Bare Knuckle Pickups Forum
Forum Ringside => Pickups => Topic started by: Jappse on April 22, 2006, 09:59:27 AM
-
Im ordering this custom guitar from Poland, with some help from ztevie. Though I do not know what pickup I am to put IN IT, and its driving me nuts. BKP are beginning to get too many choises...
Im am a former customer, bough the Nailbomb and im happy above all else. But I want a different one for this guitar, so what now?
I play through an amp similar to a marshall but with more gain, the tubes are EL 34`s. I run the signal through a tube screamer as well, just to give it some more gain.
I play basically metal, but play all sorts of stuff. Zakk Wylde, COB, Iron Maiden, Trivium, Megadeth, Pantera, Metallica, Lamb of God and Opeth are the bands that claims my attencion the most. Though i also like Satriani, Bonamassa, Molly Hatchet, Vai, VH and my farourite band G n` R (Becouse of Slash, of course).
The guitar specs are as following:
Mahogany Body & Neck
Flamed Maple Top
Ebony Fretboard
Neck-Thru constuction
White-Black-White Binding on Body
White Binding on Fretboard
Tonepros Wraparound PRS bridge w/locking studs
Sperzel Locking Tuning Keys Black
Schaller Strap Lock
Schaller Hardware
Chrome Hardware
Black Pickup frames
???"A pair Bare Knuckle pickups"???
Deep-Green Color
PRS Body and Headstock
-
Miracle man leaps to mind.
If you wanted something a touch more subtle then Crawlers would be great also.
-
I would go with the Cold sweat. Its very harmonically rich, with a big tight bottom end. Its wound with the same wire as the Nailbomb, but it is more open and a bit brighter.
-
I would go with the Cold sweat. Its very harmonically rich, with a big tight bottom end. Its wound with the same wire as the Nailbomb, but it is more open and a bit brighter.
:D + 1
:D 8)
-
sounds like a sweet guitar you've got there man, who made her? By the way - i think the Cold Sweat will pretty much nail what yu need
-
No shite! You ordered one?
Which company did you order from? And what did it cost?
As for the pickups, MiracleMan could surely do everything you're listing there, but send Tim a mail and ask him. Mahogany is a pretty dark sounding wood, and you don't want boomy or muddy bass...
-
He he, I have not ordered it yet, but ive made them aware that Im intrested. Im ordering the guitar from REK guitars (thanks to you ztevie, their answers where both better and "faster" than the other luthiers) in late may, then Ill pick it up in poland, cheat the customs, and get it home before early september. The price will be around 1.600 € depending on the inlays, which i dont have a clue what to fit on the guitar, any ideas??
And thanks for all the replies guys. Though Im a bit sceptic towards ceramic magnets in a pickup, but thats only from my bad experiences with a pair of Gibson 500T & 498R ceramics. But thats not pups made by Tim though...
Somehow the two pickups that have shimmered the must when ive viewed their specs and listened to some clips, the Miracle Men and Cold Sweat have separated themself from the rest of the pickup line, though the new Holy Diver seems tempting.
Now comes the major question, which one???
-
If you haven't ordered it yet, it might not hurt asking tim and the guys what wood to get the guitar made from too, to match the pickups and wood to the tones you want. You know "what wood does the warpig suit best" etc.- since you're going custom, might as well have it matched to perfection!
-
Hey Jappsee!
So you're gonna order it in late May?
I should have my guitar by then, give or take a few weeks, so you can have my opinion of the quality and impresssion of their work before you actually order it...? Plus some pics closeup of their work.
dave_mc has got a point too... But I don't think you should build your guitar around the pickups, if you know what I mean.
But if you're sure you want it all in mahogany, then go for it, but check with Tim how the CioldSweats and Miracles can expect to sound with that wood?
If you're not 100% about the wood, take dave's advice and check with Tim...
-
Tims advice was the Rebel Yell, which is made for S. Stevens LP`s that are all mahogany. I just need to know if the pickup sounds good coiltapped, since its not a contemporary pickup.
My primary reason getting the guitar all mahogany, is to have a guitar thats
in the vicinity of my LP Classic, all mahogany. (fitted with a Nailbomb and a Mule) I have not checked the different resonances and tonal character of woods, but i do know that mahogany gives a great resonance compared to its weight. But if theres any guidance towards woods you can teach me, I would be more than happy.
