Need pickups for a bassy, loose guitar

[rjf]

I have a Jackson Kelly KE2 that has Seymour Duncan Blackouts in it and I am having problems with the guitar being very loose and muddy on the bottom end with way too much bass. The body is made of alder with a maple neck and ebony board.

I play mostly metal like Iced Earth, Primal Fear type heavy riffing. My amps are a Diezel Herbert, Framus Cobra, VHT, and Engl Powerball.

I want to get this guitar tightened way up with good mids and moderate bass.

Also where can I buy BKP online, I'm in the US, and where can I view a price list?

[Dr. Vic]

Hi !

congrat' for those stunning kelly you have !  I have to say that reading your title I was expecting you to talk about many guitars BUT Jacksons..; :lol:

At least my KE1 wasn't thaat loose n' bassy !

Apart from that dunno really which ceramic pup to recommend you.

The painkiller would probably cure the muddy issue  :lol: : it is said to be the tightest BKP, also VERY clear, with one of a kind huge high mid push. It has a very agressive voicing and full sound.

But for the riffing you're after and regarding the arsenal of amps you have, the PK might not be necessary, which is why Cold Sweat can also be a good (better?) option, as it is said to be one of the brightest in the range, also very tight, with a good crunch but without coloring the EQ (so without pushing the bass).


So wait for more advices, and last but not least, 

 WELCOME TO BKP  !  :good:

[rjf]

THanks, I was also kind of leaning towards the painkiller, but thought I'd ask anyway.

My KE1 is not bad at all, but for some reason my KE2 is much looser, bassier. I tend to wonder if there is something wrong with the bridge pickup in the guitar.

What would be a good match for the neck position? I want something very jazzy/bluesy as the clean channel on my Herbert and Powerball are quite impressive and would like to take advantage of it with a smooth neck pickup.

[Dr. Vic]

The Cold sweat neck (alnico V) came as one of the most popoular choice with quite any of the high output pickups of the range. It is very "clean n' smooth" sounding and perfect for fast runs, but still "modern" sounding.

For a more bluesy / vintage tone you can try the VHII or Black Dog neck (still alnico V)

But as for me the best vintage bluesy tone would come for an Alnico IV pickup, especially the CRawler which pairs well with the Painkiller. This would be one of a kind versatile killer combo on the Kelly !  

Imo the BKP AIV neck are the best when vintage soul, warmth and singing tones are needed.

[Nolly]

I second the Painkiller recommendation, though it is surprising that a guitar with that wood selection is muddy and loose, maybe it's worth experimenting with the pot values as that makes a fairly big difference. Anyway, the PK's weighty upper midrange will definitely provide the punchy and aggressive sound you're after, while the slightly scooped lower-midrange should keep things from getting muddy.
Neck-wise, I believe the Nailbomb neck could be a good match for you. It's got some of that juicy old-school PAF tone and response, but is also wonderfully smooth yet articulate under gain. The Cold Sweat is an excellent neck pickup, but is slightly more modern in voicing IMO.

[Antag]

Actually, I'm not all that surprised, my Jackson RR1T suffered something similar with its stock JB pickup.  FWIW, I replaced it with a Holy Diver set & it's absolutely wonderful, still probably my #1 "go to" guitar 3 years later...

However, I agree with the Painkiller suggestion here.  As Nolly suggests, it will do everything you want.

[ericsabbath]

very loose and muddy on the bottom end

alder with a maple neck and ebony board.

Diezel Herbert, Framus Cobra, VHT, and Engl Powerball.

something just can't be right  :lol:

[hunter]

I would say VHII

[Zaned]

I have a Jackson Kelly KE2 that has Seymour Duncan Blackouts in it and I am having problems with the guitar being very loose and muddy on the bottom end with way too much bass. The body is made of alder with a maple neck and ebony board.

Gotta admit, the muddy tone description sounds weird with those woods. I assume you mean it can be heard acoustically too?

Is everything locked into place as it should be? Gotta wonder if there's something loose (like saddles) which would rob the attack and high end..

-Zaned

[ericsabbath]

he's got the tightest amps in the market
I just can't imagine any guitar sounding loose thru them, especially in alder/maple/ebony

[MDV]

he's got the tightest amps in the market
I just can't imagine any guitar sounding loose thru them, especially in alder/maple/ebony

I agree.

I suspect either the blackouts are just that muddy (I have heard that they have a lot of bass) or the wrong pots are in there.

All things being equal I'd say painkiller, c-bomb or CS for tightness, though.

[MDV]

And the guitar is very sexy as well!