VHII vs Abraxas in the Bridge?

[Eyes Wide Shut]

This is the email I've just got back from Tim -


I do think you'd really enjoy the VHII, it's certainly no slouch when it comes to output and has a wonderfully dynamic and open tone. However if you want more saturation then the Abraxas will certainly do that while retaining a lovely vintage character to the tone and the Emerald neck is absolutely beautiful - a very popular choice for a lot of players especially those that enjoy that AT tone.
 
I just wondered, when you say "saturation", do you mean the pickup is less dry? Kind of like the Aftermath is very dry, but the Abraxas is more wet giving it a more fluid tone making your mistakes less pronounced? I'm just very terrible when it comes to pickup lingo.
 
With the Emerald, can it handle gain well? Also with the Abraxas/Emerald combo, would you recommend a 5-way Ibanez or a 5-Way Rotary in HH format. Or would you just recommend HSH format?
 
One question which is more about cosmetics, I bought a Miracle Man second hand the other day, and it has hex bolts with the covers. How would this sound with the Abraxas/Emerald?

[darkbluemurder]

I just wondered, when you say "saturation", do you mean the pickup is less dry? Kind of like the Aftermath is very dry, but the Abraxas is more wet giving it a more fluid tone making your mistakes less pronounced? I'm just very terrible when it comes to pickup lingo.

"Saturation" is basically the term for how hard a pickup drives the amp, i.e. output. Whether a pickup feels "dry" or "wet" is more a question of attack and EQ.

With the Emerald, can it handle gain well? Also with the Abraxas/Emerald combo, would you recommend a 5-way Ibanez or a 5-Way Rotary in HH format. Or would you just recommend HSH format?

I personally don't like HSH - there is just no room to play. The question of whether to use a slide switch or a rotary is one of handling preference. I bet most folks here on the forum would prefer a sliding switch. Given the choice I would always prefer the 5-way switch to a 3-way - more sound options from one switching element.

I have never played the Emerald but it is said to handle gain very well.

One question which is more about cosmetics, I bought a Miracle Man second hand the other day, and it has hex bolts with the covers. How would this sound with the Abraxas/Emerald?

I have heard that the Abraxas neck is often used with contemporary BKPs so why not? Tim once recommended that I try my Crawler neck with the Miracle Man because that allegedly works well, too. Cosmetics on the other hand are a pure personal preference. Whether hex bolts affect the tone - I don't have a clue.

Cheers Stephan

[Eyes Wide Shut]

Thanks for that Stephen.

And regarding your last comment, I meant having an Abraxas Bridge/Emerald Neck with Hex Bolts. Not for the neck to be combined with the Miracle Man haha. I just wondered how the set would sound with hex bolts as apposed to screws?

[BigB]

@Eyes Wide Shut: I think you're over-thinking the whole damn thing. Please take no offense - BKP Syndrom, indeed, been here, done that, have the T-shirt :mrgreen:, but you won't know until you ear it on your guitar.

From experience, Tim's advises are more often than not dead on, even when they're not what you expected - the guy is a seasoned (and talented) guitar player, he does try all it's pups himself with as most guitars as possible, and for sure keep records of his customers feedbacks. He really knows his job, and not only the "builder" part.

For the record, I would never have bought the BGF52 set if it wasn't for Tim's advises, I was kind of skeptical but decided to give it a try and I have no regret. I only once returned a BKP (RiffRaff bridge), and really the problem was neither with the pup - which was pretty good and exactly what I asked for and what Tim described -, but with, well, what I asked for, which wasn't what I really wanted for this guitar. FWIW, I since orderer a RiffRaff set for another guitar and I couldn't be happier with it.

To make a long story short: you seem to know what you want for the mahogany strat. Order it, try it, if it works for you then take a little time to think about what you expect from your alder axe, and go for what Tim says (if you don't like it, remember you can ask for a swap  or refund). If the first set don't work for you (rather unlikely IMHO but some people have hard time with the clarity, definition and note separation that are the brand's trademark), then just send it back.

My 2 cents...