Pickups for a Levinson Blade (Strat style)

[simonp]

Looks like it is the Mother's Milk then, with a baseplate on the bridge pup.
Tim says the ITs would be very close to the output of the Mules, and I wanted a little lower output from the "Strat".
The Cornford is a great amp, but I tend to run the voulme quite high at gigs (with THD Hotplate though) so the power amp is just breaking up, so the Gibbo never quite cleans it up completely. The "Strat" will hopefully go form clean to a nice break up.
Gotta bow to the man's wisdom, he certianly advised me correctly with the Mules a couple of years back :D

[simonp]

Still one dilemna left, what colour covers? :?

I'm thinking creram as the guitar body is cream. Currently the pickups are black (partly as 2 have no covers!) and I don't like the look much.

[AndyR]

Still one dilemna left, what colour covers? :?

I'm thinking creram as the guitar body is cream. Currently the pickups are black (partly as 2 have no covers!) and I don't like the look much.

Ahh! And I thought that one was a given (black) because of the pics :roll:

Same as you, I'm not that keen on the black pickup look (some do like it though).

What colour is the scratchplate? Can't really tell from the pic. If it's white rather than any other shade, I'd personally go for slightly "off-white"... parchment maybe? I suspect that cream might be too much contrast?

[simonp]

Scratchplate is white, but aged a bit, so off white. I was thinking parchment or cream. The body is quite a cream colour, so was wondering whether to make the covers match that for a little contrast to the scratchplate. Dunno how it would actually look though. Like you say parchment would match the scratchplate colour more. Tricky..

[Philly Q]

Same as you, I'm not that keen on the black pickup look (some do like it though).

I do!  :lol:

Black covers, black knobs and black switch tip.

Or get a torty scratchplate, then aged white covers and knobs.

[hunter]

Black covers, gotta be on that Blackmore Strat!!!!!

[shobet]

Can you put up before and after sound clips of the guitar pre/post pickup change? I'm interested in the changes.

[simonp]

Black covers, gotta be on that Blackmore Strat!!!!!

Oooh, no, then I'd have to keep throwing strops and storming off stage :x

[simonp]

Can you put up before and after sound clips of the guitar pre/post pickup change? I'm interested in the changes.

Yeah, good idea. I'll record some stuff on the PC DI'd then find a suitable Guitar Rig sound that is not too coloured to show a good comparison.

[simonp]

OK MMs with bridge baseplate with parchment white covers ordered. Just have to break it to the wife now :roll:
Anyone know what the leadtime is usually for pickups? I suppose it depends on whether all the parts are in stock.

Will post before and after clips when I have them.

[simonp]

Got the pickups today, didn't take long at all, thanks to the BKP team :)

Already had the old pickups out so didn't take long to fit. Parchment white definitely the right colour, looking really nice.
I was surprised how white the body of the guitar was under the scratchplate, the cream of the main body is obviously due to age, looks much nicer with the aged colour though.

Took me a lot of messing to get the pickup height right to avoid false harmonics and pulling the e string sharp! Ended up much lower than I expected.

Sound - now this is MUCH more like it 8) Fat bottoms, clear tops, and so much bite. Tone control definitely needed now for dirty sounds, but fully open for clean sounds gives serious sparkle. I can't stop playing it, just like my Les Paul when I first put the Mules in.

I'll record some "after" soundbites in a few days to go with the "before" clips already posted in the players section. Will post a photo too.

[AndyR]

Nice one :D

[simonp]

Got to try the new pickups through the Cornford at band rehearsal yesterday, so got to see what they are really like.
Firstly I have to say the Tim's advice was spot on, the output level is just right for what I wanted, a bit under that of the Mules in my Les paul, so gives me more easy to get cleans, but still some drive if I want it.

I did wonder if the "Strat" might be too bright with the same amp settings as used for the LP, but not at all, just roll off the tone control a touch for the more distorted sounds and it is fine, even with the bridge pup, guess the baseplate helps.

I just love the articluation and dynamics you get with the Bare Knuckle pickups, I don't know what they do different to Seymour Duncan, but these are SO much better than what was on there. Great clean tones, but handles quite a bit of gain without becomming muddled.

Favourite so far is the neck pickup through the Cornford, enough bottom to shake the floor, but still clear at the top 8)

Top marks to the BKP team again!

[simonp]

You've seen the before pic, now the during and after


Much nicer with the new Mother's Milk in Parchment White

[simonp]

The before and after sound clips of the pickups (as requested) are now up on the Plyaer's page.