Bare Knuckle Pickups Forum

Forum Ringside => Pickups => Topic started by: Alex on November 03, 2013, 09:39:11 PM

Title: Share your thoughts on this - what would you choose (aesthetics)?
Post by: Alex on November 03, 2013, 09:39:11 PM
So, once again I'm thinking of a pickup change for the Eclipse, which I never got around to. What has happened? Well, I got a new amplifier (ENGL Ironball), which is seriously the best amp I've ever owned (better than the 5150 I had), and one of the things that is so nice about it is that it shows tonal details and difference between pickups much more, and just sounds beautiful.

I haven't decided yet on which pickup set I want. I'm between the VHII, Black Dog and Miracle Man, but I'm leaning towards the Black Dog.
What I'm much more undecided about - and which has in the past stopped me - is the looks. This is my "pretty" guitar, so I'm more concerned than about other ones. I had Zebra coils in it before, and black coils, but I kind of dig the way the EMGs look.

What would you put in it and why?
Black coils, zebra coils, black covered, battle scarred, some sort of tyger finish?

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v281/theonlywarlock/Guitars/IMGP1239-2.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v281/theonlywarlock/Guitars/IMG052.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v281/theonlywarlock/Guitars/IMGP0060.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v281/theonlywarlock/Guitars/IMGP0065.jpg)
Title: Re: Share your thoughts on this - what would you choose (aesthetics)?
Post by: bandmaster188 on November 03, 2013, 09:45:00 PM
I'm liking the zebras on there myself.
I've got zebras on my Lp custom and 335 so I may be a bit biased!
Title: Re: Share your thoughts on this - what would you choose (aesthetics)?
Post by: Telerocker on November 03, 2013, 10:13:48 PM
Zebra's for me, but I confess I never liked the EMG-look.
Title: Re: Share your thoughts on this - what would you choose (aesthetics)?
Post by: Dave Sloven on November 03, 2013, 11:00:40 PM
I like the zebras too.

If you want a little more black on there, personally I'd try and find some black anodized screws for those pickup rings.  The ones have on there stick out like dog's balls.  I realise that it would be very hard to find the long pickup screws in that colour, but it might simplify the look a little if you changed the corner ones.  Otherwise I think it looks great with the zebras.  I've never been a fan of the plasticy looking EMG things.
Title: Re: Share your thoughts on this - what would you choose (aesthetics)?
Post by: miguelbatalha on November 04, 2013, 04:39:57 AM
The zebra don't blend as well as the black covers but that can be a good thing... It's up to you, man. The Zebra stand out and don't look "plastic", I'd go with the zebras. IMO, gold covers might look cool too.
Title: Re: Share your thoughts on this - what would you choose (aesthetics)?
Post by: Lucas on November 04, 2013, 07:36:44 AM
In my opinion those zebras look great. If you would want to go the other way, I personaly would install gold battleworn covers (that would be a killer!). Just keep in mind that you have gold hardware so anything other than open coils or gold covers will look a bit strange.
I`m not a big fan of 'cheap' and plastic EMG covers either.
Title: Re: Share your thoughts on this - what would you choose (aesthetics)?
Post by: Dave Sloven on November 04, 2013, 08:26:46 AM
An open set with black bobbins (rather than zebras) could also look good.

Otherwise the black covers with gold screws like littleredguitars2 got
Title: Re: Share your thoughts on this - what would you choose (aesthetics)?
Post by: Lucas on November 04, 2013, 08:30:55 AM
Agent Orange, what do you think about battleworn covers either black or gold?
Title: Re: Share your thoughts on this - what would you choose (aesthetics)?
Post by: darkbluemurder on November 04, 2013, 09:29:46 AM
Before I looked at the pictures I would have said "black covered" but I found that I prefer the zebra look in those pictures.

Gold battleworn covers - that should work as well. I am not sure whether there is a gold tygyr ...

