Bare Knuckle Pickups Forum
Forum Ringside => Pickups => Topic started by: 2e rocker on February 20, 2012, 06:34:32 PM
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I'm looking for pickups for a long time now. I'm sure i want BKP I'm looking for help
I have a Jackson Dinky Pro
Mensur: 25,5" / 648mm
Body: alder
Top: Flamed maple
Neck: Maple
Fret board: Rosewood
I also have a Engl Steve Morse+ Engl Pro Cab (4x12 V30) that has lots of low-end and mids but not that much high-end.
I want to change the bridge for a warm humbucker with a smooth bass (not to punchy, as my amp delivers enough low-end) sparkling high smooth and a little pronounced mids. Not very aggressive.
like a train of angels- Joe Satriani
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Holy divaaah.
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Holy Diver's a great bet. But funnily enough, for them Satriani type songs, I love using an Abraxas. If you're going to be playing some insane shredding at very high gain, as well as them 80s style riffs, then Holy Diver would be perfect. If you want something more for them beautiful instrumental style Satriani solos, get an Abraxas.
Another thing to consider is, if you want a tone more in the Satriani end of things, then something with a little extra top end, such as the VHII could be a good bet. Even though the DC is around 8 as compared to the Abraxas' 14, don't worry. Both still feel powerful. I find it kind of makes the balance between Alnico IV and V.
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HD, Crawler, Abraxas are all to be looked at: they have a strong midrange.
I have Crawler in a swampashstrat that delivers the goodies on my Orange Rockerverb/2x12 cab. It has certainly enough treble, topend is not much muffled, but round under highgain, great for soloing. The Abraxas sits between the open sounding Mule and the, a little compressed, Crawler. Topend has a bit more chime, which will fit your amp maybe a bit beter. To my ears it's a hotrodded Mule. If (some) PAF-flavour is a must: Abraxas.
If you want a more contemporary tone: Holy Diver. The HD has a lot of centermids and is not very bassy. Could be the ideal voicing for the Engl.
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I just want to mention the Cold Sweat. I have a bassy amp, myself and also my guitar's voice is very dark but I have no problem cutting through all that when playing lead.
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Warm humbucker = Holydiver, Abraxas, Crawler
Smooth bass, not too punchy = Holydiver, Abraxas, Crawler
Sparkling smooth highs = Abraxas (the other two aren't really sparkling in the highs)
A little pronounced mids = Holydiver, Abraxas (the Crawler has very pronounced mids)
The Engls have very pronounced mids too so my vote goes to the Abraxas to keep a balance on the midrange.
Some words on the Cold Sweat bridge: I love it as much as Aizaku does but it's totally different from all the other pickups mentioned. It has a very punchy bass, a rather flat (not scooped) midrange and a strong cut in the highs. Together with the Engl it could work really well. You did not say whether your guitar has a fixed bridge or a vibrato. If it has a fixed bridge it is very similar to the guitar I have the Cold Sweat bridge in. It is my favorite guitar for blistering 80s hard rock but I do not really hear Satriani (Flying in a Blue Dream) with it.
Cheers Stephan
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Some words on the Cold Sweat bridge: I love it as much as Aizaku does but it's totally different from all the other pickups mentioned. It has a very punchy bass, a rather flat (not scooped) midrange and a strong cut in the highs. Together with the Engl it could work really well. You did not say whether your guitar has a fixed bridge or a vibrato. If it has a fixed bridge it is very similar to the guitar I have the Cold Sweat bridge in. It is my favorite guitar for blistering 80s hard rock but I do not really hear Satriani (Flying in a Blue Dream) with it.
Cheers Stephan
This
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My Jackson has a Locking trem (floyd ofcourse). Never knew it really would make a difference.
Can someone tell me about the voicing of a Abraxas. For now, i think the Abraxas is the best (cause of that chime)
Do the Crawler and HD have a chime to?
(I think) I want a modern tone, but i never really understood the difference between modern and vintage, so i'm not sure.
