Bare Knuckle Pickups Forum
Forum Ringside => Pickups => Topic started by: Pier666 on May 05, 2011, 12:50:02 PM
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Hi All, my name is Pier, I write from Italy and, first of all, please apologies for my poor Enligsh (I'll try do do my best). I've sent an Email to the site with a request and Ben answered soon (great customer service!) but I'd like, if you please, to have your suggestions too. Here we go..
I just got a fantastic (I used my hears, not eyes just to read logo/brand/name/price) Michael Kelly Patriot Custom, 5 kg of mahogany body, maple top, mahogany neck, ebony fretboard.. it's simply amazing! (grover machineheads, tune o matic fixed bridge)
firstily I liked the stock Rockfield SWC PU's: all in insgle c. Spli/HB mode.. everything! Think a PAF overwounded... with good rock tone but, after few months, they started sounding anonimous... But now, starting recording and then touring, I think I need something more. I think ya know what I mean...
I play in a hard rock/metal band and our sound/songs are really vary: from AC/DC tones to Slayer/tallica, passing throug Priest and Motorhead... to do this I have/use on stage 5 guitars (yes.., for a lil infamouse and dirty band, not tourng stadiums/arenas ahahah, I'm a fu***ng geek/nerd, I know ahahaha :D )
Dean Custom mde (middle ninties) with dimebucker on bridge/hot rails neck
Strat /alder with EMG (81/85)
Jackson RR with Di Marzio Donic on bridge and EVO on neck
Strat Duncan JB on bridge hot rails on neck.
Amp. (through a Mod TS9) to a Custom hande made 120 beast based on Bogner Ubershall Rev 2, with moddedd upper mids to lemme cut perfectly through the mix.
as you can see I like to use everything, every brand, completely open minded (EMG on that strat sound GREAT!!! On celan too... no TONE POT.. just Vol and a killswitch).
I'd need PU's for this new one...something particular and VERSATILE (for short gigs/showcases I bring with me only two guitars, soo). Something SPECIAL, high quality and unique
I Don't need a so tight PU, for Palm Mute I use Dimebucker and/or D'sonic. Jus something givin me a full rich fat tone, with right amount of middles/upper mids/trebles t cut through with riff (other guitar always playing rythm/chords) and screaming leads.. but not trebelish.. something that can really get all this mahogany sing and kill 8) a tone "growling and singing high, both on riffing and soloing...
o
oh.. I love MIDS.. lower mids, upper mids.. they rock (to me, of course...) I love mids shining, edgy, butwithout that sharp trebles...(hope I got you the idea of the tone)
handeling clean tones, of course.. (for that I can split to SC, as both pot have a switch)
I hope that I explained everything.. if you wanna help me, please, fell free to ask me everything.
As said above, please, sorry for my poor English! (and for this usual, boring, long post.. ) ahahah :D
thank u in advance
Hails and horns up from Italy
Pier
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sorry for this add :D if it can help:
I tune one whole step down, and here you can see/hear the guitar (albeit through a marshal.. lil bit "far" from my amp) :D
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QOBiKMX7LkI
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I just got a fantastic (I used my hears, not eyes just to read logo/brand/name/price) Michael Kelly Patriot Custom, 5 kg of mahogany body, maple top, mahogany neck, ebony fretboard..
I play in a hard rock/metal band and our sound/songs are really vary: from AC/DC tones to Slayer/tallica, passing throug Priest and Motorhead...
I'd need PU's for this new one...something particular and VERSATILE (for short gigs/showcases I bring with me only two guitars, soo). Something SPECIAL, high quality and unique
I Don't need a so tight PU, for Palm Mute I use Dimebucker and/or D'sonic. Jus something givin me a full rich fat tone, with right amount of middles/upper mids/trebles t cut through with riff (other guitar always playing rythm/chords) and screaming leads.. but not trebelish.. something that can really get all this mahogany sing and kill 8) a tone "growling and singing high, both on riffing and soloing...
oh.. I love MIDS.. lower mids, upper mids.. they rock (to me, of course...) I love mids shining, edgy, butwithout that sharp trebles...(hope I got you the idea of the tone)
Hi Pier,
Welcome to the forum!
