BKP's are cleaner?

[Keven]

so after much more trying out my black dog, i've noticed one thing, mainly that it takes alot more gain from my amp to get the same amount of dirt. i feel the touch is the same at the same gain settings i use my non bkped guitars, but the grit is there faster, and they're of similar output. i've always thought i liked low gain pickups, but now, does that mean i've gotta check out the contemporary range.

I'm all for reinventing my approach to guitar pickups. i tried high output dimarzios, too much low end. lower output are nice but brittle compared to my black dog and mule. BKP's have a nice creamy tone but take more gain to have the same dirt for heavy metal tones, i'm thinking of sending my black dog back for a rewind the same time i order the pickup set for my next guitar... crazy idea?

I don't mind tweaking the settings to get the tones i want, but i don't like tweaking gain settings between guitars  :shock:

[ericsabbath]

even the contemporary models are very clean

the miracle man, for example , needs gain on 7 to get the same amount of distortion from a tube preamp I have compared to a korean PRS SE stock pickup with the gain on 4
it is higher output, and it is more aggressive, but it's so clear that it won't get the same kind of compression (mud)

[Denim n Leather]

Articulation (cleanliness) and push (output) are two different things in my book.

[Philly Q]

Change the pickups on all your other guitars to BKPs.  :P

[Copperhead]

Change the pickups on all your other guitars to BKPs.  :P

+1
I've come to the same conclusion. Thanks, Tim! You've ruined my budget for life! :lol:

[Zaned]

so after much more trying out my black dog, i've noticed one thing, mainly that it takes alot more gain from my amp to get the same amount of dirt. i feel the touch is the same at the same gain settings i use my non bkped guitars, but the grit is there faster, and they're of similar output. i've always thought i liked low gain pickups, but now, does that mean i've gotta check out the contemporary range.

I'm all for reinventing my approach to guitar pickups. i tried high output dimarzios, too much low end. lower output are nice but brittle compared to my black dog and mule. BKP's have a nice creamy tone but take more gain to have the same dirt for heavy metal tones, i'm thinking of sending my black dog back for a rewind the same time i order the pickup set for my next guitar... crazy idea?

I don't mind tweaking the settings to get the tones i want, but i don't like tweaking gain settings between guitars  :shock:

One thing I love about the lower output pickups (usually alnico) is the amount of dynamics they have. Not that the CS set for example doesn't have dynamics (I have them), but it's different. With the right amount of gain, you can have a good rock tone with a more mellow touch, and get a HARD ROCK tone when you attack the strings harder.. It's wonderful, and also brutally honest. To get a certain tone, you really have to give it, that convenient compression is not there. On a lazy day, that might not be so nice  :lol:

-Zaned

[Keven]

Well, the change to all BKP is the plan :D i'm glad to know that it's how the BKP's work though, as i was wondering if it was just me.

I like the fact that there's a touch less compression to it, i pick hard when i go on fast runs, and try to really snap the strings when going legato, so i'll stick with my Vintage Hot range for now. now to get two other guitars wired up :D

[Twinfan]

It's the clarity you're hearing.  No extra 'mush'.

[syr2012]

BKPs are very clean. I was trying to overdrive this tube amp (single-channel, no gain, but a volume knob) with my Holydiver and came close, but couldn't make it  :band5:
Doesn't mean they can't get dirty as all f@$! though...

[Keven]

Well. they force you to play. and that's really not a bad thing at all!

[syr2012]

Well. they force you to play. and that's really not a bad thing at all!

That's never a bad thing. The HD's very dynamic, but if I'd played much harder, I would have gotten some crunch, and probably broken some strings in exchange :D

[HairyChris]

But on the other hand they do clean up well with the volume knob. My A-Pig gives a pretty nice clean at 'just-on', but it does get silly quickly (in a good way) when turned up.

But, more seriously, I do now have a similar problem. My main 7 has A Pigs, but my backup has DiMarzios. The difference in everything is crazy. I may have to bite the bullet on an A-pig to stick in my backup but really don't have the money!

[syr2012]

But on the other hand they do clean up well with the volume knob. My A-Pig gives a pretty nice clean at 'just-on', but it does get silly quickly (in a good way) when turned up.

That has got to be the thing that I absolutely love love love about my BKs. I've never had a pickup respond so much to the volume knob (and that's extra important, since the guitar that my HD is in has no tone pots). On the flip side, my other guitar with the bridge MQ (overwound instead of the stock 7.9k) seems to drive a light crunch pretty hard at times. I can't be sure just yet, since I only really play that one through headphones (that strat kinda needs/deserves a new neck), but I'll check when I get the chance.

[Keven]

Well. the way i look at it, the pickups are very clean, so have a choice to either have alot of output with just a clean boost, or add a 'dirt' pedal in the chain and have grit and output.

I can definitely live with that choice. I tried the bridge the other day with my amp on a clean tone with not much treble and i had a really warm pumpy jazz tone with just the bridge. perfect for percussive chord changes :D