Bare Knuckle Pickups Forum

Forum Ringside => Pickups => Topic started by: opeth on December 04, 2006, 10:05:16 AM

Title: New here!! Need a set of humbuckers =) \m/
Post by: opeth on December 04, 2006, 10:05:16 AM
as you can see by my moniker, you can see I'm an Opeth fan!! (but love most neoclassical shredders also)

wicked overdrive, superb cleans, tight defined tone, articulate chords, and super mellow sweet leads.

need those  :D

I would also likey that I could get a good shred tone out of them. Opeth are not much into shredding but I like to shred and like very versatil control on my riffs and lead playing because I'm the only guitar player in my band so I need to sound full on!

I normally use alder guitars with maple necks. I want to fit them in a Jackson randy rhoads"1" version. and fit them into my other alder guitars with maple neck guitars!

I play mesa boogie amps, mostly on the vintage side like Mark III and mark IV  8)


so can you please help me out?


Metal  :twisted: Forever!!! \m/
Title: New here!! Need a set of humbuckers =) \m/
Post by: maliciousteve on December 04, 2006, 11:12:46 AM
I would really suggest the Holy Diver for you. It can pretty much give you what you're looking for in your search. Listen to the clips in the players area and check out some previous posts about them to see what people say about them.
Title: New here!! Need a set of humbuckers =) \m/
Post by: Antag on December 04, 2006, 11:29:31 AM
Welcome to the forum, I'm a huge fan of Opeth too :)

My Jackson RR1T is about to get a Holy Diver set fitted to it.  The bridge has a thick midrange "chunk" to it that gives a really nice lead tone & a full, warm clean sound, while the neck is really clear & bright - superb for cleans.  It's my ideal combination for alternating between soft clean passages, crushingly heavy riffage, & twin lead harmonies (the key elements of my songwriting :))

Another pickup to consider (& possibly the one many people here will recommend) is the Nailbomb - it's an extremely versatile pickup that sounds fantastic under high gain, but bright & clear clean too.  I haven't tried it in an alder guitar though (mine are in Les Pauls) so I'll leave others to comment on that...

You can find a couple of HD clips & more NB clips than you can count :lol: in the Players forum...
Title: New here!! Need a set of humbuckers =) \m/
Post by: opeth on December 04, 2006, 04:46:01 PM
:) holy dover and nailbomb?


but could you please suggest the neck pickup and the bridge pickup as options for me to consider? and why?

which should be better for the neck? and which for the bridge?



thanks  8)
Title: New here!! Need a set of humbuckers =) \m/
Post by: Antag on December 04, 2006, 05:03:43 PM
Quote from: opeth
but could you please suggest the neck pickup and the bridge pickup as options for me to consider? and why?

which should be better for the neck? and which for the bridge?


I was recommending a Holy Diver calibrated set (i.e. Holy Diver bridge & Holy Diver neck).

As for the Nailbomb, I mentioned it as an alternative bridge pickup.  For cleans, I'm not sure a Nailbomb neck would be my first choice but I've only had a NB neck for two days so perhaps it's a bit early to comment :) (I've had a Nailbomb bridge since June).  The Cold Sweat neck seems a popular choice with the NB bridge...
Title: New here!! Need a set of humbuckers =) \m/
Post by: opeth on December 04, 2006, 05:08:01 PM
mmmmm....


My Options are going down to:


Cold Sweat Neck & Nailbomb Bridge




The Nailbomb seems more aggressive than a Holy Diver but I could be wrong. I like the way people describe the Cold Sweat for shredding and nice cleans.

but the holy diver is also tempting...
Title: New here!! Need a set of humbuckers =) \m/
Post by: carlaz on December 04, 2006, 05:31:12 PM
For shredding, I would have thought a ceramic bridge humbucker, like a Cold Sweat or Miracle Man, would have been ideal ....
Title: New here!! Need a set of humbuckers =) \m/
Post by: Antag on December 04, 2006, 05:33:04 PM
Quote from: opeth
The Nailbomb seems more aggressive than a Holy Diver but I could be wrong. I like the way people describe the Cold Sweat for shredding and nice cleans.


Yep, the Cold Sweat neck certainly does that.  Probably handles the "shredding" requirement better than an HD neck, but I think both of them have really nice cleans.

For bridge pickups it's an interesting question, depends how you define "aggressive".  I find the Nailbomb gives high gain a really vicious quality with loads of mid-high "cut" to the sound - sort of makes the guitar scythe through the mix like an executioner's axe :twisted:  In my hands, the HD is more of a hammer punching through - I love the low-mid "chunk" from it & the thick, warm cleans I can get.  In a Les Paul with high gain the HD bridge growls - it sounds HUGE.

