Question about Abraxas

[McDuffed]

A few weeks into a set of Abraxas in a Custom 24.  Posted a pretty detailed review here:

https://forum.bareknucklepickups.co.uk/index.php?topic=34311.msg430567#msg430567

The bridge bucker is quite high output and I definitely get a much richer / higher level of gain than I do with my Holy Diver equipped strat. I've been working out the Blackened riff these past few days and am very happy with the gain level and tone (I'm going into a Boogie Mark V), though these are definitely nothing like EMGs.  I also enjoy playing some mid career Maiden (think Somewhere in Time) and I'm liking what I hear there as well, though I'm not trying to specifically emulate Adrian Smith's tone (the strat with HDs would be much closer).  It's a really subjective thing as I would guess they would sound totally different in an alder / maple guitart.  In a nutshell, if you are finding your guitar on the bright side, and want a vintage baseline sound that can still rip it in the high gains, then look no further.  I think these pickups pulled me further into the LP tone zone than I had planned, but they sound so great that I am prepared to forgive them!  I think a good example of where they really find their sweet spot in the high gain world would be Adam Jones on the later Tool albums.  Warm but still very articulate and able to handle quick and precise riffage.

Your guitar has a pretty bright build baseline so I think you could afford to lose some top end (compared to the HDs) which would happen if you put these in. However, if your amp is on the warmer side (I don't know the Laney IRT60), then it may be a bad idea as you will get quite weak in the upper register. 

With that said, to your closing question: no, it's not too soft, though you may want to consider a different neck pickup as the Abraxas neck is really a giant LP pickup built for vintage voiced  Santana / Moore sustained leads (which it does beautifully) which may not be what you are after.  Also, I don't find them all the special for clean sounds (they're ok, but pretty middle of the road).

EDIT: Just noticed we're necroposting.  OP: let us know what you ended up getting if you went ahead with the swap.

[v_alves_90]

Hello everyone.

Well i guess its time to ressurrect this thread again.

I played around with the abraxas set for a while and i really like the articulation and string separation. A farcry from the old pickups that i had before. Great cleans, and distortion is also very articulate. Feels liquid and transparent. And as i read before on multiple places, the pickups also have a vintage and warm flavour to them. The note bloom even with high gain settings is lovely. The sound is always big and fat, yet defined and articulate. LOVE the higher pitched notes. Single notes are big, vocal, juicy and sweet. Sounds professional.

I like them and will be keeping them. I cannot compare them to the other models, as this is the only barelnuckle set i have at the moment. AND, now i have a nice reference to aid in my next BKP purchase.

But on heavier gain settings i think i need something a bit thicker, more agressive, more in your face if you know what i mean. Guess i'll try the alnico nailbombs next. I'ts what BKP recommended to me in the first place.

I tried swapping lots of magnets in the abraxas bridge(A2, A5, A8, Ceramic), and again ended leaving the stock A4 on it. It's the one that for my ears felt and sounded right. After all, the set IS voiced for A4. But the A5, although sounding a bit out of place in this set, made me think: "Man there's something about this magnet, its more crisp and tight..  Maybe i should have chosen the A-Bombs instead..".

So yes. I will be trying the Alnico Nailbombs next, not ceramic as i think its a bit too scooped. I think ill benefit from the famous A5, and a set properly calibrated for it. The A-bomb set was also one of the best sounding to me in the site's sound clips. Balanced and agressive.

By the way, its true what i've read about A4magnets. Very natural sounding, and organic.

The abraxas set is a keeper for me, and i'll order an A-bomb set as soon as i have the chance. It will help me in finding the best set for my tastes.

Cheers everyone, and thanks for all the responses!

[Dave Sloven]

The only comment I'd make here regarding the Nailbomb set it that the neck pickup is one of the brighter ones in the range and with the 24 fret PRS you might prefer a darker neck pickup like the VHII neck or Emerald neck.

[v_alves_90]

A few weeks into a set of Abraxas in a Custom 24.  Posted a pretty detailed review here:

https://forum.bareknucklepickups.co.uk/index.php?topic=34311.msg430567#msg430567

The bridge bucker is quite high output and I definitely get a much richer / higher level of gain than I do with my Holy Diver equipped strat. I've been working out the Blackened riff these past few days and am very happy with the gain level and tone (I'm going into a Boogie Mark V), though these are definitely nothing like EMGs.  I also enjoy playing some mid career Maiden (think Somewhere in Time) and I'm liking what I hear there as well, though I'm not trying to specifically emulate Adrian Smith's tone (the strat with HDs would be much closer).  It's a really subjective thing as I would guess they would sound totally different in an alder / maple guitart.  In a nutshell, if you are finding your guitar on the bright side, and want a vintage baseline sound that can still rip it in the high gains, then look no further.  I think these pickups pulled me further into the LP tone zone than I had planned, but they sound so great that I am prepared to forgive them!  I think a good example of where they really find their sweet spot in the high gain world would be Adam Jones on the later Tool albums.  Warm but still very articulate and able to handle quick and precise riffage.

