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Author Topic: 2 Questions - 1) HSS recomendation? 2)Gear for Sound Clips?  (Read 3187 times)

homiefud

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2 Questions - 1) HSS recomendation? 2)Gear for Sound Clips?
« on: September 12, 2013, 04:52:08 PM »
Hey all,

Noob to Bare Knuckle here.  I've been doing a lot of research regarding the pups I want to put in the Partscaster I'm building.  I'm really interested in trying some BK pups, but I have no dealer nearby.  So I have to rely on clips and recommendations. 

First off... What gear is used to record the sound clips for BK?  Namely the amp(s) and the guitar/wood type.  The guitar I'm putting together is a Fender American alder Strat body with a Warmoth VM neck, maple/maple.  I know that this will be a fairly bright sounding guitar and that's what I want.  So I want to take into account what gear was used in order to compare.

(Edit:  The amp I'm using is a Mesa Mark V with a Port City 2x12 with Scumbacks (H75/M75).)

Also, I'm looking to make this an incredibly versatile guitar with an HSS config.  I will be playing everything from Heavy Blues to Classic Rock to 80s Hair with a bit of Reggae and Funk.  Clean is just as important as dirty.  The two sets that I've been considering are the Mule w/ Mother's Milk and the VHII w/ Irish Tours.  As I mentioned, I like it to be a little on the brighter side, but I don't want an ice pick either.  So would either of these sets be a good match for the woods in my guitar?

Any other suggestions? 

Thanks!
« Last Edit: September 12, 2013, 06:05:20 PM by homiefud »

Telerocker

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Re: 2 Questions - 1) HSS recomendation? 2)Gear for Sound Clips?
« Reply #1 on: September 12, 2013, 08:07:02 PM »
Hi and welcome!

I suggest a Crawler/Irish Tours-set. I have this set in a swampash/maple neck/ebony board custommade strat. The mediumoutput Crawler looks hot, but isn't overly hot. The extra output provides a good splitted tone.
You get good Fender-quack on the fourth position. Bridge splitted delivers a beefy teletone.
 
In full humbuckermode it's more a hot PAF then a contempory sounding pickup. It's a great pickup to beef up strats, thanks to the extra mids. The Crawler sounds fat, also higher on the board, solonotes keep their weight. This one really growls when pushed, but also cleans up very well.
If you want a bit more topendchime, with a good amount of mids and a slightly less hot pickup, have a look at the Abraxas. This is a sort of hotrodded Mule. I don't recommend the Mule for your guitar. The bridge is on the bright side in alder and I doubt if you get good results when splitted.

The IT's would fit your maple neck. MM's are def. on the bright side for your guitar. Anyway, if your roll down the volume on the guitar a bit down, the IT's will get you in Mother's Milk-territory. The IT's are fatter and less woody then the MM's.

I have the VHII/Mothers Milk-combo in a Fender American series strat with an ash body and a rosewood fretboard. I like both pickups, but splitted the VHII is less convincing than the Crawler. The VHII has a total different character: noncompressed, very touchsensitive, balanced with good lows and enough mids, and a pronounced, but not shrill or harsh topend. Just very clear. Fab. rockpickup. All in all this combo sounds a little leaner then the Crawler/Irish Tours-combo, which I can use for nearly every style.

Mules, VHII, Crawler, MM's, IT's, BG50's.

jc986

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Re: 2 Questions - 1) HSS recomendation? 2)Gear for Sound Clips?
« Reply #2 on: September 13, 2013, 04:00:40 AM »
First off... What gear is used to record the sound clips for BK?  Namely the amp(s) and the guitar/wood type.

All humbucker recordings were done with a Les Paul Custom through an Axe FX Ultra.  I don't know which amp models on the Axe were used other than the modern metal, or what guitar was used for the single coils.

Straight from Ben with BKP:

Hi Jon,

All the humbucker recordings were done on an Axe FX Ultra with a LP Custom. Here are the details:

Modern Metal Rhythm: "PVH 5105" - American high-gain (Peavey 5150)
Modern Metal Lead: "USA Lead 2" - American high-gain lead (Mesa Boogie Mark IV)

Kind Regards,

Ben
--
Ben French

« Last Edit: September 13, 2013, 04:06:15 AM by jc986 »

homiefud

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Re: 2 Questions - 1) HSS recomendation? 2)Gear for Sound Clips?
« Reply #3 on: September 13, 2013, 07:08:32 PM »
Thanks for the replies. 

