Bare Knuckle Pickups Forum
Forum Ringside => Pickups => Topic started by: Twinfan on April 02, 2008, 01:01:22 AM
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Vintage style pickups in Gibson guitars I know about, no problems. Now I need some help from you guys as I need something different.
I've got a Jackson DKMG superstrat with a Floyd bridge, a carved alder body, a maple neck and a rosewood 'board. It needs BKPs. It'll be for a new band I'm working on covering mainly 80s rock, but a few other songs as well. These are the kind of bands I'll need to cover:
Van Halen
Ozzy
Whitesnake
Thin Lizzy
Skid Row
Bon Jovi
Def Leppard
Metallica
Aerosmith
etc
The guitar will be used with chorus and delay (in the classic 80s style) through a Plexi/JCM800 style amp and a 4x12 with Celestions. Mainly gained up stuff, but the odd crunchy-clean type tone too.
I think I've narrowed it down to VHIIs or Holydivers, but I'd appreciate your opinions. What should I go for????
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I would say VHII's as they're my absolute favourite BKP pickup. Very versitile!
I'm not a fan of higher output pickups and i dont think i ever will be, i could do all you want to do there with the VHII's and my ENGL Screamer when i had them... i miss it so much now :(
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I've never played, but I like very much the Nailbomb clips here, but dunno how much it is versatile... :?
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I dig the VH II...have it in my Jackson Pc-1(heavy as hell mahog with a floyd super strat) and my Hmaer Californian (mahog superstrat 27 fret job)-it is darker....i really dont have to work it too much for killer pinch harms...my amps /speakers are unique: mesa II C+ and ev's..this combo allows me to enjoy the gain stages of the amp(treble equals more gain/smoothness...the evs are bright and unforgiving-check your technique at the door!)the darkness , as I call it, allows me to dial in my stuff and enjoy tonal nirvana---has to be my fave..right up there with the rebels...(PS..if Gibson would make me my Amber burst Standard in lefty, I would retro fit it with VH II's)-very robust sounding-the hd's were a little much in the highs and mids with my setup(killer pups!!!just had to turn too many knobs on the amps...)
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Keep in mind ppl liking the VH pups here are using high gain amps. Mesa and Engl. If you have a Marshall and boost it use the RY.
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Thanks for the replies so far. I've discounted Nailbombs as I think they'll be a bit overpowering. The Jackson's body is a bit thicker than your average strat due to the top carve, so I think it might be a bit thick sounding.
I like a guitar/amp tone that "growls" more than "screams" if that makes sense? VHIIs are the ones to go for then?
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I wouldnt say the engl screamer was massively high gain... i never used it high gain anyway! mostly clean or crunchyandthensome type tones.
I think the VHII's are definitely the pups for this jackson, they say a HD is the best for warming up a strat, and maybe the extra mass of the jackson would make it too warm?
I'd love a HD at some point but, i'd have a VHII first...
VHII clean is godly too, which is a bonus!
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What eras of Ozz?
I play Ozzy, Whitesnake and Metallica out of those bands and I find my Holydiver is perfect for bringing thick lashings of 80's pain.
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Thanks Woogie. I gave BKP a call, checked out some more clips, searched the forum and I've ordered.......
VHIIs
:D
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I gave Tim a call a while ago about a similar topic, but mine are going in a white 80s Jap Strat with a maple neck and Floyd Rose II bridge, and I got told (and ordered) VHIIs would do what I wanted :)
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Cheers Brow - looks like I've made the right choice then ;)
It was Bainzy's clips that swayed me, given that I have a similar rig.
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I'll be interested to see what you think, Dave. Bit of a departure for you!
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Yeah, something different. The new band will be a bit more of a challenge for me, different tones and playing style etc. I've never really USED a superstrat before, even though as most of you know I own quite a few. All the Ibanez's I've bought bought are for my collection, rather than for playing.
The Jackson is the only 'players' superstrat I have and it plays great and sounds OK at the moment, but it really needs BKPs to be excellent and to do justice to the rest of the rig.
I'm looking forward to something new :)
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All the Ibanez's I've bought bought are for my collection, rather than for playing.
