Kiesel/Carvin Guitars announced this past week that their proprietary passive pickups are now available for sale directly from them without being shipped in a rather more expensive package (a custom guitar) and will henceforth be known by the name Lithium.
I think the name Lithium is very appropriate. Not only is lithium a \m/etal, it’s a drug used to stabilize the crushing mood swings of bipolar patients. If you suffer from bipolar, you’ve experienced the soaring highs of manic episodes and debilitating lows of depressive periods. Lithium smooths out the ride by tempering both, making for a more balanced life. In that same way, the Lithium pickups are extremely balanced and clear across all the sounds you can make on a guitar.
I’ve had loads of time with these pickups now, both in the SCB6Â and the Vader V7Â I reviewed, as well as the DC800 review I’ve got coming. I’ll be spending a bit more time on the pickups with the DC since it’s an 8 string and you can get an idea of what they sound like through a larger range of sounds. I think they’re as good or better than any aftermarket pickups on the…. market. On the aftermarket? Whatever. They’re real good.