If I get a chance to install the HD set in my Jackson tonight, I'll post some first impressions comments for you.  As noted above, I've only owned a Nailbomb in Les Pauls so have no idea what it will sound like with Alder/Maple guitars...
Title: New here!! Need a set of humbuckers =) \m/
Post by: opeth on December 04, 2006, 05:45:00 PM
I found some clips of the cold sweat with the nailbomb... simply WOW!!


so I could use the cold sweat for mellow, cleans and shred and most leads

and use the nailbomb for wicked, articulated, crunchy grind, odd chords and heavy fast stuff  :twisted: cutting thru the mix (I hope they both cut nicely in a mix live and recording)


sounds good?

or am I wrong?


it would be nice if the creator "Tim" posted here  :D
Title: New here!! Need a set of humbuckers =) \m/
Post by: carlaz on December 04, 2006, 05:47:01 PM
Quote from: opeth
it would be nice if the creator "Tim" posted here  :D

You can always email directly or send him a private message.  He's very good about responding to those.
Title: New here!! Need a set of humbuckers =) \m/
Post by: Antag on December 04, 2006, 05:47:14 PM
Quote from: carlaz
For shredding, I would have thought a ceramic bridge humbucker, like a Cold Sweat or Miracle Man, would have been ideal ....


Well, there's a couple of reasons I didn't mention the Miracle Man:

1) If he's an Opeth fan then he plays clean a lot :) I'm not saying you can't get a clean sound out of an MM, but in Tim's own words the MM "is a weapon of war" - I don't find it as dynamic or capable of some of the softer clean sounds that you might hear with Opeth - it's quite punchy & very LOUD played clean :)

2) It's very tight & focussed which is great for most metal riffing - esp palm-muted.  But Opeth do a lot of wide open riffing with ringing chords & an almost "folky" strummed feel to them (e.g. the opening riffs of "Moonlapse Vertigo" from Still Life).  I think the NB or HD just handles those sounds better.

3) I was hoping not to re-open the debate about the MM in an alder guitar :lol: (FWIW, I think it sounds fine in such a guitar)
Title: New here!! Need a set of humbuckers =) \m/
Post by: Antag on December 04, 2006, 05:47:59 PM
Quote from: carlaz
You can always email directly or send him a private message.  He's very good about responding to those.


^
+1

Tim is very helpful on email :)
Title: New here!! Need a set of humbuckers =) \m/
Post by: carlaz on December 04, 2006, 05:49:28 PM
Well, for the record I'm no shredder :) but I do like what I've heard of the HD and NB bridge pups! :)
Title: New here!! Need a set of humbuckers =) \m/
Post by: Antag on December 04, 2006, 05:51:09 PM
Quote from: opeth
I hope they both cut nicely in a mix live and recording


Don't worry about that.  The NB & CS go well together, you won't be the first to go for that combination...
Title: New here!! Need a set of humbuckers =) \m/
Post by: BloodMountain on December 04, 2006, 05:54:23 PM
hey this dude is looking for exactly what i am! i am a HUUUUGE opeth fan, and you have described the tone im after!
im gonna be watching this closely!
sounds like Nailbomb bridge + cold sweat neck for Opeth, it has been recommended for Opeth twice on this forum before, so it sounds like a great combo!

EDIT: i think the fastest way to Opeths sound is getting a Laney aggressive amp like the GH100L, GH50L, or the mighty VH100R.
Title: New here!! Need a set of humbuckers =) \m/
Post by: opeth on December 04, 2006, 06:34:08 PM
Quote from: BLOODMOUNTAIN
hey this dude is looking for exactly what i am! i am a HUUUUGE opeth fan, and you have described the tone im after!
im gonna be watching this closely!
sounds like Nailbomb bridge + cold sweat neck for Opeth, it has been recommended for Opeth twice on this forum before, so it sounds like a great combo!

EDIT: i think the fastest way to Opeths sound is getting a Laney aggressive amp like the GH100L, GH50L, or the mighty VH100R.


atleast I'm not alone  :D

well, this is actually for my setup and my own sound but like to state "opeth" as a main influence in my playing and that I like a very open selection of sound when I play.