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Of course they have highs, just less airy then the Abraxas. The difference between vintage, vintagehot and modern have basiscally to do with the type of wire used and the amounts of turns.
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My Jackson has a Locking trem (floyd ofcourse). Never knew it really would make a difference.
Can someone tell me about the voicing of a Abraxas. For now, i think the Abraxas is the best (cause of that chime)
Do the Crawler and HD have a chime to?
(I think) I want a modern tone, but i never really understood the difference between modern and vintage, so i'm not sure.
Modern tones are usually a bit more compressed, whereas Vintage tends to be more vocal and open. I'd say the Abraxas has the best of both worlds. When it says it has a vocal character, it means you can really portray exactly how you want the guitar to speak when you play a note. It has that vocal quality.
I can't comment on the Crawler, but regarding the HD, I can only describe it as round/fat/compressed - this makes it a great soloing pickup for modern 80s shred.
I just find the Abraxas with it's Alnico IV magnet, gives you the best of both worlds in terms of Vintage & Modern. It's like mixing Slash's tone with Satriani's tone. Just remember Satriani gets his tones from Paf style pickups, but slightly more modern. The Holy Diver is on the other side of that spectrum, but the Abraxas is bang on :) It also has similar EQ to the Fred & Mo' Joe he uses.
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My Jackson has a Locking trem (floyd ofcourse). Never knew it really would make a difference.
Can someone tell me about the voicing of a Abraxas. For now, i think the Abraxas is the best (cause of that chime)
Do the Crawler and HD have a chime to?
(I think) I want a modern tone, but i never really understood the difference between modern and vintage, so i'm not sure.
Modern tones are usually a bit more compressed, whereas Vintage tends to be more vocal and open. I'd say the Abraxas has the best of both worlds. When it says it has a vocal character, it means you can really portray exactly how you want the guitar to speak when you play a note. It has that vocal quality.
I can't comment on the Crawler, but regarding the HD, I can only describe it as round/fat/compressed - this makes it a great soloing pickup for modern 80s shred.
I just find the Abraxas with it's Alnico IV magnet, gives you the best of both worlds in terms of Vintage & Modern. It's like mixing Slash's tone with Satriani's tone. Just remember Satriani gets his tones from Paf style pickups, but slightly more modern. The Holy Diver is on the other side of that spectrum, but the Abraxas is bang on :) It also has similar EQ to the Fred & Mo' Joe he uses.
That vocal quality is what i'm looking for. Don't like compression that much and i don't need a pickup that sounds "fat", just a bit punchy.
As someone said: Having some extra High isn't bad, you should check the VHII.
What's the difference between the Abraxas and VHII?
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A misconception with the VHII from it's description is that many people will immediately think of the Van Halen tone, but it's capable of a lot more. I personally preffered the VHII for playing stuff with excessive gain, but I changed it for an Abraxas. I was a little bit worried at first when I was recommended it, but it was a great investment. When I emailed BKP about a pickup for replacement, I was going towards the Andy Timmons end of the spectrum, but with enough power to play Satriani, and I was told the Abraxas excelled in this. It depends whether you're going for the type of sound to play something speedy like Satriani's Crushing Day solo, or something emotional like Flying in a Blue Dream?
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I want to change the bridge for a warm humbucker with a smooth bass (not to punchy, as my amp delivers enough low-end) sparkling high smooth and a little pronounced mids. Not very aggressive.
like a train of angels- Joe Satriani
Recommendations are, until now, based on your description. If you're looking for vocal qualities, open and punchy sounds, you'll end up in the vintagehot-range. I have a VHII in a HSS-strat. Great rockpickup that does screaming solo's in spades. Very articulate and dynamic. Topend is not shrill, even in an ash strat. It will rock with the Engl and does indeed more then EVH-tones.
However, Abraxas, Crawler and HD will sound bigger bec of the extra weight in the midrange. Don't let you put of by the word ''compressed''. Of course the Crawler is more compressed then a Mule, but it has still good dynamics, don't worry about that. The strength of BKP's is their dynamics, articulation, stringseparation and ability to clean up in the best way. Still I think you should not rule out the Abraxas.
