Bare Knuckle Pickups Forum
Forum Ringside => Pickups => Topic started by: matthewmsp on August 10, 2015, 07:10:04 PM
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Hi guys my whole playing life i have used DiMarzio pickups, for over 25 years and I've still to find my prefect sound in my new baby which is a 2008 PRS Modern Eagle II (with trem, mahogany back and maple top).
So I am about to take the plunge and buy a pair of BKP hum buckers that i can also coil tap too.
Age old question of which set i am afraid. Its hard when all's i am going off here is reputation and reviews, I was going to go for some Seymour Dunc's which i have some knowledge of but thought NO.....keep it British and take a gamble on something i dont know.
So some info on what i am looking for. I play blues rock to prog rock and some Jazz/rock fusion stuff too. Some artists names that have a influence on the tones i go for are Guthrie Govan, Steve Howe, Alex Lifeson, Nuno Bettencourt on the 'Waiting For The Punchline' album. I am after a real transparent organic tone where i can still here the guitar. I want a chord to sound like the sum of its notes and note a wall of mush.....that said I dont want to go to vintage and weak, so kinda balllsey and articulate. Not too much shrill top end from he bridge.
I notice it seems quite common with BKP to by sets which of course I have never done before with DiMarzio, do you guys tend to go with the sets rather than making your own combos up ?
I have already chatted with a couple of guys at BKP and got some great advice form them which helped but just thought i would say hi here on the forum and see if anyone has any advice for me, maybe someone who has got a similar PRS ?
Thank you in advance of any help guys.
Matthew
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Abraxas all the way
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Hi Darren
Thanks for chipping in, much appreciated. Why would you go ABRAXAS over say the Black Dog or the VH II.
I notice you have a PRS CU22 with VH II's in there, whats your experience of them in there and what makes you then go for the ABRAXAS ?
Thanks Darren.
Matthew
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'kinda balllsey and articulate. Not too much shrill top end from he bridge.' This is the Abraxas. What pickups are in the guitar now and what don't you like about them ?
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Hi there. I have been through a few pickups that i used to like in an old guitar...right now in the bridge is a Tone Zone and the neck there is an Air Norton. The Air norton i like but the Tone Zone is just not right mainly in the mids and lows. Its a bit almost fizzy in the mids and doesn't coil tap well at all, the single coil sounds really unbalanced and thin.
So i was looking for something a little thicker but without being muddy.....i guess a bit Joe Bonamassa esc. Hot vintage is kinda me really (even if i do say so myself) i dont want weak vintage.
Thank you for this help.
Matthew
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I guess you've looked at the specs of the various BK pups so you'll know that you're providing a perfect description of the Abraxas. It's based on the lower output Mule but provides a much heftier output with a fantastic punch in the mids. Vintage to hard rock in spades.
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Hi Richard, yeah i have read and read all the specs and as many reviews as i can.......been through this process so many times in my life of trying to find the perfect pickups and of course the web is a wash with conflicting views. I take your point though that the Abraxas does seem to tick all my boxes.
When i spoke with Ben the other day from BKP he was really helpful he and I came to a conclusion of the VH II set. Just out of interests as users what would anyone say would be the difference between the VH II and the Abraxas both in the bridge and the neck ?
I really appreciate your help guys, i know its the game old question here and its hard to pin down but these PUP's aren't cheap and i want to get it right first time with them ?
Thank you
Matthew
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Yeh, i have a VHII set in my PRS CU22, they are punchy and clear. They are not what you are describing though.
The BD is all about the low mids and are prominent in the high end also.
The abraxas has the extra mids and is mild in the highs and has a tad more output than a PAF.
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How bright/dark is the natural voice of your PRS?
I tend to recommend the Abraxas too, because that is closest to your description, however if your is your PRS is on the brighter side I dare to suggest the Crawler too. Mediumoutput, still PAF-pedigree there, huges tones, big mids, more round topend but chimey enough for most guitars so it cuts enough, growls like a bear when pushed, solonotes keep weight above the 12freth and they blossom beautiful with some ampdrive, cleans up and splits great. Splitted you get a tele-esque tone. Neckpickup is warm, but your could opt for a Mule or an Abraxas-neck.
The Abraxas is a good option. It's a hotrodded Mule with a tad more compression, less topend and a bit more mids. Still airy enough when you like Mules (which are one of my fav BKP's). You could define the Crawler as the uber-Abraxas. Both tend to very well in PRS's. Both have excellent noteseparation, dynamics and stay clear with loads of gain. But that's a BKP-trademark.
