Bare Knuckle Pickups Forum
Forum Ringside => Pickups => Topic started by: Heavy Jerk on September 06, 2008, 11:44:36 PM
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Hi,
I have a Jackson COW7 (an all mahogany guitar, with ebony fretboard) and I want to replace EMG 707 that came with it.
I need a high gain pickup with warm, organic and sludgy, yet tight enough sound with decent cleans (at least, if not more); that will cut well through the mix, and with good dynamics; I want also my fast runs to get through (just for the sake of conversation - think some tech death metal style of riffing). I want HUGE sound, yet defined well enough to hear what I am playing on a gig, for example. One more thing, I would like, if it's possible, a pickup which provides sort of creamy lead tone, similar to Tone Zone in that respect, for lack of a better word. Nice, round sound.
I don't know if this all is possible to find within just one high gain pickup, but still I am asking...
Also, should I go with an A5 pickup or the ceramic one?
Thanks in advance,
Cheers!
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Welcome :)
it sounds to me that you're describing the Warpig...
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Welcome :)
it sounds to me that you're describing the Warpig...
I second that.
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Are you sure Warpig is not "too much", because my guitar is all mahogany? Because, I ran into some posts describing it exactly like that...
Also, which version do you recommend, A5 or the ceramic one?
Thanks :D
Cheers!
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alnico pig for sure
but the neck version sounds closer to the tone zone
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I have no idea about the pickup, but why did Jackson call the guitar a Cow 7?? :?
(http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p216/phillyq/cow.jpg)
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http://www.jacksonguitars.com.au/guitars/Christian_Olde_Wolbers_7-String_Dinky_Arch_Top/
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Hahaha!!!!!!!! Like that Phil. In the big city what is call shredding turns to milking the cow on the small towns. Good night John Boy!
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For a mahogany guitar alnico V Warpig is excellent. Also Miracle Man, C-Pig, Painkillers, and Nailbomb are great on mahogany bodied guitars. 500k super pots should add to the tone.
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http://www.jacksonguitars.com.au/guitars/Christian_Olde_Wolbers_7-String_Dinky_Arch_Top/
Oh, him..... PDT_038
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I don't quite understand how you can get a sludgy yet articulate sound... surely it's one or the other??
Roo
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I don't quite understand how you can get a sludgy yet articulate sound... surely it's one or the other??
Roo
but that's exactly how I'd describe a warpig :lol:
reminds me of Crowbar tones
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Yeah, sludgy - a little mud here and there, for example Morbid Angel - God Of Emptiness (well, a bit clearer than that) and Where the slime live. I know they used Universe (basswood+Blaze) on that one, but it's a sort of sound I am after, maybe a little bigger than that and surely darker (I have mahogany, yes :) ).
As I said, tight enough to keep it all together(unlike Duncan Invader), and not uber tight ;) , but still warm 8) , and not like EMG I have, which is surely tight pickup, but it's clinical sounding and I don't like that.
Stuff like Crowbar also, yeah, but to be able to play some articulate stuff like Psycroptic too (not that I play covers from those bands, just giving an example here; I am not saying I want the exact sound of those bands, just in terms of clarity; to be able to play something like that and to actually hear myself cutting thorugh the mix on the stage).
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^ That too confirms the suggestion of alnico Warpig.
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Okay, thanks for clearing that up! :)
Roo
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No problem :)
Anyway, so the answer is Warpig 7 alnico 5?
Thanks a lot! :P
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No problem :)
Anyway, so the answer is Warpig 7 alnico 5?
Thanks a lot! :P
I think you'll be very happy with that yes.
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Thanks!
edit:
Two more things. :o
If I'd go with the ceramic version, how much would it affect the sound?
How much would I get in tightness, which I need for some "tech metal" stuff? How much would I loose in warmth?
Also, is it good idea to get the alnico version with 1M pot, because I've heard that the more resistance pot value is, the more bright and clear sound it gets, so maybe it could be a good idea to bright and clear things up a bit?
8)
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I hope you mean 1M pot. ;) I don't have experience with the Pigs but there's a reason people specifically recommended the alnico version for what you described. MDV can elaborate in great detail on the differences between the two versions so perhaps you should give him a shout. The Ceramic Warpig has been described as extremely tight, and that's probobly not what you want for the sludgier side of things. The alnico Warpig is warmer sounding but plenty tight aswell.
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Yeah, lapsus clavis. :(
My bad. Edited.
Thanks for the answer PDT_003
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Well, what ye know, Tim himself has recommended me the ceramic Warpig. :P
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The differences between the bridge pigs (I've never played a neck version)
The C-Pig is sharper, tighter and the mids are a little hollow by comparison. Its also a touch more compressed and has quite a bit more attack
The A-Pig is warmer, thicker, has more detail in the mids, more 'girth' and grind, with better clean and crunch tone. The A-Pig isnt 'loose' or 'dark', but its 'looser' and 'darker' than the C-pig. It has a more fluid, liquid sound in legato where with the C-Pig each not is more present.
The C-Pig is better for all-picked stuff (though the best for that is the painkiller) and hyper-aggressive, mechanical metal. The A-Pig will also do that very well, but not as well, but its a more versatile pickup - its cleans are good (not "For a metal pickup", they are GOOD: the C-Pigs are good for a metal pickup) and it backs off better.
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Thanks a lot!
