Bare Knuckle Pickups Forum

Forum Ringside => Pickups => Topic started by: plastercaster on September 18, 2006, 05:08:15 PM

Title: Ready for first BKP's
Post by: plastercaster on September 18, 2006, 05:08:15 PM
OK, I can now get some pickups for my Tokai LP, but I'm stuck for the bridge one.
I've decided An AIV mule for the neck, The bridge Pup needs to contrast it. I Want to do big, crunchy, hard Rock Power chords, ala ZZ top, the darkness, AC/DC. However I also like A Tone thats Quite bright and cutting, what do you guys recomend?
Title: Ready for first BKP's
Post by: PhilKing on September 18, 2006, 05:33:22 PM
Emerald - I have this combination (with AIV Mule) in my Goldtop and I love the sounds I can get.  Another alternative would be the Riff Raff.  The difference is that the Emerald is a little bit fatter and drives the amp a bit more.  Both have great harmonics and the classic rock sounds.
Title: Ready for first BKP's
Post by: Twinfan on September 18, 2006, 05:48:06 PM
Dan Hawkins uses Cold Sweats...
Title: Ready for first BKP's
Post by: plastercaster on September 18, 2006, 05:52:11 PM
I'm not keen on a riff raff, I think Angus' lead tone is too thin. Emerald could be perfect though, And im not sure about a cold sweat, is it versatile enough for the things I want? I always considered it to be a metal pup.
Title: Ready for first BKP's
Post by: hunter on September 18, 2006, 06:08:59 PM
Rebel Yell  :twisted:
Title: Ready for first BKP's
Post by: fps_dean on September 19, 2006, 06:52:19 AM
Quote from: hunter
Rebel Yell  :twisted:


+1.  It fits the description perfectly.
Title: Ready for first BKP's
Post by: carlaz on September 19, 2006, 04:36:26 PM
Quote from: fps_dean
Quote from: hunter
Rebel Yell  :twisted:

+1.  It fits the description perfectly.

I actually thought RY right away too, though Phil's Emerald suggestion also seems good now that I think about it.
Title: Ready for first BKP's
Post by: sgmypod on September 19, 2006, 04:37:53 PM
ain't tried RY yet but love Emeralds in my bluesbird(tis like a LP)
Title: Ready for first BKP's
Post by: fps_dean on September 19, 2006, 11:18:11 PM
Quote from: carlaz
Quote from: fps_dean
Quote from: hunter
Rebel Yell  :twisted:

+1.  It fits the description perfectly.

I actually thought RY right away too, though Phil's Emerald suggestion also seems good now that I think about it.


I imagine you could use anything from a Black Dog to a Crawler here and it would do fine...  what I'd base my suggestion off as what else other than AC DC do you want it to sound like?
Title: Ready for first BKP's
Post by: fps_dean on September 19, 2006, 11:19:24 PM
Quote from: sgmypod
ain't tried RY yet but love Emeralds in my bluesbird(tis like a LP)


I haven't tried Emeralds and there is a lack of clips of them too!
Title: Ready for first BKP's
Post by: sgmypod on September 19, 2006, 11:33:43 PM
will try to do some more ain't that good but any suggestions for emerald clips other than emerald by thin lizzy
Title: Ready for first BKP's
Post by: fps_dean on September 20, 2006, 08:51:17 AM
Quote from: sgmypod
will try to do some more ain't that good but any suggestions for emerald clips other than emerald by thin lizzy


lol, try... hmmm I don't know.  Some Black Sabbath, Led Zeppelin and something 80s I guess?
Title: Ready for first BKP's
Post by: carlaz on September 20, 2006, 10:36:06 AM
Yeah, crank out a few Zep, Sabs, AC/DC, ZZ Top riffs, solo across the top a little, and we'll get a vibe.  I think it's interesting to hear the pickups doing something different from what their official name suggests.  Gives a wider picture of their colouring ....

There is a lack of Emerald clips!  I've long felt it's a very underrated beast.
Title: Ready for first BKP's
Post by: plastercaster on September 22, 2006, 05:31:18 PM
would an Abraxas work? From the clips Ive found The crawlers too much, But either an overwound emerald or an Abraxas could be just what I want. SGmyPod, what settings and amp etc. were you using for that GnR clip? I liked Philkings abraxas clip too.
Quote from: twinfan
Dan Hawkins uses Cold Sweats...

This has got me thinking, a lot of people say the neck cold sweat is quite sweet and mellow, would that balance with an Abraxas or emerald better than the mule? This has been brought on after I downloaded that JT clip with that bluesy solo on the neck in the middle, which I loved. Now I've thought this through I've realised I'd much rather have a borderline vintage-metal neck over a 'true' vintage one. How well do cold sweat necks handle cleans and low gain things? if not them I think I'll get an emerald neck.
Title: Ready for first BKP's
Post by: carlaz on September 22, 2006, 05:50:26 PM
Abraxas is kind of like a hotter version of the Mule in many ways.  If you're thinking Abraxas bridge, I'd definitely consider the Abraxas neck.  I loooove the Abraxas (=Crawler) neck!