There are several pickups that could work well for you. I think Holydiver or Alnico Nailbomb both would do want you want. Given the fact that you use a TS-9 as a treble boost, Holydiver would be my first choice.
Cheers Stephan
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Hi Stephan, thank you for suggestion! just consider that my TS9 is mod. (with a switch) I replaces the chip and added vol / less gain (in mod I use), with a lil bit more bite on upper mids not so trebelish :D
anyway, thank you very veru much!!! :D
cheers
Pier
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... what about a RY? (just 'cause I LOVE Steve Stevens!!!) :D
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Here is what I think the RY is like: tight bass, bright (TS9 is a problem here), great overtones and a nice dirty middle.
Itīs not fat, itīs not thin, itīs just pure rock. The character is somewhere between vintage and modern, to me kinda best of both worlds (basecally itīs modern with a vintage touch). Itīs also very versatile it can do nice cleans, though I just never use cleans at all, and anything from blues over rock up to metal.
Itīs just a great PU for anyone who wantīs rock. Purest rock character Iīve ever heard in a PU.
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Thx a lot Kiichi!!!!! 8)
what about other suggestions for other PU'S?
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... what about a RY? (just 'cause I LOVE Steve Stevens!!!) :D
I thought about that too but (1) I don't have personal experience with this pickup and (2) except for AC/DC all the bands you listed are heavier than the music Steve Stevens plays.
Whether you boost treble or upper mids with your modded TS9 is not so important. What is important is that the TS9 will impart a bass cut preventing mush and providing better cut to the tone overall. Hence you should not need all the cut you can get from the pickup - which is what I understand the Rebel Yell would give you. It could be too much. So I stick to my previous recommendations.
Cheers Stephan
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yeah that's was I supposed too (RY is a "wet dream" as we sai in Italian - dunno in English).
A-bomb are gettin my attention more, listening to the samples... they have a more modern sound in leads that I love (to my ears)!
Probalby I'll have a guitar just for the RY :D
what about neck? for good clean, and liquid sweep pick sensitive runs?
thank you again Stephan
Cheers from Italy!
Pier
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if youre looking for a low to moderate output hb, the black dog might be something to look at. it has lots of mids and has a slightly rolled off high end but still sounds pretty agressive when played dirty. it is a very classic sound, though, so im not sure if thats a good thing for you or not.
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be careful with the rebel yell, not everyone likes that upper mid peak its got going on.
As soon as you said screaming and cut i think of the bridge pickup being the a-bomb
fluid sweep picking you could get the cold sweat neck, the most fluid I've tried. If you want more articulation and attack for sweeping then the miracle man and if you're brave the painkiller neck (it's ceramic) - sweeping sounds great but it's very unforgiving because of it's amazing clarity.
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if youre looking for a low to moderate output hb, the black dog might be something to look at. it has lots of mids and has a slightly rolled off high end but still sounds pretty agressive when played dirty. it is a very classic sound, though, so im not sure if thats a good thing for you or not.
Hi Brian, thank you very very much for your suggestion! I think I'm gonna try soemthing lil bit more aggressive!
:D
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be careful with the rebel yell, not everyone likes that upper mid peak its got going on.
As soon as you said screaming and cut i think of the bridge pickup being the a-bomb
fluid sweep picking you could get the cold sweat neck, the most fluid I've tried. If you want more articulation and attack for sweeping then the miracle man and if you're brave the painkiller neck (it's ceramic) - sweeping sounds great but it's very unforgiving because of it's amazing clarity.
Hey man.. thx a lot! Yes.. for the bridge I think Im gonna purchase an A bomb.. for the neck.. painkiller may be.. :D or MM (compromise between fluid/artic).
Thx a lot!! cheers!
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yeah no worries, I forgot to mention that the miracle man is the most scooped and hollow sounding compared to the others (despite high output) The painkiller cuts through the live mix the best in my experience.
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yeah no worries, I forgot to mention that the miracle man is the most scooped and hollow sounding compared to the others (despite high output) The painkiller cuts through the live mix the best in my experience.
what about clean tone with PK in the neck? :D
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I'm hoping to get an all mahogany guitar in the not to distant future and the Patriot Custom also caught my eye. It's a killer specification for the price and I was wondering if all that spec really made the grade when it cam e to actually playing it. Your experience suggests it does :D I think I'm getting real GAS for one of those Michael Kellys.
