Author Topic: Help me choose a bkp for my project guitar!!!!!!!! (Read 2734 times)

thechemicalconscious · « **on:** June 27, 2008, 04:51:59 PM »

Hey I want to buy a set of humbuckers from bkp for a guitar I've built. It is a semi hollow, neck-thru with 24 frets, a tuneomatic and a bigsby. I think alnico V's are too strong for my taste, as I put them in the guitar and didn't really savor the tone so much. I want really breathy, warm, organic cleans, with just the right amount of shimmer in the high end. Transparent, ethereal, something that works well with delay and reverb pedals. I dig using the neck pickup. But I also want humbuckers that kick ass when I play them through the dirty channels of my dual rectifier. The clean sound I really like is at the 2:55 mark of this song on youtube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eI-9VcZlhl8

it is Satellite by Guster. that solo has AMAZING tone IMHO.

Like I said, not alnico v's, warm but not woofy, shimmery not shrill highs, amazing clean tone, but still a warm punchy distortion from a dual rec. What Bare Knuckle Pickups do I need??????????

Thanks!
-Will

Will · « **Reply #1 on:** June 27, 2008, 04:56:06 PM »

What exactly put you off the AlNiCo V's?
and what brand / model were they?
Don't let another brands aV pickup put you off a BKP :P
The video isn't available to view in the UK apparently :?
The stock answer for semi hollows and woody sound is AII Stormy Monday though anyway...

thechemicalconscious · « **Reply #2 on:** June 27, 2008, 05:01:19 PM »

i had a set of allan holdsworth signature humbuckers with alnico v's and vintage plain enamel wiring. I didn't like how scooped it was. the highs were too much and the lows the same. Do the alnico II stormy monday's keep a nice balance when turned up? Do they distort well? howsabout clean with a line6 dl4?

thechemicalconscious · « **Reply #3 on:** June 27, 2008, 05:04:36 PM »

and also can I get the stormy monday's if I choose them in 4 conductor wiring so I can coil tap them???

HairyChris · « **Reply #4 on:** June 27, 2008, 05:53:35 PM »

Quote from: thechemicalconscious

and also can I get the stormy monday's if I choose them in 4 conductor wiring so I can coil tap them???

Just specify when you order! ;)

WezV · « **Reply #5 on:** June 27, 2008, 06:36:01 PM »

i would seriously conisder the manhattan (underwound humbucker sized P-90) for the neck position... it will give you the most amazing clean tone and still dirties up nicely. partner it with a vintage spec humbucker in the bridge for a great combo... my main guitar has a mule bridge and manhattan neck and its very versatile

ilÿti · « **Reply #6 on:** June 27, 2008, 07:01:34 PM »

Mule bridge and Manhattan neck is what I'm thinking. I've got a semihollow with a set of Mules and I wanted pretty much exactly what you described, great airy cleans with the ability to dirty up when needed.

Fourth Feline · « **Reply #7 on:** June 27, 2008, 09:22:16 PM »

I also could not view the video, but the best pickups I have heard / tried in my 335 copy are Alnico IV Stormy Mondays
( tighter / clearer bass definition - and more even E.Q than my Alnico IIs Stormy Mondays where ) plus the Mississippi Queens.

For the Semi hollow, I stayed with the Mississipi Queens. :D

As has been mentioned before, do not be put off by Alnico V in a B.K.P. - the Mississippi queen bridge is Alnico V and neck Alnico IV - but the clarity / note definition and warmth is amazing !

thechemicalconscious · « **Reply #8 on:** June 28, 2008, 01:15:53 AM »

ok so I cannot seem to find the manhattan on the product page. Am I just blind or is it somewhere else? also, is the mississippi queen a humbucker or a single coil? it looks like a humbucker but I thought p-90's were all single coil, but the page says it's offered with a coil-tap option. thanks for all the input!!

Will · « **Reply #9 on:** June 28, 2008, 01:18:03 AM »

Quote from: thechemicalconscious

ok so I cannot seem to find the manhattan on the product page. Am I just blind or is it somewhere else? also, is the mississippi queen a humbucker or a single coil? it looks like a humbucker but I thought p-90's were all single coil, but the page says it's offered with a coil-tap option. thanks for all the input!!

The product page is in need of an update, it exists, but not many people have one (just Wez :P)
MQ = humbucker sized P90, I am sure it says that on the product page atleast. A coild tap is still possible by removing some of the winds, reducing power of pickup.

WezV · « **Reply #10 on:** June 28, 2008, 01:25:36 AM »

the MQ is a humcker sized P-90 with a gritty raw edge that still sounds very P-90ish despite the humbucker size... the manhattan is a lower powered version with a really clean, etheral, haunting tone in the right context... i have played a lot of BKP's and its what i thought of in your initial post

not on the product page but i would always recommend contacting tim anyway.

i have it with the mule but i reckon it would go well with a story monday bridge as well (again, ask tim)

i dont think i am the only one with a manhattan but if thats the case you really all need to try this pickup for the neck position and your clean sounds

thechemicalconscious · « **Reply #11 on:** June 28, 2008, 01:40:24 AM »

mmmmm when people use the words haunting and ethereal in context with guitar sounds i grow a big rubbery one =P. so lemme see if i get this straight, the manhattan is a vintage remake of the single-coil p-90's. do you think in a sem-hollow guitar it would get a lot of feedback when distorted? I would like to try it but feedback is a concern with a mesa dual rec. thanks!!!!!

Simon D · « **Reply #12 on:** June 28, 2008, 04:07:47 PM »

I'd have no hestiation in recommending an Alnico IV Mule for the bridge. I have an AIV set in my LP, and I'm pretty sure they'll give you the sound you're after.

Author Topic: Help me choose a bkp for my project guitar!!!!!!!! (Read 2734 times)

Fourth Feline