Bare Knuckle Pickups Forum

Forum Ringside => Pickups => Topic started by: ProjectX on April 18, 2006, 10:37:31 PM

Title: Bridge pickup suggestions
Post by: ProjectX on April 18, 2006, 10:37:31 PM
Hey guys,I'm new here and would like to get some advice.I have a killer playing Wayne Charvel parts guitar that needs a new bridge pickup.I play tunes from bands such as Ratt,Billy Idol,Maiden,old Priest,Thin Lizzy,Alice In Chains.It currently has a VH2 in it but for me it sounds a little too thin and bright,almost tele-ish.I need something a little warmer with higher output but still cuts through in a band situation.The body of the guitar is a Wayne body made of Alder with a beautiful quilt top and the neck is a Musikraft one piece rock maple made to Charvel specs.Here's a pic:
(http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b228/EVHindenberg/Charvel.jpg)

What pickup do you guys think?Oh by the way,the neck pickup is an Irish Tour and absolutely slays in this guitar.
Title: Bridge pickup suggestions
Post by: dave_mc on April 18, 2006, 10:42:34 PM
I have no idea on the pickup front, but that is one awesome guitar!

welcome to the forum! :D
Title: Bridge pickup suggestions
Post by: sambo on April 18, 2006, 10:48:46 PM
holy mother of mothers......... thats the maddest quilt top ive ever seen...

...thats.... thats.... thats just crazy man...  :o


anyway yer, cant help with pickups sorry man...  :lol:

but that guitar  :o
Title: Bridge pickup suggestions
Post by: March on April 18, 2006, 11:24:36 PM
Stunning guitar. I'm thinking something like the Crawler would deliver what you require.
Title: Bridge pickup suggestions
Post by: Neemo on April 18, 2006, 11:25:35 PM
is that a d-tuna you have in the floyd?
Title: Bridge pickup suggestions
Post by: sambo on April 18, 2006, 11:27:18 PM
^yer i saw that too

well you said Billy Idol so obvious choice there is the new Rebel Yell which is being launched 5-7 May........
Title: Bridge pickup suggestions
Post by: ProjectX on April 18, 2006, 11:27:22 PM
I was thinking along the lines of something equivalent (of course BK's will be much better) to the Duncan JB which quite a few of those guys use or have used in the past.What would that be?
Title: Bridge pickup suggestions
Post by: ProjectX on April 18, 2006, 11:29:30 PM
Quote from: Neemo
is that a d-tuna you have in the floyd?
Yes sir it is.It works awesome.I have a Performance Guitars Big Block on the Floyd too which increases sutain and tone unbelievably.Also I have KTS titanium blocks in the Floyd that hold the strings in.No more cracked blocks.
Title: Bridge pickup suggestions
Post by: TwilightOdyssey on April 18, 2006, 11:30:33 PM
The VHII can be bright in some guitars. I had the same issue in my Strat, but a simple HF rolloff circuit cured it.

The bottom line is that a bright guitar is a bright guitar, and BKs have a LOT of high freqency clarity. If you're looking for more warmth, tho ... I would think something like the Black DOg, actually, would be a good pickup if you wanted something in the same ballpark.

Your influences are all over the place, tonally, but for the Thin Lizzy/old Priest thing, I love the Cold Sweat ... once again, your guitar may simply be overly bright and nothing short of a high freq rolloff will do the trick.

On a side note: I don't like wood tops, but that is a SICK guitar!!

Edit: Just saw your JB comment. If you're looking for something in that range, look at the Rebel Yell or Holy Diver.
Title: Bridge pickup suggestions
Post by: Twinfan on April 18, 2006, 11:30:44 PM
Great guitar - looks superb!

What about a Nailbomb???
Title: Bridge pickup suggestions
Post by: ProjectX on April 18, 2006, 11:32:01 PM
Quote from: TwilightOdyssey
The VHII can be bright in some guitars. I had the same issue in my Strat, but a simple HF rolloff circuit cured it.

The bottom line is that a bright guitar is a bright guitar, and BKs have a LOT of high freqency clarity. If you're looking for more warmth, tho ... I would think something like the Black DOg, actually, would be a good pickup if you wanted something in the same ballpark.

Your influences are all over the place, but for the Thin Lizzy/old Priest thing, I love the Cold Sweat ... once again, your guitar may simply be overly bright and nothing short of a high freq rolloff will do the trick.

On a side note: I don't like wood tops, but that is a SICK guitar!!
Could you give me info on the HF rolloff circuit ? I'm real handy with the soldering iron.Hell,if I could roll off some of the peakiness this pickup could stay where it is.
Title: Bridge pickup suggestions
Post by: sambo on April 18, 2006, 11:33:53 PM
im gonna say Rebel Yell again (for the Billy Idol stuff) or what about an Emerald (for the Thin Lizzy stuff?) like TO said, your influences are kinda all over the place... so its hard to say... but one of them would be good i reckon...

ive got a feeling the Rebel Yell is higher output than the VHII....?

and what TO said about the Black Dog could work as well... ive heard people say that that is very mids-orientated/warm....
Title: Bridge pickup suggestions
Post by: indysmith on April 18, 2006, 11:36:03 PM
cold sweat or nailbomb, hmmm.
that guitar is hawt. could yu explain how the d-tuna works? i have one on my ibanez but it's built in with the ZR tremolo; my tech told me that mine works in a more accurate way than the EVH one, but im not really sure how?
Title: Bridge pickup suggestions
Post by: TwilightOdyssey on April 18, 2006, 11:40:50 PM
Quote from: ProjectX
Could you give me info on the HF rolloff circuit ? I'm real handy with the soldering iron.

