In this podcast episode she tells me that the launch of her own label, Purdy Records, has given her the freedom to play music, record albums, and tour on her own terms. Shannon also tells me about the process of stripping down her rig and reinventing her sound.

“I’ve taken everything from my entire line of stuff and I’m starting bare bones and rebuilding everything again. My PRS’s with my Fervor pickups are the only things I know for sure that I’ll be using on this tour.”

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So…why do Fervor pickups sound so good? In this podcast interview, Geoff tells me that it’s a combination of high-quality materials, an obsessive attention to detail, and years of testing and listening to the pickups that have come off his bench.

“I know my wire is better. I know my magnets are better. I know everything that I put into (my pickups) is better. Plus, I assemble each one by myself, so when you get a pickup, I took the bobbin, I put the magnets in, I sanded it down, I got it ready to wind, and I wound it. When you put the whole picture together, that’s why mine sound better.”

Enough said!

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I’m incredibly excited to announce the first exclusive gear giveaway here on GearPipe.com. If you follow this site, you know that I’ve been linking to musical instrument giveaways each day on my Facebook Page, but hosting a giveaway just for my readers is way more exciting.

Geoff Moore, a pickup winding guru and the founder of Fervor Pickups has been generous enough to donate a set of his handwound Classic Strat® pickups. True to the name, these pickups will give you that classic Stratocaster® tone. Geoff describes them as “low/medium-output single-coils with a strong but polished, velvety-smooth tone.”

If you’re into pickup specs, here’s the lowdown:

• Sand-cast Alnico rod magnets (similar to those found in ‘50s-vintage pickups)
• Highest-quality copper coil wire
• Carefully cut black vulcanized fiberboard
• Nickel-plated eyelets
• Standard output: neck – 5.8K, middle – 5.6K, bridge – 6.4K

A set of three Fervor Classic Strat pickups sells for $225, so even of you’re rocking a Squier® you can drop these in and get some Custom Shop-quality tone! This giveaway is open to residents of the United States and Canada who are at least 13 years old. I’ll accept entries through 11:59:59 PM Pacific Time on March 31, 2010. Good luck everyone!

More Info From Fervor:
Discover just how good your guitar can sound
It’s no surprise that most new guitars and replacement pickups sound generic. Mass-produced pickups have a mass-produced tone. To improve their margins, larger manufacturers also tend to skimp on materials. Garbage input, garbage output.

Only hand-wound craftsmanship can produce the tonal complexities of a proper pickup. It’s like the difference between chocolate flavoring and pure chocolate. Played clean, you immediately hear the difference. Add pedals or switch amps, and you have even more tonal possibilities.

Hand-wounds deliver what every guitarist is looking for: a unique voice. As a hand-crafted product, every Fervor pickup is one-of-a-kind, for a voice that’s entirely your own.

Good is in the details
High-quality products depend on high-quality ingredients. We rely on the best suppliers for the best materials. For instance, thicker-gauge copper wire, and lead wire covered in durable cloth—not plastic. Vulcanized rubber bobbins. Magnets that are made in the U.S. Alnico pole pieces for Strats, for that low-volume Strat-y sound.

Consistently good
Although we produce by hand, our manufacturing standards ensure that you get the sound and the quality you expect. Every Fervor pickup is meticulously constructed by one person who is focused on quality, not quantity. We take the time to do it right.

Our distinctive winding patterns produce better tone. We constantly check for tightness and evenness of pattern, making scatter winds where appropriate. Each pickup is carefully inspected (pole piece heights, coils, soldering) and tested to make sure it matches the output we’re seeking.

Lifetime guarantee
Because we believe so strongly in our pickups, we have the best guarantee policy in the industry. We’re sure we can satisfy your demand for great sound.

It’s All About The Tone!
If you’ve read all this, you may be saying “fine…but how do they sound?” Check out this video featuring Andrew Autin —lead guitarist for MoJEAUX, one of New Orleans’ hottest live bands— who exclusively uses Fervor pickups in his custom Hembry guitars.

Just For Strats?
If you’re thinking about upgrading the pickups in your axe, Fervor offers more that just the Classic Strat pickups. Geoff also builds three other Stratocaster pickups models, Telecaster® and Broadcaster replacement pickups, and multiple humbucker and P-90 models. Here are some Fervor Pickups photos, but also check out the product section of their website for specs and more info.