Bare Knuckle Pickups Forum

Forum Ringside => Pickups => Topic started by: lyonk55 on September 23, 2010, 09:10:06 PM

Title: Pickup queries
Post by: lyonk55 on September 23, 2010, 09:10:06 PM
So, after some thinking, I'm going to part with a guitar. The plan WAS to swap for a 7 string, but now I'm thinking of selling and using the money to sort my other 2 with some Bareknuckles. So, it's another one of THOSE threads I'm afraid.

First guitar is a Tanglewood Les Paul-alike. Specs are it's a mahogany body, set mahogany neck, rosewood fretboard and a flame maple veneer (for all the difference it will make). From this I'm wanting a fairly versatile rock/metal guitar for things like Metallica, Dark Tranquillity, Tool, Coheed and Cambria and some Silent Hill type stuff. Tuning will be standard, a half-step down or the dropped versions of either, so nothing extreme.

My other guitar is a Cort X-11. This already has a BKP Nailbomb and Cold Sweat, but I don't think the Nailbomb is quite right here for the tunings I use. It's got a basswood body, bolt-on maple neck, rosewood fretboard and a Floyd Rose style bridge. This is for metal almost exclusively; stuff like In Flames, Arch Enemy, Soilwork, Scar Symmetry and Carcass. Tuning will be C or B standard. Rather than a new pickup, I've been thinking of going for a rewind or a magnet swap so info on that (and the differences between the C and A-Bomb) would be good.

Any info and suggestions are appreciated guys!
Title: Re: Pickup queries
Post by: Telerocker on September 23, 2010, 11:01:28 PM
CS or Miracle Man for the Tanglewood? And Painkiller for the Cort?
Title: Re: Pickup queries
Post by: lyonk55 on September 23, 2010, 11:10:38 PM
I had been thinking 'bout the CS in the Tanglewood - I know its quite bright so should work well in mahogany. Anyone know what it would cost to get a Nailbomb rewound as a Painkiller (or anything really)?
Title: Re: Pickup queries
Post by: Roobubba on September 24, 2010, 10:33:28 AM
Not sure about the cost for rewinds (ask Tim for this, and his pickup recommendations), but the Cort looks like it needs a miracle man in (or possibly a C-bomb, but this latter suggestion is only based on my listening to MDV's clips and reading these forums).

Got pics of those axes? :)

Roo
Title: Re: Pickup queries
Post by: lyonk55 on September 24, 2010, 05:19:44 PM
Aye, I've got pics Roo:

Cort after Bare Knucklififcation:

http://bareknucklepickups.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=21309.0 (http://bareknucklepickups.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=21309.0)

And the Tanglewood:

http://bareknucklepickups.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=22025.0 (http://bareknucklepickups.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=22025.0)

The SG in the group shot is the one I'm going to sell.

And yeah, I've not spoken to Tim yet, though I've been thinking the C-bomb (figured it might be cheaper to just swamp the magnet than change the whole thing, plus MDV and Nolly's clips sound great). Tim and you guys will know better than me though.
Title: Re: Pickup queries
Post by: Transcend on September 24, 2010, 07:36:14 PM
i vote for miracle man for both to be honest with you more so the les paul type as it nails the kinda stuff your wanting to do with it easily.

If i remember rightly when i was going to be my NB magnet changed to ceramic tim said £10-15 i arent sure though.

He also said it would tighten up the low end a lot raise the output a tad and also increase the high end too
Title: Re: Pickup queries
Post by: MDV on September 24, 2010, 08:57:50 PM
The c-bomb would be a good compromise.

My reasoning being that you want some pretty sharp, sizzly very ceramic tones as well as more open warmer sounds  there. The c-bomb definitely leans toward aggressive and precise, but its more organic and smoother/sweeter sounding, a little blunter in the top end, than the other ceramics. As such it should walk an average line between all those sounds you want pretty well, especially in a les paul (closest reference I have is the C-Bomb in my SLSMG, which is all mahogany + ebony board). In a conventional superstrat (like the DX1 that I have my other C-Bomb in) you'd likely find the brighter woods allow a little too much of the top end and high mid crunch come out to get the smoother sounds like tool, but you should be fine with your guitar.

Thanks for the kind comment on my clips too :)
Title: Re: Pickup queries
Post by: lyonk55 on September 24, 2010, 09:17:56 PM
Not a problem MDV.

I forgot to mention that I'm using an Engl Screamer combo with a MXR Zack Wylde OD as a boost, incase that changes any opinions.

And thanks for the advice so far guys.
Title: Re: Pickup queries
Post by: Alex on September 27, 2010, 07:51:20 PM
I would vote for a Miracle Man for the Tanglewood LesPaul.
Title: Re: Pickup queries
Post by: lyonk55 on September 28, 2010, 03:11:06 PM
So I've got word back from Tim. His suggestion for the Cort is to swap the magnet in the Nailbomb for a ceramic, which I'm pretty shure I'm going for.

For the Tanglewood he suggested the Holydiver set, but the general thoughts here have been the Miracle Man (or another ceramic). Anyone have any thoughts about Holydivers for the Tanglewood?
Title: Re: Pickup queries
Post by: brian_ward on September 28, 2010, 07:23:27 PM
i think holy divers sound great for tool type tones, personally.
Title: Re: Pickup queries
Post by: ericsabbath on September 29, 2010, 06:19:31 AM
So I've got word back from Tim. His suggestion for the Cort is to swap the magnet in the Nailbomb for a ceramic, which I'm pretty shure I'm going for.

