C-HD and A5-MM (Bridge) : Differences and similarities in the BKP range ?

[Dr. Vic]

Hi guys !

It seems thoses versions of the MM and the HD were previously available :


As for the C-HD :
the « old spec » HD : DC 13K Ceramic Magnet
the « new spec » HD : DC 16,2K AlnicoV Magnet

What are the differences of sound between them. And if the « old » C-HD isn't available anymore as a stock pickup, I guess there should be a better alernative to it now in the BKP range. Which one would it be ?



As for the A5-MM :
I found some « old » topics  (dammit cannot find them anymore) saying the MM bridge was available with either an Alnico 5 or ceramic Magnet, and telling that the A5 brings back some mids, and some sweetness in the highs, while keeping the bass tight (but not as surgically tight as the C-MM), -for an overall more agressive AND organic tone. AND THIS SOUNDS GOOD TO ME !!  :twisted: :twisted:


It will be nice to hear back from some additional new experiences with an A5-MM bridge !  Any comment ?
And is it exactely the same design as the stock A5-MM neck or does Tim provide a specific design for the A5-MM bridge ?   

I read somewhere here that an A5-MM will sound close to an HD (the new stock one). Does that mean the voicings of the MM and the HD are quite 'similar'  :?: 

Cheers !

[FELINEGUITARS]

The old spec Holy Diver did indeed have a ceramic Magnet and about a 13k DC resistance
I liked the tone  (Tim will still wind you one custom if you ask him)

It kind of sat too close to the Rebel Yell in the range once the RY was developed
Also maybe it wasn't getting looked at enough because too many "heavy" players dismissed the 13k as not hot enough (they would be wrong). It did the early 80s rock thing pretty well.

The new spec seems to have appealed a bit more and it is voiced kind of like a Duncan JB but without as much of that upper midrange  spike to the sound

The Alnico 5 Miracle Man is actualy the neck position  pickup from a Miracle Man set.
The bridge and neck are wound pretty similar if I recall correctly
Sounds wise I feel it may be in similar ballpark to the Suhr Aldridge pickup (should you have heard one of those)

[Dr. Vic]

Thanks for the input !

I was expecting the C-HD to ressemble to another Ceramic in the BKP range. Then if you think the RY is the closest to the C-HD that means the RY should be really tight and more agressive than what can be expected from an alnico pickup....right ?

Humm... if the A5-MM is the same as the stock Neck, then I guess it would not be a good idea to put it in the bridge....I think Tim paid lot of attention to build the pickups at their best for each position, and if the A5-MM is designed for the neck he must have some reason to do so....

Don't know about the Suhr Aldridge pickup....but in the BKP range what would be the closest to the A5-MM bridge ? the HD ?

[ericsabbath]

I think the old diver was based on dimarzio super distortrion
the latest version with a ceramic mag instead of alnico would probably sound close to a painkiller

don't know if the MM bridge with A5 would be the same as the neck version
I don't think the neck version has the same wire gauge (45 awg)

the neck version is more like dimarzio tone zone
on the bridge position, it can get close to the diver, but it's darker, a bit fatter, less tight sounding and needs a bit more top end (so it probably has a close winding, but overwound, I think)

never played the suhr aldrich, but its description definitely sounds like a nailbomb
the Diver can get pretty close to Doug's tone too

and I wouldn't call the Rebel Yell aggressive in any way

you still keep dodging the wood/guitar questions
BKPs aren't EMGs  :lol:

[Dr. Vic]

I think the old diver was based on dimarzio super distortrion
the latest version with a ceramic mag instead of alnico would probably sound close to a painkiller

if the HD is known as a thick pickup, why not MM instead of PK, isn't MM more of a dark pushing pickup, closer to the HD, than the PK ?  :?

don't know if the MM bridge with A5 would be the same as the neck version
I don't think the neck version has the same wire gauge (45 awg)

(...) on the bridge position, it can get close to the diver, but it's darker, a bit fatter, less tight sounding and needs a bit more top end (so it probably has a close winding, but overwound, I think)

Hum....interresting I need to learn more on this point... Any other thought to confirm the design of the bridge A5-MM, regarding wire gauge, etc ? ?

and I wouldn't call the Rebel Yell aggressive in any way

to me the RY is really really agressive and more "in your face" than the other NB or HD. Very biting, growly and straight talking, imo...  :roll:

you still keep dodging the wood/guitar questions
BKPs aren't EMGs  :lol:

New topic just opened for you, on that particulary interresting-but-difficult-question !  :lol:

[ericsabbath]

I think you got it a little confused
I was talking about the NECK version of the miracle man installed in the bridge position
it's like a darker and fatter diver
wasn't talking about a bridge MM with an alnico 5 magnet

[Dr. Vic]

I think you explained it quite well : what you say is what I've previously understood, I think..

[ericsabbath]

if the HD is known as a thick pickup, why not MM instead of PK, isn't MM more of a dark pushing pickup, closer to the HD, than the PK ?  :?

actually, that's what is very confusing

all of them are thick sounding
but don't confuse bass with darkness or thickness
the Diver and PK have a very thick full midrange
the MM is thick on the low end and low mids
the MM is the bassiest of the three, not necessarily the darkest
it will make dark guitars sound darker, but bright guitars will actually get brighter, since it has a ton of bass AND highs, and the strongest frequency extremity of the guitar will prevail
and both MM and PK sound NOTHING like the Diver
comparing only amount of frequencies, the Painkiller would still be closer, since both PK are HD are very mid heavy pickups

I still don't get what you're looking for  :?

[Antag]

I still don't get what you're looking for  :?

Me neither.  Classic case of "analysis paralysis" :)

[Dr. Vic]

I still don't get what you're looking for  :?

Me neither.  Classic case of "analysis paralysis" :)

For the one you once called The Holy-Mirabomb-Pigkiller !  :twisted: :twisted: :twisted:

No, more seriously just on topic : Those C-HD and A5-MM used to be available and the purpose is just to pointed out what BKP replace them now... And I think that what felineguitars told us about the RY is very interesting !

if the HD is known as a thick pickup, why not MM instead of PK, isn't MM more of a dark pushing pickup, closer to the HD, than the PK ?  :?

actually, that's what is very confusing

Sorry for the confusion about that/  :roll:
I was thinking a C-HD would ressemble a MM over a PK because on one another topic I asked for a pickup to match some of my tastes (modern 'Deth, Dream Theater, Linkin Park) and the automatic answer from you guys was immediately : MM or HD... You both made a huge job on that other big topic, btw, so many thanks to you !

So Antag is right, basically-analysis-paralysis made me think that there is something in common between the HD and the MM voicing, and maybe that a A5-MM would ressemble a HD or reverse way that a C-HD would ressemble a MM.

But I should certainly have mistaken  :?
 :P