Bare Knuckle Pickups Forum
Forum Ringside => Pickups => Topic started by: cross on October 19, 2005, 09:40:37 AM
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Hey Bareknuckles!
I've got one of those faded SGs with an ebony fretboard. Currently I've swapped the stock Gibbos for SDs(Jazz&Custom5) with a split option for both of em.
I really liked the change from the Gibbos in the first place. But by now I guess I just liked the tonal options due to the coil taps n blending in singlecoil sounds to the bucker sound n so on. whatever.
Those Duncans aren't made for that axe. The Jazz just sounds like a bridge pup with some bass and the C5.... nevermind. Where are those mids?!
The point is: I've always thought that SGs were capablae of more stuff they're generally used for... the split mod made that idea grow.
So know I want to install a JimmyPage wiring(21 options;series/parallel, in/out of phase, split/not split) on that SG.
My problem: I want the RIGHT pups for that. Some with life. Not that clinic SD tone.
They should be able to be chunky as well as sparkling(Straty sounds, but I guess the ebony board will support that anyway, just as it has done with some of the SD positions). It would be really cool if they had nice string-tostring-seperation(all BKPs do, don't they?) and remain clean in a usefull sense when distorted.
My musical favorites:
- I generally love everything/most of the stuff where I can feel someone has thought about before playing. Something tricky but with a lot of feeling(double-f*#$ that Dream Theater shite n stuff!!!) and groove is a major point for me as well. That's why I like bands like Zeppelin, Sabbath n their children(all that groovy Stoner Rock stuff), The Mars Volta anybody(forget that, they use too many effects anyway), Deep Purple, Hendrix, SRV, Nektar, n even more newer stuff I'm not sure you guys are familiar with like Oceansize(brits), Dredg, fall of troy n all that newer proggish stuff as well as flokish to indie stuff as well as punkish post-hardcore tunes or Metallica-thrash music...
You see those pups should cover a whole lot of ground n that's always a difficult question.
Tim told me to get a Crawler set... but I'm a bit intimidated by the 15k output level which would be usefull for stronger split sounds on the otehr side. They might be not meaty enough on the thin Sg with a trebbly ebony board but I guess I'll see how they are when I've installed them.
SO NOW'S YOUR TURN BKs.... what's your advise?!
yours,
Chris
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If Tim has recommended the Crawlers i would go with them for your guitar.
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Tim's rarely wrong!! The Crawlers are hot but have a great vintage vibe to them. The other SG choice, the RiffRaff may come over a touch bright in your guitar.
helllo btw! :P
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hey HJM!
hm right...
but aren't the crawlers real high gain machines?! I mean.. c'mon 15k output...
nah if the RR might come too bright in my guitar that won't be the right choice...
who of guys uses crawlers/a crawler set n for what kind of music?!
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They can do high gain but they have a very warm thick tone to them,like a PAF but with a little more grunt.I had one in my strat and the extra mid range helped beef up the guitar.It has the perfect balance of vintage and modern tones.
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I would go with Tim's recommendation. He doesn't usually recommend Crawlers for SGs (usually avoids 'middle' output pups) so I would think he has considered your fairly 'extensive' requirements.
I have Crawlers on 2 guitars - Les Paul Standard (with coil taps) and an Ibanez. Don't worry about the Crawler being 15k - it is an excellent pup with loads of punch if required but retains clarity and string definition at all settings. Just winding back the volume control gives a real great warm clean sound. With the coil taps you get a very convincing single coil sound - I would think the resulting 7 - 8k rating is ideal for this.
I have Riff Raffs on my SG '61 reissue - less output than the Crawlers (have to dig in a bit harder) but fantastic clarity and still plenty of punch. Responds well to pedals if you want real high gain. Because of the lower out (8.3k) I didn't go for coil taps as I suspect a 4k single coil would sound a bit 'thin' - don't need this with the Riff Raffs anyway as I use a sinlge channel valve amp and you can get such a variation by using just the volume control.
Whatever BKP you go for I'm sure you won't be dissapointed!
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Don't worry too much about the 15 K. I have a set in a Yamaha SG. They're very meaty, beefy pickups. The extra midrange should be great for coil taps. These pickups are increadinly versitile. From classic rock to a Metallica style chug. You won't be dissapointed with the clean sound either, it's fantastic. Whatever I play with that guitar, it just sounds good.
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I have a Crawler with 2 P-90's in a H/S/S setup on a PRS EG. It gives a great sound and when I split it and add a P-90 to it, the sound is really great. I use it for blues and classic rock, not high gain stuff, so I think you will have no problems at all.
