Quick Look: Kiesel "Mark's Singles" Pickup Tone Demo

Kiesel is known for their modern pickups, but Mark Kiesel recently designed a new single coil to fill that last slot they needed. An alnico 2, vintage-voiced single coil pickup. Did they close in on that strat-like holy grail tone? Just a couple quick sound samples this time, but I'll have a full review of the HD6 used in the video soon.
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[@TheGuitarPit]

Someone needs a haircut. Excuse the haphazard playing, but thought these new Kiesel pickups sounded pretty cool and wanted to share.

[@BrianSGuitars]

I'll trade TP for a haircut!

[@stillnessinmovement]

yr hair looks fine, amigo. playing was fine. thanks for showing us the pickups and the guitar.

[@greekfreak1980]

Finally somebody was arsed to make a demo about these pickups. They sound pretty good,now if they could make an upgraded Kiesel version of their old,discontinued Carvin M22SD humbuckers or another "hotrodded PAF"-style humbucker,that would be nice. Maybe,if you good folks on sevenstring org start a 20 page thread where you can bitch about it,after you finished with the barbequed fingerboard-bitching.Then again,that didn´t worked for that,hmmm... ;-)

[@TheGuitarPit]

Haha, you are welcome! And yeah dude, the SSO threads are hilarious. What a clusterf. But yeah, these are a totally decent upgrade for Kiesel IMO. They needed something in this slot, and these do pretty well. I really hated the Lithium singles...sharp and annoying.

[@greekfreak1980]

Last time I visited them,they had a multi-page thread where they´were "Karen it out" on the Jackson custom shop,because some dude´s Soloist black flame top wasn´t flamey and black enough or whatever. Of course,Jeff Kiesel with his "if you don´t like it,talk to the hand"-attitude is giving them plenty of ammo. Anyway,I really,really want them to make a new version of the Carvin M22 SD pickups though,those things are awesome.

[@stillnessinmovement]

I agree, I like the old 11 pole pickups.

[@SixString_J5]

I got one of the last sets of M22sd's on my DC600 and man am I glad I did.

[@elevenAD]

@@SixString_J5 same! I got an m22sd and 2ap11s in my last Vader build just because I knew they were probably going away,I was not disappointed

[@JimDewdGuitars]

Well that's it you sold me on getting one with my stimulus! Also my Vader should be here in a week I saw it on Jeff's Instagram live. Can't wait for the full review video!

[@TheGuitarPit]

Really digging the different vibe those pickups bring. Sounds so much better than the previous single coils (for what I'm looking for, anyway). Great stuff!

[@JimDewdGuitars]

@@TheGuitarPit awesome job with the specs it looks amazing! Those singles sound great as well.

[@PaulKingMetal]

Awesome video and review. I like Mark's pickups. They sound great!😉👍

[@TheGuitarPit]

Yeah I think it's a nice change for Kiesel. They were missing something in that segment so it's great that you can just get them stock.

[@MyCrazyDogs32]

Thanks for posting this! I'm looking to do a HSS or HSH build using Beryllium humbuckers and Mark's singles, so this is right up my alley. I need to listen to this a few more times, especially to see what the sounds are when in the 2 and 4 selector positions.

[@TheGuitarPit]

Glad it helped! I couldn't find any demos really on it (there was like...one other video?) so I thought I'd get this out while people were probably looking for info about them.

[@MyCrazyDogs32]

@@TheGuitarPit If you make a longer video, could you spend a little time on how the middle pickup pairs with the humbucker. And if you can split the humbucker, how the middle pickup pairs with that, as well? I really love the aesthetic of the CT6, but the best I can do there is HSH, so I'm curious to know how the regular and split Berylliums pair with the single.If I absolutely have to have an HSS setup, I will go with either an Aries or Theos.

[@newtonlkh]

Why I could only find S60, AP11 and TBH 60 in their catalogue? Where are those "Mark's Single" or "Berylium Single"s?

[@TheGuitarPit]

I think you gotta call em. They should update the page, they offer a ton of pickup options and you cant pick any of them online lol.

