Bare Knuckle Pickups Forum
Forum Ringside => Players => Topic started by: siN on March 10, 2007, 09:58:34 AM
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I happen to have almost two identical guitars.
(http://members.lycos.nl/zinvol/gear/Two_axes.jpg)
Old pic of my favorite twins.....
One is still loaded with the original equipped pickups (DiMarzio's). I thought the bridge pickup was a PAF PRO, but I'm not sure...
The other one has a BKP VHII since yesterday... need to tune it maybe a bit better....
Anyway, I undusted my Marshall JCM900 (almost unused for the last 5 years.... I shame myself.... and I need to clean the amp and change the tubes once....) and recorded the first two bits with a sh*tty mic onto a integrated soundcard. The volume drop could be the Marshall or the soundcard. The volume wasn't loud, because my neighbour would totally freak out...... :shock:
The last two bits are with a POD XTL direct into the line-in of the integrated soundcard so I could play with my headphone on......
I tried to play almost the same and I used the same settings for both recordings, to get the best comparization. The 2nd part with the BKP sounded maybe a bit too loud (distorted), but I didn't want to change the setting.
My excuses for the bad playing. I can't do any better and I needed to watch continually after my little kid, who was doing all things I had forbidden..... The missus was away..... LOL :D
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Maybe this should be in Time Out (non BKP content) but for the record the VHII wins 8)
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I think its a really good idea to have comparisons like this in the players room. It shows differences with other pickups, which is helpfull to people looking through here thinking about what bk to get, and it would be frankly gay of us and bk to shy away from competition: Tim has said he'll stand BKs toe to toe with any other pickup in the world, and we wouldnt be here if we didnt agree.
Well done walking the talk there, siN. Good playing, and yes, the VHII is clearly better (I would liked to have seen two more similar tracks for better comparison, though! ah well...)
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This kind of thing is good and relatively objective in as far as you can get when discussing tone. The comparison is very good and demonstrates the clarity and dynamics of the VHII really well.
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I think its a really good idea to have comparisons like this in the players room. It shows differences with other pickups, which is helpfull to people looking through here thinking about what bk to get, and it would be frankly gay of us and bk to shy away from competition: Tim has said he'll stand BKs toe to toe with any other pickup in the world, and we wouldnt be here if we didnt agree.
Well done walking the talk there, siN. Good playing, and yes, the VHII is clearly better (I would liked to have seen two more similar tracks for better comparison, though! ah well...)
I agree... though I thought they were exactly the same clips? also, why did the paf pro's genre come up as "dance"? The VH2 too? :lol:
excellent playing, by the way. that eruption bit was spot on! :o :drink:
And the VH2 pwned the dimarzio, far as I'm concerned... much more organic/bigger tone.
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Nice comparison! I also prefered the VHII clip but both guitars sound fine with your setup. :) Can you please tell us what you consider the main difference in FEEL between the two pickups? They seem to behave quite differently.
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hmm love the clips and playing but this has thrown another spanner into the works for my choice on my next pickup
VHII
Nailbomb
another miracle man
c warpig
and im also considering the mustaine livewires cos i can get a set for £100
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The dimarzios sound Weak,Lifeless and shattered
is it broken!?
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There was a difference and it was better with the VHIIs, yeah, the scatterwinding-liveliness and richness was there spot on!
What I don't get is the Flower-JEM ... I mean the original one (green w/ pink pickups maple fretboard etc) was a real looker and I'd have one right away, but the Flower Power one always reminded me of the curtains in my grandma's living room.
I mean I really like my grandma, but her curtains ... huh ...
Sorry, didn't wanna bash your guitar :o)
Did you get pink humbuckers from BKP? Didn't know they offer them ...
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I have not been able to listen to clips for a short while and even when I do, I don't have great speakers on my PC and I am hesitant to comment but the clip with the VH11 did sound better and articulate.
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Can you please tell us what you consider the main difference in FEEL between the two pickups? They seem to behave quite differently.
I will later on. I feel too new into this pickup for telling you already and I wanted to tune it a little bit better on height. Next to that I wanna try the differences at some more volume...
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The dimarzios sound Weak,Lifeless and shattered
is it broken!?
I don't think that the dimarzio is broken... I've played with the dimarzio you heared in the clip for over 15 years (ever since I got that jem)...
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wanted to tune it a little bit better on height. Next to that I wanna try the differences at some more volume...