I hear what you mean about "borderline vintage-metal".  But when you say the Crawlers are "too much", do you mean the bridge?  The Abraxas bridge will be a little sweeter, but otherwise perhaps pair of Emeralds (if not an Emerald bridge/Mule neck combo) would be spot on for you?  We are, I think, challenged here by a lack of Emerald clips for comparison!
Title: Ready for first BKP's
Post by: plastercaster on September 22, 2006, 06:38:07 PM
When I say crawler was too much, I was reffering to the bridge. I found it wasnt sweet enough, too thick, but maybe that was just the clips I heard. They were all bridge clips though, and the philking Abraxas neck sounded OK, However I loved Sgmp's Neck tone on his GnR clip
Title: Ready for first BKP's
Post by: carlaz on September 22, 2006, 06:43:08 PM
Right, well, the Abraxas bridge is definitely a touch sweeter than the Crawler.  I'd say that's the two pups' major distinction.
Title: Ready for first BKP's
Post by: plastercaster on September 22, 2006, 07:08:39 PM
Im still edging towards an overwound emerald... Out of the emerald and abraxas bridges, which would go better with a cold sweat neck?
Title: Ready for first BKP's
Post by: PhilKing on September 23, 2006, 12:25:31 PM
I am surprised when people say that the Abraxas neck is the same as CS or Crawler.  The Abraxas is AIV magnets and as far as I know the only other pickups with AIV are Stormy Monday and Mules.  

The Emerald is AV and will match better I think.   I think the AIV is better in the neck position rather than the bridge.  It is a sweeter tone and compresses a bit more in the Abraxas.  The Emerald is more open and driving.
Title: Ready for first BKP's
Post by: Twinfan on September 23, 2006, 12:42:04 PM
Quote
I think the AIV is better in the neck position rather than the bridge


I think a lot of Mule owners will disagree with you there...
Title: Ready for first BKP's
Post by: PhilKing on September 23, 2006, 12:54:06 PM
Quote from: Twinfan
Quote
I think the AIV is better in the neck position rather than the bridge


I think a lot of Mule owners will disagree with you there...


I should have clarified it a bit more and said in an A5/A4 combination I think the A4 is better in the neck.
Title: Ready for first BKP's
Post by: sgmypod on September 23, 2006, 03:09:14 PM
well carlaz can't quite remember...was through my podxt...will look it up....and my emeralds are overwound ones..sweet..

will try to do some more tracks with it in the next week..is my fav guitar
Title: Ready for first BKP's
Post by: carlaz on September 23, 2006, 05:05:57 PM
Quote from: PhilKing
I am surprised when people say that the Abraxas neck is the same as CS or Crawler.  The Abraxas is AIV magnets and as far as I know the only other pickups with AIV are Stormy Monday and Mules.

Well, it's Tim who said to me that the Abraxas neck is the same as the Crawler neck when I was writing him to ask about the differences before I bought my Crawler set.  

Quoting from my saved email via cut'n'paste, I asked: "how would you compare the Crawler neck and Abraxas neck"?

Tim replied: "They are the same pickup Carl.............it's a wind I really like, DC7.6K Alnico IV and I use it on both Crawler and Abraxas sets as a neck so it's bang on for the Santana tone."
Title: Ready for first BKP's
Post by: PhilKing on September 23, 2006, 06:37:36 PM
Quote from: carlaz
Quote from: PhilKing
I am surprised when people say that the Abraxas neck is the same as CS or Crawler.  The Abraxas is AIV magnets and as far as I know the only other pickups with AIV are Stormy Monday and Mules.

Well, it's Tim who said to me that the Abraxas neck is the same as the Crawler neck when I was writing him to ask about the differences before I bought my Crawler set.  

Quoting from my saved email via cut'n'paste, I asked: "how would you compare the Crawler neck and Abraxas neck"?

Tim replied: "They are the same pickup Carl.............it's a wind I really like, DC7.6K Alnico IV and I use it on both Crawler and Abraxas sets as a neck so it's bang on for the Santana tone."


I am obviously wrong then, this is what happens when you don't get specs with all the pickups  :oops:

It does reinforce my earlier statement of using the A4 in the neck with A5 in the bridge though.
Title: Ready for first BKP's
Post by: Eric on September 23, 2006, 07:04:00 PM
The Crawler has an Alnico IV neck pickup?? I did not know that. Hope fully on the new website they will give specs for both the bridge and the neck pickups.
Title: Ready for first BKP's
Post by: plastercaster on September 24, 2006, 07:11:42 AM
^+1 I'd love full info on all PUps, neck and bridge. I think I'll wait for the new site before I buy. good Soundclips on all Pickups should be able to help my decision (although they'll probably just make it harder  :evil: )
Title: Ready for first BKP's
Post by: Muzzzz on September 24, 2006, 09:04:43 AM
uhh... why hasn't anyone mentioned the nailbomb? It might be less hot than you think. It's really good for the 70's / 80's stuff.