[@rooftoptrading461]

That is the most hideous looking Kiesel I’ve seen yet

[@ryanl3260]

Hey Chris, what's the name of that paint finish? I really like it, thinking of placing an order for a Vader soon. Been missing your videos!

[@TheGuitarPit]

PSBP Blue to Purple Color Shift Finish! And thanks man, wish I had more time to get back to it!

[@ronniejacobsen3000]

Call of ktulu..... sorta...😉

[@harryweiss8761]

I have the Morgan ac20. How does the neck pickup sound through the Morgan? The 2018 fender elite strat sounds amazing through the ac20 but plays like shit.

[@TheGuitarPit]

I thought it sounded pretty decent! I'm not sure you're going to get all the way to Fender tones on this, but it sounds great in its own way and certainly plays a hell of a lot better :P

[@harryweiss8761]

The Guitar Pit thanks. I have two kiesels, a vader with lithium’s and a semi hollow with the berylliums. I might be spoiled by the kiesels and my prs on action and that’s why I can’t stand my fender. $2k for great sounding pick ups basically because playing it is a hindrance.

[@etherboy3540]

hey man, thanks for the mark demo. I really want to get a headless delos, especially if i can get it with more traditional pickups, but coronavirus. i'm still working, my wife is still working, but we're spending as little as possible in case one or both of our jobs goes away. when this shit lifts though man, i'm buying :-)

[@TheGuitarPit]

You bet! Yeah I've really been enjoying them. Hang in there, hopefully this will all blow over and we can get back to ordering guitars :)

[@JeffMillerCurtJester]

That's a nice looking Kiesel! I got a Delos this year, not headless, with three single-coils. Their options for pickups on their page are pretty confusing. For example, looking at their page and pickup options I'm not sure where the ones you have are even listed. Mine came with Beryllium Passive Pickups, apparently also designed by Mark. Regardless have been super happy with this guitar which is pretty much flawless as far as build goes. To my beginner's ear, I like these pickups much better than my MIM strat. Also, I was pleasantly surprised by receiving it in just six weeks.

[@TheGuitarPit]

That's why I made this video. I can't figure out what the heck is going on with their pickups. Or even what pickups they offer. I just found out they had a humbucker called a Thorium that I'd never heard of or seen listed on their specs page. Super confusing. And same with these, not listed anywhere, didn't see an announcement. Not sure what to make of it.

[@JeffMillerCurtJester]

@@TheGuitarPit They need to hire someone to put the same attention-to-detail they put into their guitars into their site. I know that is not cheap to do, but their site makes them look amateurish. Besides, I think that if they show all the options that they can build for you that it will drive business.

[@doublep1980]

Their website is pretty much useless,that thing hasn't been updated since the mid-00's or something. And their ''guitar builder''-tool is complete crap. First of all,you don't get a visual representaion of your guitar,while even Halo Guitars has a tool that shows your build in real time. And second,they don't list all the available options. For example,you can get the Aries with a Satriani style pickup configuration (humbucker in the bridge,twinblade in the neck with a coil-split) or bridge humbucker only.Neither option is on the builder. The Crescent model is available with an Evertune bridge system,in fact it's the only model with the Aries that can be ordered with it. On the builder,no Evertune option.

[@ryanbarker3978]

You got these? Very cool! I've been thinking about swapping the Beryllium Singles in my Delos for a set of these.

[@TheGuitarPit]

Yeah I was really pleasantly surprised by them. Didn't expect Kiesel to put something like that out, but they did a great job getting that more vintage single coil thing going on.

[@jsantiago.b]

@@TheGuitarPit I was waiting for your review since there are no other Mark's demos, and you have already played both the Berylliums and the new ones.

[@tonlarj37]

Nice, dude! Sounds good! How are you liking that neck?

[@TheGuitarPit]

Great so far. I went with thicker profile and it's a nice fit. A little less nuanced than something like the Suhr elliptical but it still feels great, and I'm not having any of the hand pain the thin one quickly delivers.

[@tonlarj37]

@@TheGuitarPit Yeah... You had mentioned that to me. I love that thicker neck. Looking forward to the review.

