Bare Knuckle Pickups Forum

Forum Ringside => Pickups => Topic started by: Guitarzan on August 27, 2006, 04:23:20 AM

Title: I am at a total loss.....
Post by: Guitarzan on August 27, 2006, 04:23:20 AM
Well I bought a new guitar today.

LTD GL-500T, got it for $200. Needed LOTS of TLC, and I cleaned it up.
Except for some rusty spots on the parts, it looks fantastic, Great condition.

Now, the pickups are duncan designed, and are rusty, so I kinda figured I'd get new ones  :D . But I am at a total loss as to what to get.

I'm after the 80's tone, but I want it to be able to "blues" it up.

any help would be appriciated.

I'm also going to get around to show you guys some before and after pics of the guitar too  :wink:
Title: I am at a total loss.....
Post by: gingataff on August 27, 2006, 04:32:36 AM
For the 80s sounds maybe a VHII or Holy Diver, or for more output a Miracle Man? I'm sure Ben can give you a good idea of how these will sound in your axe as its the LTD version of his ESPs.
Title: I am at a total loss.....
Post by: blue on August 27, 2006, 05:05:24 AM
i'm no expert ( and i am coming off 8 hours solid drinking ) bu t i suspect the holy diver could legitimately claim to BELONG to that guitar!  it is pure 80's rock< and so is the Holy  Diver!  

it looks fantastic by the way, i hope you have tight leather jeans!! :)
Title: I am at a total loss.....
Post by: OD-Black_Fire on August 27, 2006, 05:24:13 AM
Doesn't the Holy Driver have a huge mid range output, making it good for that early 90's Iron Maiden "Powerslave" kinda tone?
Title: I am at a total loss.....
Post by: blue on August 27, 2006, 05:27:36 AM
didn't powerslave come out about '84?
Title: I am at a total loss.....
Post by: Guitarzan on August 27, 2006, 05:31:43 AM
Quote from: blue
it looks fantastic by the way, i hope you have tight leather jeans!! :D


Yeah but you should have seen it before!!! At one point I had a toothbrush, WD-40 and some Baking Soda!

Quote from: gingataff
For the 80s sounds maybe a VHII or Holy Diver


I already have a VHII, and If I would get my act together I could actually play it some. So far I have 4 guitars in pieces, and 1 with a set of strings on it, but the Pups are rusted through.



How does the Holydiver compare to the VHII? I was thinking about that one, or possibly the Rebel Yell.

ARGHH!!! Too many BKP's and not enough Brains/Cash/Guitars!!! :lol:
Title: I am at a total loss.....
Post by: blue on August 27, 2006, 06:09:46 AM
Quote from: Guitarzan


Yeah but you should have seen it before!!! At one point I had a toothbrush, WD-40 and some Baking Soda!
ough.





i don't quite know what you mean, but it sounds kinky!!
Title: I am at a total loss.....
Post by: OD-Black_Fire on August 27, 2006, 06:12:01 AM
Quote from: blue
didn't powerslave come out about '84?


You are right. I failed. $%&#.
Title: I am at a total loss.....
Post by: blue on August 27, 2006, 06:20:33 AM
Quote from: OD-Black_Fire
Quote from: blue
didn't powerslave come out about '84?


You are right. I failed. $%&#.


it's a hollow victory, i've never even listened to it!  i do like the sleeve though!! (12" vinyl of course! )

never been a big iron maiden fan, although i've always loved "phantom of the opera", and who doesn't like run to the hills and number of the beast?
Title: I am at a total loss.....
Post by: Guitarzan on August 27, 2006, 07:04:33 AM
I'm more of a Hair metal kinda dude. I also like Eddies tone on some of his heavy blues songs like "The Full Bug" from Diver Down.

Also Slash's Snakepit has some good guitar tones. But they're heavier metal.

*Yawn* time for bed. Got lots of playing tomorrow  :D
Title: I am at a total loss.....
Post by: Crazy_Joe on August 27, 2006, 01:16:12 PM
Hooooly Diiiver you been down too long in the midnight seaaa.

Well that is my recomendation, Holy Diver is perfect for 80's tones.
Title: I am at a total loss.....
Post by: TwilightOdyssey on August 27, 2006, 01:20:17 PM
Quote from: Guitarzan
I'm more of a Hair metal kinda dude. I also like Eddies tone on some of his heavy blues songs like "The Full Bug" from Diver Down.

That rosewood fingerboard changes the game a bit, instead of being 100% maple.

If by 'hair metal' you mean Dokken, Ratt, Rough Cutt, Cinderella and other glam-inspired hard rock, I would look at these pups:

For classic Lynch, go with the Miracle Man.

For more of a DeMartini thing, go with the Holy Diver.

DeMartini's tone is drier, not as gainy, and has less attack than Lynch's. This is comparing something like Out Of The Cellar to Under Lock And Key.

Neck pup should definitely be the Irish Tour.

Okay, compare the VHII to the Holy Diver:

Totally different pickups! The VHII is brighter and emphasizes the upper mids/high frequencies. The Holy Diver has more midrange and lower mid growl to it.

Note: DO NOT assume that throwing a VHII into that guitar will give you the tone from the Screamin' Demon pickup!  The Demon came into production after Lynch left Dokken and it will not give you that classic Dokken tone. For that, use the Miracle Man. The VHII is nothing like the Demon ... for that kind of tone, I would use a Riff Raff and a modern sounding amp.

ps - nice guitar!
Title: I am at a total loss.....
Post by: TwilightOdyssey on August 27, 2006, 01:21:40 PM
Quote from: Crazy_Joe
Well that is my recomendation, Holy Diver is perfect for 80's tones.

