Bare Knuckle Pickups Forum

Forum Ringside => Pickups => Topic started by: SaneNoMore on January 28, 2009, 09:00:31 PM

Title: Building a guitar, help me pick a pickup!
Post by: SaneNoMore on January 28, 2009, 09:00:31 PM: Hello all, this is my first post so go easy :-P

So here is my situation: I'm currently attending the Totnes school of guitar making (http://www.totnesschoolofguitarmaking.co.uk/index.htm) and i need to decide on some pickups. Originally, i was gonna go with a DiMarzio Tonezone and a humbucker from hell, but i have been hearing some good things about BKP so i figure "Hey, I'm in the UK, WHY NOT!?" Then i discovered the lack of sound clips on the site and got very sad.

I'm building a solid body electric (Basswood body, maple neck, ebony fingerboard), my favorite guitarists are John Petrucci, Guthrie Govan, Eric johnson, Steve Vai and i plan on playing contemporary metal stuffs (progressive/power/melodic/death...o yea 8)) Its going to have piezos so no worries about the clean tone, i just need a sweet lead tone (something like the guys i listed above) and a rhythm tone thats got punch (for the galloping palm muting i plan on doing :-D)

SO...PLEASE! Fellow BKPers! HELP!
Thanks in advance, and stay metal!
Title: Re: Building a guitar, help me pick a pickup!
Post by: WezV on January 28, 2009, 09:14:19 PM: Quote from: SaneNoMore on January 28, 2009, 09:00:31 PM
Then i discovered the lack of sound clips on the site and got very sad.

i suggest going to the players section of the forum and having a listen to some of the user clips
Title: Re: Building a guitar, help me pick a pickup!
Post by: Feelgood on January 28, 2009, 10:51:14 PM: Be sure to post some pics of your guitar when you're done 8)
Title: Re: Building a guitar, help me pick a pickup!
Post by: DimeZakk on January 28, 2009, 11:23:27 PM: Nailbomb Bridge
Cold Sweat Neck

/Thread
Title: Re: Building a guitar, help me pick a pickup!
Post by: Roobubba on January 28, 2009, 11:26:54 PM: Several possibilities, really. Check out clips of Painkillers (calibrated set might be your thing here!), or as DimeZakk says, CS Neck gets a lot of love, and can be paired with a lot of the contemporary bridge pickups with good results. Ceramic Pig might also be your thing, considering the maple neck, PKs might be a *little* bit too clinical, not sure about this though.

Roo
Title: Re: Building a guitar, help me pick a pickup!
Post by: SaneNoMore on January 29, 2009, 10:15:04 AM: Wow great advice everyone! Guess i got some homework! lol
Title: Re: Building a guitar, help me pick a pickup!
Post by: Roobubba on January 29, 2009, 11:34:08 AM: But as ever, my best advice is this: Phone Tim! He's very helpful, insanely good at suggesting pickups for customers, and generally a thoroughly nice bloke!

Roo
Title: Re: Building a guitar, help me pick a pickup!
Post by: FernandoDuarte on January 29, 2009, 01:14:09 PM: Quote from: Feelgood on January 28, 2009, 10:51:14 PM
Be sure to post some pics of your guitar when you're done 8)

More like make a guitar building documentary 8)

:D
Title: Re: Building a guitar, help me pick a pickup!
Post by: SaneNoMore on January 29, 2009, 07:56:20 PM: Quote from: Roobubba on January 29, 2009, 11:34:08 AM
But as ever, my best advice is this: Phone Tim! He's very helpful, insanely good at suggesting pickups for customers, and generally a thoroughly nice bloke!
I'd love to phone Tim!...who is he? lol
Title: Re: Building a guitar, help me pick a pickup!
Post by: 38thBeatle on January 29, 2009, 11:03:21 PM: Tim is the all knowing owner/proprietor of BKP. What he doesn't know isn't worth knowing and his advice is to be taken very seriously.
Title: Re: Building a guitar, help me pick a pickup!
Post by: SaneNoMore on January 30, 2009, 01:28:49 PM: After looking around a bit i think i have discovered Tim seems to be THE MAN! lol
Title: Re: Building a guitar, help me pick a pickup!
Post by: Nolly on January 30, 2009, 09:48:31 PM: Quote from: SaneNoMore on January 30, 2009, 01:28:49 PM
After looking around a bit i think i have discovered Tim seems to be THE MAN! lol

Truer words have never been spoken.

Personally I'd recommend either a Cold Sweat or Painkiller set.
Painkillers may be absurdly tight, but they do have mojo!

Of course, defer to Tim's opinion when you speak to him. He is wise in many ways.
Title: Re: Building a guitar, help me pick a pickup!
Post by: SaneNoMore on January 30, 2009, 11:04:48 PM: Well, i do love the song Painkiller...
CAN'T...STOP...THEEE PAAINNKILLLAHHH!
Title: Re: Building a guitar, help me pick a pickup!
Post by: Rock Pig on January 30, 2009, 11:09:23 PM: Painkiller should get that tight Dream Theater bass response. For Vai I'd immediately suggest the Cold Sweat because of its clarity and high end.
Title: Re: Building a guitar, help me pick a pickup!
Post by: SaneNoMore on January 30, 2009, 11:18:29 PM: Oh no...I'm torn between my two loves: Dream Theater and Steve Vai!!
Title: Re: Building a guitar, help me pick a pickup!
Post by: Rock Pig on January 30, 2009, 11:20:18 PM: ^
I forgot that Petrucci uses the bar magnet in his DSonic towards the NECK, so the bass response is a little looser.
So, I'd go with the Cold Sweat.
Title: Re: Building a guitar, help me pick a pickup!
Post by: ericsabbath on January 31, 2009, 02:01:49 AM: Quote from: Rock Pig on January 30, 2009, 11:09:23 PM
Painkiller should get that tight Dream Theater bass response.

wat
dream theater and tight bass in the same phrase?
Title: Re: Building a guitar, help me pick a pickup!
Post by: hunter on January 31, 2009, 06:12:55 AM: Quote from: SaneNoMore on January 30, 2009, 01:28:49 PM
After looking around a bit i think i have discovered Tim seems to be THE MAN! lol

Amen and Hallelujah!

Having that said: many of the BKPs can bring you down that route. Tim suggested a set of Holy Divers for my Musicman Axis (quite similar guitar to what you plan to build) but I have to say I like them much more in Mahogany/Mapletop guitars. I think that a Holy Diver would be a good choice, as it can cover that fatness/warmth but also has a good edge to it. Few months ago everyone got HDs, then it was ColdSweats, which are still the fashion :O)

I would say if you prefer a bit of old school (Alnico magnets) get a HD set. If you wanna go real modern (ceramic), CS set could be the way to go.
Title: Re: Building a guitar, help me pick a pickup!
Post by: SaneNoMore on January 31, 2009, 10:38:12 AM: Thanks hunter, great advice there! I think im feelin more toward the cold sweats (even though i do love holy diver...he's been down too long in the midnight sea!)

And btw, completely irrelevant, but i just got accepted into Berklee College of Music!! WOOHOO!
Title: Re: Building a guitar, help me pick a pickup!
Post by: The Sorbz on February 03, 2009, 08:19:08 PM: I have recommended Cold Sweats before but they will be fantastic for what you need.