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However, Abraxas, Crawler and HD will sound bigger bec of the extra weight in the midrange.
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Does that mean more full or more balanced? Don't have a picture now.
I'm more into Flying In A Blue Dream than Crushing Day and that Andy Timmons sound is also great. Abraxas?
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However, Abraxas, Crawler and HD will sound bigger bec of the extra weight in the midrange.
Does that mean more full or more balanced? Don't have a picture now.
I'm more into Flying In A Blue Dream than Crushing Day and that Andy Timmons sound is also great. Abraxas?
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Definitely Abraxas in that case :) The Abraxas is actually quite balanced if I'm honest.
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However, Abraxas, Crawler and HD will sound bigger bec of the extra weight in the midrange.
Does that mean more full or more balanced? Don't have a picture now.
I'm more into Flying In A Blue Dream than Crushing Day and that Andy Timmons sound is also great. Abraxas?
Definitely Abraxas in that case :) The Abraxas is actually quite balanced if I'm honest.
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According to Tim the AIV-magnet is the most balanced of all. But it's about voicing too. On a bolt-on alder guitar some extra midrange will smooth out the tone, especially when you're aiming at Satriani-tones. Plus you want a bit extra push for solo's: Abraxas.
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Btw, have you thought about a neck pickup?
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My Jackson has a Locking trem (floyd ofcourse). Never knew it really would make a difference.
Can someone tell me about the voicing of a Abraxas. For now, i think the Abraxas is the best (cause of that chime)
Do the Crawler and HD have a chime to?
That vocal quality is what i'm looking for. Don't like compression that much and i don't need a pickup that sounds "fat", just a bit punchy.
If you want vocal quality without too much compression I believe you would be very happy with the Abraxas. I have mine in a super strat which was a bit bright and unforgiving, and the Abraxas added a fuller tone across the frequency board. The guitar also "feels" a bit easier to play now but it still has that dynamic that says watch what you play or it may be held against you :).
I would not necessarily recommend the Cold Sweat for a Floyd equipped guitar but I guess there will be members here on the forum having made good experience with that combination. In addition, the Cold Sweat compresses more than the Abraxas and has less of the vocal quality, even though it is still there.
The biggest difference to me between the Abraxas bridge and Cold Sweat bridge is the attitude: the Abraxas is "friendly" but can bark if you want to, the Cold Sweat barks and bites but can be friendly if you release you attack and/or back off the volume control on the guitar a bit.
Cheers Stephan
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My Jackson has a Locking trem (floyd ofcourse). Never knew it really would make a difference.
Can someone tell me about the voicing of a Abraxas. For now, i think the Abraxas is the best (cause of that chime)
Do the Crawler and HD have a chime to?
That vocal quality is what i'm looking for. Don't like compression that much and i don't need a pickup that sounds "fat", just a bit punchy.
If you want vocal quality without too much compression I believe you would be very happy with the Abraxas. I have mine in a super strat which was a bit bright and unforgiving, and the Abraxas added a fuller tone across the frequency board. The guitar also "feels" a bit easier to play now but it still has that dynamic that says watch what you play or it may be held against you :).
I would not necessarily recommend the Cold Sweat for a Floyd equipped guitar but I guess there will be members here on the forum having made good experience with that combination. In addition, the Cold Sweat compresses more than the Abraxas and has less of the vocal quality, even though it is still there.
The biggest difference to me between the Abraxas bridge and Cold Sweat bridge is the attitude: the Abraxas is "friendly" but can bark if you want to, the Cold Sweat barks and bites but can be friendly if you release you attack and/or back off the volume control on the guitar a bit.
Cheers Stephan
+1 Very nice description there
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I want to change the bridge for a warm humbucker with a smooth bass (not to punchy, as my amp delivers enough low-end) sparkling high smooth and a little pronounced mids. Not very aggressive.
like a train of angels- Joe Satriani
that's the black dog
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I want to change the bridge for a warm humbucker with a smooth bass (not to punchy, as my amp delivers enough low-end) sparkling high smooth and a little pronounced mids. Not very aggressive.
like a train of angels- Joe Satriani
that's the black dog
The Black Dog is described as agressive. He said he wants "not very aggresive". But I see where you're coming from, I nearly said the Black Dog before I noticed he's asked for something not agressive.