I have the VHII in ash strat, so that's not really comparable to a PRS. It's a punchy, noncompressed, focussed pickup that you really can steer with your pickattack and volumeknob. When you dig in, it can really scream. It's a great rockpickup, yet imo not as versatile as the Crawler. Also a little dry compared to the Crawler. I like the VHII best with medium to highgain.
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'I have already chatted with a couple of guys at BKP and got some great advice form them ' What did they say ?
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Hi Telerocker, my PRS isn't acoustically that bright or dark.....bit of a non answer but its kinda in the middle. If either i would say darker than brighter though.
The Crawler certainly is interesting too i will look at this in more detail, whats the neck Crawler like compared to the Abraxas neck ?
The guys at BKP came up with the VH II as a set, they didn't really mention the Abraxas set. The more i read though on here and other forums the more i am thinking the Abraxas are looking good. I started off thinking VH II or Black Dog.
This is my first pickup choice where I am pulling back a bit on gain......years back when i was in big hair metal bands it was all about the most powerful pickup won.....but now I am looking for clarity and tone.
I was listening to Black Country Communion this morning and thought thats a tone i would like from my rig. Big tone but with definition and clarity and cleans up beautifully.
Thanks for your helps guys
Matthew
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the VHII should also work well
it has a punchy, clear and uncompressed sound
but if you want a little more compression and smoothness, instead of a 'woody' tone, the abraxas will deliver that
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I was listening to Black Country Communion this morning and thought thats a tone i would like from my rig. Big tone but with definition and clarity and cleans up beautifully.
I suppose that should be lower output pickups, more in the PG blues or stormy monday ballpark
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The VHII set works well in my PRS CU22, punchy and clear, also it balanced nicely in that guitar also.
The Abraxas would have more body to it than the VHII because of the extra mids in there.
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Hi Telerocker, my PRS isn't acoustically that bright or dark.....bit of a non answer but its kinda in the middle. If either i would say darker than brighter though.
The Crawler certainly is interesting too i will look at this in more detail, whats the neck Crawler like compared to the Abraxas neck ?
The guys at BKP came up with the VH II as a set, they didn't really mention the Abraxas set. The more i read though on here and other forums the more i am thinking the Abraxas are looking good. I started off thinking VH II or Black Dog.
This is my first pickup choice where I am pulling back a bit on gain......years back when i was in big hair metal bands it was all about the most powerful pickup won.....but now I am looking for clarity and tone.
I was listening to Black Country Communion this morning and thought thats a tone i would like from my rig. Big tone but with definition and clarity and cleans up beautifully.
Thanks for your helps guys
Matthew
Crawler-neck is one of the warmest and darkest in the BKP-range. That might be overkill.
The Black Country Communion-songs I listened, actually make me say: Mules or PG Blues. But, I think you'll be quite happy with the Abraxas-set.
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There are four pickups in the BKP range that can be said to be closely related, ranging from vintage to modern. The most vintage option is the Mule, which is really justr a classic PAF pickup. Next up is the Abraxas, which is essentially a hot-rodded Mule so it has more compression and will go that bit further into Rock territories. After that comes the Crawler, which is a hotter, fatter and more compressed Abraxas. Finally comes the Holydiver, which is the most modern voicing. Based on your description, I'd say you can probably discount the Mule and Holydiver and look at the two middle options.
I had the Crawler in a PRS SE Custom 24 and to date it is my favourite Bare Knuckle pickup. It had a beautiful growl to it and gave some wonderfully thick tone that made my PRS that bit more reminiscent of a Les Paul as well as having the best split tones of any pickup in the BKP range. It's awesome! The Crawler's natural home is Blues Rock but it's VERY versatile and can run all the way from Blues to 80's Metal. Cleans are excellent. The Abraxas would be a little less hot, a bit less compressed, a bit less growl and a bit more vintage in character. Both will do what you're after with slightly different flavours.
For the neck, the Mule, Abraxas and Crawler are almost identical with the Mule being the brightest and the Crawler the darkest, as you might expect as the hotter the pickup, the darker it tends to be as a rough rule of thumb. All three are PAF pickups. While the Crawler is the best overall pickup I've ever used for the bridge, I wasn't struck on the neck version. It was just a bit too dark, rounded and soft in the bass. Personally I preferred the Holydiver neck because it's much brighter, still very PAF and the AV magnet makes it far more articulate. After chopping and changing with the Emerald neck (also superb) I eventually settled with the Holydiver neck paired with a Crawler bridge and an Emerald neck paired with a Holydiver bridge. I loved both but if I could only have one guitar to do everything, it would be the Crawler/Holydiver set I'd choose in a PRS. To this day I regret selling that guitar.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PSghgh-nEtY
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Thank you to everyone that chipped in to help. I know it's age old tedius question but not knowing BKP and taking a risk at the price point was not something I wanted to do.
So I think I'm gonna buy a pair of Abraxas and see how I get on.
Thanks again
Matthew
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Hi Slartibartfarst42 i posted my last response before i saw your post. You've got me really thinking now about the Crawler.....I think your bob on when you say not Mule and not as contemporary as Holy diver. I think it is the Abraxas and the Crawler I am now looking at it, either as a set or as a combination of both.
Split tones are important to me as is the middle position on my 3 way switch so from what you say the Crawler is good at these two, would that be safe to say.
from what you saying would this be true:
Bridge: Abraxas Neck: Abraxas would be: Balanced - Medium Gain & voicing between vintage and modern
Bridge: Crawler Neck: Crawler would be: Balanced - Higher Gain more towards modern than Abraxas in volume and voice
Bridge: Crawler Neck: Abraxas would be: Balanced - and maybe the Abraxas would be less muddy in the neck than the Crawler
This is tough !!!! I keep going round in circles !!!
Can i just ask you one question about the bridge pickup choice i.e Crawler over Abraxas. Your description of it said that it was hotter, fatter and more compressed......from that would you say it is just a Abraxas at heat with more ummpphhhh in there. I don't want a pickup to weak, i would rather have it hotter than i need rather than weaker as there's nowhere to go if its weaker....if its hot i can use my guitars controls to get what i need and of course i could set the pickup a little lower on the guitar i guess.
Right, i started off this journey with all 19 hum buckers to go at and no knowledge of any of them. With you help and indeed everyone on here I think i have it down to 2 which when you write it down sounds like good going except i can't make that last leap now.
Abraxas or Crawler
I keep reading so many great reviews of both of these in PRS guitars which in one way is comforting.....its almost like I can't go wrong. But i don't have the budget to keep experimenting so whatever i chose now i will play through for a long time and I so want to get it right.
Any last nuggets of info on these tow would be HUGELY appreciated from anyone.
Thank you again to a very friendly forum indeed.
Matthew
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In my mind the Crawler is not just an Abraxas with less output. They are related, but the line is not as simple as that. The Axbraxas is a PAF+ while the Crawler is a PAF++ almost being a modern---. Weird stuff I know and I am not sure how to phrase it. The Crawler does have all the things you listed, but along the way it also picked up a certain growl, best described in Slarits reviews (in the sticky thread) and the quality of the splits, which is just one up from everything.
In the end I think you would be really bloody happy with either, but I think the crawler does deserve more love than it often gets. So if you are tempted by it read Slarti´s reviews. They really do convey the feel I get with them.
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Ok, let me state this:
The Crawler is imo not really modern voiced, compared to the Holy Diver. It's to my ears a sort of uber-PAF, which has medium-output, but I guess people think it's actually hotter because of it's huge soundspectrum. What I like about the Crawler that it's reacts very well to the volumeknob and has also very appealing cleans. On every of my amp the Crawler performs very good with strongs mids, thick solonotes and growling when pushed.
Also the splits are very pleasing. Some people say it doesn't cut enough, but you have to set it to the right height and it really cuts well thanks to the AV-magnet. Yes, compared to a Mule it's more compressed, but it still has a lot of dynamics and good pickattack. Fusion, blues, pop, rock or hardrock, some metal, the Crawler delivers on all of my amps. A singing PAF on steroids that is not fatigueing in any way. The pickup has been my workhorse for many years and it's a keeper.
As Slarti and I mentioned, the Abraxas is more or less of a crossover between the Mule and the Crawler. Different magnet than the Crawler though: AIV vs AV.
The Abraxas is in this respect more related to the Mule: yet more bass, mids, less highs, a little more compressed than a Mule. You can see the Crawler as a thicker and a tad more powerful version of the slightly more open Abraxas.
