Bare Knuckle Pickups Forum
Forum Ringside => Pickups => Topic started by: rohlfo on October 11, 2008, 02:30:59 PM
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Hi everyone,
This might be a long post, but will hopefully be very precise in what I'm looking for.
I build my own guitars and my main guitar at the moment is a PRS-style with Crawler humbuckers (which I really like). However, for my band at the moment I could do with a lighter guitar since the PRS is actually a LOT heavier than any other guitar I've ever had/seen (even more than my 5-string bass....) which isn't great for jumping around on stage with... :?
I've decided on a Explorer look with mahogany body and maple neck. I'm a big fan of vintage sounds, but for this guitar it can't be too soft/bluesy and really needs to get a strong crunch/distortion for my band. The bands which influence us are along the lines of: AC/DC, Led Zep, Thin Lizzy, Molly Hatchett, Airbourne (<- really like their sound) and obviously Spinal Tap :P (or if its any help we have some poor, old recordings on our myspace: www.myspace.com/hotmagentaband). And if it's any extra help, I play through a Sound City SC40C amp.
For the neck pup I'm looing for something which can give a good sound for when we hit the more stoner rock parts of songs and a bridge pup which can belt out rock'n'roll/hard rock riffs (I never really solo). Seeing as the body will be less weight than my PRS I need pick-ups to really compensate for the full sound I'm used too, which doesn't mean bassy! I often complain about thin weak sounds although finally finding a good valve amp has helped me a lot in being satisfied with my tone :D
I obviously have some thoughts about which pups I would like, but would muchly like to hear your suggestions without my influence! I am also very open for suggestions of combos of certain pups. Oh, and it would be nice to have it not too similar to the PRS since I do plan on using it on the odd song during a gig. I know this all sounds very fussy but I'm greatful for any help you can give!
many thanks
rohlfo
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There's been some discussion over this a (long) while ago.
The answer is: Riff Raffs
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cheers mate. I did look back at previous topics to try and find an answer, but obviously not far enough....
Would you suggest getting Riff Raff for both bridge and neck or getting a combo?
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http://youtube.com/watch?v=V7Hk7SewSwE
riff raff there (that explorer seems to have an EMG in the neck (or the pup was installed upside down??))
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you can tell the pup type from the video!?
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that video is on BKP official myspace :lol:
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cheat :P
na, cheers mate, didn't know they had a myspace, will check it out!
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For the neck pickup: either another Riff Raff or (really nice) a Mississippi Queen.
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Having listened to your myspace clips (nice sound :D) I'm with the other guys - Riff Raffs.
The MQ in the neck is a really nice idea too - I've had Riff Raffs in my Explorer, she's got MQs now, works better for me, I'm more bluesy - but the MQ neck would complement the RR bridge nicely.
Welcome to the forum :D
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Sorry to shake it up, I haven't played a Riff Raff, but those mids do remind me of A5 mule. You would no doubt be happy with either
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Cheers guys :D
Thanks AndyR about liking the sound. however, those are dangerously old clips... :? and I'm playing through a mix of amps (none of which are mine, just borrowing). That's why it doesn't really represent my sound now too well....the live clips (I'm rhythm guitar) - I was playing through an Engl Thunder and the recordings are a Marshall combined with either a Fender or a Trace Elliot bass amp :P
Will - which mids do you mean (which recordings)? And as just mentioned, unfortunately not my sound now, but quite similar I guess.
The MQ and Mule sound nice, and I am a fan of blues and quiter stuff, but I feel like my PRS with Crawlers covers that, and with this new guitar I'm kinda just looking for a straight to the point rock'n'roll guitar, which does admittingly hint at RR, although I will consider putting something else in the neck position, we'll see!
thanks again, much appreciated! :D
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Your myspace songs seemed to have a certain mid raunch that reminds me of the A5 mule.
If you want different from crawler, then I would have though it best to go for RR then
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that kinda looks like a RR for the bridge and either RR or MQ (or perhaps even Mule) for the neck....just wondering: what's exactly meant by a 'hot' pup rather than 'normal'?
cheers
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just want to throw the cat among the pigeons and ask if anyone has ever considered this crazy idea:
Black Dog bridge with an Emmeral neck pup (with the idea of perhaps blending them together a little for a mixed sound)!?!? Am I just being rediculous here and they don't actually match, lol!?
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Is jumping around with mahogany not like having bricks in your pockets and weights on your shoes?
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Is jumping around with mahogany not like having bricks in your pockets and weights on your shoes?
Depends on the mahogany. My old Melody Maker weighs less than 6 pounds - OK, it's a thin body but my LP Juniors are really light too, lighter than any of my Strats and Teles.
I think mahogany is perceived as heavy because we associate it with Les Pauls - but those bodies are over two inches thick, and include a big ol' chunk of maple too. Explorers can be heavy too I imagine, but again they're BIG slabs of wood.
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I think mahogany is perceived as heavy because we associate it with Les Pauls - but those bodies are over two inches thick, and include a big ol' chunk of maple too. Explorers can be heavy too I imagine, but again they're BIG slabs of wood.
Mahogany usually is more dense than Swamp Ash and Alder... Maple is about the same as Mahogany...
But each tree is different of the other, so big variations...
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well, believe me, it'll be a lot lighter than the one I'm jumping around with now: it has full mahogany body without cut-a-ways and the thickness of a flat top guitar. On top of this there is a thick layer of maple....now that's heavy! It's nearly twice as heavy as any other guitar I've had...