[@woocifer]

I'm looking at possibly ordering a Kiesel...perhaps an Osiris, but I'm not sure if I want to go with such a smaller body shape, and instead opt for the Aries. Do you find that the smaller bodies feel awkward at all? ie: Do you have to play them at a certain angle and position to make sure everything stays comfortable?

[@TheGuitarPit]

I haven't noticed any difference at all to be honest. It's sits in about the same place on your leg and feels pretty natural. That might be different for you, depending on how you hold it and whatnot, but I think you'll be surprised how normal it feels. That said, the Aries is one of the most comfortable guitars out there, so I'd say that's an easy recommendation as well!

[@mrb95]

I miss the Guitar Pit!!

[@TheGuitarPit]

Aw thanks man. Fallen off the youtube wagon a bit but maybe I'll get back to it some day, if I find the time :)

[@elevenAD]

I was on the fence about a build, this vid helped me decide!

[@TheGuitarPit]

What sort of thing are you going to order?

[@elevenAD]

@@TheGuitarPit actually going to do a black limba Tele build, I have been considering the Ritchie Kotzen tele and the Gristle Master Tele but I think I can do better with a Kiesel build.

[@aaronmajchen982]

The pickups sound incredibly scooped. Is that dialed in with the amp?

[@HErsemerci]

Is that a baked maple fretboard...?! (sorry couldn't resist 😂) that color is sick tho!

[@TheGuitarPit]

lol. yeah man the color is insane! I'll have to experiment on how best to catch it on camera for the review, because I noticed it didn't really show the big color changes here that much.

[@KevinORourke25]

Thank you for playing actual music on a Kiesel and not just pounding away on the low E while moving around the board as fast as you can. My next Kiesel build will be the Deols and I really like the sound of those "Marks".

[@Distinguished_Djentlemen]

Awesome axe! Black inlays and roasted maple 🍁! How much was it out the door if I may ask?

[@TheGuitarPit]

Probably around $1650, if I had to guess. I ordered it when roasted and some other options were free during a sale. But the paint was an upcharge, as were a couple other features. The base model is $1199, if I recall.

[@BrianSGuitars]

Love that finish Chris! Did you order this one or get it from their on offer guitars? I don't think I will go with a headless guitar again, but the standard Delos has my attention. I'm told I need a Strat often. This is more interesting to me.

[@TheGuitarPit]

Ordered it back in Feb during their roasted maple sale deal thingie. And yeah, these Mark pickups are sweet, they brought a lot of that vintage sort of vibe in...which Kiesel really needed as an option.

[@teokiatuan2]

Hi! Are you running a compressor on this? I'm wondering if there's a big volume/output difference in this set up. Still deciding if i should go HSS Berylliums or Berylliums/Mark/Mark

[@TheGuitarPit]

This setup was just a couple basic patches on an Axefx2. No compressor used in this case, but it's probably not an apples to apples comparison with a real amp. I think the Marks sound great, and haven't noticed a huge volume difference.

[@teokiatuan2]

@@TheGuitarPit hahaha that's just fine. i run the af2 as well. fm3 soon!

[@Eventual420]

Greg Koch? That song is very intricate! I love his originals. Damn Chris, you’re full of surprises.

[@TheGuitarPit]

It's like the world's worst rendition of Rex Charmer, hah. I've tried to learn the more detailed bits but have failed miserably enough times to give up. Oh well, I'll push on :)

[@Eventual420]

The Guitar Pit, lovely guitar, nice sounding pickups! 😜

[@michaelalday8547]

Love the color Chris. Reminds me of my purple neon RG550. How do you like it compared to the Strandberg? Kiesel quality as good or better than the previous Aries and Becker you had? Regards,

[@TheGuitarPit]

Yeah it's a wild color shift purple/blue thing. I love it! Strandbergs are similar but different. I like that Kiesel has the normal neck. Kiesel overall has a little better fit and finish to it...no errors at all, perfect fretwork, etc. The Strandberg was clean but had a couple little weird things on it. A stock HD6 also comes in well under the Strandberg price, so it's pretty damn decent value for the money. I'd say the quality on this guitar is similar to my Aries, Becker, and Delos. Kiesel seems to get it right almost every time, in my experience anyway.