I can give you LOTS OF info on the circuit!

PhilKing will chime in with the values we chose, but here's what we did:

We took a Gibson tone circuit and set it back to 9, and then measured the resistance.  The capacitor is the same as is used in the Gibson.

Then we took a Fender tone circuit and did the same, and measured that.

Then we took a mini switch and wired in resistors/capacitors to match the tone pots. In the UP position, it's the Gibbo circuit and in the DOWN position, it's the Fender. And the funny thing is, you can hear the difference, even tho electrically, they are only slightly different!! I prefer the Gibson for riffing and the Fender circuit for solos.

The bottom line is, it REALLY tamed the highs on the guitar!! Here's a clip I did using the VHII on all tracks ...  

http://www.soundclick.com/util/getplayer.m3u?id=3624776&q=hi

I've never been happier with the pup. Of course, the effect is VERY subtle, but it rolls off just enuff of the bite in the high freqs to make it less ear bleeding!!

Hope you find this helpful!!
Title: Bridge pickup suggestions
Post by: ProjectX on April 18, 2006, 11:46:02 PM
I wonder if using a 250k pot instead of the 500k would tame it?
Title: Bridge pickup suggestions
Post by: TwilightOdyssey on April 18, 2006, 11:46:48 PM
Quote from: ProjectX
I wonder if using a 250k pot instead of the 500k would tame it?

Theoretically, yes, but I would avoid a 250k pot with a humbucker.
Title: Bridge pickup suggestions
Post by: ProjectX on April 19, 2006, 12:59:23 AM
Quote from: TwilightOdyssey
Quote from: ProjectX
I wonder if using a 250k pot instead of the 500k would tame it?

Theoretically, yes, but I would avoid a 250k pot with a humbucker.
True.I think I may go with the Rebel Yell.It seems to be along the lines of a much better sounding JB with a nice balance based on the soundclip I heard.I'll just have to unload the VH2 on Ebay.Thanks for the info guys.
Title: Bridge pickup suggestions
Post by: TwilightOdyssey on April 19, 2006, 12:38:24 PM
Just remember: It may be your guitar, not the pickup, at fault!!
Title: Bridge pickup suggestions
Post by: ProjectX on April 19, 2006, 08:17:59 PM
I'm thinking maybe the wiring is the culprit.What color lead goes to the switch? Which one to ground on the back of the pot?
Title: Bridge pickup suggestions
Post by: ProjectX on April 19, 2006, 08:19:28 PM
Quote from: TwilightOdyssey
Just remember: It may be your guitar, not the pickup, at fault!!
I don't think it's the guitar because the Irish Tour in the neck has the most incredible tone I've heard in a long time.
Title: Bridge pickup suggestions
Post by: TwilightOdyssey on April 19, 2006, 08:22:26 PM
Sounds like the bridge pup may be out of phase, then.
Title: Bridge pickup suggestions
Post by: ProjectX on April 19, 2006, 08:23:37 PM
Quote from: TwilightOdyssey
Sounds like the bridge pup may be out of phase, then.
that's what I think but I need a wiring diagram.
Title: Bridge pickup suggestions
Post by: Johnny Mac on April 19, 2006, 09:02:23 PM
I dunno about the tech stuff but your guitar is gorgeous! When the pic loaded i just woah!
Title: Bridge pickup suggestions
Post by: ProjectX on April 21, 2006, 01:13:00 AM
You know,I think a Nailbomb is what I'm after.What do you guys think? I do want to get heavy with this beauty too.
Title: Bridge pickup suggestions
Post by: steve on April 21, 2006, 09:34:23 AM
The Nailbomb is very versatile,great cleans and a great crunch rock tone.And of course does a superb high gain tone.
Title: Bridge pickup suggestions
Post by: ProjectX on April 21, 2006, 12:49:03 PM
Do I order right from the site or do I have to use a USA dealer? I'm located in New York.
Title: Bridge pickup suggestions
Post by: steve on April 21, 2006, 01:00:48 PM
I think it would be quicker to order from the BK online store,it would save you trying to find a BK dealer in your area.
Title: Bridge pickup suggestions
Post by: Twinfan on April 21, 2006, 01:55:07 PM
Told you a Nailbomb would be the one to go for  ;)
Title: VH11
Post by: pncampbell on April 21, 2006, 02:15:11 PM
If your looking for a good home for that VHII give me shout.

Paul.
Title: Bridge pickup suggestions
Post by: TwilightOdyssey on April 21, 2006, 03:25:43 PM
I think the Nailbomb will be WAY too bright, if you think the VH2 is already bright.
Title: Bridge pickup suggestions
Post by: Ratrod on April 21, 2006, 04:28:21 PM
Stunning pice of work, that guitar.

If the VHII and the Nailbomb are too bright in that guitar it could be worth checking out the Crawler. The extra midrange and warmth should tame the brightness of the guitar.

At first I wanted to go with the other suggestions of Nailbomb or Rebel Yell. But if a Nailbomb would be too bright, then the RY will be too.
Title: Bridge pickup suggestions
Post by: steve on April 21, 2006, 04:35:28 PM
I had a Nailbomb in my alder bodied strat with a floyd rose and it sounded really beefy and fat.If anything it warmed up the guitar alot!
The Crawler will take you to hot paf territory whereas the Nailbomb will do a more modern rock tone.
Title: Bridge pickup suggestions
Post by: ProjectX on April 21, 2006, 08:01:33 PM
Quote from: steve
I think it would be quicker to order from the BK online store,it would save you trying to find a BK dealer in your area.
What's the wait period if I order from the site? I need a 52mm spaced Nailbomb in open poled black.