Bare Knuckle Pickups Forum

Forum Ringside => Pickups => Topic started by: Slartibartfarst42 on May 18, 2013, 11:57:25 AM

Title: Which one does this?
Post by: Slartibartfarst42 on May 18, 2013, 11:57:25 AM
I was looking at some You Tube videos and came across this by Andy James. Now, other than the incredible playing, I was surprised at how much I really liked his neck tone here. I'm not naturally a fan of EMG as they're too tight and surgical for my tastes but this neck tone sounds much fuller, and more creamy than that so I was wondering which BKP would give this neck tone? (Starts at about 30 seconds in)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dm3QTgIdT8o (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dm3QTgIdT8o)
Title: Re: Which one does this?
Post by: schantist on May 18, 2013, 12:16:42 PM
Why not try the new EMG 57/66 set that Andy James is using in this clip ?
Less "surgical and tight" that the usual EMG...
Title: Re: Which one does this?
Post by: Slartibartfarst42 on May 18, 2013, 12:38:08 PM
I had no idea what EMG pickups were used in this clip and I'm not particularly fussed about the bridge tone; it's just the neck tone I really like. I have no real desire to mix an active neck with a passive bridge so it made sense to ask which BKP would give me that neck tone (or at least as close as possible to it).
Title: Re: Which one does this?
Post by: Toe-Knee on May 18, 2013, 12:40:24 PM
I had no idea what EMG pickups were used in this clip and I'm not particularly fussed about the bridge tone; it's just the neck tone I really like. I have no real desire to mix an active neck with a passive bridge so it made sense to ask which BKP would give me that neck tone (or at least as close as possible to it).
These are the new EMG active pafs.

Theyre something ill be grabbing at some point soon.
Title: Re: Which one does this?
Post by: Slartibartfarst42 on May 18, 2013, 03:27:34 PM
Clearly I'm not the only person impressed by these pickups and as nobody has suggested a BKP that sounds like the 66, I assume there isn't one. Pity. I was thinking of getting another guitar for more of a hot PAF feel and was naturally wanting BKP but when the time comes I may have to go with these instead.
Title: Re: Which one does this?
Post by: Toe-Knee on May 18, 2013, 03:37:33 PM
Clearly I'm not the only person impressed by these pickups and as nobody has suggested a BKP that sounds like the 66, I assume there isn't one. Pity. I was thinking of getting another guitar for more of a hot PAF feel and was naturally wanting BKP but when the time comes I may have to go with these instead.

I don't quite understand peoples aversion to EMGs. They have a very specific sound but they are the only pickups that do what they do as well as they do.

I spent years trying out alternatives just to come back to EMGs.

These ones are definitely what i'll be looking at once i get a LP
Title: Re: Which one does this?
Post by: Slartibartfarst42 on May 18, 2013, 04:07:22 PM
I wouldn't say I have an aversion to them, it's just that I generally find passives and certainly BKP to be warmer and more organic, but then that is largely based on the 81/85 I'll admit. Even though I really like the EMG 66, as BKP are easily the best pups I've ever tried I naturally wanted to see if something in the range hit this kind of tone, especially in the neck but if there isn't, I would get the EMG set. The other reason I wondered about a BKP version of the 66 is that I wasn't as keen on the 57 in the bridge and if I got a bridge BKP it would also be a zebra finish so I'd rather be able to have a matching neck pickup in terms of finish and being passive.
Title: Re: Which one does this?
Post by: Toe-Knee on May 18, 2013, 04:59:45 PM
I get you.

I think pro guitarshop did a comparison with a gibson LP with the stock pickups and they were very close but the EMGs had a bit more detail and better cleans.

I'll see if i can dig it up for you.
Title: Re: Which one does this?
Post by: ericsabbath on May 19, 2013, 06:49:41 AM
I honestly don't hear anything new on these new models
they sound just like the old EMG 60
difference from the usual 81 and 85 is that they are less hot and less middy, but still sound very "active"
nothing "classic" about them, although some might like them as they sound (like EMG's!)
marketing is bitch, and as open minded as I can be, these didn't impress me as supposedly innovative products at all
also played the hetset and I couldn't hear anything people say about it being warmer, nd more organic and bla bla bla
I even prefer the regular 81, which has a stronger and unique character