Anyway, pickups. Even though I didn't get on with the A-Bomb in my guitar, I really did feel that a solid mahogany guitar would tame it nicely and produce fantastic results so I'd be inclined to suggest that first. For the neck, I'd second the Cold Sweat as it's one of the best neck pickups I've ever had; really clear and fluid.
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I'm hoping to get an all mahogany guitar in the not to distant future and the Patriot Custom also caught my eye. It's a killer specification for the price and I was wondering if all that spec really made the grade when it cam e to actually playing it. Your experience suggests it does :D I think I'm getting real GAS for one of those Michael Kellys.
Anyway, pickups. Even though I didn't get on with the A-Bomb in my guitar, I really did feel that a solid mahogany guitar would tame it nicely and produce fantastic results so I'd be inclined to suggest that first. For the neck, I'd second the Cold Sweat as it's one of the best neck pickups I've ever had; really clear and fluid.
Yo Man.. I read and appreciated your reiview (you know.. being a Journalist, to me, it usual to hear/read only positive comments on gear.. but even after one day with it, you gave the idea that the tone from your NB didn't suite tour needs..) :D it's a never ending search bro... to the holy grail..) :D
Michael Kelly? belive me: I started playing 16 years ago, did gigs, had and tried thousands guitars (mine, friends, band mates, my students..) once you have a patriot custom in your hand you won't believe it. For whom doesn't know the price, it could seem a much more expensive! Everything is perfect!!! Perfect! Grover tuners, tune o matic, woods are perfect (a lil bit heavy.. but I can run on the stage with no prob, even with 5 kg...) PU's both with split coils.. binding, color everything!!! Who dislke, often, judge with eye and not with heart. No tone chamber full of paper... no.. only solid mahogany and an ebony fretboard like butter! .. now, we're ot, please, PM me at piermarzano@gmail.com! I'll be glad and honoured to tell you everything you wanna know.. MK really rules.. it's a choice, not a "I'd - Like - a LP- But - cannot - afford" ya know what I mean?
666 points to a guy at Guit. Shop that, after gettin the terrific tone out the MK, looking at the price, stated "Oh.. yeah.. it seemed great, it's good, after all, but a true LP..." ahahahahaha :D
About the PU.. I'm concerned about mids scooped on Cs at the neck.. wht d'ya think about?
Cheers
Pier
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I would the Miracle Man and the CS for the neck. The CS will do great in a mahogany/maple top guitar.
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Thx lot telerocker :D
don't you think that a MM has smooth mids for what I need? I don't need a so sccoped PU (already have in my dean)....
have a nice day!
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The MM has ton of lower mids and smooth uppermids. Would not worry about that, spec. in mahogany. It's not the best pu for cleans though. If you like something organic that cleans up great but still has big mids and teeth for metal, look at the Holy Diver. It's not near agressive as the Nailbomb, but more middy with great smooth uppermids and treble. Will split great too. The NB is a matter of taste. Gives different results in different guitars. Has some agressive topsizzle you have to like.
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+1
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C-Bomb!
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thank you guys! I'm paying attention to clips and spece.. I don't know how pick ups could react in my guitar, anyway for the bridge the A-bom bot my heart, totally! :D other opinions?
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I think the Alnico Nailbomb would be too dark in a full mahogany guitar. It is just fine in my Swampashbodied guitar.
From the high output pickups I think the Miracle Man is the way to go with fat mahogany guitars.
But you shouldn't be afraid to venture into lower pickups either, they can often be much more versatile.
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I think the Alnico Nailbomb would be too dark in a full mahogany guitar. It is just fine in my Swampashbodied guitar.
From the high output pickups I think the Miracle Man is the way to go with fat mahogany guitars.
But you shouldn't be afraid to venture into lower pickups either, they can often be much more versatile.
thx a lot Alex, that's was I was thinkig about... I suppose that I can add brightness and reach it with a Nailbomb but for some rich tone, fat, growling, I just need it and not somethingg too bright.. anyway.. search goes on! :D