Bare Knuckle Pickups Forum
Forum Ringside => Pickups => Topic started by: AnAbidingDude94 on July 15, 2018, 02:17:28 AM
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Hey guys,
So I have a new hot pink Charvel San Dimas (alder body, maple neck) with a floating floyd and a set of Seymour Duncans that came stock with it (JB and 59). Sweet pickups, but lack the clarity of the Bareknuckles I have in all my other guitars. I do like the low end on the JB, though it could be a bit tighter, and I love the lead tones it provides, but there's this mid range frequency that seems hard to dial out. For reference, I have Rebel yell bridge/emerald neck in a PRS Custom 24, Holy Divers in a Les Paul, Mules in another Les Paul and VHII in an ash bodied strat. Love the Diver and RY's, Mules are amazing but the VHII was just alright. I'd prefer not to have two of the same pickups.
I'm looking for this to be an 80's metal machine. I have my spandex and hairspray at the ready. Think of tones like Van Halen, Ratt, Dokken, Randy Rhoads, scorpions, Judas Priest (Painkiller era) etc. Something that gets me in the ballpark of these artists, but it doesn't need to be an exact replica as the sound I end up loving could be something else entirely. I want something with a crunchy and hairy rhythm tone, huge lead tones that are searing and clear, and effortless harmonics. I want a pretty chunky thick low end, but not a pickup that's too dark as a result. Something relatively aggressive, nothing too polite. As the guitar has split coil features (or coil tap, I dunno) that'd be something to keep in mind as it'd be a shame to have something that doesn't split well.
A few I've eyed off, aside from repeating the Diver or RY's, are the cold sweat and the nailbombs (probably alnico). The hair metal sound clips on the website all sound great, but I have no idea how they'd likely sound in a charvel, so hence, here to seek out some professional opinions. Any help in narrowing down pickups, or suggesting alternative options that might meet my needs, would be appreciated.
Should also note that I'm playing an Orange Rockerverb 50 and a Friedman Runt 20 into an Orange 212 cabinet.
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I think you should take the Holy Diver out of the LP and try it dude.
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OK ... so you 'd prefer to not have the RY, HD, VHII, or Mule again ... and it's alder with a maple neck
I'm looking for this to be an 80's metal machine. I have my spandex and hairspray at the ready. Think of tones like Van Halen, Ratt, Dokken, Randy Rhoads, scorpions, Judas Priest (Painkiller era) etc. Something that gets me in the ballpark of these artists, but it doesn't need to be an exact replica as the sound I end up loving could be something else entirely. I want something with a crunchy and hairy rhythm tone, huge lead tones that are searing and clear, and effortless harmonics. I want a pretty chunky thick low end, but not a pickup that's too dark as a result. Something relatively aggressive, nothing too polite. As the guitar has split coil features (or coil tap, I dunno) that'd be something to keep in mind as it'd be a shame to have something that doesn't split well.
Van Halen = VHII (obviously)
Ratt = RY (best approx)
Dokken = MM
Randy = RY
Scorpions = Cold Sweat
Judas Priest = PK (for Painkiller era, for earlier I would suggest Cold Sweat).
Chunky thick low end, effortless harmonics, great rhythm and lead ... to me the pickup that seems like the best all-rounder would be the Miracle Man. It won't get as close to Van Halen, Ratt, or Randy as the others mentioned but you've already tried those and I think it will do a better job of Scorpions, Judas Priest, and Dokken than the Cold Sweat in your guitar.
With a Floyd type bridge chunky bottom end depends a lot on the bridge. If the bridge has a lot of steel in it and a brass block (normal size is fine, doesn't have to be one of those thick blocks) you should get plenty of chunk. If it is that pot metal cr@p swap it out. I run a Gotoh GE1996T in my Schecter and it is like night and day compared to the cheap Schecter licensed Floyd that used to be in it. Block is the normal thickness 33mm brass block that came with the bridge, same dimensions as the one that came in the guitar only brass, but the bridge itself is a lot more sturdy. Much of the tone with a floating trem guitar comes from the neck material and the bridge, at least as much as the body, probably more.
EDIT: Trying the HD in it is good advice. I would stay away from the Nailbombs for hair metal.
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Yeah......the Nailbomb works in a Les Paul type guitar, not really for Alder bolt ons.
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I appreciate the replies guys!
Firstly: the Charvel has the Floyd rose 1000 series, the Korean made one. I believe it has a brass block (the guitar has lots of low end as is) so I should be clear. Might be worth upgrading someday though, so thank you for the suggestion.
Secondly: so I did some soul searching and reviewed a few clips and you guys are likely very right in that the HD is still the best option. I got out the Les Paul and played them through the Friedman and the tone is amazing; something I lost sight of in the desire to try something new, I hate the idea of never branching out for fear of missing out on something new I might love. It'd seem a bit wishy-washy to ignore it for the Charvel. Besides, it might give me the excuse to try out other pickups for the Les Paul down the line! I'd swap them, but I have the Tyger covers on the les paul that might clash with the hot pink guitar if I swapped them :wink:
I'd want a neck pickup that is fluid and warm. The HD neck is amazing and I'd be game for just getting that again, but maybe you guys have better suggestions for a neck pickup to pair with the HD bridge in the Charvel?
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I think the VHII would work well with the Holy Diver bridge if you want a slightly darker neck than the HD neck. The Emerald neck is also a good option, although for the style you are going for I'd prefer the HD or VHII necks.
Also the pole spacing on your Les Paul HD might make it not such a good match for the Charvel but I would try it in there and if it sounds about right order the HD in 53mm short leg
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I put a Holy Diver bridge in a ver similar Strat (it was even pink, shell pink though), and it is phenomenal. It should work great for what you want. I just got a set of Emeralds for my Les Paul, and I think the Emerald neck will do what you want. It is fat and fluid, and the Holy Diver-Emerald is a classic combo.
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I really love the Holy Diver Calibrated set & Trilogy in the middle, (Schaller Mega-E 5-way) outstanding tone!
(https://i.imgur.com/rARE1Pah.jpg)
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Diver + VHII-neck is a great combo for the guitars timbers and the tones you're after.