Ant thanks for the offer ztevie, it would be great to know about their quality, cant find any reviews from REK customers.
-
^^ztevie: yeah, i agree that he shouldn't build it round the pickups persay, but, for example, if tim should say "x pickup is great for the tones you want, but it's not so good for your choice of wood" then it'd be worth listening to...
-
Well, you're set then...
Mahogany has some very good qualities like good sustain and overall it's a very "tonal" wood... What I don't like about all-mahogany guitars is I can't seem to get real bite out of them, the bass is not very tight but more rounded... That's my experience anyway...
There are a zillion sites about different woods, here are a few I found when googling:
http://www.ultimate-guitar.com/columns/the_guide_to/ultimate_guitar_guide_tone_woods.html
http://www.sweetw@ter.com/shop/guitars/electric-guitars/buying-guide.php#2
http://www.warmoth.com/guitar/options/options_bodywoods.cfm
http://www.edromanguitars.com/wood/main.htm
One question: Is the price on the guitar including pickups?
EDIT: Oh, and when you say deep-green color, is it a solid color or is it somewhat transparent?
-
^^ztevie: yeah, i agree that he shouldn't build it round the pickups persay, but, for example, if tim should say "x pickup is great for the tones you want, but it's not so good for your choice of wood" then it'd be worth listening to...
You're right, I agree...
These polish luthiers are also very good at giving advice about tonal qualities of different woods, and which woods will sound good together...
They've even talked me out of some things I suggested because they didn't think it would sound great, even if the guitar would have cost me more.
-
Well, you're set then...
Mahogany has some very good qualities like good sustain and overall it's a very "tonal" wood... What I don't like about all-mahogany guitars is I can't seem to get real bite out of them, the bass is not very tight but more rounded... That's my experience anyway...
There are a zillion sites about different woods, here are a few I found when googling:
http://www.ultimate-guitar.com/columns/the_guide_to/ultimate_guitar_guide_tone_woods.html
http://www.sweetw@ter.com/shop/guitars/electric-guitars/buying-guide.php#2
http://www.warmoth.com/guitar/options/options_bodywoods.cfm
http://www.edromanguitars.com/wood/main.htm
One question: Is the price on the guitar including pickups?
EDIT: Oh, and when you say deep-green color, is it a solid color or is it somewhat transparent?
While we are talking tone woods here i realy must just throw in the advice that i think you should also consider some other woods than the general "mainstream" tone woods. Things like Walnut, Padauk, koa, korina, bubinga etc etc. I personaly have got better tones to my ears out of these tone woods (in particular the padauk,walnut and bubinga) than any of the more standard woods like ash, alder, mahogany, basswood etc.
just a thought.
-
No ztevie, the price does not include the pickups. And when I mean deep green, i mean somewhere close to PRS Emerald Green.
Wonderful answers everybody, but what is your recommedation for a basically metal guitar that has the best sustain and tight bass, as the same time as it "sings" (tonal)??
-
Walnut. Defined and strong with a tight but full low end and very soulfull and ressonant right through the tonal range.
I mean i dont play metal but i have a walnut guitar (body and neck) and i know it is what you just asked for realy :D .
Thats my view anyhow.
-
Sorry, I missed the flemed maple top in the spec... Why have a flamed top if you're not gonna use transparent color... :roll:
Mahogany has sustain and it sings too. I personally just haven't played an all-mahogany with really tight bass...
Remember, there are as many combinations as there are woods, so that's not an easy question. Also, there are probably different tonal qualities between different mahogany types, and even between pieces.
You could always combine a neck with a harder, brighter tone wood, like maple, with body wings of a wood that would warm up the brightness some.
Another luthier told me, when I was asking about maple neck with mahogany wings, that the mahogany wouldn't give me the tight bass I wanted...
Ask the Rek guys what they think, describe the tone you want and they will surely have some suggestions for you.
But if you like mahogany guitars, go for it! I mean, it's not guaranteed you'd like the tone I'm after so I'd feel kind of guilty down-talking mahogany here if that's what you really want. For me, I'd like something different...
