Ron Ellis Truetone Lounge

Ron Ellis, fueled by his love of great tone, and enabled by his background as a scientist, broke the code and began producing some of the most vintage authentic electric guitar pickups a little over a decade ago. Via his thorough research and analysis of working and broken vintage pickups, he discovered both the recipe and the proper ingredients to replicate various eras of holy-grail winds. Soon, he was breaking those rules to create modern interpretations to meet the very specific tonal demands of virtuoso players such as Julian Lage, Brad Paisley, and Josh Smith. In Today’s Truetone Lounge, we get his back story and all of the serendipitous turns that led to his involvement in The Blackguard Book and to eventually becoming one of the great modern pickup winders.

[@kirkfletcher2845]

My dear friend yeah Ron!! Thanks Zac 🙏🏾

[@TruetoneFX]

My friend, Kirk!!

[@benmtz]

Maaan, you deserve a medal for bringing him on the show!

[@dannywoody5497]

What a great interview thank you Zak. It’s nice to see & hear Ron Ellis talking about his artful approach to music and Pick Ups and not being a businessman😊

[@TruetoneFX]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@alexsorokin1896]

I’m privileged to be able to work with Ron and use his pickups. Great guest Zac!

[@JeffSeale]

Outstanding, Zac. The science of pickups is just what this hump day needed. So, cool!

[@andrewmichaelwilliams]

I've wanted the Julian Lage tele pickups for so long. Thank you for the wonderful interview.

[@niklet805]

Funny that Ron said he left Alan because of the long lead ship times for pickups. I ordered a set of pickups from Ron and it took 8 months to get them. I was warned that there would be a long lead time when I ordered them, but 8 months is a really long time. I followed up on my order a few times over the 8 months and always got a response to my questions. I did get finally get my set of 50/60 (Fat) Stratocaster pickups and they're great! I first heard Ron's pickups in a guitar built by Chuck Thornton and Laurent Brondel at Chuck's shop in Maine. Hearing those pickups in that guitar was like the religious experience that Ron spoke about. I'm happy to have a set of Ron's pickups in my guitar!

[@johnmccarthy9445]

This was an excellent interview. I’ve heard a lot about Ron Ellis, but he has been tough to find. Great to hear he’s expanding. I’m looking forward to visiting his website when it’s up and running. Great job, Zac. You are a gifted interviewer. In addition, “Ask Zac” is a must see series.

[@davidjohnson3784]

Great conversation. Listening to Mr. Ellis reminds me of listening to my Dad talk about design and engineering. I really appreciated the discussion.

[@TheDullBoy]

Fantastic Zac! You made it! Thanks for this gem interview with mr Ron Ellis

[@TruetoneFX]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@Grant_Ferstat]

So cool to see Ron featured. I'm such a fan of his pickups as you know Zac.

[@TruetoneFX]

You and me both, Grant. Zac

[@clintvaughtvaught1955]

This interview is great! Thanks so much for getting him on!

[@TruetoneFX]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@traumaone9117]

Thanks!!! Really long and fascinating story!! The scientific approach to vintage pickups is mindblowing. //Per

[@jmparker56]

What he was saying really hit home. I was in the aluminum business for 38 years in a very technical role, recipes and understanding what makes the recipe work is everything along with being able to repeat the process job after job. I know what I'm saying here has nothing to do with making pickups, but it is so relevant. So glad you had him on.

[@billwilkie6211]

The very best, excellence in action, in all of my guitars. A close friend and a gentleman.

[@DaveElke]

Appreciate this. I have a Rutters with a 52T bridge and a JL neck. Was cool to learn about the process and goal building these. There is a harmonic bloom that’ just pulls you in when playing. Thanks for all you do Ron!

[@TruetoneFX]

You bet!

[@captainzeb1969]

Great video! Love the science, history and practicality.

[@TruetoneFX]

Thank you!

[@ninocarlitos5229]

Can't wait for his Filtertron replica, I have TvJones Ray Butt which sounds fantastic on my thinline style non Gretsch guitar. I hope Ron Ellis would make a way more out of this world of Tron style pickup in the future! Because "fantastic" is always not enough.

[@MrGuitarHack]

Great interview. Interesting to hear his story and his thoughts on pickups. Thank you.

[@PastaPatate]

Fascinating discussion, thank you.

[@TruetoneFX]

Our pleasure!

[@VrilYa100]

Thoroughly enjoyed the interview, wow. Next, pls bring in Mark Foley!

[@RSCphoto-Savannah]

Really glad I watched this! Great convo and always!

