The Scorpions - "which pickup"

[gwEm]

I went to see The Scorpions last Friday and, for all their cheese, I must admit I really like this band.

It started me thinking, of course, about what pickups I would use for their sound... which has cartoonish happy sounding mids, and good rich chunk. Also they seem to have no problems with the old pinch harmonics.

It turns out they use a pickup called 'The Musclebucker' from Dommenget guitars in Germany. It costs a somewhat massive and unreasonable *240 Euros* for just one uncovered pickup!! I'm sure its a quality item, but I'm even more sure the right BKP will be of equal or better quality and cheap at half the price.

All I could find out about the construction of this pickup was that it features Alinco magnets and custommade wire. The marketing description is "The loudest pickup on the market, lots of bite, big musical sound". The loudest pickup on the market seems quite a claim, I'm not sure it would stand up to research.

So the question again - which BKP for "Love at First Sting"/"Crazy World" Scorpions tone?

Warpig?! Holy Diver?!

Thanks

[sambo]

not sure but i wouldnt say warpig- nooooooo..

something way less hot im guessing.... low to middle range output....

Mule? VHII? maybe holy diver like you said.... i dunno

plus ive only listened to a couple of their older songs so not really sure...


damn just forget i ever said anything

[TwilightOdyssey]

Actually, I would say Warpig or Cold Sweat. I started a thread about the Scorpions several months ago. I would steer away from the VHII, except maybe for Mattias Jabs' lead tone. Even then, I don't think that the VHII will be quite thick enough for that tone.

I think you can  get that classic Scorps sound with a Warpig or Cold Sweat-loaded Explorer or Flying V into a Marshall. You might need an overdrive or clean boost in front of the amp to get the crunch just right. You really gotta boost the mids, too.

The reason I throw the Cold Sweat into it is because it does old school metal tones very well!

[jt]

:D Yep TO`s right Cold Sweat no problem. Think Blackout.

 :D  8)

[Andy the Axe]

Interesting post guys,

For those Scorps afficionados who are remotely interested (and I am, being a long time fan), the difference between Uli Jon Roth's style and Michael Schenker's style are poles apart.

Listening to original recordings of "In Trance" from the Toyko Tapes tour what was Roth using with his strat? (apart from a violin bow, of course) - Amazing tones and sounds.

I think the more recent "heavy metal" sounds of the Scorpions are much easier to categorise than the old ones.

As I said great thread, they were my favourite band for quite some time,

Andrew :)

[gwEm]

andy: i guess the scorpions will always be one of my favourite hard rock acts :) and you are right that there are a wide range of lead tones... i guess i'm after the rudolf schenker/mattias jabs tone which in my opinon is not so far apart.

a very thick sounding pickup is certinally needed... and i can see where the cold sweat suggestion comes from when considering the schenker rhythm tone on 'blackout', it surely fits excellently.

i though the rebel yell/holy diver might would also be worth considering considering their 80s-ness... and the warpig for its super-thickness.

first i need another flying v to put these in, but i'd really like to get this tone in it.