back to the bkp subject...
guess the first options would be the black hawk, aftermath and painkiller neck models
and some heavy boosting
Title: Re: Which one does this?
Post by: Slartibartfarst42 on May 19, 2013, 08:36:18 AM
I know what you mean Eric and in all honesty, my response to the bridge was exactly the same. To me it didn't sound drastically different to any other EMG and I confess, when I first saw the video I assumed it was an 81/60 combo or maybe an 81X/60X combo. It was the neck pickup that really stood out for me as it has all of the qualities I like in a neck pickup. It seemed very articulate with a thicker sound than I normally associate with EMG. It was smooth and creamy, reminding me of early Dave Murray when he was using a DiMarzio PAF and had just enough compression. My direct experience of BKP neck humbuckers is limited to the Cold Sweat and Emerald so I wondered if there was anything else in the range that did this. The Emerald is closer to it than the Cold Sweat for sure so I was assuming the equivalent  BKP would be either from the vintage or vintage hot ranges. Perhaps the Emerald IS the closest equivalent. Having said that, I believe the Painkiller neck is very fluid but having said that, having never actually tried it, I can't say how PAF sounding it is in the way this EMG 66 seems to be. The ceramic magnet would suggest not but then the 66 uses ceramic pole pieces so who knows?
Title: Re: Which one does this?
Post by: dingleberry on May 19, 2013, 04:16:41 PM
I get fairly similar tone from my vhii neck, a bit thicker but stilll same kind of fluid yet articulate sound
Title: Re: Which one does this?
Post by: EffigyForgotten on May 20, 2013, 05:42:58 PM
The 66 is probably hotter than the Miracle man/Warpig neck models, and the Miracle Man neck model is often regarded as very smooth and creamy. The 57 is actually hotter than the 81, but has better chord clarity and a more even sound (this is coming from someone who actually owned both and played both side by side). TBH to me this sounds like the perfect pickup.
Title: Re: Which one does this?
Post by: Slartibartfarst42 on May 20, 2013, 07:37:10 PM
I'm amazed they're that hot but in a weird way, you're right. I've always loved PAF tones bot I also like the compression you get from a hotter pickup so perhaps these could be the perfect pickups for me too. At the moment I have a Jackson Soloist with a Miracle Man and Sinners and a PRS SE Custom 24 with a Holydiver and Emerald. I was thinking that within the next year or two I may get rid of the Jackson as I'm getting too old for such a guitar and just get another Custom 24 but fit it with something like an Abraxas set for more of a Santana sound but I may just put these EMG pups into it instead.
Title: Re: Which one does this?
Post by: GuitarIv on May 20, 2013, 08:05:23 PM
within the next year or two I may get rid of the Jackson

DIBS!!! Hit me up when you sell it ;)
Title: Re: Which one does this?
Post by: JJretroTONEGOD on May 20, 2013, 08:10:43 PM
within the next year or two I may get rid of the Jackson

DIBS!!! Hit me up when you sell it ;)

me too! ...damn you beat me to it lol
Title: Re: Which one does this?
Post by: Slartibartfarst42 on May 20, 2013, 08:29:32 PM
LOL, OK, I'll let you know. She's absolutely mint too as I'm positively obsessive about my guitars. Actually, it's rather better than when I bought it new as the factory setup was horrible so it's had a full pro setup by Chris George Guitar (very talented luthier) and the frets were a little out from the factory so she's had a minor fret dress too to rectify that. I love playing it but I figure that next year I'll be 50 so I'm probably getting a little too old for a guitar with a locking Floyd and pointy headstock.
Title: Re: Which one does this?
Post by: Kiichi on May 20, 2013, 09:22:35 PM
I love playing it but I figure that next year I'll be 50 so I'm probably getting a little too old for a guitar with a locking Floyd and pointy headstock.
Agreed, you should deffo replace it with a Fernandez sustainer, Kahler locking trem and a reverse pointy headstock!
Title: Re: Which one does this?
Post by: Slartibartfarst42 on May 20, 2013, 11:10:58 PM
Ah, now there speaks a man who doesn't believe in growing old gracefully  :D Funnily enough, I was playing a guitar with a sustainer in it just recently and really enjoyed it.
Title: Re: Which one does this?
Post by: GuitarIv on May 21, 2013, 04:38:29 PM
I don't think one becomes ever too old to play a certain type of instrument, that's just a cliche. Still, if you're selling the Jackson, hit me up :P
Title: Re: Which one does this?
Post by: darkbluemurder on May 22, 2013, 04:01:14 PM
I think the Cold Sweat would not quite be full enough for this kind of tone. VHII should be closer but its flavor is definitely more vintage than the tone in the video.

Cheers Stephan