[@TruetoneFX]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@joeriffanucci]

This is awesome! Thanks Zac, and thank you Ron for your dedication to tone. Love my 50/60s and LRPs....now I need to get the tele pickups into some of my others 😊

[@morais99]

Amazing interview. Thanks Zac

[@markchristopher2373]

Thank you guys - 'super honest' rules. Thanks Ron for the pickups you sent to me, recommended by Zac. I chose with my ears.

[@TruetoneFX]

Good choice!

[@iamgcase]

Great interview by you with a most interesting man. I must try to get in touch with him by summer. He’s right up the road from me in San Diego. I believe he should be able to answer a number of pickup questions that I’ve been pondering. His answers will probably make more sense to me than such vagaries as, “It sounds more ‘54 than I’ve heard before.” 👍

[@galactictravels224]

Great interview !

[@tsk.]

Ron makes the best pickups.

[@boco1951]

This was great thanks!

[@scottyfrench124]

Can't wait to get me a set

[@marknorris3769]

pure gold as usual

[@dylanz3673]

Zac, could you do a show about Eddy Shaver. There is so little info out there, that I get it. But man what a monster player. I don’t think enough gets said about him!!!!

[@roberthdahlquist]

I agree about Eddy Shaver; great player and so little info about him.

[@jerrytee2688]

Totally agree.

[@jimmyjames9752]

Still waiting for GE Smith

[@TruetoneFX]

Noted

[@That52TeleGuy]

How about GE and Robbin Ford

[@JasonGinsbergRKC2]

Zac interviewing GE Smith would be a dream come true.

[@windowsoflife]

Great stuff! 🙏🏽

[@TruetoneFX]

Thank you 🙌

[@artisanmetalcraft]

Great Video!

[@TruetoneFX]

Thanks!

[@MarkKirbyMusic]

Great interview! I am assuming his son A.J. Ellis is not the former Dodger? Or is he!

[@markalthans6398]

Outstanding!

[@TruetoneFX]

Thank you kindly!

[@0Imtheslime0]

57:53 This video is one year old.. His website is STILL not up. When is it launching?

[@TruetoneFX]

Not sure

[@MayorMcCheese2000]

I think Fralin uses side by side coils for noiseless, I'm pretty sure they don't offer a stacked pickup FYI for anyone who was curious about that part.

[@3Bender]

Outstanding

[@bobryan8793]

Rons a good friend....great gear...

[@TruetoneFX]

You got that right!

[@mrmoa]

This is like scoring an interview with Bigfoot.

[@joshua0226]

Awesome ✌🏼

[@TruetoneFX]

Thanks ✌️

[@briannacery9939]

I want Ellis pickups in my Telecaster build but I can't afford then...yet!

[@meanmud1]

what an awesome guy!

[@martynsparkes7118]

Brilliant stuff what a clever guy... science meets voodoo!

[@firstfret9904]

I tried his pickups on a friend's Strat and tele and I thought they were decent but then I went to try to obtain some and could not find them oh well....... My idea about pickups is the ones that are most readily available the good ones like fralin some Fender Custom Shop and Seymour Duncan and DiMarzio those are plentiful and you can get what you want through anything they have at a decent price. It was a good show I enjoyed it

[@kenmarshall3221]

I have a 1953. Telecaster with a removed neck pick-up and two (looks like pafs) put on. Iis there a chance they. Aare Ron Ellis pick-upss?

[@TruetoneFX]

Take a look at the undersides of the pickups

[@MrAnderswt]

51:00 mins. I got one of SRV's picks that he used on stage, and it's well worn on the butt end.

[@middle_pickup]

This was cool! Have you interviewed Lollar?

[@TruetoneFX]

On the list

[@smoochie3331]

Would you add timeline in description?

[@jakeella]

I am just half way through and maybe he addresses this: Leo presumably didnt test his components, I assume they were off the shelf and possibly even the cheapest he could find? Also Leo didnt design for the more high gain modern usages: the 5E3 turned up combined with the Tele bridge PU was not a sound he was after. So my theory is that it was accidental that this sound later became so popular. Wasnt he designing for cleaner low volume use?

[@TruetoneFX]

He was after clean without much midrange.

[@Ivayloi123]

I would ask him what he thinks about Jim Rolph and his work?

[@lpprod57]

Interesting Ron mention Formvar wire through the 50s... Most makers use PE in their reproductions..

[@Ivayloi123]

If you use Alnico V and you pot lightly only the highest 3 strings you're in the vintage spot.

[@pauldaskal9510]

most pickup manufacturers are busy using flowery language to stimulate dream sounds...Ron Ellis is the opposite...barely talks and makes great pickups...they are all good!

[@kenthall6584]

Nacho caster only $7500....on reverb

[@Rigel7WasAlreadyUsed]

Huh. I always thought Ron Ellis was a different person, and wrote him off as a result. Seems like an very level, articulate cat. I'll have to give his p'ups more of a look in the future.