Author Topic: Pickups? (Read 10530 times)

MDV · « **Reply #30 on:** June 03, 2008, 01:37:18 PM »

Its a bit odd, a tonne of mids and could be described as, were one to be complementary, very projecting and penatrating. Were one to be derogatory you'd probably call it honky. It has more mids and lacks some of the openness and high end that youre probably used to from middle position (though its not dull or dark its just way middy)

I think its because both pickups are very middy, and the neck is very smooth sounding A4 and the bridge A5 with a big mid hump and I guess the mids add. Usefull (for leads), but odd.

ilÿti · « **Reply #31 on:** June 03, 2008, 02:09:30 PM »

Quote from: Will

Any chance you could describe why? Sounds interesting

As mentioned by MDV, the A5 + A4 creates a huge mid-hump in the middle position. Tim calls it the "clunk". It is especially apparent with the Crawler set becasue the neck and bridge models are both middy pickups on their own. It doesn't sound like a mix between the neck and bridge pickups, but it's really a sound on it's own that I supose you either like or you don't. It's very useful for cutting through in a blues/country setting and with wah useage it really shines. Very satch-like with high gain and wah which is surprising for a vintage set. Took me some getting used to though. You can tame the clunkyness by lowering the bridge volume a bit.

I recorded clips of this, but few of you seemed to care so I guess they sucked. :lol: I should record something with the wah but I haven't got around to it. Anyway, here's some links again:

http://www.bareknucklepickups.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?t=11335
You can really hear the clunkiness about halfway through the first two clips.

http://www.bareknucklepickups.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?t=9884
The sendspace links dont work anymore, but scroll down, they are upped through the forum software. The clean clip goes through all positions and the odwithspanish is the middle postion with the bridge volume rolled down a bit.
Hope it satisfies.

dave_mc · « **Reply #32 on:** June 03, 2008, 02:24:34 PM »

Quote from: Horlicks

I'm still thinking of the nailbomb because it's meant to be really warm and my amp is too bright ATM. Neck pup still undecided, what has great cleans and can do Vai style gain and tones?

not sure about "great" cleans (i'd call them "decent" rather than "great"), but as already suggested, the cold sweat neck would be good for vai-style gain and tone...

Quote from: MDV

Quote
The neck pickup is where this set really disapoints, its really really poor. It just sound like a wooly mess, no clarity or string definition what so ever. The low output is really evident here, it doesnt even match the bridge pickup (before you ask, Yes i had them installed proffesionally, by no other than Mansons). To be honest you might as well not even have a neck pickup if its as poor as this.

???

Where is that from?

Doesnt sound like any BKP I've ever played.

If its about the CS neck: it couldnt be further from my experience. It has a really chiming, piano-like clean and a tonne of sting definition under high gain.

agreed.

Quote from: MDV

The CS neck will get you a lot closer to vai than slash (dissimilar sounds).

Perhaps you could get slash out of it with the tone rolled back? I havent tried it, though, just an idea.

agreed, and, er, i haven't tried it either. :lol:

Horlicks · « **Reply #33 on:** June 03, 2008, 03:56:25 PM »

What's the holy diver like? Is it a metal pick-up because I don't want something too high-output...

MDV · « **Reply #34 on:** June 03, 2008, 04:39:43 PM »

Quote from: Horlicks

What's the holy diver like? Is it a metal pick-up because I don't want something too high-output...

I've heard some clips that were pretty metal. Dont know the amp, though, thats a pretty vital part.

From its specs and reputation, its an entry-level metal pickup, power wise that has it under the bonnet if you need it, but cleans up and suits lower gain rockier sounds well. Your amp has a gain-dial, I trust ;)

Horlicks · « **Reply #35 on:** June 03, 2008, 05:24:52 PM »

I'd rather have a pick-up that was aimed to mid gain, the highest I play is about Metallica. Sorry If I'm hassling you, I just don't want to waste £90.

Will · « **Reply #36 on:** June 03, 2008, 05:31:24 PM »

Thats the difficult part, you want a mid gain pickup for a mahogany guitar. I believe Tim advises against this, low powered pickup to let the sound of the wood through, or a high powered pickup to cut through all the mahogany.

I have a HD in an alder (I believe) / mahogany LP, and I would ideally have something with a bit more treble, probably a CS or something with a little more bite

MDV · « **Reply #37 on:** June 03, 2008, 05:34:16 PM »

Not hassling at all. Wouldnt post here if it was hassle to me to answer questions about pickups.

It'll get to metallica. But really, the biggest factor in the gain youre gonna get is your amp. 15k powered by A5 hits a pre pretty hard, but its not gonna be a flamethrower or anything.

MDV · « **Reply #38 on:** June 03, 2008, 05:35:11 PM »

Quote from: Will

Thats the difficult part, you want a mid gain pickup for a mahogany guitar. I believe Tim advises against this, low powered pickup to let the sound of the wood through, or a high powered pickup to cut through all the mahogany.

That is true.

And I believe the CS bridge, due to being very bright, is some sort of exception to the rule

Horlicks · « **Reply #39 on:** June 03, 2008, 05:36:14 PM »

It's a pretty gainy amp (6 preamp tubes :o ), It can do stuff like Killswitch right now with the pick-ups I have. I was just looking for a tonal change rather than a gain change really. I have to emphasise that the amp is v. bright, I cannot have the treble above 4 right now, although when I have the valves and speakers I will see if I can cut it a little.

Philly Q · « **Reply #40 on:** June 03, 2008, 05:44:56 PM »

Quote from: MDV

Quote from: Will
Thats the difficult part, you want a mid gain pickup for a mahogany guitar. I believe Tim advises against this, low powered pickup to let the sound of the wood through, or a high powered pickup to cut through all the mahogany.

That is true.

And I believe the CS bridge, due to being very bright, is some sort of exception to the rule

But doesn't that Washburn have a maple top, bringing it more into the Les Paul camp? Those "mahogany rules" only really apply to all-mahogany guitars like SGs.

Having said that, I know nothing about the guitar, it might just be a thin maple veneer which doesn't affect the tone.

Horlicks · « **Reply #41 on:** June 03, 2008, 05:50:31 PM »

Quote from: Philly Q

Quote from: MDV
Quote from: Will
Thats the difficult part, you want a mid gain pickup for a mahogany guitar. I believe Tim advises against this, low powered pickup to let the sound of the wood through, or a high powered pickup to cut through all the mahogany.

That is true.

And I believe the CS bridge, due to being very bright, is some sort of exception to the rule

But doesn't that Washburn have a maple top, bringing it more into the Les Paul camp? Those "mahogany rules" only really apply to all-mahogany guitars like SGs.

Having said that, I know nothing about the guitar, it might just be a thin maple veneer which doesn't affect the tone.

It is a bit brighter than my all-mahogany Ibanez.
Some tones I like:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=FA6VXKkGdgA
http://youtube.com/watch?v=gJqcizpxr1Y
http://youtube.com/watch?v=2G2jlXUkJ84

Doog · « **Reply #42 on:** June 03, 2008, 09:49:00 PM »

Quote from: Philly Q

Quote from: MDV
Quote from: Will
Thats the difficult part, you want a mid gain pickup for a mahogany guitar. I believe Tim advises against this, low powered pickup to let the sound of the wood through, or a high powered pickup to cut through all the mahogany.

That is true.

And I believe the CS bridge, due to being very bright, is some sort of exception to the rule

But doesn't that Washburn have a maple top, bringing it more into the Les Paul camp? Those "mahogany rules" only really apply to all-mahogany guitars like SGs.

Having said that, I know nothing about the guitar, it might just be a thin maple veneer which doesn't affect the tone.

the cold sweat pair sounds fine in my sg. it does sound quite dark but it's not unmanagable by any means. it's probably my favourite pickup at the moment

MDV · « **Reply #43 on:** June 04, 2008, 08:56:51 AM »

Quote from: Horlicks

Quote from: Philly Q
Quote from: MDV
Quote from: Will
Thats the difficult part, you want a mid gain pickup for a mahogany guitar. I believe Tim advises against this, low powered pickup to let the sound of the wood through, or a high powered pickup to cut through all the mahogany.

That is true.

And I believe the CS bridge, due to being very bright, is some sort of exception to the rule

But doesn't that Washburn have a maple top, bringing it more into the Les Paul camp? Those "mahogany rules" only really apply to all-mahogany guitars like SGs.

Having said that, I know nothing about the guitar, it might just be a thin maple veneer which doesn't affect the tone.

It is a bit brighter than my all-mahogany Ibanez.
Some tones I like:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=FA6VXKkGdgA
http://youtube.com/watch?v=gJqcizpxr1Y
http://youtube.com/watch?v=2G2jlXUkJ84

Cold sweat should get you there (so would a nailbomb or crawler).

Horlicks · « **Reply #44 on:** June 04, 2008, 09:01:03 AM »

I'm choosing between Cold Sweat and Crawler now, which do you think is more suitable? I thinking Crawler because it's meant to be more versatile