Bare Knuckle Pickups Forum
Forum Ringside => Pickups => Topic started by: andrew11 on January 18, 2011, 06:03:22 PM
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Looking into a set of warpigs for my Jackson Soloist alder with maple neck through. Guitar seems naturally bright and trebally. Looking for a pickup to really beefin up the guitar, lots of mids and bass. I play just metal with this guitar so I was thinking the warpig would be good. Now with the warpig you have 2 options ceramic or alnico. My question is with the magnet size: do they use regular sized ceramic and alnico mags or custom? My idea is to order the alnico and try a ceramic if I don't like it. I have reg and oversized ceramic mags for various Duncan pickups but will they fit in the warpig? Thanks
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Which kind of metal do you play? What sound are you after(name a band)
Which amp do you play on?
Do you have a clip where you play?
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My amp Peavey valveking 212 combo 100 watt. As far as type of metal think Metallica, Black Label Society (main reason for looking at warpig read in total guitar it was designed to replicate zakks sound), Pantera and lamb of god. Looking for a real full sound. I have Duncan Distortions now and there too bright and lack that big full sound. I guess i'm looking for more bass and a darker pickup. Hope that makes sense.
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You should take a look at the Miracle Man
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(main reason for looking at warpig read in total guitar it was designed to replicate zakks sound
I remember rerading that and I've never quite been able to see it. I mean, yes, it's true to a degree but I think other pups in the BKP range are more suited to Zakk's tone. Having said that, If you're wanting HUGE bass and mids, an Alnico Warpig is the way to go. I seriously considered one for my Soloist but unless Tim tells me I'm wrong, I'm going in a different direction. I'd agree with Madsakre that you should look at the Miracle Man. Here's a link to a sample of a Miracle Man nailing Zakk's tone. This is Tim playing in his Ozzy tribute band.
http://bareknucklepickups.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=2941.0
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I was thinking miracle man but the only thing that scares me is the EQ looks similar to my SD distortion which is really bright in my guitar. The warpig just looks like it would suit a bright trebly guitar but I'm no expert that's why I'm talkin to u guys.
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I'd agree that you need to avoid bright pickups like Cold Sweats, Rebel Yells etc. but maple neck-thrus are usually described as being very middy, though I imagine the alder in the body brightens it a bit. Because they're middy, the Miracle Man suits them very well indeed. Nevertheless, a Miracle Man is a VERY popular choice for maple neck-thrus. It wasn't for me, simply because I wanted a sweeter alnico tone rather than ceramic but for what you're after the Miracle Man is ideal. I remember Feline Guitars telling me that a Miracle Man was perfect for maple neck-thrus, as did Tim and I think Nolly may have done so too. These are people who really know what they're talking about so it's worth at least considering. The Miracle Man will get you far closer to a Zakk Wylde tone than a Warpig but of course, if you want a much bigger, bassy sound than Zakk then the Warpig is certainly the way to go.
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I'll take a closer look at the miracle man and listen to some more clips. As far as the warpig how do u think it would sound in my guitar? How would the ceramic warpig compare with the miracle man? Also Anybody have a answer for my magnet question in the orig post?
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I think the Warpig should sound great in a Soloist if you want that really huge sound. The ceramic option is much tighter and more aggressive to my ears but the Alnico version cleans up better and has a much sweeter lead tone. I found listening to entire clips a bit confusing but if you listen to the first 22 seconds of each Modern Metal clip side by side, that will give you a very good idea of their rhythm qualities. Then listen from 22 seconds to 45 seconds and that will compare their lead abilities. I found the rhythm of the C-Pig to be marginally superior to the A-Pig but the A-Pig was noticeably better on the leads, though in fairness, I'm after an alnico pup so I would say that. You could include the Miracle Man in this comparison too. I found that listening to the clips this way helped to highlight the differences between them.
I'm afraid I have no idea about your magnet question.
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hi!
there's no way a Warpig could ever be meant to replicate an EMG81 tone, i think they're at the opposite sides of the spectrum, tonally speaking...
the WP has got an aggressive, dirty and grindy tone full of mids that's great for many kinds of metal and rock - even if your reference tone makes me think about the Miracle Man. i've got a maple nechthrough and it's really not that middy, so the MM could sound a bit scooped (that could be exactly what you're looking for, given your Metallica and BLS influences...)
i wouldn't suggest you the C-pig, if you think ceramic maybe you think Metallica and such, but it's a whole different beast that gives you instant death metal tone, even on standard E tuning.
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If you want an EMG81, Zakk tone then you certainly need to rethink the Warpig because it's just not the right tone for it. The Miracle Man would be a great option and I think the Aftermath may also be a good idea for that super tight style. Having said that, you also say you want to beef up the guitar with lots of bass and mids. That would suggest a much bigger sound than would normally be associated with a tight pickup like an EMG. If that is your priority then the Warpig is a very good choice. I think you just need to listen to the clips on the main website and choose on what you like best from your gut rather than thinking of someone elses tone.
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the nailbomb (both versions) might work
maybe better than a miracle man
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I was thinking miracle man but the only thing that scares me is the EQ looks similar to my SD distortion which is really bright in my guitar.
the miracle man sounds nothing like the distortion at all
the distortion is much middier, brighter, less bassy and A LOT more compressed
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I have a ceramic warpig in a maple neck-thru guitar. I think you'd be fine with either, but for your style my vote goes to the Alnico Warpig.