It's still something to look at though. Just so you can make sure you've looked at all options. You may actually even like it. But I'm still going to stick with Abraxas :)
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Btw, have you thought about a neck pickup?
No, not yet. I thought that if I knew which PU i want in the bridge (the abraxas for sure), I could check the store and find a HSS set with the Abraxas and 2 singles. But they don't have a set with the abraxas (or I'm to stupid to find one).
So now I need a bit of help to find which singlecoils that match the abraxas.
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Btw, have you thought about a neck pickup?
No, not yet. I thought that if I knew which PU i want in the bridge (the abraxas for sure), I could check the store and find a HSS set with the Abraxas and 2 singles. But they don't have a set with the abraxas (or I'm to stupid to find one).
So now I need a bit of help to find which singlecoils that match the abraxas.
You're right, there is no "standard" Abraxas HSS set, which seems surprising.
Nolly has (or had) a set with a Slow Hand neck and a '63 Veneer Board middle. I guess you could take your pick between Mother's Milks, Irish Tours or Slow Hands but that doesn't narrow it down very much!
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Btw, have you thought about a neck pickup?
No, not yet. I thought that if I knew which PU i want in the bridge (the abraxas for sure), I could check the store and find a HSS set with the Abraxas and 2 singles. But they don't have a set with the abraxas (or I'm to stupid to find one).
So now I need a bit of help to find which singlecoils that match the abraxas.
This thread may help - https://bareknucklepickups.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=25139.0
Nolly has a '63 Vaneer Board Middle with a Slowhand Neck. I've got the same combo, minus the middle, and it's great for them Andy Timmons tones in the neck. I have an HH Abraxas/Emerald set which I prefer, but for an HSS, the Slowhand in the Neck is a fantastic option.
IF you're after a more shred orientated neck pickup, the only choice you'd really have would be a Trilogy Suite. The Sinner would be too outbalanced to consider. But I still think the Trilogy Suite might be a bit too hot to match the Abraxas anyways, so I'd stick to the Vintage Hot. That's if you want the pickups to balance that is.
EDIT: Didn't know Philly had posted until I wrote this, but that more or less backs up my suggestion lol
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Good to see someone else mentioning the Slow Hands with an Abraxas. :)
(I'm still trying to decide on an HSS set for a hardtail Strat, torn between Crawler and Abraxas (or maybe VHII). This thread has helped a lot, I'm definitely leaning more towards the Abraxas and, now, the Slow Hands)
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Good to see someone else mentioning the Slow Hands with an Abraxas. :)
(I'm still trying to decide on an HSS set for a hardtail Strat, torn between Crawler and Abraxas (or maybe VHII). This thread has helped a lot, I'm definitely leaning more towards the Abraxas and, now, the Slow Hands)
I just think the description is perfect at describing Andy Timmons tone which he gets from the Dimarzio Cruisers. I wanted something that whilst having a great clean sound, also provided that very slight breakup you hear on songs like Andy Timmons' Electric Gypsy, if you know what I mean?
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I'm not massively familiar with Andy Timmons - I've only got That Was Then This Is Now and the Kip Winger album he played on, but I do like his playing.
It's more that the Slow Hand set has always appealed to me because it sounds like it has a fatter, warmer - dare I say more "humbuckerish" - tone than typical vintage single-coils.
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I'm not massively familiar with Andy Timmons - I've only got That Was Then This Is Now and the Kip Winger album he played on, but I do like his playing.
It's more that the Slow Hand set has always appealed to me because it sounds like it has a fatter, warmer - dare I say more "humbuckerish" - tone than typical vintage single-coils.
I think Electric Gypsy is Track 9 on that album. But yeah that's the reason I like it. I haven't played the Irish Tours so I can't compare. But hey! If it aint broke, don't fix it!