Bare Knuckle Pickups Forum
Forum Ringside => Pickups => Topic started by: Snufkino on November 16, 2011, 08:42:51 PM
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I'm currently using a 2001 MIM Standard tele but with Baja pickups (Broadcaster bridge, Twisted Tele neck) but I've been thinking about putting some BK pups in, specifically, Yardbirds.
The reason being that the original Standard pups where okay, and infact sounded better when paired with my Crowther Hotcake OD, but otherwise they were quite harsh and "ice-picky" in the highs, and just fairly boring, and not very versatile, which is why I put in the Baja pups, which are more full-bodied, but I'd like to have that little bit more high end back, and I'm thinking that the Yardbirds might be ideal for getting the best of both worlds. Does that sound about right?
Anyone played a Baja and swapped the pups out for Bare Knuckle's?
Ta!
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Ian Price has BG50s in his, and that's a great sounding guitar. I think JuanSolo has BG50s in his Baja too?
The BGs are a little hotter than the Yardbirds I think, so if you want a bit more openness and top end they sound like they'd be ideal...
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The BG52-set has enough broadcaster-roar for drive, but is twangier and snappier then the middier, hotter BG50-set. The BG52-neck has a strattier tone then most telenecks. The Yardbirds are bluesorientated with great mids and a round topend. If you want some twang back, maybe the BG52-set is spot on. Don't be afraid, it's full enough and rocks proper too. You have to like the stratty neckpickup though. I do..
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The standard pups in the Baja are very good to be fair. But I just don't like tele neck pups (I'm a bit odd that way). So I swapped the pair of them and the S1 wiring out with a BG50, Mule and a simple 3 way switch, and just love the tone from this combo.
Put it this way, I had planned to keep all the hardware just in case I decided to sell the Badger at some point, so I could revert it back to stock. When it was done though I came to the conclusion that just isn't going to happen as it's just so perfect it's a proper keeper. So I may as well get shot of all the bits and use the money to mod the Telemaster.
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I've got Country Boys in my Baja,
http://bareknucklepickups.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=19843.0
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I bought my Country Boys several years ago. My Tele is currently my No 1 guitar- above my Strats and Gibson 339. I am playing a smallish venue tomorrow & have decided I am taking one guitar- it will be the Tele. The Country Boys are lovely warm classic Tele pickups. Having said that, I would like to try the sets that were released subsequently & I know they have their devotees. Sometimes I think of getting another Tele to get someBG50's.
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I've got Country Boys in my Baja,
http://bareknucklepickups.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=19843.0
Thanks.
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Looks like I might go for either the BG52's or the Yardbirds. Maybe more on the side of the Yardbird since my amp has a 'bright' switch, with which I can get strat-like bright tones out of.
Decisions, decisions.
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If you're not sure, you can mail the BKP-team for a recommendation.
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Almost a year later and I still haven't got round to this!
I've still got my eye on Yardbirds, but does anyone else have any thoughts?
In short, a do like my Baja pickups, but require something with a little more upper range "bite" without being harsh, that works better with my OD pedals. Currently a Hotcake and C'bread CB30.
If you're not sure, you can mail the BKP-team for a recommendation.
Might still do that, but I assumed I'd just be directed back here.
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Almost a year later and I still haven't got round to this!
I've still got my eye on Yardbirds, but does anyone else have any thoughts?
In short, a do like my Baja pickups, but require something with a little more upper range "bite" without being harsh, that works better with my OD pedals. Currently a Hotcake and C'bread CB30.
If you're not sure, you can mail the BKP-team for a recommendation.
Might still do that, but I assumed I'd just be directed back here.
The BKP team is very helpful and will surely recommend you something based on how you describe your dream tone.
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Just put a Yardbird set in my rosewood board tele and I'm very happy with 'em. However I'm not sure they're the right ones for you if you're after more upper mids than the Baja pups. My bandmate has a Baja and I would say they are pretty similar in sound, the yardbird bridge has maybe more mids but not upper mids or top-end. I've never tried one but by the description it looks like the BG52 bridge could be the way to go. The Yardbird neck's similar tone-wise to the baja but the baja's a bit more stratty.
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I finally got to it and had a set of Yardbirds put in, along with a BKP capacitor and the bridge pickup sounds a lot richer than the Baja. Way better with dirt pedals, especially the Hotcake. Not sure about the neck pickup yet to be honest, it's not quite as warm, or even as loud, but I'll stick with it for now.
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Glad you ignored my advice! funny innit, I really love the neck pickup but not sure about the bridge though I agree it's great for overdrive. I think the extra mids make it a bit too nasal for me on clean sounds. What difference does the BKP cap make?
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I finally got to it and had a set of Yardbirds put in, along with a BKP capacitor and the bridge pickup sounds a lot richer than the Baja. Way better with dirt pedals, especially the Hotcake. Not sure about the neck pickup yet to be honest, it's not quite as warm, or even as loud, but I'll stick with it for now.
Did you fiddle with the height to find the sweet spots? Scatterwound pickups are sensitive for that.
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Glad you ignored my advice! funny innit, I really love the neck pickup but not sure about the bridge though I agree it's great for overdrive. I think the extra mids make it a bit too nasal for me on clean sounds. What difference does the BKP cap make?
Sorry :lol: Got them after you'd posted. I got them on ebay, I've never seen a pair on there, and they were the ideal set (4-way mod, non-reverse wound, even included the capacitor) and so had to jump on them while they were still there. I'm happy with them, but will keep the BG52's in mind. I emailed BK direct and they suggested them too.
I know what you mean about 'nasal' clean tone, but I like surf instrumental type sounds and it kind of suits it, and it makes my fuzz pedals sound that bit richer, which is important. The neck pickup is growing on me. I guess I was just used to that 'strat-like' sound. Just a bit warmer, less 'woody' for want of a better word.
The cap improves the quality of the sweep of the tone control. Just sounds less muddy when turned down, and keeps the highs present a little more, so it's more useable overall. It was luck that I got it with the pickups, I'd never contemplated it, but I'm glad I got it. I'd definitely recommend it if you're not happy with the range of your tone pot. It's not revelatory, but a useful addition to have.
Did you fiddle with the height to find the sweet spots? Scatterwound pickups are sensitive for that.
Funnily enough, just did that a minute ago. The volume difference between the two is a bit too prominent for my liking, (at least compared to what I was used to with the Baja) so I lowered the bridge and raised the neck a tiny bit. Will report back when I have the chance to have a proper play through my tube amp, but through my vox pathfinder 15R it sounds a little better.
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Totally forgot about this thread.
Loving the Yardbirds...for now. :lol:
Plus I've found with the capacitor installed, I get a nice vocal, c--ked/fixed wah sound with the tone control backed all the way off.