Whick BKPs for my custom LP style build?

[cross]

Hey there, haven't been to the forum in years. But it's BKP time again!

I am going to have custom built done.

LP style body, 25" scale, deep set neck, string-thru TOM.

Body wood: Mahagony, chambered
Top: Swamp Ash
Neck: Walnut
fingerboard: Ebony

The bit longer scale and the brighter woods will give some more definition, still I'm more of a Gibby fan.

I really dig Gibby rock stuff. Grew up with Zeppelin and Sabbath. My teenage years were filled with Alice in Chains, Soundgarden Kyuss. In my later twens (which I'm in right now) I do love Mastodon, Thrice and Queens of the Stone Age.

I really do listen to almost every guitar based music. From jazz to death.


Getting to the point. This axe is supposed to fill the slot in my gear that will be able to handle classic rock based heavy proggy metal like mastodon. They use a lot of vintage gear, just like the other bands.

I use a Soldano SLO 100 copy with lots of gain and bottom end. Currently I use my SG with a Crawler set for that kind of music (I'll change her to an SD minibucker neck - BKP H90 bridge soon for the more vintage flavour), but I want to go more ballsy and with fuller cleans. But not too vintage and muddy. I can get that from a Fuzz pedal if needed.

My Framus Diablo Custom is doing the tech death metal stuff, and the Strat and bari Tele does all the other stuff.

The LP should bring me a LP-ish (haha) more defined, a bit hotter and a tad more modern sound.

I was thinking of a VH II in the neck and a RiffRaff in the bridge - cudos?

[cross]

bump...


so - VH II (n) - RiffRaff(b)  combo for classic rock influenced heavier stuff?

Vintage tone with more attack, a bit more gain and definition?

[darkbluemurder]

I think both pickups would work for what you want but I would take them as a set.

There was a thread not long ago discussing Riff Raffs vs. VHIIs. The consensus seemed to be that the VHII is more single coilish due to the larger offset wiring of the coils. Since you also seem to lean towards P90s I would choose the VHII set.

Cheers Stephan

[Alex]

"ballsy" = Black Dog

BTW are you sure about mixing mahogany with swamp ash? It's just an odd mix and swamp ash is not the prettiest wood for a top either. It isn't as "snappy" as maple either.
I have swamp ash body, mahogany neck + ebony fretboard LP, Gibson makes a swampash LP with I think mahogany neck + rosewood fretboard. Might want to check one of those out and see how you like their sound.

[cross]

hm... first off - I planned giving the LP a Silverburst finish... maybe a see thru one. second, ash and swamp ash are pretty snappy and in the '90 I think Gibson made some LP ash tops afaik.

If I'd wanna go for maple, I could get a Gibson straight away.

and hey.... check out these ash topped beauties:

http://www.dv247.de/assets/products/36857_l.jpg

http://www.musikmachen.de/var/musikmachen/storage/images/media/images/gibson-voodoo-lespaul/3900105-1-ger-DE/Gibson-Voodoo-LesPaul_front_page_teaser.jpg

http://www.frettedamericana.com/gibson_les_paul_standard_1960_reissue_1991-d-90-54.html


So the VH II is more a SC sound-wise? I was looking for a crisp defined neck pickup...

[Alex]

The second picture is my guitar btw, although I don't remember uploading it on any German website.  :?

EDIT
I do like the PRS finishes on the Swamp Ash Specials they have, where you can see a hint of grain. I'm personally more concerned about the tonal match - you might as well just go for all-swamp ash then with no mahogany basis.

[Transcend]

I think the VHII/Riff Raff will do just well for what you want but definitely don't rule out pickups such as the black dog etc.

A bit off topic but what trannies did you use in your SLO?

[Telerocker]

With an ash-top I would certainly look at the Mule for the bridge too, which breezes classic rock and can even do metal with the right amp and you have a great amp.

[Cpt_Gonzo]

Whats with the Abraxas? PAF with balls. Should do what you want.