For the neck I would definitely skip the Crawler-neck and look at something like the Abraxas- or Diver-neck. Or even the Emerald-neck might do.
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Thank you TeleRocker this is all good info. I have spent about 5 hours reading reviews and watching clips etc and of course with help of you guys on here too. I think i have decided to go Crawler in the bridge.
Yippeeeeeeeeeee, thats one choice made.
Now i have to decide the neck pickup. Can i ask one last time what folks would recommend for my PRS with a Crawler in the bridge ??
Here is the guitar that its going in:
Matthew
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In terms of ''matching characters'' I would go for the Abraxas-neck, but the HD-neck might be a good choice too. It has enough vintagecharacter to complement the Crawler-bridge. You might want to throw an email at the BKP-team on this one.
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Honestly, the Crawler is an excellent choice and will happily cover most styles. I'd honestly seriously consider pairing it with a Holydiver neck. I know it sounds like a crazy choice but the Holydiver neck model is really only vintage output but the AV magnet gives it a little extra cut that pairs well with the bite you have from the Crawler. I always think of it as a very articulate PAF. I found that it could do great Blues tones and a killer Dave Murray lead tone. I think when I matched a Crawler bridge with a Holydiver neck, it was certainly the first time I'd read about it on the forum and it certainly isn't an obvious pairing but it honestly works superbly. The Crawler also worked very well with the Emerald but despite the AIV magnet, which gives it a beautifully sweet tone, the Emerald has a more modern feel to it than the Holydiver and on balance, I felt the more vintage feel of the Holydiver worked slightly better. It was a very close call.
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Honestly, the Crawler is an excellent choice and will happily cover most styles. I'd honestly seriously consider pairing it with a Holydiver neck. I know it sounds like a crazy choice but the Holydiver neck model is really only vintage output but the AV magnet gives it a little extra cut that pairs well with the bite you have from the Crawler. I always think of it as a very articulate PAF. I found that it could do great Blues tones and a killer Dave Murray lead tone. I think when I matched a Crawler bridge with a Holydiver neck, it was certainly the first time I'd read about it on the forum and it certainly isn't an obvious pairing but it honestly works superbly. The Crawler also worked very well with the Emerald but despite the AIV magnet, which gives it a beautifully sweet tone, the Emerald has a more modern feel to it than the Holydiver and on balance, I felt the more vintage feel of the Holydiver worked slightly better. It was a very close call.
Bravo, I thought you would comment on the HD-neck.
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I have an MEII . I like the 5708 pups .
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Yeah the 57/08 never really did it for me I'm afraid, not sure exactly why to be honest.....just found them a bit thin and lacking some magic....a bit plain and lifeless would be the best way to describe my thoughts of them. Gonna order a Crawler for my bridge but still not decided on the neck.
Slartibartfast, you seem struck on this combo of the HD in the neck, I'm gonna give that some thought too. Any more advice would be welcome.
Matthew
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Review HD-neck:
https://bareknucklepickups.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=27164.msg392977#msg392977 (https://bareknucklepickups.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=27164.msg392977#msg392977)
See the recent thread about the Emerald-neck.
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I've been away so just saw this. I have VHII's in my MEII 25th anniversary, but it is a wrap around model, and so will be a bit thicker than the trem version. I have an Abraxas set in my single cut, mules in my Artist, RR's in my Standard and a Crawler/BKP90/BKP90 in my EG. So I've got some experience of BK's in PRS's. My ME was back at the PDC and has signature switching (which I use for series/parallel on the VHII's). I also got brushed nickel with gold screws, which really goes with the other hardware on the guitar.
I have had RY's in my Standard and Crawlers in the SC. I play mainly classic rock and blues, so I tend to lean towards the lower output pickups. If you are after a Bonamssa tone, then I would be looking at a lower output pickup and using more of the amp to push things. However, the Abraxas will definitely get you there, as will the Crawlers. I find the Crawlers a little flat (in that there isn't as much top end on them as I like), and prefer the Abraxas sound, but that could be a lot of combinations, as I also only use pure nickel strings, which are a bit more mellow too.
For a neck pickup, you could look at the Mule too.
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I've been away so just saw this. I have VHII's in my MEII 25th anniversary, but it is a wrap around model, and so will be a bit thicker than the trem version. I have an Abraxas set in my single cut, mules in my Artist, RR's in my Standard and a Crawler/BKP90/BKP90 in my EG. So I've got some experience of BK's in PRS's. My ME was back at the PDC and has signature switching (which I use for series/parallel on the VHII's). I also got brushed nickel with gold screws, which really goes with the other hardware on the guitar.
I have had RY's in my Standard and Crawlers in the SC. I play mainly classic rock and blues, so I tend to lean towards the lower output pickups. If you are after a Bonamssa tone, then I would be looking at a lower output pickup and using more of the amp to push things. However, the Abraxas will definitely get you there, as will the Crawlers. I find the Crawlers a little flat (in that there isn't as much top end on them as I like), and prefer the Abraxas sound, but that could be a lot of combinations, as I also only use pure nickel strings, which are a bit more mellow too.
For a neck pickup, you could look at the Mule too.
You should post those BKP in your signature.....
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Only post some of the BKPs he has? Won´t work. Our dear PhilKing has more than two signatures can fit...the lucky man.^^
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Hi Phil I am still sticking with the Crawler in the bridge but starting to think about the VH II for the neck. I noticed you have this on your PRS ? Could I just ask your thoughts on that ?
I thought it would balance well with the crawler with them both being Alnico V ?
Thank you
Matthew
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Hi Matthew,
I like the VHII for it's openess and split sounds. Having said that it can really perform as an overdriven pickup and give you some great soaring lead tones. I originally had them on my Artist, but changed to Mules, because I was looking for a little less bass on that guitar. On the ME, they are perfect. It will be an interesting match with the Crawler.
Cheers
Phil
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I'm curious how the Crawler-bridge and the VHII-neck match. I only have a VHII-bridge and a Mule-neck (not in the same guitar).
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Thanks Phil, I spoke with one of the guys at BKP and they thought the crawler in the bridge and the VH II in the neck would work well. I was planning to get a decision on which pickups to go for by the end of this week.
The three pickups I have in mind for my PRS Modern Eagle II are Crawler, VH II and Abraxas
Either matching sets or a combo. I am really struggling to decide with having no prior knowledge of BKP. I feel I'm going in circles but all help is welcome.
Thank you
Matthew
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with the crawler being fat, round, middy and smooth and the vhII being punchy, bright, focused, articulate and slightly midscooped, I'd expect the abraxas to be the midterm
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funnily enough the Abraxas was where i started off my search, i was concerned that maybe it wasn't enough output for more hard rock / prog rock tones but i have heard some tasty audio examples that might tell me otherwise now. That why i was airing on the side of caution with the Crawler bridge.
I have had some advice on here from a few folks that the crawler bridge in my PRS might not be a good choice, maybe a bit too dark etc. However, I spoke with Tim Mills at BKP and he said they would be just fine in a PRS like mine as a set.
Ben at BKP came up with the VH II's as a set which was another option.
I want to get these ordered probably tomorrow mainly for my own sanity so any last minute advice from those who know would be lovely.
Matthew
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FWIW, I too was fearful that the Crawler bridge would be too dark in my Gibson LP Special and it is absolutely perfect! It may be darker compared to other BKPs, but compared to other brands of popular humbuckers, it's just right!
Full disclosure - I do not own or have much experience with a PRS.
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It's so difficult to choose - would you be able to take advantage of the return policy ? In your position I don't think I'd go for VHIIs but I can't really say why - maybe not as much output as you're looking for ? I would also be thinking about Rebel Yells which are wonderful, such a FAT pickup but really cuts as well:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n_kDhMwAluI
I've been playing a lot today swapping between my RY guitar and my Abraxas guitar. They both sound great but very different and I really can't say which set I prefer.
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Hi Rowdy, thanks for that, out of interest do you have the neck crawler too.....how do you find that ? It's not the bridge Crawler I'm worried about I am more worried about the neck being to dark and wooly.
Richard how do you find the Abraxas set in your PRS? Your right I think, that the VH II might not be for me....not as a set anyway. I kind thing Abraxas or crawler.
I think !!!
Matthew
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Sorry, man I just use the Crawler Bridge. I like my neck pu's much tamer, so I use a mule there - which also works well, BTW.
Prior to the Crawler bridge I had the Rebel Yell in there, but everything I played felt like it sounded like Steve Stevens - which is not a bad thing, just not what I was looking for. To me, the RY has a spike somewhere close to the 2khz (total guess?) range that gives it that signature sound.