I had read many good reviews and recommendations on the Crawler, but I hadn't really considered any of the Contemporary pups because of the higher output.   I listened to the Crawler clips and it does clean up very nicely.  Do you have any insight on why BK recommends the MM with the Crawler?  They don't offer the Crawler and ITs as a set.  Is it a balance between the split coil and the middle pup?  Quack and balance are fairly important to me in the 4 position.  I don't intend to use the split humbucker by itself.

BK doesn't offer any recommendations on a set including the Abraxas at all...

Telerocker

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Re: 2 Questions - 1) HSS recomendation? 2)Gear for Sound Clips?
« Reply #4 on: September 13, 2013, 07:36:30 PM »
Thanks for the replies. 

I had read many good reviews and recommendations on the Crawler, but I hadn't really considered any of the Contemporary pups because of the higher output.   I listened to the Crawler clips and it does clean up very nicely.  Do you have any insight on why BK recommends the MM with the Crawler?  They don't offer the Crawler and ITs as a set.  Is it a balance between the split coil and the middle pup?  Quack and balance are fairly important to me in the 4 position.  I don't intend to use the split humbucker by itself.

BK doesn't offer any recommendations on a set including the Abraxas at all...

They do, these are just examples. You can order every HSS-set you want. My opinion is that the IT's fit very well to beefy character of the Crawler and the splits are more than ok.  I play a lot of soul, funk and pop in the fourth and second position. Good quack there, don't your worry.
Btw my VHII/MM's-combo isn't according to the BKP-list either. I think the Mother's Milk complemend the bright VHII quite well. And if you want an Abraxas/Pat Pend 63-combo (which is close to a MM) you can order it too. In the webshop you can fill in boxes with your specific wishes.

PS: you will be surprised how good the Crawler by itself sounds in splitmode. Better then many stratbridge-pickups.
Mules, VHII, Crawler, MM's, IT's, BG50's.

homiefud

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Re: 2 Questions - 1) HSS recomendation? 2)Gear for Sound Clips?
« Reply #5 on: September 13, 2013, 08:37:34 PM »
Sounds good.

One more question.  What is the current VAT?  I'm trying to figure if it would be cheaper to order direct or from a dealer in the States.

Telerocker

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Re: 2 Questions - 1) HSS recomendation? 2)Gear for Sound Clips?
« Reply #6 on: September 13, 2013, 08:40:47 PM »
Sounds good.

One more question.  What is the current VAT?  I'm trying to figure if it would be cheaper to order direct or from a dealer in the States.

I'm not in England. The BKP-team can tell you. It's wise to compare prices.
Mules, VHII, Crawler, MM's, IT's, BG50's.

homiefud

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Re: 2 Questions - 1) HSS recomendation? 2)Gear for Sound Clips?
« Reply #7 on: September 13, 2013, 08:45:05 PM »
Cool.  Thanks much.

PhilKing

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Re: 2 Questions - 1) HSS recomendation? 2)Gear for Sound Clips?
« Reply #8 on: September 14, 2013, 01:59:21 PM »
Hi, VAT is 20%, but it's deducted if you order direct, though you'll have to pay postage.
So many pickups, so little time

Slartibartfarst42

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Re: 2 Questions - 1) HSS recomendation? 2)Gear for Sound Clips?
« Reply #9 on: September 15, 2013, 02:58:08 PM »
The Crawler will be great for what you're after. I absolutely LOVE mine  :D I think it would go very well with either Irish Tours or Slowhands. If the Crawler isn't bright enough you should maybe try the Abraxas.
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Telerocker

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Re: 2 Questions - 1) HSS recomendation? 2)Gear for Sound Clips?
« Reply #10 on: September 15, 2013, 03:10:24 PM »
Only pick Slowhands if you really need extra mids.
Mules, VHII, Crawler, MM's, IT's, BG50's.