Oh remember you asked about height.
I have currently 7mm on the neck and 4-5mm on the bridge of my PRS with VHIIs.
This is how I do it: High gain tone and play some hammer-ons/pull offs with my left hand starting on the E and A and adjusting the bass side of the pickup, until I like the overtones created. Next I do the same on the treble side tapping on G, B and E string while screwing up/down with the right hand. Finally I doublecheck the result with chords and see whether it's too many harmonics. Sometimes going a bit lower is good for rhythm sounds i find.
Good luck!!
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What I don't get is the Flower-JEM ... I mean the original one (green w/ pink pickups maple fretboard etc) was a real looker and I'd have one right away, but the Flower Power one always reminded me of the curtains in my grandma's living room.
I mean I really like my grandma, but her curtains ... huh ...
Sorry, didn't wanna bash your guitar :o)
Did you get pink humbuckers from BKP? Didn't know they offer them ...
Two things. Yes, at first I thought looking at curtains, but nowadays, these colored guitars aren't seen that much anymore... I got used to it....
2nd: I got a Zebra colored pickup. Just wanna make a statement with a different colored pickup so people start thinking and listening to the differences. Next to that: The Zebra looks more interesting than only a black one into this guitar...
Thx for listening and reacting!
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I have currently 7mm on the neck and 4-5mm on the bridge of my PRS with VHIIs.
This is how I do it: High gain tone and play some hammer-ons/pull offs with my left hand starting on the E and A and adjusting the bass side of the pickup, until I like the overtones created. Next I do the same on the treble side tapping on G, B and E string while screwing up/down with the right hand. Finally I doublecheck the result with chords and see whether it's too many harmonics. Sometimes going a bit lower is good for rhythm sounds i find.
Good luck!!
Thanks. I'll take your advice in trying to get a height which suited me best....
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VHII sounded best - there is a clarity and 'zing' to the tone, the DiMarzio sounds flat and lifeless.
:twisted:
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VHII sounded best - there is a clarity and 'zing' to the tone, the DiMarzio sounds flat and lifeless.
:twisted:
My exact thoughts too
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Mustaine livewires
If those are the same as the normal SD Heavy Metal livewire 18v pickups, they are basically largley toneless sonic sledgehammers :P (i had a set in a charvel).
Id take the EMG 81 over them, and the Warpig over those!
the VHII sounds nice, and it TOTALLY NAILS the van halen tone (hmm...)
the tapping bit sounds quite steve vai'ish (more than the PAF does?)
Imo the paf pros sound ok, but a bit lacking in the all round tone and punch, i mean the launch into eruption just gos 'RRRRRAWR!!" with the VHII's... the PAF is more like 'ooooh'
kinda like: i like my car, but a scooby STi is so much more... ;)
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WOW man the bkp's are just like a big sexy perky ass compared to a di marzio skinny wrinkly old ladies a-hole....
just so much more there if you get what i mean (like a sphere of noise instead of a dinner plate)
:shock:
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The VHII just buries it. The PAF Pro sounds nasally and darker. The VHII sounds huge in comparison and far more organic and well just better. I'm always amazed with how good the VHII sounds.
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I preferred the PAF Pro, honestly. Just sounded better to me.
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the Floral Pattern JEM is my favourite! ;)
Nice comparison dude, the VHII is an amazing pickup considering one my self again at some point since I might be getting a Les Paul.. not 100% sure if thats going to happen yet though.
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Mustaine livewires
If those are the same as the normal SD Heavy Metal livewire 18v pickups, they are basically largley toneless sonic sledgehammers :P (i had a set in a charvel).
Id take the EMG 81 over them, and the Warpig over those!
no theyre active versions of the JB/Jzz Combo.
i tried them out and they were actually amazing compared to a normal JB/Jazz combo but they just didnt have enough chunk for what i need
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i tried them out and they were actually amazing compared to a normal JB/Jazz combo but they just didnt have enough chunk for what i need
:oops:
You must need a lot of chunk!
The VHII sounds clearer than the PAF, nice comparison. I wonder how the cleans would sound compared.
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wow the VHII sounded so much better, I desperately want a VHII now but have no guitar to put it in or any money. :(
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I am starting to think for a VHII that sounds full and musical
The dimarzio was really empty.......its hard to believe that there is so big
difference.
Well done tim !!!!!