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the nailbomb (both versions) might work
maybe better than a miracle man
Here you can find a guitar like yours (maple neckthru with alder wings) with bareknuckle nailbomb (Alnico). I always looked at this clip for the Nailbomb. Still, this guitar is detuned in B. I don't think it suits your style, but sounds great.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bVDLXQ60_oI
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the nailbomb (both versions) might work
maybe better than a miracle man
The Nailbomb also crossed my mind. It's not got a sound that's as huge as a Warpig but especially in alnico form, it's pleasantly thick while retaining a lot of tightness. Think of it as a bit of a half-way-house between the Miracle Man and Warpig.
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the nailbomb (both versions) might work
maybe better than a miracle man
The Nailbomb also crossed my mind. It's not got a sound that's as huge as a Warpig but especially in alnico form, it's pleasantly thick while retaining a lot of tightness. Think of it as a bit of a half-way-house between the Miracle Man and Warpig.
this
it's not as big sounding as the warpig, but in my experience, it sounds just as hot, but less sludgy and compressed
Here you can find a guitar like yours (maple neckthru with alder wings) with bareknuckle nailbomb (Alnico). I always looked at this clip for the Nailbomb. Still, this guitar is detuned in B. I don't think it suits your style, but sounds great.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bVDLXQ60_oI
the sound on this clip is pretty much the Soldano-like grain on the Titan amp, which is completely different from a Peavey or Marshall voiced amp
a miracle man wouldn't be any more "Wylde" through that amp, anyway
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Thanks for all the info guys you've given me much to think about. Its not like i'm trying to replicate zakks tone its just something that caught my eye since im a huge fan. I'm really just trying to find my own sound which is very hard because it just something i hear in my head and its hard to explain. If that makes sense. As of now its between the warpig and the miracle man and i will take a look at the nailbomb. One thing i like better about the pig is i read that although very aggressive it cleans up well. As for the ceramic or alnico warpig, I emailed Tim and he said for my guitar he would go ceramic. Agree?
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really depends on your personal taste
for a skinny and trebly alder guitar through a Peavey, I'd probably go with the holy diver
my pinch harmonics came out a lot easier with that pickup
http://www.youtube.com/watch?gl=BR&hl=pt&v=T1RafxMYU5w
not really a Zakk sounding pickup, but more into Jake E. Lee (on Badlands) and Doug Aldrich tone ballparks
it works pretty well for Lamb of God too, but sounds nothing like Pantera
I had a Pantera tribute band and played mostly through a jap les paul copy with the holy diver, mxr wylde overdrive and a peavey rockmaster preamp into a marshall valvestate power amp
the cold sweat and miracle man got me one step closer, but the diver was a lot more versatile and pleasant on leads, pinch harmonics and cleans
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With all the info Im starting to lean towards the miracle man. It seems like a good match for my guitar wood and music type. with whatever i go with im going to get the set so how does the MM neck compare to the warpig neck DC is the same and there both alnico. are they similar?
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With all the info Im starting to lean towards the miracle man. It seems like a good match for my guitar wood and music type. with whatever i go with im going to get the set so how does the MM neck compare to the warpig neck DC is the same and there both alnico. are they similar?
i heard that they're essentially the same pickup... i can't judge by myself because i've got them installed in very different guitars... the neck WP sounds fatter to my ears, and i prefer the neck MM, but i wouldn't take it as a scientific proof... :) anyway the WP has got twin allen poles, the MM comes with a single row of poles, so i doubt they're exactly the same.
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The first thing I'd do is contact Tim again and instead of asking him about A-Pig or C-Pig, give him a detailed account of your gear and the sound you're after and see which pickup he suggests from scratch.
If you want tight and aggressive, you need a ceramic pup and if you lean more towards smooth, sweet and organic, you need alnico. I can see why you are interested in a Warpig for that huge sound. I can also see why you'd like the Miracle Man as it's that Zakk tone you like and it's a popular option for guitars like ours. I can also see the wisdom in a Nailbomb as it's a great alrounder with a big, thick sound that's a nod towards the Warpig while retaining a tightness that gives a nod to the Miracle Man. Finally, I can totally appreciate Eric's comments about the Holy Diver as it's a beautiful sounding pickup that is really versatile. In reality, any of these will be impressive and you have my sympathy as it's a tough choice. I know because I'm in almost exactly the same situation at the moment. I'm pretty sure I want alnico so in that respect I'm a touch further on but I fluctuate between Holy Diver, Nailbomb and Warpig depending on the weather! I'd certainly be very interested to know what Tim suggests, what you go for and what you think of it.
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Contacted Tim and he said if I find the Duncan Distortion bright then don't go with the MM, go with the warpig ceramic. Gonna place my order, my first set of BK's looking forward to giving them a go. I will let u know. Thanks again for all the replies.
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I'm sure Tim knows best. Please let us have a review once you've tried them.
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Contacted Tim and he said if I find the Duncan Distortion bright then don't go with the MM, go with the warpig ceramic. Gonna place my order, my first set of BK's looking forward to giving them a go. I will let u know. Thanks again for all the replies.
Good luck with your pickup hunt, but you have to admit it is fun searching for new pickups. I went warpig because I was just too worried about the MM being bright. Hopefully I will love the Warpig. Review to come. Thanks, you and Tim have been very helpful.