Single pickup guitar (P90, Polymath, Peacemaker, Black dog)

[adrianfkelly]

Hi All, I need some advice. I have kept an eye on bareknuckle for years and am familiar with their range but never played one and have no experience with anything hotter than a vintage low output pickup (Tele singles and filtertron style) but thats about to change.

I am building a singlecut multiscale (25"to25.5") guitar, Alder and walnut body with maple-wenge laminated bolt-on neck. This guitar will be my rock guitar (think 90-2000s punk up to hard rock). I initially thought of a Supermassive P90 but I need something fender/wide spaced. Bareknuckle suggested a Black Dog. I like the sound of the Polymaths and Peacemakers but dont know how their dynamics and playing feel is, I want to be able to dig in and go from slightly polite cleanish tone to rude overdrive.

This will be a bridge only, so, those with experience in these pickups, what would you suggest if you can only have a bridge pickup and why?

[CLund]

I really like the Blackdog, the tonal character of the BD a Hot PAF, with more midrange growl.   It's going to be open like a PAF, so it will not have that full modern feel.   If you want more modern, you can't go wrong with the Polymath.   It's great, very similar tonal characteristics to the BD, good mid growl, with lots of open harmonics.    Bolt on maple neck on Alder also lends itself to the Holy Diver, which is a pickup I hated in a Mahogany/Maple bolt on PRS and also hated in my Ash/Maple Suhr, but LOVE it in my Charvel (Basswood/Maple Guthrie Govan).     I don't have experience with the Supermassive P90, but I do have a Mississippi Queen HSP90 in the Neck of my PRS and it is wonderful.  Always thought of putting a supermassive in the bridge of that guitar, but the Abraxas that's in it now is just too good.

Good luck with your search and let us know which direction you go.   

[b.gandt]

I use the Supermassive in the bridge of a 1993 Hamer Special.  Straight into a Marshall 68 Plexi circuit, it truly is the sound of rock for me.

It wouldn’t be a problem to jack it up with an od pedal to get to 90s punk, but I suspect something along the lines of a Polymath may be a better choice for that sound.  Maybe.

I can say for sure that the Supermassive can do the job.  Maybe Nolly can pipe in regarding the Polymath, because that may be a better choice.