Bare Knuckle Pickups Forum
Forum Ringside => Pickups => Topic started by: Sancho on November 22, 2011, 01:57:24 PM
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Like I've said elsewhere, the Nailbombs in my Les Paul Traditional are a bit too modern for my tastes.
Quick reminder : I play old school heavy metal and hard rock.
I've been pondering replacements, and I've got three candidates left.
Cold Sweat. This seems to be the go-to pickup for Les Pauls in my style.
Afraid it may lack some warmth. Not sure about the midrange scoop.
Emerald. A balanced, hotter than vintage pickup that seems to capture classic Les Paul tone.
Afraid it may lack punch and bottom end.
Black Dog. This one looks like it will preserve most of the classic Les Paul character.
Afraid it may be too dark and lack punch.
So... one last time if you don't mind... Recommendations.
Please keep it limited to these three, I don't need more confusion ;)
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Dont overlook VH2 - hits hard in all frequency ranges
Either that or Cold Sweat or Miracle Man
I have an LP type guitar with a MM bridge and CS neck - brilliant for mid-late 80s hard rock/metal
Your Splawn will love it - but a CS in the bridge would be nice too
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Of these three I only know the Cold Sweat, and I can highly recommend it. For me it has enough warmth and mids but the guitar it is in has lots of both.
Cheers Stephan
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Dont overlook VH2 - hits hard in all frequency ranges
I can only agree with this. Mine's sitting in ash HSS-strat though. It rocks!
But back to the three you selected: lots of users stated the CS is not sterile or harsh.
The BD might be on the middy/middy side, and you have to love the percussive touch of Emeralds. They are great to brighten up a dark sounding Les Paul.
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The mid peak is indeed what makes me doubt the BD.
The guitar it's going into is pretty dark sounding, so the Emerald might be what I'm looking for.
I'm trying to find a balance between vintage Les Paul tone and something with that bit more edge to make riffs really stand out.
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VHII or riff raff
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How much difference is there sonically between the Riff Raff and the Emerald? From their tone chart they seem pretty similar.
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didn't try the emerald, but from clips, reviews and specs, I'd expect the riff raff to be punchier on the bass, more open and less mid heavy than the emerald
but, that's pure speculation from me
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What about the Rebel Yell? Seems like it's often described as THE hard rock pickup. Sorry for throwing in a new suggestion :)
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I have decided. Don't shoot me, but I'm going to try something else.
Booo!! Hiss!!
I know :oops:
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I have decided. Don't shoot me, but I'm going to try something else.
Booo!! Hiss!!
I know :oops:
You mean.... a non BKP? :o
Might as well tell us what it is....
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I've gotten some very strong recommendations for the Suhr Doug Aldrich, from three guys whose opinion I completely trust (and who all have personal experience with the pickup)
So I went for a set of those...
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I think there's been some discussion of those on the forum - including one or two people who've replaced them with BKPs. :wink:
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you won't be needing my suggestion of riff raffs then ;)
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I think there's been some discussion of those on the forum - including one or two people who've replaced them with BKPs. :wink:
You're correct: http://bareknucklepickups.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=22955.0
I have a Suhr Aldrich set but have not had them in a guitar where I used BKPs.
Cheers Stephan
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We'll see how they hold up.
One of my sources calls them "the best Les Paul pickups in the world, ever". That's pretty high praise.
As far as I know, he's not affiliated to the company :D
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finds nailbomb too modern => installs suhr aldrich (even more bass, midrange and compression)
what? :lol: