True Grit & Old Guard neck humbuckers.. comps?

[falcopryor]

Hi.. I've found a little info on the old guard neck.. but would like a direct comparison to PG Blues.
Also, I've found VERY little direct info on the True Grit neck tone wise. Anyone with a decent evaluation?

Thanks!

[timmy_pix]

I have an Old Guard waiting to go into a guitar once I've got a new switch for it, and a friend with PG Blues, so I'll check back once I get around to putting the OG neck in!

[falcopryor]

did you get a chance to compare? thank you.

[timmy_pix]

I did! It's gone in an SG as the T-Type neck pickup it came with is a woolly mess.

In short, very, very different to the PG Blues. It's called the Old Guard, but that's just marketing to indicate the output range; the OG neck feels to me like a much more modern pickup than the other A2 BKPs, whether it's the PG Blues, Stormy Monday, or 10th Anniversary. It's got a quicker attack and more solid-feeling bass than the vintage-leaning pickups - it's a great pickup, just different. Less airy/open in the very high frequencies, a smooth high end, and brilliantly clear, both on the pick attack and string-to-string. Warmer than the PG Blues, but the biggest difference really is the feel.

Was there any reason you wanted to compare to the PG Blues specifically - I'm guessing that's what you've got at the moment?

[ericsabbath]

hey, brother!
I'm the guy who bought your neck rebel yell 🙏🏿
(My aunt postponed her return to Brazil for a couple months, though)

I'm not too familiar with a lot of alnico 2 pickups except some Gibson classic or something, but I do own an Old Guard for a couple years and owned a True Grit for a short period

I've been playing the Mule for a decade and also had the Cold Sweat for years
The Old Guard feels darker, definitely more opaque and warmer, which renders a quite 80's Whitesnake sort of neck tone instead of a classic PAF vibe
It reminds me also of the PRS McCarty Bass pickup, which is supposed to be alnico 4, actually, but not as hot and bassy
The True Grit was more comparable to the neck Emerald and neck Nailbomb, but not as trebly as the Nailbomb and not as open as the Emerald
It seems like and attempt to sit between the Cold Sweat and Emerald, maybe? Maybe more balanced
I definitely like the Cold Sweat better, but the True Grit would be my second from those mid output models

Can't wait to try the neck Rebel Yell i

[falcopryor]

Thanks for the response guys! I don't get any notifications so I have to check back randomly lol.

Timmy:
Interesting.. sounds a little like the Duncan A2 Pro from its description? though I'm sure it is its own BKP thing.
I was interested in maybe grabbing one if it were similar to the PG blues... Had the PGB before but sold it.


Eric:
As for the RY neck, I hope you love it. I have one in another guitar and won't be moving it. That's an 80's Ibanez RG550 I had the hardest time finding a neck pickup I would more than just like. I pulled the trigger from BKP direct in 2007? trusted the reviews and just trusting Steve Steven's ear for tone lol.

[ericsabbath]

Thanks for the response guys! I don't get any notifications so I have to check back randomly lol.

Timmy:
Interesting.. sounds a little like the Duncan A2 Pro from its description? though I'm sure it is its own BKP thing.
I was interested in maybe grabbing one if it were similar to the PG blues... Had the PGB before but sold it.


Eric:
As for the RY neck, I hope you love it. I have one in another guitar and won't be moving it. That's an 80's Ibanez RG550 I had the hardest time finding a neck pickup I would more than just like. I pulled the trigger from BKP direct in 2007? trusted the reviews and just trusting Steve Steven's ear for tone lol.

I'm with Timmy on this!
it feels more like a PRS/Dimarzio pup rather than a PAF, but not in a derogatory manner
it's not really a hotter sound, just a different kind
the boot camps are SPN wound instead of enamel, so they have a more modern midrange texture instead of the PAF glassy feel

I've been in this forum since 2007 too, when I bought my first bkp set (holy diver/cold sweat)!