BTW, I play Southern Rock.
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listening to the Waiting for the Punchline album right now
gotta say the VHII set with some mild clean boost would work really really well for these tones
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Thanks Eric, yeah the tone on that album is awesome I feel. Really organic raw and gutsy but not too much distortion. That tone best matches what I'm after really you reckon VH II would be better than Crawler or Abraxas ?
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Thanks Eric, yeah the tone on that album is awesome I feel. Really organic raw and gutsy but not too much distortion. That tone best matches what I'm after really you reckon VH II would be better than Crawler or Abraxas ?
for that sort of tone, definitely
the bridge vhII is one of the most articulate pickups I've played, even for BKP standards
it's like a punchier and clearer version of the mule
if you're looking for articulation over compression and sustain, the vhII is the winner
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Hi Eric, thanks for the comment. I thought the VH II set when I chatted with Ben at BKP would suit that tone. But since then I've been right round the houses with Abraxas and Crawlers.
Aggghhhhh !
I was worried that the VH II set would be a little weak on output but I've heard some very chunky riffing demos. I was also worried that they might have to much top end as I didn't want too much top end shrill.
Thoughts anyone.
Matthew
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both VHII bridge and neck have a pretty chunky low end
it has a bright top, but definitely not shrill
the slightly recessed mids actually helps with the clarity, specially in mid heavy mahogany/maple guitars
didn't try them in any PRS, but the set sounded amazing in the les pauls I tried
the riff raff sounded absolutely beautiful in the PRS mccarty I had, even better than in my lp custom, and I wouldn't expect the VHII to be any less
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I think that all 3 of the pickups will cover what you are after. It's probably going to be more down to your amp and any pedals for the overall sound. For me on my ME and playing things from Comfortably Numb through a lot of Free and into Neil Young stuff, I can get all the sounds I want. Having said that, I can get all the sounds from my SC with Abraxas's to, and if I need to, I can use a Strat to get the sounds (but would add a boost pedal for some of the stuff). I have a lot of BK pickups in a lot of different guitars and have found through the years that I can pretty much cover anything with any of them. Some obviously suit some songs better than others, but overall all the piuckups are excellent. I have a friend who was using VHII's for heavy metal and my godson uses a VHII neck for very clean tones in his band.
BK don't do shrill, but they do make very open sounding pickups. I know it's a big decision, but Tim is a great judge of what will suit and he has never steered me wrong in over 10 years of using BK's. The very fist set I got was a Crawler/BKP90/BKP90 set for my PRS EG, and they are still in there and sound great. I'm just about to get a set of Supermassives and a Black Hawk for a couple of guitars, and I have no doubt that I will love them too.
Don't worry about not having a matched set, the other pickups I got on my first order were a Emerald bridge and a Mule neck. If you order the pickups together and give the guitar that they are from, they will make them as a set.
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Thanks Phil and also I'd like to say a big thanks to everyone who has chipped in on this thread. It's so hard choosing pickups anyway but in this case even hard as I have no prior knowledge of any from BKP.
But, all the comments have really helped me formulate some conclusions.
The outcome is I have placed an order for a calibrated pair of Crawlers. And that's a pickup that wasn't even on my list when I started.
So a bi thank you to you all for your kind help. I will be sure to report back with my thoughts once there back and fitted.
Thank you
Matthew
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I hope they work out nice in your PRS. Especially curious about the neckpickup.
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Cheers Telerocker. Don't say that about the neck....you'll get me worried ha ha.
I spoke to Tim Mills about it as a set in my guitar and he said there made for it. I hope he's right, fingers crossed.
Matthew
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Cheers Telerocker. Don't say that about the neck....you'll get me worried ha ha.
I spoke to Tim Mills about it as a set in my guitar and he said there made for it. I hope he's right, fingers crossed.
Matthew
What can i say, Tim knows his pickups best. Besides that, it's more out of curiosity since not many forummembers have the Crawler-neck.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CRAItn-jYvQ (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CRAItn-jYvQ)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=09qwOU6jOks (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=09qwOU6jOks)
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I really need to give mine another shot. Just moved my bridge and it is much nicer now. Really cool pickup. The neck too needs a new home now as I paired the bridge with a MQ neck which is amazing. The neck is a really cool one for sure though and it could easily replace the MQ in that axe I think. Might do that someday even.