:o :!: :o
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So are you going to have to do a bit of hair metal shredding in this band Dave? I didn't think that was your bag.
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Nah, no shredding. More classic rock than rock/blues. EVH, Richie Sambora, John Sykes, Randy Rhoads - that sort of thing. Just stretching myself a bit :)
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Nah, no shredding. More classic rock than rock/blues. EVH, Richie Sambora, John Sykes, Randy Rhoads - that sort of thing. Just stretching myself a bit :)
Depending of the point of view, RR, EVH, etc are a little shredding...
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Admit it, you'd shred if you could. :P
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Ha ha! I'm no sweep picking Vai or Gilbert that's for sure!
I can play fast if I need to though ;)
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Gilbert hasn't sweep-picked since 1989, noob. :shock:
(kidding of course, you're not a noob)
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Hey - what do I know????
Apart from teh fact taht I'll never sweep pick in my life :roll:
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Gilbert hasn't sweep-picked since 1989, noob. :shock:
(kidding of course, you're not a noob)
Actually there is sweep picking on his latest album :P
Back on topic, so there's no chance of sticking the VHII in one of your RGs and recording some clips then?
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Nah, sorry Ginga. I can't do clips anyway as I haven't got any decent recording gear :(
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I think VHII in an alder/maple guitar is gonna be too bright. Rebel Yell might be a good idea, Holy Diver sounds tasty too.
So I am just trying to imagine Angus Young with a shredder guitar, somehow looks very wrong to me :P
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Cheers Hunter. It has a rosewood 'board that will take the edge of the tone a little, but we'll see. There's always the return policy if it doesn't work that well, and I'll swap them for Holy Divers.
I grew up playing a Strat, so in some ways I'm actually a bit more comfortable with that type of guitar. I prefer the tone and power of a Gibson though, so I think that's why a PRS works so well for me - best of both worlds.
I'm working on getting a second PRS at the moment too ;)
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So I am just trying to imagine Angus Young with a shredder guitar, somehow looks very wrong to me :P
I don't think Dave looks anything like Angus though!! :lol:
I'm more Angus-sized than most, but even I would tower over the wee feller.
I'm working on getting a second PRS at the moment too :wink:
:o Tell us more!!!
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I have an esp mirage ebony fingerboard alder body superstrat which is based on the jackson solist.
Its got a vh2 in there - it rocks. Its my fav pickup by far. I have rebel yells in a les paul; but they re not really to my taste. I know some people would disagree but i find them a litte to mid high focused.
I play a lot of van halen and ozzy stuff and vh2 can do that in spades, i personally think it has the most complex and interesting tone of any of the BK range ive tried so far.
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Superb news Ben - that's what I was hoping for. I need classic rock versatility, which I think the VHII has in spades. The Holy Diver appears to be a bit more specialised and heavy, probably better for Killswitch Engage sort of stuff - thick tone and pinched harmonics everywhere.
Phil - I'm currently working on a deal for one of these:
(http://wildwoodguitars.com/electrics/prs/mccarty/7128079/7128079_f.jpg)
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Phil - I'm currently working on a deal for one of these:
(http://wildwoodguitars.com/electrics/prs/mccarty/7128079/7128079_f.jpg)
:lol: :lol: :lol:
Oh god Dave, we are just too much alike! That's the one and only PRS model I'm GASing for (unless and until they expand the Mira range). No plans to buy one any time soon though (and I mean that this time, I won't suddenly buy one next week :wink: ). I haven't actually seen one anywhere yet, which helps keep temptation at bay.
Are you not put off by the wide-fat neck?
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Oh god Dave, we are just too much alike!
That sounds very romantic
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Oh god Dave, we are just too much alike!
That sounds very romantic
I dunno, don't opposites attract? :P
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Ha ha!
The wide part of the neck suits me, and they're not actually that fat. I found the PRS SE necks were much bigger.
I registered an interest in this model with a dealer a few weeks back, and they've managed to snag the first natural finish one that's arrived in the country. Luckily it has moon inlays and not the new bird inlays that I don't like. Should be here in a week or so, then I'll head there and check it out. I'll be trading a couple of guitars in unless I can sell them beforehand.
