Bare Knuckle Pickups Forum
Forum Ringside => Pickups => Topic started by: Twinfan on December 15, 2010, 10:50:01 AM
-
I've been BKP-less for a few months now ( sorry Tim :oops: ) as I've sold all the guitars that had them fitted. However, I'm not enjoying the stock pickups in my Richardson SGR (DiMarzio Tone Zone and PAF Classic) and fancy making it more classic SG. The Tone Zone is way too hot and thick sounding in this guitar, which is quite beefy in its raw tone. It needs to be more open and clear.
I'm considering T-Tops for the guitar on the left in this pic, which is made of paduak. Imagine it as a cross between mahogany and rosewood.
At 7.5k-ish with AV magnets, I'm thinking they might work well? Angus vibe with a bit of Priest/Scorps/T-Rex thrown in, cleaning up on the volume control nicely?
And should I stick with chrome covers? Or try something else?
(http://i146.photobucket.com/albums/r267/junkacct/Misc/Number_ones.jpg)
-
I don't know but, from the reports I've heard, I suspect that they would...
In fact, ever since we've heard of them I've suspected that T-Tops and T-Fan would probably go together quite well... :lol:
And I'm still finding those guitars incredibly pretty :D
-
well they would certainly work. i do like tim's t-top clones alot, but after a recent few pickup swaps i can also appreciate what tim's done with the riff raffs.
the extra hair, bite, and reduced mids of the riff raffs vs the t-tops are all audible, but like you said once before Dave with PAFs its more of a flavour than a night and day shift.
the t-tops have a beautiful openness and subtlety to them which the riff raffs i think can sometimes lack (in comparison). on the other hand the riff raffs are more rawk...
the a5 mule bridge is a great pickup, but i'd hazard that might be too thick in the mids for what you are looking for.
i'd lean more towards riff raffs perhaps myself, it seems like the guitar is naturally quite thick in the mids, and the extra bite of the riff raff might add a bit of brightness.
though if you have an amp with a decent amount of drive (a little more than jcm800 levels) you'll find the t-tops more versatile... i can certainly nail an early rudolf schenker rhythm tone with them for example, but the slightly lower output vs the riff raffs is noticeable.
edit: regarding covers, that makes a difference on real t-tops (i've only tried tim's with covers on) in terms of brightness and output when you take them off
-
Cheers gwEm - interesting thoughts. My two amps at the moment are the Bogner XTC (truck loads of gain) and the JTM45/100 (plexi gain).
I would guess the T-Tops might be a bit clean in the JTM (but very Angus) and spot on in the XTC?
Hmmm. Decisions...
-
I would guess the T-Tops might be a bit clean in the JTM (but very Angus) and spot on in the XTC?
that would be my thoughts too.. but i've gone coverless on the (real and tim) t-tops and find i'm at my exact necessary minimum level of drive now on my 2204
-
Certainly the Riff Raff comes to mind, but maybe Emeralds aren't a bad choice either.
-
I can't really comment on the pickup choice, but for the covers I would go for either Chrome/Nickel for the classic look or maybe raw nickel or aged covers for a bit more vintage mojo.