Well, I don't know what side to choose :P
Tim recommended me the ceramic version, because my guitar is all mahogany, to clear it up a bit:
"Hi Urosh,
I would go with the ceramic version in mahogany for a tighter bottom end response and clearer highs.
kindest regards
Tim"
But I also want great cleans :o
Maybe should I go with the alnico plus 1M pot?
edit: oh yeah, I didn't mention that I play in tune A (ADGCFAD), didn't I. I don't want a bunch of mud on the low A string.
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"Sludgy, warm tone" is definitely something the A-Pig can do in spades, but it may not get you there with your axe. Depending on the particular piece of mahogany your axe is made from that combination may not be as clear as you'd like. Mahogany can quite often have an abundance of low mids without alot of highs. If that's how your axe sounds acoustically I'd go with C-Pig as Tim suggested. For what it's worth I have an A-Pig in an all mahogany guitar w/rosewood fretboard and I'm about to get the magnet swapped out for the ceramic. I can get a killer sound with the A-Pig, but I have to boost my amps (something I never did before) to get it tight and clear enough; the combination of the low mids from the A-Pig, the low-mids from the mahogany, and the lack of highs from the mahogany lead to a slightly bloated sound if I don't boost. It doesn't sound bad unboosted, but for the faster stuff I play it isn't clear or tight enough. I'd probably be happy with the A-Pig boosted, but I want the added cut, sustain, and easier pinches the C-Pig will give. So I vote C-Pig based on my experience with the A-Pig.
Now if your mahogany axe has it's fair share of highs, isn't too low-mid heavy, you have a tight amp, and you either boost or don't mind boosting then the A-Pig may be perfect for you. I believe there are quite a few on this board who are happy with A-Pigs in all mahogany so this is all IMO of course.
If you go C-Pig you could always get a neck pickup that excells at that so you have the best of both worlds.
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Thank you very much for your very insightful post!
Well, for now I have an EMG 707 in my guitar. It has ebony fretboard. I am tuned to ADGCFAD. As for the amp, I am using Randall hybrid, but plan to buy a Peavey 6505. Dunno if it's because of the pickup itself, but I do have a decent amount of highs in my sound.
Oh, and I can't get a neck pickup, unless I do some routing, because my guitar has only one, bridge pickup. :P
Is the ceramic one still pretty organic? Because, I do need tightness too for playing some stuff like last Death record, and newer Suffocation, something in that style.
But I would have no problem with boosting. Actually, I have a Digitech Bad Monkey, which is a pretty good boost pedal, and it's pretty transparent. I have a Boss GE7 too.
Currently, I am reading some old threads, and I have found some posts through the search function, and in one of them you recommend the alnico version, since "you can always boost it if you don't have enough tight sound". But now I see you are not pleased enough :lol:
I don't know, I am still undecided. :?
I definitely want a sludgy sound, but to be able to pull of something like last Death and similar. With or without boosting, makes no difference.
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I think it comes down to the acoustic tone of your guitar. If its bright for mahogany, get a C-Pig (the ebony may send it that way), if its normal to dark then get an A-Pig.
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Sorry, wrong way round. You know what I mean. Dark - C-pig, bright - Apig
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Yeah, definitely. Never mind, I'm gonna wire it parallel (with push pull pot as a switcher) for some useful clean tones.
C-pig it is.
Thanks!
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Yeah, definitely. Never mind, I'm gonna wire it parallel (with push pull pot as a switcher) for some useful clean tones.
C-pig it is.
Thanks!
Good shout
Keep us posted.
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I have changed my mind. AGAIN :o :lol:
After corresponding with Tim through emails, I think Im gonna go with the alnico one plus 1M Ohm pot to brighten it up, and when I need a tight sound for fast picking parts and such, Im gonna try to tighten it up a bit more with a Digitech Bad Monkey I own (by adding highs?). Also, I hear that the Warpig has, by default, double screw poles and you can apparently adjust them to sound extreme bass-y or extreme treble-y.
Basically, what made up my mind is the juicier and grittier nature of the a5 version, and as you said, excellent cleans.
Fast parts will probably have to suffer, but whatta heck.
Cheers
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I've been watching this one with interest - not my kinda music, but I do have a vague "hmmm... Warpigs, I wonder...?" (I'm interested in that double pole-piece thing as well), and I've also had fun with a big lump of mahogany and getting the "right" BKP into it.
I think it's one of those where it'll be "good shout" either way :D
And like MDV says - let us know how it goes, I'm certainly using threads like this to form my own opinions about what might happen next in my guitar family!
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I have changed my mind. AGAIN :o :lol:
After corresponding with Tim through emails, I think Im gonna go with the alnico one plus 1M Ohm pot to brighten it up, and when I need a tight sound for fast picking parts and such, Im gonna try to tighten it up a bit more with a Digitech Bad Monkey I own (by adding highs?). Also, I hear that the Warpig has, by default, double screw poles and you can apparently adjust them to sound extreme bass-y or extreme treble-y.
Basically, what made up my mind is the juicier and grittier nature of the a5 version, and as you said, excellent cleans.
Fast parts will probably have to suffer, but whatta heck.
Cheers
Fast parts wont 'suffer'. They just wont be as good as the best BKs for fast parts. The A-Pig is no slouch - its very clear and tracks quickly. Just not AS clear or fast as the c-pig, MM, PK and maybe cold sweat.
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A5 warpig - without question.