Bare Knuckle Pickups Forum

Forum Ringside => Pickups => Topic started by: Kain on February 13, 2011, 05:34:22 PM

Title: More bite out of a neck pup
Post by: Kain on February 13, 2011, 05:34:22 PM
so i always ask this question on forums but i never get a straight answer, its ALWAYS agumentative.

so i dont like the normal smooth, creamy sound a neck pup gives you. i like both my pups to sound like a bridge pup, but still different sounding mind you. For a jackson that i have ive put an invader (bridge) in the neck and lowered it down to equal out the volume and this has gotten me pretty close to what im looking for but not quite there yet.

the question is can someone give me a few ways to get this sound im looking for if anyone knows. if it helps the guitar im trying to do this with is going to be sort of a high-gain 80's hair metal guitar.

maybe i should just keep getting bridge pups and lowering them down like that. well idk just someone if you have an answer itd be most splendid and appriciated.
Title: Re: More bite out of a neck pup
Post by: purpleplexi on February 13, 2011, 05:55:55 PM
Raising up the polepiece screws will make it brighter.
Title: Re: More bite out of a neck pup
Post by: ericsabbath on February 14, 2011, 05:19:10 AM
the neck nailbomb sounds very "bridgey"
a lot like the bridge version, but brighter and more scooped

I've heard the neck painkiller is somewhat bridge sounding as well
Title: Re: More bite out of a neck pup
Post by: Transcend on February 14, 2011, 06:12:55 AM
the neck nailbomb sounds very "bridgey"
a lot like the bridge version, but brighter and more scooped

I've heard the neck painkiller is somewhat bridge sounding as well

I have also heard that the painkiller is quite an aggressive neck pickup. Probably due to the fact that its ceramic.
Title: Re: More bite out of a neck pup
Post by: gwEm on February 14, 2011, 08:22:20 AM
some ideas:

1) use an adaptor plate to fit a strat coil or minihumbucker
2) wire the neck pickup in parallel
3) fit the neck pickup upside down (screwpole pieces nearest the bridge)
4) on 12 screwpole pickups, raise up the side nearest the bridge

i agree with your taste in neck pickups. and have tried all the above. the problem with (1) is basically the look, it can be a bit weird. (3) and (4) will only get you so far. i'm getting great results with (2) at the moment.
Title: Re: More bite out of a neck pup
Post by: darkbluemurder on February 14, 2011, 02:30:22 PM
In going with solution (2) you may want to add a small capacitor (e.g. 1000pf - 3300pf) from the pickup's hot leads to ground to tame the resonace peak to the value with series connected coils.

Cheers Stephan
Title: Re: More bite out of a neck pup
Post by: Kain on February 14, 2011, 04:12:14 PM
oh my, this is splendid thank you all so much. im glad i can here for this. i dont know why i didnt before.

i think what i might try is try both (3) and (4) and see how that goes. the reason i ask is because i got a VHII for the neck position ( i dont know why i would do that it was a stupid decision) and i was very displeased with it so i was gonna put it in a different guitar and then buy like a rebel yell (Bridge) or another VHII but this time not neck and then try and make them more bitey.

but all of this deffinitly helps and very grateful.
Title: Re: More bite out of a neck pup
Post by: Philly Q on February 14, 2011, 04:21:36 PM
i got a VHII for the neck position ( i dont know why i would do that it was a stupid decision) and i was very displeased with it so i was gonna put it in a different guitar and then buy like a rebel yell (Bridge) or another VHII but this time not neck and then try and make them more bitey.

I don't think buying "bridge" pickups and putting them in the neck position is going to give you the bright sound you're after! 

In fact, in most cases, they'll probably sound darker because they're wound hotter than the neck models.
Title: Re: More bite out of a neck pup
Post by: gwEm on February 14, 2011, 04:33:07 PM
oh my, this is splendid thank you all so much. im glad i can here for this. i dont know why i didnt before.

i think what i might try is try both (3) and (4) and see how that goes. the reason i ask is because i got a VHII for the neck position ( i dont know why i would do that it was a stupid decision) and i was very displeased with it so i was gonna put it in a different guitar and then buy like a rebel yell (Bridge) or another VHII but this time not neck and then try and make them more bitey.

but all of this deffinitly helps and very grateful.

the vh2 is meant to sound really good split or wired in parallel. if you have only 2 condictor wire, tim will change it for 4 conductor at a very reasonable price.
Title: Re: More bite out of a neck pup
Post by: gwEm on February 14, 2011, 04:33:58 PM
i got a VHII for the neck position ( i dont know why i would do that it was a stupid decision) and i was very displeased with it so i was gonna put it in a different guitar and then buy like a rebel yell (Bridge) or another VHII but this time not neck and then try and make them more bitey.

I don't think buying "bridge" pickups and putting them in the neck position is going to give you the bright sound you're after! 