Not really. It's perfect for a particular 80s metal sound. There are other pups that will give you a wider range of vintage metal tones than the Holy Diver.
Title: I am at a total loss.....
Post by: Guitarzan on August 27, 2006, 04:41:52 PM
Okay........

So I've herad about the VHII and Holydiver. I must say that I am more of a general Metal type dude. I typically stay in the Van Halen/GNR end of the spectrum. I'm almost tempted to just get the Holydiver to see what it's like. I also think I'd like the lower mids, as we're going to cover some Velvet Revolver.

Although a while back, Tim did recommend to me a Crawler. And I don't mind paying a little extra for my tone.

Sorry if I confuse anybody, I'm not a very good explainer
Title: I am at a total loss.....
Post by: Searcher on August 27, 2006, 05:44:59 PM
Van Halen and Guns 'n' Roses aren't really considered metal by today's standards--more hard rock, really.  If they're more of the tone you're after then I'd also recommend the Crawler.
Title: I am at a total loss.....
Post by: Guitarzan on August 27, 2006, 06:49:54 PM
Quote from: Searcher
Van Halen and Guns 'n' Roses aren't really considered metal by today's standards--more hard rock, really.


Yeah I guess I sort of am after the hard rock tone, I always thought they were considered metal, because thats how they're referred too.



I really like the Crawler and Rebel Yell clips. What are the differences between the two for the tone that I am looking for?
Title: I am at a total loss.....
Post by: Buddha on August 27, 2006, 06:55:30 PM
for the g n r van halen stuff your looking for i would suggest having a stormy mondays in the neck and a VHII in the bridge. that's what i did and it nails both those tones.
Title: I am at a total loss.....
Post by: Guitarzan on August 28, 2006, 04:15:27 AM
Quote from: buddha
for the g n r van halen stuff your looking for i would suggest having a stormy mondays in the neck and a VHII in the bridge. that's what i did and it nails both those tones.


Well I need some extra power because I do do some modern type sounds (think Velvet Revolver). Also its a HB/SC bridge and neck respectivly.



I'm kinda fixated on the Crawler/Irish Tour right now. Just emailed Tim.
Title: I am at a total loss.....
Post by: Guitarzan on August 28, 2006, 02:32:08 PM
Tim just replied, he recommends the Rebel Yell/IT set.

What are the specs on the RY?
Title: I am at a total loss.....
Post by: Peter Antal on August 28, 2006, 02:45:49 PM
AFAIK it's around 14K, Alnico V, has strong mids and incredible harmonics. It may be one of the most versatile humbuckers Tim makes. It is said to have the perfect mix of modern and vintage qualities.
Title: I am at a total loss.....
Post by: JamesHealey on August 28, 2006, 08:08:32 PM
i'll 2nd the Irish Tour in the neck position.. i've got one in my guitar at the moment in the neck and it's absolutly killer!

the bridge i use is a VHII and im 80's mad ;)
Title: I am at a total loss.....
Post by: Guitarzan on August 29, 2006, 03:18:20 AM
Quote from: JamesHealey
the bridge i use is a VHII and im 80's mad :wink:


I hear you! Unfortunately I have another guitar with a VHII/Irish Tour set as well (Strat). Just gotta get the damn thing together!
Title: I am at a total loss.....
Post by: deg0ey on August 29, 2006, 09:13:22 AM
Hmm, There still appear to be no clips of the Holy Diver in the players forum except for TO's video...If you're in no hurry and can wait a month or so I'm getting some recording gear, so you can have many many clips of things :)
Title: I am at a total loss.....
Post by: Philly Q on August 29, 2006, 11:18:51 AM
Quote from: Guitarzan

I really like the Crawler and Rebel Yell clips. What are the differences between the two for the tone that I am looking for?

Tim described the Rebel Yell to me as "tighter and brighter" than the Crawler.  I think they'll both give variations on a beefed-up vintage tone, but the Crawler has a bit more of a 70s blues rock vibe and the RY is a little more modern and (possibly) more versatile.
Title: I am at a total loss.....
Post by: Guitarzan on August 31, 2006, 05:54:14 AM
Well I got the RY/IT combo.

Ordered it today! Can't wait till it comes, already have the guitar apart!
Title: I am at a total loss.....
Post by: _tom_ on August 31, 2006, 10:07:20 AM
Let us know how it goes, especially the RY as I was thinking what it might sound like in a strat style body last night :)
Title: I am at a total loss.....
Post by: deg0ey on August 31, 2006, 10:10:42 AM
Quote from: _tom_
I was thinking what it might sound like in a strat style body last night


A bit obsessed are we tom? :drink: :lol:
Title: I am at a total loss.....
Post by: _tom_ on August 31, 2006, 02:31:09 PM
Yep, whenever I'm trying to sleep I always think of new guitar gear and how good it'd sound :lol: :oops:
Title: I am at a total loss.....
Post by: fps_dean on September 19, 2006, 09:36:25 AM
Quote from: Searcher
Van Halen and Guns 'n' Roses aren't really considered metal by today's standards--more hard rock, really.  If they're more of the tone you're after then I'd also recommend the Crawler.


They're considered hard rock?
Title: I am at a total loss.....
Post by: ProjectX on September 19, 2006, 10:13:35 PM
IMHO you won't be disappointed in The Rebel Yell.I have it in an alder superstrat and it kicks all kinds of ass.Same for the Irish Tour.