Bare Knuckle Pickups Forum

Forum Ringside => Pickups => Topic started by: crankyrayhanky on February 24, 2015, 04:50:07 PM

Title: Blackhawk: Alnico or Ceramic
Post by: crankyrayhanky on February 24, 2015, 04:50:07 PM

Hey BK peeps,

I have a blue Peavey HP CT (basswood body maple neck); pics below.
I like modern rock/metal, clean to mean. I have a black HP CT that I put Juggernauts in and it sounds fantastic. I would do Juggs again, but I think it might be fun to mix it up.
I'm thinking Blackhawks would look wicked awesome and probably deliver some aggressive tones. Considering that I want to have inspiring cleans, should I go Alnico? I assume Alnico can still deliver brootz? (lol, I'm 45). Conversely, would Blackhawk ceramic deliver decent clean tones? Note that I will use the coil splits in this guitar.

Any insight appreciated!
(http://i893.photobucket.com/albums/ac139/crankyrayhanky/Peavey%20HP/100_zps10b9c09a.jpg) (http://s893.photobucket.com/user/crankyrayhanky/media/Peavey%20HP/100_zps10b9c09a.jpg.html)
(http://i893.photobucket.com/albums/ac139/crankyrayhanky/Peavey%20HP/102_zps55c39195.jpg) (http://s893.photobucket.com/user/crankyrayhanky/media/Peavey%20HP/102_zps55c39195.jpg.html)

Title: Re: Blackhawk: Alnico or Ceramic
Post by: Kiichi on February 24, 2015, 06:03:37 PM

Are you going for a set or just a bridge? Cause that option only affect the bridge model, so if you were to go set you can always use the neck for cleans. Of course the alnico still delivers br00talz though, and will get you better bridge cleans.

Title: Re: Blackhawk: Alnico or Ceramic
Post by: crankyrayhanky on February 24, 2015, 06:08:22 PM

Yes I'm looking for a set. Thanks for the feedback!

Title: Re: Blackhawk: Alnico or Ceramic
Post by: JimmyMoorby on February 24, 2015, 07:21:51 PM

Just bought my self an alnico black hawk set again.
Like an idiot let the bridge go a while back and always regretted it.
With the amp I have now I can get a lot more versatility from the set but as far as 'brootz' the black hawk is the most powerful sounding pickup i've ever played.  Think of it as a thicker and more toneful emg.
In my Les Paul in e flat the black hawk sounds perfect for what I want and is extremely tight.

EDIT - I've settled on pickups in my other guitars and tried loads in this one.......with the black hawks my search has ended.  It sounds ridiculously huge.

Title: Re: Blackhawk: Alnico or Ceramic
Post by: crankyrayhanky on February 25, 2015, 05:12:42 PM

Great feedback, I think I will dive in and likely get the Alnico version
What kind of amp are you rockin?

Title: Re: Blackhawk: Alnico or Ceramic
Post by: Slartibartfarst42 on February 26, 2015, 01:14:31 PM

I always used to stick to ceramic pickups but now I tend to prefer alnico magnets. A good quality alnico pickup can be tighter than an average quality ceramic and you get all the tonal benefits and versatility of alnico as well.