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hm seems to be a darn good choice those crawlers...
concerning my requirements:
- maybe I've failed to compress them a little bit. I really like vintage tones and I don't use high gain stuff very often due to my chord progression favors... anyway there are many players out there who get a real nice high gain sound out of rather vintage voiced pups so that really ain't my worry that I couldn't cut it with the Crawlers... 15k anyway...
could anyone of you give me a short spec opinion on the neck n bridge crawler like SDs uses to do(highs/mids/lows from 0 to 10 + BKP mojo)
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I'll give it a try. This is how I think it looks, it's no exact science.
Bass: 7
Lower mid: 8
Upper mid: 7
treble: 6
In an EQ graphic it would make a quite good vocal wave.
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I'll give it a try. This is how I think it looks, it's no exact science.
Bass: 7
Lower mid: 8
Upper mid: 7
treble: 6
In an EQ graphic it would make a quite good vocal wave.
I would agree with Ratrod - the Crawler seems to have a fairly good coverage from bass to treble. You'll never get a single pup that will cover all bases but I would think the Crawler would suite most of the styles you have listed. Although it can do high gain it never looses clarity and definitely can produce the vintage tone you appear to be looking for.
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Mules are really versatile. I have a set in my LP and I play loads of styles, almost anything except pop music! You have to dig in a bit more for metal but its worth it :D Each time I think about getting a diferent set of BKPs for my LP I go for a play with my amp cranked and it reminds me how great they are :D
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I'll give it a try. This is how I think it looks, it's no exact science.
Bass: 7
Lower mid: 8
Upper mid: 7
treble: 6
In an EQ graphic it would make a quite good vocal wave.
thank you. but which one did you mean.... bridge or neck crawler?!
@tom: did you do any tricky wirings to your mules?!
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Nope, I just have standard Les Paul wiring on mine. Works a treat though, the middle position sounds almost strat-like
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Hi man! Nice choice in music. I like the stoner rock stuff meself. Have you checked out The JPT Scare Band before? If not see if you can listen to a track called sleeping sickness. 15 minutes long, the improvising solo is great!
Get some crawlers! there supposed to be wicked. I heard the man who helped devolop them, Geoff Whitehorn at the LGS in May and they sound fffing incredible!
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I'll give it a try. This is how I think it looks, it's no exact science.
Bass: 7
Lower mid: 8
Upper mid: 7
treble: 6
In an EQ graphic it would make a quite good vocal wave.
thank you. but which one did you mean.... bridge or neck crawler?!
@tom: did you do any tricky wirings to your mules?!
It's the bridge Crawler. The neck sounds bassier. Select them both and they'll do a fantastic clean Guns n' Roses.
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Hi man! Nice choice in music. I like the stoner rock stuff meself. Have you checked out The JPT Scare Band before? If not see if you can listen to a track called sleeping sickness. 15 minutes long, the improvising solo is great!
Get some crawlers! there supposed to be wicked. I heard the man who helped devolop them, Geoff Whitehorn at the LGS in May and they sound fffing incredible!
stoner all(?!) the way... but JPT don't look too scary anymore...rather old ;)
sorry. didn't get that sleeping tune but there a a lot of clips on their website... the sh#t.
If I finally get rid of my pre-factory PRS I'll be a lot closer to my dream equipment.
SG+BKPs+JP wiring->Z.Vex FuzzFactory->Framus Ruby Riot(the better Vox n even more; gotta get that amp)
That should be really kickin it.
EDIT: got the sleeping sickness from stonerrock.com
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how are the crawlers sustain wise?!
currently I fell in love again with the nice sustaining compressed tone of BillyCorgan of the Smashing Pumpkins... ok he has a Strat with LaceSensors... but with a Sustain/compressor pedal....
do you think I can get that sound as well from the crawlers...?!
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With the Crawlers you will have the sustain without needing a pedal! When you turn the gain up on the amp, the pickups will sing. Then you can just use the guitar's volume to control the drive.
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how are the crawlers sustain wise?!
currently I fell in love again with the nice sustaining compressed tone of BillyCorgan of the Smashing Pumpkins... ok he has a Strat with LaceSensors... but with a Sustain/compressor pedal....
do you think I can get that sound as well from the crawlers...?!
i have been well into billy's tone of late too! I believe he also ran his guitar through a big muff whacked all the way up, into the low gain input on his JCM800, apparently. I guess that would contribute to the 'compression' as well.
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cool... where didye get that from?!
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cool... where didye get that from?!
i just heard it around... :)
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OK!
things are getting serious... I'm about to have the money for a Crawler Set.... being a student you guys HAVE to asure me now once again, that the crawler set is REALLY the right choice for me....
- classic 'n modern tones(no real metal, hard/heavy rock yes, but no metal)
- compatible for the JimmyPage wiring
- beefing up my SG(ebony fretboard) while keeping rather clear while distorted
- are those black covers available with black screws as well??!(just out of interest; currently I have installed some black hardware and it really looks darn beautiful with the natural brown finish... pics coming soon!)
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I have to say yes to all.
You can always trade them in for something else if you're not satisfied.