Cobra set for a modern Strat

[kashran7]

Hi everyone !

I'm new here, and I have some question for a futur project that I have in mind.

I'm planning to buy a "modern" strat, but with SSS set. I think I'm going to buy the new Chapman ML1 Traditional : SSS configuration, ash body and maple neck.
I already have guitars with EMG 85 in bridge, Duncan Black Winter, and an OLP axis with a EVH Wolfgang pickup in the bridge position. All I need now is a SSS strat.

I'm planning to play all kind of stuff with this guitar : Heavy metal (Iron maiden), and some more "modern" stuff, like Times of Grace, Tool or Toska. So ... Heavy Metal, a little bit of Metal core (for the Times Of Grace influence) with some big touch of Ambient / Progressive style.
I know that I can't reach the exact same sound of all of these bands, but I'm not very demanding. I mean, I can play a lot of clean stuff with my OLP with the Wolfgang pickup, and for me it sounds great.

So, I already ask Bare Knuckle by email, and the Cobra Set seems to be the perfect choice.

But I'm afraid of 2 things :
- They may be sound too arsh/agressive/too trebly, in a ash body/maple neck strat ?
- The fact that they are true single coil, will they lack of power or something else ? I know it's a silly way to think, but I'm not familiar with single coil guitars.

In case, I play with a Blackstar HT 5R and I use a Maxon OD808X for all my overdrive sound.

Also, I'm french ... sorry for my poor English !

I really appreciate any help you can provide ! 

[Dave Sloven]

Here's a demo for the seven-string version of the Cobras.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ysFFc6j8DNw

They can go pretty heavy.

[kashran7]

I see this demo, it's very, very impressive.

But I'm just afraid that the Kemper do a lot in this demo, and the wood aren't the same with this Ibanez.

For the heavy part, it's very good. But how the fact that they are true single coil will influence the sound in the heavy/overdrive sound ?

[Dave Sloven]

It will sound different from a humbucker, for sure, but BKP also make some heavy single coils

Leaving aside P-90s such as the Stockholm and Pig '90 they also make the Sinner, a Strat pickup.

Here's a clip of that:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rmUm9uSMh80

[kashran7]

The Sinner sounds very good too, but the Cobra seems to be better for my taste.

Do you think the Cobra will be able to cover all my need, or it will be better to go for a single coil sized humbucker in the bridge ?

It's quite hard to choose, because there is pratically no review about them anywhere.

Maybe I can go for a Cobra set, and if the bridge cobra does not suit me, I can change him for an Holy diver, for example. It will involved some work on the guitar in the bridge position, but it can be done.

I don't want to go right away for a full sized humbucker : I already have 3 guitars with humbuckers, so the Cobra seems to be good : Very versatile, possibility of high gain sound, and the clean sound and possibility of single coils.

[Serratus]

I recorded that demo - the cobra is really versatile for a single coil, it'll do pretty much anything. Still sounds like a proper single coil, but will do higher gain stuff much better than other singles. And the guitar in the demo is one I built so the body is ash!

[kashran7]

Very cool ! I really like the heavy 80's style demo, the one with the Soldano Hotrod profile. It's really the kind of tone I want, including the last one, the "djenty" one : the sound of the Cobra seems to be very powerful. I really like the fact that you can hear in every demo that the Cobra is a single coil : it has a very cool aspect and character to the tone.

Compare to the EVH Wolfgang bridge pickup (if you have any idea of course), is the Cobra sound fatter and bigger than the Wolfgang ? I like the sound of my Wolfgang bridge, very natural and beautiful, but sometimes it lack of power, don't chug enough and sound a little bit thin.

[Serratus]

I don't know that pickup I'm afraid..so I can't compare.
The cobra bridge is still a bit lighter in the mids than a fat humbucker, but then that's part of the charm of a single coil I think, it's part of their character. Cobras will do rock with ease though and have plenty of chug!

[kashran7]

I think I'm going to buy the Cobra set, because I have 0 guitars with single coils, and the versatility, clean sound and power of the cobra seems to be what I need.

Last question : I play through a Blackstar HT 5R amp, with a Maxon OD808X to boost it. Does the Cobra needs a very powerful and high gain amp to achieve a heavy / modern metal sound, or my setup will be efficient ? I have no problem with my other guitars, so it's just to be sure.

Thank you all for your patience ... It's my first guitar with single coils and my first Bare Knuckle purchase, so I want to do the right thing 

[Dave Sloven]

Personally I can't imagine getting a heavy sound out of any five watt amp with any pickups. Are you playing venues with this amp, or using it for home recording?

[kashran7]

It's only for home playing, not venues. With my other guitars it's very efficient and good for me ! So I was just wondering if the Cobra needs a amp that really push them or not.