I want to add the Cold Sweat because it sounds excellent for lead work and cleans on the bridge.

the MM sounds like a more chugger zakk wylde macho pickup with alot of low end and lacking mids.

the warpig is too much and I don't think that lots of low end goes with my sound... I like the way the bass player can shine even when I'm playin heavily ditorted sounds.

the holydiver sounds great also but... the nailbomb seems more "chaos & wicked" kind of pickup. I like that, your slogan is incredible Tim  :)

then again I guess the Nailbomb could fit well in my alder with maple guitar because it will "complement" the voicing of the bright guitars and make them sound even MORE evil (just my thought could be wrong)

so... any more opinions on this?  :twisted:
Title: New here!! Need a set of humbuckers =) \m/
Post by: MDV on December 04, 2006, 06:48:36 PM
Well I have MMs and WPs, and both are too full-on for opeth.

I'd say nailbomb.
Title: New here!! Need a set of humbuckers =) \m/
Post by: _tom_ on December 04, 2006, 07:13:12 PM
Perhaps a "controversial" choice but I can happily play Opeth stuff with my Mule set. I did a short recording of an opeth-style riff and melody in the Players forum. Obviously sounds better in person though.
Title: New here!! Need a set of humbuckers =) \m/
Post by: opeth on December 04, 2006, 07:16:06 PM
message to BLOODMOUNTAIN:


I already read all your posts on the search engine and I find that everyone tells you "Nailbomb" and I find it wierd you wanted to use it as a rythm pickup in the neck position... also wierd you wanted that other high output pickup in your neck position.

I have seen many metal players using the WRONG combination and they think neck = rythm because it is bassy. The only way you can get brewtal high gain tones for riffs and rythm is in the bridge area. Neck is more leads + cleans and crunch and mellow stuff.

so also many people say that the warpig has lots of low end and Opeth is not a LOW END kind of band, they actually let the bass player fill in the HEAVY LOW END area.

so your neck pickup would be a rather personal choice for you. I know a cold sweat would fit my shred and mellow leads perfectly and will also deliver a nice clean.

 :)
Title: New here!! Need a set of humbuckers =) \m/
Post by: BloodMountain on December 04, 2006, 07:20:59 PM
yeah, you looked, i knew you would, haha

im wierd, my mind works in wierd ways
Title: New here!! Need a set of humbuckers =) \m/
Post by: opeth on December 05, 2006, 03:19:36 AM
I already mailed Tim  :D

I think I'm already set but I want the REAL opinion from the master  8)
Title: New here!! Need a set of humbuckers =) \m/
Post by: carlaz on December 05, 2006, 09:12:52 AM
Quote from: _tom_
Perhaps a "controversial" choice but I can happily play Opeth stuff with my Mule set.

I'm not so familiar with Opeth, but the more I started to read about the tone in this thread, the more it seemed like a relatively lower gain, classically voiced pup like the Mule might be appropriate ....  But since I really don't know Opeth that well, I'll shut up now! :)
Title: New here!! Need a set of humbuckers =) \m/
Post by: Tim on December 05, 2006, 09:27:13 AM
Hi Guys-apologies for not getting in sooner on this one but I've been tied up writing material for the next IE record along with pre production work.
Opeth.........great band with a serious mixture or tonal textures.
Nailbomb/Cold Sweat combo...........in this instance yes, especially as you want to be able to shred as well or play texturally too.I have to agree also that Mules would really do the textural stuff excellently as well....maybe not so good for shred but still certainly very capable. Finally I wouldn't rule out the Holydiver on an Alder body-masses of harmonics and really good mid range weight for single note work too.
Title: New here!! Need a set of humbuckers =) \m/
Post by: carlaz on December 05, 2006, 09:30:05 AM
Quote from: Tim
Hi Guys-apologies for not getting in sooner on this one but I've been tied up writing material for the next IE record along with pre production work.

Well, it's hard to beat that as an excuse .... ;)  8)
Title: New here!! Need a set of humbuckers =) \m/
Post by: opeth on December 05, 2006, 09:45:05 AM
Quote from: Tim
Hi Guys-apologies for not getting in sooner on this one but I've been tied up writing material for the next IE record along with pre production work.
Opeth.........great band with a serious mixture or tonal textures.
Nailbomb/Cold Sweat combo...........in this instance yes, especially as you want to be able to shred as well or play texturally too.I have to agree also that Mules would really do the textural stuff excellently as well....maybe not so good for shred but still certainly very capable. Finally I wouldn't rule out the Holydiver on an Alder body-masses of harmonics and really good mid range weight for single note work too.



thankyou Tim  :D !! so you think it will sound right in Alder  8) I'll trust you  :wink:

cold sweat neck + Nailbomb Bridge it shall be  :twisted:
Title: New here!! Need a set of humbuckers =) \m/
Post by: octavio_amzer on December 05, 2006, 10:00:51 AM
ohhh the irony!!!  :lol: