Guitar Maker Extraordinare!!!
What a buzz it was to visit Ray Coopers guitar workshop. I watched the master and his very clever daughter Lucy at work first hand.
These lovely people have worked with many of the biggest names in the music business.
Lovely people and very clever with it.
Thanks again Lucy and Ray.
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Tommy Ross
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Gigged the perspex strat on Sat, sounded awesome, really noticed the difference in tone & power, many thanks.
For the first time I really enjoyed the way it sounded & it was a pleasure to play it. Best gig we've done in a while!
Cheers
Mungo
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Mungo Duncan
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For over 10 years, Ray has been fixing, tweaking and CARING for my guitars.
From set-ups to refrets to completely rebuilding vintage guitars and pick-ups, to
a standard so high, reliability is guarateed.
Many artists and guitar techs, on taking my recommendation, have been more than satisfied and for my own part, I recently commisioned Ray to build two custom Telecasters, both fine instrumments.
He has proved again he is a true master of his craft.
Lead Guitar for the following bands:
Bad Company, Humble Pie,The Quire Boys and The Jones Gang.
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Dave 'Bucket' Colwell
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I have "grown up" with Ray.
He is the loveliest man, he has the loveliest children and he makes some of the best guitars in the world.
No exageration, this man is a craftsmans craftsman.
Paul (Lead Guitar) has done the rounds playing with people like :
Suzi Quatro,
Brian Knight, Screaming Lord Sutch and many more.........
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Paul Green
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