Cheers Stephan
Title: Re: Share your thoughts on this - what would you choose (aesthetics)?
Post by: Dave Sloven on November 04, 2013, 09:35:23 AM
Agent Orange, what do you think about battleworn covers either black or gold?

Battleworn and tiger in general aren't my style.

If I were to get battleworn I guess it would be with camo finish and on some outlandish axe ... I don't really have an interest in such guitars though.

I prefer the 'looks kind of wimpy but sounds really aggressive/heavy' approach.  I do own a pink guitar, after all ... how much wimpier can you get?   
Title: Re: Share your thoughts on this - what would you choose (aesthetics)?
Post by: Lucas on November 04, 2013, 09:50:19 AM
I prefer the 'looks kind of wimpy but sounds really aggressive/heavy' approach.  I do own a pink guitar, after all ... how much wimpier can you get?

please tell me that`s pink axe loaded with ceramic Warpig  :D

by the way some time ago Dean has made a special run of pink Vs and pink Cadillacs. Looked wicked, just imagine putting burn chrome covered pups.

Generally speaking Im more into aged covers. In my Caddy I have both aged gold covers (one was more shiny than the other so sandpaper has done a brilliant job, more custom one!)
Title: Re: Share your thoughts on this - what would you choose (aesthetics)?
Post by: Dave Sloven on November 04, 2013, 11:23:15 AM
It's a pink axe loaded with a single Stockholm

It's not a bright pink though, more a pastel colour, like the bathrooms you find in an old lady's house that was decorated in the 1950s.  My late grandmother's house has this colour in the bathroom.

Doesn't get more brutal than the look of a 1950s bathroom.
Title: Re: Share your thoughts on this - what would you choose (aesthetics)?
Post by: Toe-Knee on November 04, 2013, 12:11:23 PM
(https://bareknucklepickups.co.uk/forum/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=19382.0;attach=7184)

(https://bareknucklepickups.co.uk/forum/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=19382.0;attach=7185)

(https://bareknucklepickups.co.uk/forum/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=19382.0;attach=7186)
Title: Re: Share your thoughts on this - what would you choose (aesthetics)?
Post by: Mr. Air on November 04, 2013, 12:51:03 PM
I would go with zebras, but reverse color scheme of what you have now as I prefer the white coul to be closest to the bridge and closest to the neck. Agent Orange's tip about black anodized screws for the covers sounds really good as well.
Title: Re: Share your thoughts on this - what would you choose (aesthetics)?
Post by: ericsabbath on November 04, 2013, 01:38:58 PM
open cream would look great
Title: Re: Share your thoughts on this - what would you choose (aesthetics)?
Post by: littleredguitars2 on November 04, 2013, 01:46:23 PM
An open set with black bobbins (rather than zebras) could also look good.

Otherwise the black covers with gold screws like littleredguitars2 got

yeah the black with gold screws does look very awesome on my lp!

Title: Re: Share your thoughts on this - what would you choose (aesthetics)?
Post by: Dave Sloven on November 04, 2013, 01:51:28 PM
I would go with zebras, but reverse color scheme of what you have now as I prefer the white coul to be closest to the bridge and closest to the neck. Agent Orange's tip about black anodized screws for the covers sounds really good as well.

I only meant for the pickup rings.

I was thinking gold pole pieces if going for black covers.  Or maybe gold pole pieces with black bobbins?
Title: Re: Share your thoughts on this - what would you choose (aesthetics)?
Post by: Mr. Air on November 04, 2013, 03:37:17 PM
I would go with zebras, but reverse color scheme of what you have now as I prefer the white coul to be closest to the bridge and closest to the neck. Agent Orange's tip about black anodized screws for the covers sounds really good as well.

I only meant for the pickup rings.

I was thinking gold pole pieces if going for black covers.  Or maybe gold pole pieces with black bobbins?