For the Tanglewood he suggested the Holydiver set, but the general thoughts here have been the Miracle Man (or another ceramic). Anyone have any thoughts about Holydivers for the Tanglewood?

the Nailbomb I had in my '73 LP Custom sounded GODLY through my friends 100w ENGL based amp, but if Tim suggested the Diver over the Nailbomb (which is rare, since the NB is one of his favorite children), go for it
the Diver was my favorite bridge BKP in a Les Paul, along with the Cold Sweat and the Riff Raff (this one is actually in a PRS, but I'll move it into the '73 Custom)
the Diver is surely great for Tool also the Arch Enemy/Soilwork thing
not my favorite for old Metallica, but it did it pretty well with the Wylde Overdrive I had (great pedal)
Title: Re: Pickup queries
Post by: Mr. Air on September 29, 2010, 07:02:03 AM
Why not try out the Nailbomb in the Tanglewood LP and see if you like it there? If you do you can get a new pickup for the Cort and save a bit of money.
Title: Re: Pickup queries
Post by: lyonk55 on September 29, 2010, 02:09:01 PM
I did think of that, but I don't think it will look good. The Nailbomb is black covered with black allen bolts. I'm probably looking more to open zebra in the Tanglewood.

Although, I could try it to at least get an idea for sound, then wory about new pickups then I suppose...I might give that a try.
Title: Re: Pickup queries
Post by: ratspeak on September 30, 2010, 12:32:22 PM
Why not try out the Nailbomb in the Tanglewood LP and see if you like it there? If you do you can get a new pickup for the Cort and save a bit of money.

My thoughts exactly. Nailbomb would definitely hit the stuff OP wants to do with the LP. I'd leave the CS in the Cort, and throw in a C-Bomb or a C-Pig.
Title: Re: Pickup queries
Post by: Mr. Air on September 30, 2010, 01:27:04 PM
I did think of that, but I don't think it will look good. The Nailbomb is black covered with black allen bolts. I'm probably looking more to open zebra in the Tanglewood.

Although, I could try it to at least get an idea for sound, then wory about new pickups then I suppose...I might give that a try.

I see your point. Not the prettiest colour combination, but try it out and see if you like the sound. I'm sure that zebras would look killer in the Tanglewood  :D

Right now my LP clone looks a bet messed up. It's cherry burst with cream pickup rings but has a camo Nailbomb in the bridge and a white opencoil Stormy Monday in the neck. Not your everyday sight.
Title: Re: Pickup queries
Post by: lyonk55 on September 30, 2010, 03:13:09 PM
The Nailbomb might look quite good, a little different, but there are few guitars I like white coils in.

And the CS in the Cort isn't going anywhere. I'll give the Nailbomb a shot and if I like it I might just swap the cover, get a neck model and something nice and heavy for the Cort's bridge.
Title: Re: Pickup queries
Post by: lyonk55 on October 03, 2010, 06:58:15 PM
Another question. What are people's opinions of the Cold Sweats for a Les Paul type?
Title: Re: Pickup queries
Post by: Telerocker on October 03, 2010, 07:18:37 PM
I don't think that is best combination, but I am more vintage-oriëntated, so my opinion is coloured. I would go for Mules, VHII's, Crawlers..
Title: Re: Pickup queries
Post by: 555imperio555 on October 04, 2010, 03:39:38 AM
hey everyone! i'm new to bareknuckles, and they don't really state on the web site which types of wood go better with each pick-up.
I currently own a Hagstrom Ultra-swede with these specs:

body:
2 piece Basswood body maple cap – Flame maple veneer
Neck:
Set in Neck – Maple
Fingerboard:
Resinator(ebony) Wood

What you guys recommend for a rich low end and warm Highs for Drop B as used by the likes of Slipknot, Parkway Drive etc.

Thanks :)
Title: Re: Pickup queries
Post by: lyonk55 on October 22, 2010, 09:55:43 PM
Sorry for reviving this, but I'm just wanting to be sure about what I want before buying.

First, the Nailbomb in the Cort isn't a problem now (thin strings was the real problem - 11-58 7 string set solved that), so it's just the Tanglewood to look at now.

To recap, its a all mahogany Les Paul type with a maple veneer and rosewood fretboard. I'm seeing it more as a rock guitar now, so sound wise I'm looking to cover things like Velvet Revolver, Muse, Coheed & Cambria, Cynic, Hundred Reasons (who use Rebel Yells) and Opeth.  . Clean wise, I really like the sound from Cynic's Traced in Air as a reference. My amp is an Engl Screamer with a MXR Zakk Wylde OD.

So far in the thread, the Holydiver has been winning, but I'd also like to know about the Rebel Yells, the neck MQ and maybe even the lower output pickups. Any info and suggestions (for bridge and neck) are welcome.
Title: Re: Pickup queries
Post by: Telerocker on October 23, 2010, 01:48:53 AM
I reckon the Rebel Yells have brighter topend. The HD will be warmer and darker in a Les Paul, but will clean up nicely too. I think RY's will bring out the best from the mahogany body. I definitely like Steve Stevens sounds.
Title: Re: Pickup queries
Post by: ericsabbath on October 23, 2010, 05:44:12 PM
the holy diver was one of the rebel yell prototypes
don't know if it's just an overwound rebel yell or a completely different wind, as it definitely sounds different, but the lead tones get pretty close