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No problem Telerocker I will certainly report back with my findings on the pickups but particularly the neck. I am so looking froward to getting these in there, i have been spawn out pickups for 20 years on and off but for some reason I am very excited this time.....maybe its the total unknown.
Matthew
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No problem Telerocker I will certainly report back with my findings on the pickups but particularly the neck. I am so looking froward to getting these in there, i have been spawn out pickups for 20 years on and off but for some reason I am very excited this time.....maybe its the total unknown.
Matthew
That's a big part of the fun. I can only say that the superb Crawler serves me already for many years in my workhorse, a MXG Custom strat (handmade by Patrick Eggle). It has a swampash body, maple neck, 12 inch radius ebony fretboard.
(http://i1331.photobucket.com/albums/w582/Stroopwafel61/IMG_8464__zpsc1237919.jpg)
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Hi guys
So finally i went for a Crawler set. In general these are amazing pickups, the moment i played them they generally sounded so different and responsive......very high quality indeed. But with this being my first set of BKP it was always a gamble as i had no idea of there general feel or tonal pallet.
So the point is while they are great they may not be what i wanted. The bridge Crawler is the right tonality for me but i feel its maybe just dont as hot as i would have liked, love the strong guttural mids it has but just need a little more juice for my tastes.
The neck Crawler I am not that struck on at all actually, its not dark, rounded, warm enough fro my tastes. The bets way i can describe it is If i play lets say 12th fret G string single note on bridge pickup then hit that note again on the neck the tonal difference isn’t as broad as i would have hoped…..i.e the neck doesn’t go as dark, warm, rounded as i would like. I have a 3 way toggle and coil tap on my tone pot. So when i go from bridge to middle to neck, each step is very subtle in tone. I would just like a broader range between the 3 positions.
So with my first set of BKP i have leant a lot and now some of the descriptions etc and comments on here make more sense to me.
I am going to take advantage of the 14 day swap service to try one more time to get this right. I spoke with Tim this morning on email and he has suggested the following:
Bridge : Holy Diver
Neck: VH II
I just wondered what ineptness thoughts were of this combo on my PRS ME II ?
Thank you people
Matthew
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So the point is while they are great they may not be what i wanted. The bridge Crawler is the right tonality for me but i feel its maybe just dont as hot as i would have liked, love the strong guttural mids it has but just need a little more juice for my tastes.
The neck Crawler I am not that struck on at all actually, its not dark, rounded, warm enough fro my tastes. The bets way i can describe it is If i play lets say 12th fret G string single note on bridge pickup then hit that note again on the neck the tonal difference isn’t as broad as i would have hoped…..i.e the neck doesn’t go as dark, warm, rounded as i would like. I have a 3 way toggle and coil tap on my tone pot. So when i go from bridge to middle to neck, each step is very subtle in tone. I would just like a broader range between the 3 positions.
the holy diver dense midrange certainly makes it sound hotter and juicier, although it's a medium output pup
if you wanna go truly hot, then you better step up to the alnico nailbomb
I suppose the neck crawler is somewhat similar to a mule
the neck vhII should sound fatter, a little darker and more hollow in the mids, but I'm not sure it would warmer and more rounded
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As an owner of many PRS guitars, thought I'd chime in here. The rosewood neck on the Modern Eagle's makes them a little finicky with pickups emphasizing the right frequencies.
I had a Custom 24 with a RW neck and was recommended a pair of Rebel Yells. While I loved the definition and clarity, they just weren't what I was looking for in that guitar. I think with RW necks you have to compensate for a loss of some of the lower mids, while also not increasing the lower frequencies as to become too muddy.
Anyhow, I happened to sell that particular Custom 24. For my next RW neck'ed PRS I would def go with something with more mids, and less highs like an Abraxxas in the bridge.
For the neck pickup, I personally like something more vintage, that really lets that certain "woody" tone from the RW neck come through in a nice creamy way - something like the 57/08, but maybe a little more output - Mule or Abraxxas.
FWIW, I currently have a Custom 24 with a maple neck and ebony board that was way too bright and thin when I first got it. So after talking with people on this board I went with a Crawler in the bridge and an Emerald in the beck Couldn't be happier!! Best pickup upgrade I've ever had - totally changed the guitar. The Crawler really has a bark and a roar that works great for rock and hard rock, etc... While the split sounds are fantastic.
So, keep trying, BKP has something out there that will fit your needs and blow you away!