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Forum Ringside => Pickups => Topic started by: brian_ward on July 29, 2010, 07:06:31 PM

Title: black dog/emerald/abraxas: whats the dif?
Post by: brian_ward on July 29, 2010, 07:06:31 PM

could someone tell me the differences between the black dog the emerald and the abraxas bridges? im looking for a vintage leaning pickup with more output that still cleans up well, more low end FAT FAT FAT mids and is on the whole a little less bright/sharp. im thinking that ill end up with one of these but im having a hard time deciding.

any help would be much appreciated.

brian.

Title: Re: black dog/emerald/abraxas: whats the dif?
Post by: FELINEGUITARS on July 29, 2010, 09:34:28 PM

There are magnet and wire gauge differences on a technical level
the abraxas has an alnico 4 and AWG43 gauge wire
The Emerald has Alnico 5 and AWG43

The Black Dog has a metric wire gauge which is often referred to as 42 1/2 gauge and an alnico 5 magnet

I found that the Emerald had a nice firm low end and had good mids and I feel that it will sound more robust than the Abraxas which will be focussed more towards the mids and upper mids (think Santana).

The black dog will be like a classic PAF with a bit more mid snarl  - obviously good for Led Zep

There is more to it than that (there always is) but that is the run down
Think the Emerald will have the most low end but maybe the least mid detail
the Abraxas will have the most mids and gain
The Black Dog may have the best mix of all of them and still be "vintage" PAF like

Title: Re: black dog/emerald/abraxas: whats the dif?
Post by: hunter on July 30, 2010, 12:11:35 PM

I own both Emeralds and Black Dogs and have one in an Epi LP and another in a Edwards.

The Emeralds are much hotter beasts than the Black Dogs, like Jonathan said, the Emerald has also a tighter low end, which makes sense, as it otherwise could lose definition with too much oomph and high gain.

Depends on what you go for. I like the Emeralds for being hot and crunchy on rhythm work (think GnR type of Marshally tones) but stay thick on the high notes in solo work. The Black Dogs are just great for all kinds of styles, but excel in mid gain applications - they are more organic sounding than the Emeralds.

Abraxas I don't have any experience.

Title: Re: black dog/emerald/abraxas: whats the dif?
Post by: brian_ward on July 30, 2010, 02:04:16 PM

thanks for the responses, guys. im ordering a black dog today.

Title: Re: black dog/emerald/abraxas: whats the dif?
Post by: HTH AMPS on July 31, 2010, 01:37:06 PM

here's what the Abraxas sounds like for those who are curious...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yDQ2twawdIk

GREAT FAT MIDS!!!  :D

Title: Re: black dog/emerald/abraxas: whats the dif?
Post by: Frank on July 31, 2010, 03:19:46 PM

Quote from: HTH AMPS on July 31, 2010, 01:37:06 PM

here's what the Abraxas sounds like for those who are curious...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yDQ2twawdIk

GREAT FAT MIDS!!!  :D

that's a lovely overdrive sound, I might rip out the Deymour Suncans from my HH strat and get an Abraxas set in there

Title: Re: black dog/emerald/abraxas: whats the dif?
Post by: FernandoDuarte on July 31, 2010, 07:47:56 PM

Might help:
http://bareknucklepickups.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=21890.msg249234;topicseen#new