Bare Knuckle Pickups Forum

Forum Ringside => Pickups => Topic started by: DimeZakk on September 09, 2009, 12:51:04 PM

Title: Pickups for a dark sounding Explorer
Post by: DimeZakk on September 09, 2009, 12:51:04 PM
I have an early 90s Gibson explorer which is fairly heavy and dark sounding, good amount of low end...

I am looking for some tight metal riffing (thrash metal like) I don't want more low end than it already has (gibson 500t that is) but I want more definition and a cutting lead tone, it currently drowns a bit in the mix. Also the pickups should handle lower tunings but I guess all BKPs do that well...

No need to look for a specific neck pickup, the past showed me that going for a calibrated set is always a good decision!
Title: Re: Pickups for a dark sounding Explorer
Post by: AndyR on September 09, 2009, 01:36:42 PM
My Explorer is heavy and dark sounding, as well - but I'm going more for bluesy and rock type sounds myself.

It's had Riff Raffs in it, which were initially very nice in there, but the guitar made them a bit nondescript to me. I swapped my Mississippi Queens into her, and I'm a happy boy. I now love the "dark" part of the guitar now - she's a lovely rich, warm, and expressive beastie, but with plenty of bite when I want.

I think, for me anyway, the bottom end was a bit too much for the RRs, and was drowning out their mid characteristics. They sounded fine, but so-o much better in an SG I have now.

Now, for what you want... while I was wondering what to do with my Explorer, and even considering letting her be the metal-monster that the 500T etc was suggesting, I got some suggestions from folks on here, and Painkillers or Warpigs seemed to be popular for a dark/heavy explorer. Of course, nearly every other BKP hi-output humbucker was also mentioned :lol:, but Painkillers and Warpigs (A5) seemed to be the favourites at the time.

It will be interesting to see what gets suggested now :D
Title: Re: Pickups for a dark sounding Explorer
Post by: Twinfan on September 09, 2009, 01:43:06 PM
I would say Riff Raffs would suit you well.  I find them to be tight, clear and cutting and no overpowering in any particular frequency.

With a powerful guitar, they'd be a good match I thnk  :)
Title: Re: Pickups for a dark sounding Explorer
Post by: gwEm on September 09, 2009, 01:47:44 PM
dark pointy guitar made of mahogany? riff raffs
Title: Re: Pickups for a dark sounding Explorer
Post by: Copperhead on September 09, 2009, 02:13:38 PM
Cold Sweat is very bright.
Title: Re: Pickups for a dark sounding Explorer
Post by: hunter on September 09, 2009, 03:45:22 PM
All that's been said. RiffRaffs if you want them a bit more vintage flavoured, ColdSweats if you want real cutting chugga.

I would also add VHIIs as a good compromise in between and I can confirm that they hold up very well to metal.
Title: Re: Pickups for a dark sounding Explorer
Post by: DimeZakk on September 09, 2009, 06:11:07 PM
I am looking for a more modern tone and more output than a riff-raff, my Marshall JVM needs some output to get a metal sound going...

Cold Sweat might be a good choice!
Title: Re: Pickups for a dark sounding Explorer
Post by: ericsabbath on September 09, 2009, 07:03:22 PM
cold sweat for sure (http://www.panterachat.com/phpBB/images/avatars/25702149443ebffebd94cb.gif)
I've been recommending this pickup for you for like a year  :lol:
Title: Re: Pickups for a dark sounding Explorer
Post by: Twinfan on September 09, 2009, 07:13:23 PM
Cold Sweats +1 then!
Title: Re: Pickups for a dark sounding Explorer
Post by: MDV on September 09, 2009, 09:04:43 PM
Whats with all the riff raffs for thrash? Are they the new flavour of the month

Get some cold sweats or for more grunt and low end painkillers in there
Title: Re: Pickups for a dark sounding Explorer
Post by: Twinfan on September 09, 2009, 09:18:34 PM
He doesn't want too fat a pickup, hence the RR suggestions.
Title: Re: Pickups for a dark sounding Explorer
Post by: MDV on September 09, 2009, 09:20:51 PM
Not unreasonable, I suppose.

I think the cold sweats the way to go then. Its not thin, but its not fat either. Very good cure for dark guitars.
Title: Re: Pickups for a dark sounding Explorer
Post by: DimeZakk on September 09, 2009, 10:23:33 PM
Cold Sweat or Painkiller. Does the Painkiller really have more low end than the cold sweat? I thought the Painkiller was the tight, midheavy pickup...

So Cold Sweat it is! I will go for a Nailbomb Neck with this one though, I once ordered a Nailbomb Bridge with a Cold Sweat Neck which are currently in a Les Paul...