[@marcosovideo]

When did you order your delos? I ordered mine within the hour of Jeff announcing this model, and I've yet to receive it. My salesperson doesn't even know when it's going to be complete. It's a pretty basic one too, so im not sure why it taking so long, or the lack of updates.

[@INVERTEDBUKAKI]

Kiesel sucks at customer service, sorry.

[@TheGuitarPit]

I ordered it right after my Feb 20th video. It was actually delivered ahead of schedule slightly. kzbin.info/www/bejne/qIWcfX1pqpdrpJo

[@marcosovideo]

@@TheGuitarPit Im happy that you got it early! But heck what in the world is up with them.

[@jsantiago.b]

Hello! I see you’ve tried both the Beryllium and Mark singles, are there huge differences between the output level of both pickups? I really like the output on the berylliums but they’re way too bright for me

[@TheGuitarPit]

In HSS the volume is very consistent as you switch through the positions. I really like em!

[@jsantiago.b]

@@TheGuitarPit Thanks man. BTW love your channel, I recommend your reviews to anyone who is into buying boutique guitars. You really deserve like 10 times the amount of suscribers you have right now.

[@SIELband]

cool guitar collections! thank you for the demo

[@MitchHaman]

Sounds really good Chris but your playing made it sound good.

[@TheGuitarPit]

Ha, thanks Mitch. It was a touch sloppy but you guys will have to tolerate it :)

[@gabrielthurnher]

interesting and informative reviews man, i'm really enyoing them! i'm thinking about ordering a hd6 - do you find this model comfortable when playing for a longer time, since the body seems to be on the smaller side?

[@TheGuitarPit]

It's a "full sized" guitar but yeah, the body is a bit shorter than normal. It doesn't really feel odd or small though. It's decently light weight (6.5lbs or so) and sits nice in the lap. I ordered the "thicker neck" option and 10" radius and find it very comfortable, but that stuff will be to personal taste. Really enjoying it overall, to be totally honest.

[@gabrielthurnher]

@@TheGuitarPit thanks for helping me out! i'm looking forward to your full review of the hd!

[@mikibrkovic4377]

@@TheGuitarPit *******(

[@Guitarverse77]

pretty cool but I'm a big guy I'd dwarf that guitar Lol

[@TheGuitarPit]

Yeah and it's not even a full sized body, they cut the back off as well, if you compare to a Delos. So it's reallllly small haha.

[@Crussman499]

They definitely cover a wide range of styles. Thanks for the playing.

[@TheGuitarPit]

I should have a review video out soon for this! It's been a great guitar, highly recommended.

[@misterblack6521]

Sounds out of tune

[@konghaotan5028]

What's the black guitar with white side?

[@TheGuitarPit]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/aXLPeWuuh9ebgas

[@skubadoobie]

How do you hang this guitar on a wall?🤔

[@TheGuitarPit]

Foiled again!

[@keithfender4331]

Hi Chris, Whens the review on the Delos Coming ?

[@RyanOManchester]

I don't think it's ever coming. He sold it off a few months ago. I have it at this point and could try to put something together eventually but I don't think I'd be as competent as Chris is at reviewing.

[@meatrocket1]

What kind of Morgan is that?

[@TheGuitarPit]

AC20, same patch I always use on Axefx. Guess Axefx sold me on it hah. This video was all axefx though, haven't gotten recording the real amps down to a science yet...

[@Oilid]

NOICE!!!!

[@TheGuitarPit]

Heck yea!

[@teokiatuan2]

hi there! are these pickups noiseless?

[@TheGuitarPit]

Nope. They cancel noise in position 1 (humbucker), and 4. Position 2, 3, and 5 have hum.

[@teokiatuan2]

@@TheGuitarPit Thanks for your reply. Still unsure if I should go for these or a noiseless set

[@suicideasteroid]

That body shape reminds me a little of a Vigier.

[@TheGuitarPit]

I could see that. This one is a little more round. The Vigier has a nice, thin French waistline :)