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I'll be trading a couple of guitars in unless I can sell them beforehand.
which ones do you wanna sell Dave?
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It'll be my '91 USA Fender Standard Strat in Midnight Wine and my '04 Tokai SG Special with upgraded pickups and Wilkinson wrapover bridge. I'll get some pics taken and put them in "Seconds Out" tonight.
I may need to sell another, but I'm not sure which yet.
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It'll be my '91 USA Fender Standard Strat in Midnight Wine and my '04 Tokai SG Special with upgraded pickups and Wilkinson wrapover bridge.
Ooh, I always liked that Midnight Wine colour :) . In fact I owned a '93 or '94 Midnight Wine Strat - for about a day, because the neck wasn't fitted properly. Traded it in for a Tele (also long gone).
I want to see those pics!
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Just off to take them now Phil :)
Edit: Here they are. The adverts will be up tomorrow once I've got some prices sorted.
(http://i146.photobucket.com/albums/r267/junkacct/DSC02819Small.jpg)
(http://i146.photobucket.com/albums/r267/junkacct/DSC02820Small.jpg)
(http://i146.photobucket.com/albums/r267/junkacct/DSC02822Small.jpg)
(http://i146.photobucket.com/albums/r267/junkacct/DSC02827Small.jpg)
(http://i146.photobucket.com/albums/r267/junkacct/DSC02833Small.jpg)
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Beautiful instruments Twinfan!! Which pups on the SG?.. Thanks
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Thanks LuLu. I'll PM you the pickup details as they're non-BKP.
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I'm really not looking to buy any more new guitars just now, but very, very nice! :D I've seen the SG before, but not with the Wilkinson bridge.
I see your Tokai has the same "square" contouring on the back of the treble horn as mine does. It looks a little odd, I thought mine might be a one-off but obviously not. I can't remember if my '64 Gibson was like that or not - it certainly had a bit of a "slope" behind the neck joint.
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There's no consistent SG neck joint at Gibson, they're all over the place and always have been. Any SG style guitar can do whatever they think is best, and Gibson will have done it at some point!
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how much for the Tokai ?
:roll:
:wink:
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It's just gone in "Seconds Out" Hunter for £475 ;)
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There's no consistent SG neck joint at Gibson, they're all over the place and always have been. Any SG style guitar can do whatever they think is best, and Gibson will have done it at some point!
I think that's true! When I first saw the way Tokai do their SG neck joint I thought they'd tried to copy the early '60s style and got it wrong. But I've got a book about SGs and there's a picture of a mid-'60s one that looks pretty much identical.
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i have VHII in my PRS CU22 running into a Cornford MK50 with EL34s.
I can get any sound i can think of from that combo, from Hendrix to Metallica, i highly recommend the VHII set
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Digging up an old thread I know, but....
Simon D has just agreed to sell me his zebra Holydivers so after all the deliberation I've ended up with both sets :lol:
After trying WezV's Holydiver at the Manchester BKP meet I liked the tone of it, then Simon's sale came up so I couldn't resist. I'm going to try them in my McCarty Rosewood to see how they compare to the VHIIs that are currently in there. I like the VHIIs but they might be a little 'thin' sounding in this guitar, especially in the bridge.
Should be an interesting comparison :D
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Digging up an old thread I know, but....
Simon D has just agreed to sell me his zebra Holydivers so after all the deliberation I've ended up with both sets :lol:
After trying WezV's Holydiver at the Manchester BKP meet I liked the tone of it, then Simon's sale came up so I couldn't resist. I'm going to try them in my McCarty Rosewood to see how they compare to the VHIIs that are currently in there. I like the VHIIs but they might be a little 'thin' sounding in this guitar, especially in the bridge.
Should be an interesting comparison :D
What woods is the PRS Dave? Did you try my Eggle at the meetup? That's got current wind HDs in it too.
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I did try the Eggle, yep - forgot about that! Sounded good too. I knew I'd played two guitars with them in!
The PRS is solid rosewood neck/mahogany body/maple top.