In fact, in most cases, they'll probably sound darker because they're wound hotter than the neck models.

was wondering that too..
Title: Re: More bite out of a neck pup
Post by: ev1ltwin on February 14, 2011, 06:09:06 PM
I don't think buying "bridge" pickups and putting them in the neck position is going to give you the bright sound you're after! 

In fact, in most cases, they'll probably sound darker because they're wound hotter than the neck models.

but if its a ceramic bridge pickup and its lowered down a lot (which was said in the OP), it could sounds bright and clear. it really depends on a ton of variables
Title: Re: More bite out of a neck pup
Post by: Transcend on February 14, 2011, 06:10:43 PM
I don't think buying "bridge" pickups and putting them in the neck position is going to give you the bright sound you're after! 

In fact, in most cases, they'll probably sound darker because they're wound hotter than the neck models.

but if its a ceramic bridge pickup and its lowered down a lot (which was said in the OP), it could sounds bright and clear. it really depends on a ton of variables

im pretty sure a ceramic neck pickup such as the painkiller would do a better job.

Or the OP could even send the vhII back to tim to get the magnets replaced/wind altered and if he tells tim exactly what he wants that would be the number 1 solution imho
Title: Re: More bite out of a neck pup
Post by: ev1ltwin on February 14, 2011, 08:09:02 PM
im pretty sure a ceramic neck pickup such as the painkiller would do a better job.

Or the OP could even send the vhII back to tim to get the magnets replaced/wind altered and if he tells tim exactly what he wants that would be the number 1 solution imho

clearly this is the case. i was just responding to the claim that a bridge pickup would sound muddy in the neck position (it's just not that simple).
Title: Re: More bite out of a neck pup
Post by: Transcend on February 14, 2011, 08:30:50 PM
very good point i misread.

Look at emgs a lot of users use the 85 & 81 in the neck when theyre actually bridge pickups really they should use the 60 or 85a
Title: Re: More bite out of a neck pup
Post by: Kain on February 14, 2011, 09:02:25 PM
I don't think buying "bridge" pickups and putting them in the neck position is going to give you the bright sound you're after! 

In fact, in most cases, they'll probably sound darker because they're wound hotter than the neck models.

but if its a ceramic bridge pickup and its lowered down a lot (which was said in the OP), it could sounds bright and clear. it really depends on a ton of variables
this is exactly what happened for me on my jackson. i took a duncan invader(bridge) and put it in the neck and it deffinitly  came close to what i was looking for, its lowered down quite a good bit also. i think the main problem is most people dont try these types of things because they see neck PUP and say o that goes here, i just cant stand neck pups is all. 

i may try some ceramic pups though because ive had luck with that but id really just like to try and get that bitey 80's ssound out of it
Title: Re: More bite out of a neck pup
Post by: ev1ltwin on February 14, 2011, 09:32:21 PM
there's no such thing as right or wrong with sound; do whatever sounds best to you. the only sure way to determine if you like something is to try it yourself. i will say, however, that Tim would be a good person to ask considering he winds pickups for a living. he might understand what you're looking for based on the fact that you like X pickup in Y position with Z [insert other variable].
Title: Re: More bite out of a neck pup
Post by: Kain on February 15, 2011, 02:26:37 AM
well if tim is the inquery man on the website then ive already tried that and he told me to get some P-90's lmao maybe ill try again and word it diffferently. if anyone has the same problem as me or has any other suggestions then ill gladly accept them.
Title: Re: More bite out of a neck pup
Post by: ratspeak on February 15, 2011, 03:37:37 AM
HBS P90 will get you more "bite" if that's what you're looking for. I would take the recommendation seriously, since Tim is a lot more than "inquiry man". He started Bare Knuckle, FYI. Otherwise, Painkiller or Ceramic Aftermath-neck.
Title: Re: More bite out of a neck pup
Post by: ev1ltwin on February 15, 2011, 04:50:08 AM
well if tim is the inquery man on the website then ive already tried that and he told me to get some P-90's lmao maybe ill try again and word it diffferently. if anyone has the same problem as me or has any other suggestions then ill gladly accept them.

why are you so hesitant to try a humbucker sized P90? it might be just what you're looking for. seriously dude.
Title: Re: More bite out of a neck pup
Post by: Kain on February 15, 2011, 05:56:00 AM
most of it is money. if i had it to throw around i wouldnt even be here asking id just go do it. but im low on cash and i dont want to waste any time. id like to go through as few steps as possible. believe me i know how long it takes to find a good tone with a guitar my jackson is perfect for what i need it for. the other guitar is JUST less than perfect i really just want that perfect neck position pup and im getting closer.
Title: Re: More bite out of a neck pup
Post by: schantist on February 15, 2011, 07:55:26 AM
Get some P-90's and enjoy
Title: Re: More bite out of a neck pup
Post by: gwEm on February 15, 2011, 11:00:14 AM
i'll say it once more, because i think its a good idea: try parallel wiring. best thing is - its free!