Your guitar has a pretty bright build baseline so I think you could afford to lose some top end (compared to the HDs) which would happen if you put these in. However, if your amp is on the warmer side (I don't know the Laney IRT60), then it may be a bad idea as you will get quite weak in the upper register. 

With that said, to your closing question: no, it's not too soft, though you may want to consider a different neck pickup as the Abraxas neck is really a giant LP pickup built for vintage voiced  Santana / Moore sustained leads (which it does beautifully) which may not be what you are after.  Also, I don't find them all the special for clean sounds (they're ok, but pretty middle of the road).

EDIT: Just noticed we're necroposting.  OP: let us know what you ended up getting if you went ahead with the swap.

Thank you Mcduffed for the review i agree with it. i too purchased this set a few monts ago. Yes the neck has a warm sort of bassy tone to it, yet remains open. Both pickups feel right and although i respect and like what the neck pup does, some times i want it to be a little brighter and snappy. Guess il see what the A-bombs neck is like, when i get a set of those.

The only comment I'd make here regarding the Nailbomb set it that the neck pickup is one of the brighter ones in the range and with the 24 fret PRS you might prefer a darker neck pickup like the VHII neck or Emerald neck.

This is great to know as the A-bombs are going to be my next purchase. Might be more my thing. Thank you.

i had abraxas and sold them

abraxas are hot pick ups alnico iv.
you must be sure that you like alnico iv sounds cause in my opinion its not for everyone
alnico v prolly works better for most situations
i tried abraxas with strats and les pauls but it wasnt for me
was too  bright if i remember well
i hope i helped you

Yes i can undestand the whole brightness issue you had with them. They sound great, very open, but under certain circunstances, the bridge can be a bit lacking in bass and thickness for my tastes. Maybe its my guitar. All maple neck, alder, Bolt-on, Floyd. And an agressive, tight laney IRT60-212

From what i read so far the Nb's might really be my thing. The bridge is more agressive, and the neck suposedly is brighter. Might just hit the right spot. But at the moment, really digging the abraxas. Amp controls can make up for a lot of small issues, as well as pickup height.

So many maybes and guesses, how i wish i could just test-drive all the pickups in the BKP range. lol

Thanks everyone for the responses and support.

[v_alves_90]

I'm guessing it will be a bit of a revelation. I think the Abraxas suffers unfairly from the Santana association. He's a great guitarist with a fantastic tone but he's not a guitarist you naturally associate with Rock and Metal so I suspect most people dismiss it as unsuitable for them. I was exactly the same when I first started changing pickups around and it's only now that I have a better understanding of what works and why it works that I can see that the Abraxas will do far heavier styles than I ever expected. Overall I like the way BKP name their pickups but I think in the case of the Abraxas it has become a limiting factor. I still maintain that with an AV magnet in an Abraxas and wound a little lighter you'll have a far better 80's Metal pickup than the Holydiver. I really wish BKP would make that one. Nevertheless, while most people haven't bought an Abraxas for Rock and Metal over the years, those who do have always had great success with it so I'm optimistic that you will too 

I will gladly use the abraxas set for Heavier styles here in my guitar. theyre a huge step-up from the stock pickups. No comparison. And the stock ones where ceramics! I only wish they where just a bit thicker and perhaps bassier. But in regards to the low end amp eqs help. And yes. Im really leaning towards Alnico V's. They might really be more my thing. Next in my shopping list: A-Bombs. A BKP recommended.
Im new to the whole pickup swap thing, so im still getting a feel for it. Magnets matter A LOT, as far as i can tell by my swapping experiments on the abraxas bridge.

[Telerocker]

A beefier Abraxas would be the Crawler.

[fdesalvo]

Agree with Telerocker above.  Also - don't let the Abraxas' stats fool you.  It can do heavier tones quite well.

[Telerocker]

Agree with Telerocker above.  Also - don't let the Abraxas' stats fool you.  It can do heavier tones quite well.

Yeah you posted some great clips of the Abraxas doing heavier stuff.  Players should just not forget the Abraxas is in fact more a hotrodded Mule than a tuned down Crawler, which has no real equivalent in the BKP-range.

[fdesalvo]

TR,

What takes me 3 paragraphs to express, you convey in one sentence.  Haha