8 string PU suggestions?

[DrunkenMonkey]

Hello Gents,
I recently acquired an 8-string guitar.  Since they got introduced to the guitar-buying market, I've always wanted to check one out.  They were cheap enough (an Agile Intrepid Pro 8) that I took the plunge.  The stock EMG is what it is.  I'd like to try a BKP. I use them in two of my 6-stringers and a baritone.  So any suggestions/recommendations in an 8 stringer?

thanks in advance
-Pete

[MDV]

What sound/s?

[DrunkenMonkey]

Sorry if I wasn't more specific. I'm looking for something that will cover pretty much the gamut. From cleans to full blown chuggah (or whatever the kids call it).  It's a mahogany-bodied, neck-thru guitar if that helps.

[DrunkenMonkey]

Two Chaps over at the SevenString.org forum suggested Cold Sweat. I can see that working since you want it a bit on the clearer side but with some 'oomph' to it.  I dropped a PM to a US dealer. Hopefully I'll have some news on an order soon.

[MDV]

What scale length is that thing?

[DrunkenMonkey]

Here's the specs on this 8-string I recently got:
# Mahogany Body
# 5 piece maple/walnut neck-thru body design with headstock matching body
# Maple Neck with 15” radius. Width 2 ¼” at the nut
# No inlays on the neck. Position markers on the side of the neck only
# Scale Length: 28.625” 24 Jumbo Frets
# EMG 808 Pickup with master volume. Cavity has been routed large enough to accommodate additional electronics
# Hip Shot Bridge
# String through body
# Die-cast Sealed Tuners with 18-1 ratio
# Graphite Nut
# Satin Polyurethane Finish
# String gauges: .009, .012, .015, .022, .030, .040, .054, .072

I have to say the only reason I bought it was to learn more about extended range guitars. At the price that I pre-ordered it, it was 60% less than any other production model neck-thru (if you can find) 8-string currently on the market

[MDV]

Well, the word is (havent tried it, but the word is good - comes from Tims testing) that on baritone guitars, you should use less powerfull pickups. Only guy (roobubba) I can think of off the top of my head round here that rocks a scale length like that uses a black dog for some pretty brootal stuff.

Given the unconventionality of your guitar, I'm not going to make a specific recommendation, but will warn you away from even moderately powerfull (CS, NB etc) pickups. You want something low powered, even to do metal with.

[yellowv]

Cold sweat is a great choice. Although you should have gotten the intrepid standard instead of the pro as the route for the EMG will be quite a bit larger than the BKP. In order for it to look decent IMO you would have to have a custom made pickguard or pickup ring made up and IMO that wouldn't really look good either. But just sticking it in the route you will have quite a bit of space on both sides of the pickup around a passive pickup.

[MDV]

Some people just dont listen

Cold sweat, not so great a choice.

[noodleplugerine]

Allready posted in the SS.org thread, but yeah, I'd deffo go with a Black Dog or VHII, that way you can get the needed definition on the 8th string.

[Roobubba]

For what it's worth I love my Black Dog in a 26.5-28" multiscale baritone with 14-70 strings (6-string). Transposing that, your guitar is like mine but with 2 extra high strings and no fanned frets, although the woods are marginally different (mine is a Maple/Bubinga/Wenge/Bubinga/Maple neck-through with Bubinga wings, Wenge top and an Ebony fretboard. String through. The Black Dog gets me to brutality on a 5150-II with no additional boost (although I'm getting a bloody murder, if it's been sent yet..., to boost in front of the amp to tighten things up a touch - not that it needs much more tightness, but hey I'm a tone hound!). The Black Dog is fairly bright in my guitar, which is very mid-heavy, so should cut through mahogany beautifully.

There are people out there using higher output pickups successfully on baritone scale length guitars, but I followed Tim's own advice and went for the lower output pickup, and am very, very happy with it!

Roo

[DrunkenMonkey]

Thanks Gents. I have a CS coming to me in two days. We shall see.

On a different note: I have a Ceramic Nailbomb in my Baritone 6stringer (28" scale) and it's bad-ass.

[yellowv]

Here is a clip of a CS in an Ibanez RG2228. True it's basswood, but it obviously works well in a long scale 8 string.

http://www.nemecide.com/axefx_02.mp3

[MDV]

Here is a clip of a CS in an Ibanez RG2228. True it's basswood, but it obviously works well in a long scale 8 string.

http://www.nemecide.com/axefx_02.mp3

That clips QUALITY!

I like. I like rather a bit.

Is it yours?

[yellowv]

No that was done by my buddy Nick,  Vic Deakins on here using his CS equipped RG2228 through an axefx. Pure awesomeness.