I meant the mounting rings not the covers  :oops:
Title: Re: Share your thoughts on this - what would you choose (aesthetics)?
Post by: Lucas on November 04, 2013, 04:54:05 PM
Alex, I wouldn`t recommend covers for passive BKPs in EMG style like Toe-Knee presented.
There`s lack of posibility for polepieces adjustments.
Title: Re: Share your thoughts on this - what would you choose (aesthetics)?
Post by: Arthurus on November 04, 2013, 06:28:30 PM
Man, Gold Tygyr would look killer !
Title: Re: Share your thoughts on this - what would you choose (aesthetics)?
Post by: Lucas on November 04, 2013, 07:20:48 PM
open cream would look great
in my opinion that would give more 'vintage' look, but still good idea
Title: Re: Share your thoughts on this - what would you choose (aesthetics)?
Post by: 38thBeatle on November 04, 2013, 09:05:25 PM
I normally prefer covers on HBs but in this instance, I would say Zebra.
Title: Re: Share your thoughts on this - what would you choose (aesthetics)?
Post by: Alex on November 04, 2013, 09:26:26 PM
I'm not really considering gold covers or gold screws.

It seems zebra is the most popular option here really. I'm surprised there's no love for black battleworn covers, though. What would a black Tygyr finish look like?

Title: Re: Share your thoughts on this - what would you choose (aesthetics)?
Post by: Philly Q on November 04, 2013, 11:13:31 PM
It seems zebra is the most popular option here really. I'm surprised there's no love for black battleworn covers, though. What would a black Tygyr finish look like?

Sticking with the conservative option..... zebra.  Maybe with cream mounting rings too, although they might clash with the "yellow" binding.

Anything but Battleworn or Tygyr.  Sorry BKP, but I hate those finishes.
Title: Re: Share your thoughts on this - what would you choose (aesthetics)?
Post by: Dave Sloven on November 05, 2013, 03:40:15 AM
This photo of burnt chrome covers on Rebel Yells in a black Eclipse with gold hardware might be of interest:

(http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h241/varin87/DSC00294a.jpg)
Title: Re: Share your thoughts on this - what would you choose (aesthetics)?
Post by: darkbluemurder on November 05, 2013, 08:47:07 AM
I am a big fan of the burnt chrome look. But on black ... but hey, I have them in a honey sunburst axe ...

Cheers Stephan
Title: Re: Share your thoughts on this - what would you choose (aesthetics)?
Post by: Lucas on November 05, 2013, 08:57:32 AM
I am a big fan of the burnt chrome look. But on black ... but hey, I have them in a honey sunburst axe ...

Cheers Stephan
Actually they don`t look too bad on black. I`ve seen them somewhere on web put in into white axe and it was much worse.
Would you upload some photos of your guitar, I`m concerned how they present in honey sunburst,
Title: Re: Share your thoughts on this - what would you choose (aesthetics)?
Post by: lamp on November 05, 2013, 01:55:58 PM
Having made a similar aesthetic choice recently, I personally would go for black open coils bridge and zebra neck!   8)
(http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f352/t_mcwilliams/Guitars/624CA995-C30C-4EA9-9D5D-DF469994AF84-713-000000E53D3EF6FC_zps66ad27a8.jpg)

However, it was a close call between that and aged gold that was previously in there:
(http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f352/t_mcwilliams/Guitars/3EA841E7-F530-496E-B70C-89240401B666-3465-000004CB16DEED5F.jpg)
Title: Re: Share your thoughts on this - what would you choose (aesthetics)?
Post by: Marco78 on November 05, 2013, 08:02:45 PM
Gold covered!
Title: Re: Share your thoughts on this - what would you choose (aesthetics)?
Post by: miguelbatalha on November 07, 2013, 02:48:57 AM
(http://images.nationalgeographic.com/wpf/media-live/photos/000/007/cache/zebra_764_600x450.jpg)

You know what to choose.
Title: Re: Share your thoughts on this - what would you choose (aesthetics)?
Post by: blackstrat on November 07, 2013, 12:45:45 PM
Black open coil with gold polepieces

Just curious, what kind of music do you play?