All-mahogany LesPauls don't sound very bad either? :lol:
A standard metal axe has a maple neck, with a body of something else.... I think Alder is very common, but some has Basswood, Ash, Mahogany...
The Rek guys has lots of exotic woods, like acajou, sapeli, acacia, sapeli, badi, padouk, hornbeam, merbau.... Well, I don't know what half of them look like...
Also, a ebony fretboard is brighter than rosewood, so there are other things playing a role too besides body wood...
Walnut sounds interesting, but isn't it kinda heavy weighted?
-
It can be tho my Organic standard that is solid walnut (and is my main player btw) is just under 4 kg.......not that heavy at all.
Its a stunning looking wood as well imo.
(http://thumb7.webshots.com/t/57/57/8/5/98/395580598xYuLeN_th.jpg) (http://community.webshots.com/photo/1395580598053004167xYuLeN)
Walnut just seems like it would fit the bill and if you wanted to get an even punchier sound you could have a walnut body with a maple top of course.
-
Thanks ztevie, dont feel bad down-talking mahogany, ive just begun to realize how ignorant ive been when it comes to woods. Im gonna check with REK about woods, ive set myself on either walnut (thanks stu__r) or korina (god bless my soul, EXPENSIVE), but still not sure.
And then ill talk to Tim, and get his point of view again. But ztevie, what wood did you get for your guitar??
-
Its a stunning looking wood as well imo.
Yeah, that walnut looks awesome! Great for clear laquer...
Not so great for a transparent color though because of it's darkness? If you for example laquer it with green it would be very dark I'd guess?
But imagine a colored top with the back of walnut body clear laquered?
But, I've gotta ask: Is that wooden inlay on the fretboard? Don't you have a pic of the fretboard to see it more in detail? I'm thinking of having a tribal-like wooden inlay on my guitar.
-
The fretboard is macassar ebony so its naturaly stipped....
(http://thumb7.webshots.com/t/62/162/7/22/25/488072225mJhuEw_th.jpg) (http://community.webshots.com/photo/1488072225053004167mJhuEw) Theres a more straightly striped slice that was used on one of my other guitars.
(http://thumb7.webshots.com/t/14/15/4/90/48/346549048tGdMIZ_th.jpg) (http://community.webshots.com/photo/1346549048053004167tGdMIZ) A close up of the board on another guitar in the same macassar ebony but again with the more wavey pattern.
Yeh walnut isnt realy any use for putting a colour over but then neather is mahogany.....But with a maple top and a trans colour over the whole guitar it would look similar to most guitars finished like that.
-
Thanks ztevie, dont feel bad down-talking mahogany, ive just begun to realize how ignorant ive been when it comes to woods. Im gonna check with REK about woods, ive set myself on either walnut (thanks stu__r) or korina (god bless my soul, EXPENSIVE), but still not sure.
And then ill talk to Tim, and get his point of view again. But ztevie, what wood did you get for your guitar??
I gave them a tonal description and was suggested a piece of elm they had. Neck is Maple and Wenge, 5 piece...
Elm is not very often used in guitars but they said they had used it in other guitars and that it would suit the tone I wanted...
I also talked with a swedish luthier who said that the right piece of elm is very underestimated as a guitar wood. I trust them so I chose that...
I basically took a chance, and hope it's ok...
I think I'm after a more cold, not so organic metal sound as you are, judging by the description of bands you mentioned, so I think a warmer wood would be more suitable for you...
I suggest you tell them your tonal description without mentioning any woods yourself, and see what they come up with...
-
Macassar ebony, huh...?
Looks great! I could have sworn it was a wooden inlay from the first pic I looked at, haha... :lol:
-
Hehe no just macassar ebony no inlay other than pearl dots going on there.
Its my fave fretboard material by far....
-
[You're right, I agree...
These polish luthiers are also very good at giving advice about tonal qualities of different woods, and which woods will sound good together...
They've even talked me out of some things I suggested because they didn't think it would sound great, even if the guitar would have cost me more.
that's the kind of service you want! :D
-
This is what ive decided so far:
Either a set maple neck, with a VERY good body wood. ex: Walnut. And a carved maple top
OR, neck-thru maple with a soft wood as "wings" and a maple top.
OR, neck-thu walnut with a maple top.
Sooo hard to choose...