PK too aggressive, not quite warm enough...suggest me?

[MDV]

I agree with HTH, though as I recall his statement hes been a little misphrased here

The original comment, IIRC, was that the PK is most similar to an 81.

I know what he means.

Its got a lot of high mids that are very attacking, and a very tight bass that make it the most similar. Theres a long list of differences, but I agree in general with HTH on this.

[Dr. Vic]

Yes, I knew you agreed with him has you also post on that topic.  :lol:  And thanks for putting the exact words from him, anyway I wasn't toooo far as you got the idea. 

Oh and maybe I made another shorcut : my questions weren't only to HTH but of course, all of you..

So how would you classify the contemporary range for the brightest to the darkest ? (will help on that topic I think)

And which BKP is the most similar to the L-500 XL ?   

[MDV]

Brightest to darkest

Hmmm

Cold sweat
Painkiller
Miracle man
Nailbomb
Warpig
Holydiver

I'm tempted to swap the PK and MM. Really different high ends, hard to say. Some 'bright' is in treble there and some in high mids.

Most similar to the l500xl is the cold sweat.

[Dr. Vic]

Humm... well ... I was expecting a result close to this one. So it will be very interesting to see why HTH seems to think it otherwise :

I really wouldn't rule out the Cold Sweat - it's the most fat and organic sounding ceramic pickup I've ever heard.  It has nice cut, but wouldn't call it thin or bright at all (or anything like the Dimebucker/L500XL). 

Anyway, may I ask to also put the optional C-Pig and C-Bomb in the list ?  :) Thanks in advance ! :mrgreen:

[MDV]

I dunno about the c-bomb, but the C-pig is a fair bit brighter than the pig. Put it above the nailbomb (its close between the pig and the bomb - NB won with a more present high mid more than anything)

[gwEm]

I'm tempted to swap the PK and MM. Really different high ends, hard to say. Some 'bright' is in treble there and some in high mids.

I have a MM and PK in two identical construction steinbergers. PK definitely brighter, although it could be down to woods etc etc

[MDV]

I'll take that, gwem. Havent had them in the same guitar, just guessing from the amped and acoustic sounds of the guitars they've been in.

[hunter]

What about experimenting a bit more with "soft factors" like pickup height and wiring? If your guitar is 50s wiring at the moment, change to modern would help. Or pot values?

If you like the basic character of the pickup and the way it cuts through, but there's too much fizz and directness, lowering the pickup alone could already work wonders.

[MVM]

Brightest to darkest

Hmmm

Cold sweat
Painkiller
Miracle man
Nailbomb
Warpig
Holydiver

I'm tempted to swap the PK and MM. Really different high ends, hard to say. Some 'bright' is in treble there and some in high mids.

Most similar to the l500xl is the cold sweat.

never played the nailbomb but I agree about the others

the cold sweat is the closest to the l500xl, but way thicker, hotter and more middy
the l500xl LITERALLY sounds like a single coil compared to all of them

ps: it's Eric

[dheim]

Brightest to darkest

Hmmm

Cold sweat
Painkiller
Miracle man
Nailbomb
Warpig
Holydiver

I'm tempted to swap the PK and MM. Really different high ends, hard to say. Some 'bright' is in treble there and some in high mids.

Most similar to the l500xl is the cold sweat.

i substantially agree... i don't know yet where i'd place MMs, though... and i've got some doubt about CS/PK. they're both bright but in different ways. maybe CS has a bit more bass in addiction to the brighter upper range..

[Dr. Vic]

ps: it's Eric

Hey, nice to hear from you ! I was expecting you to come here anyway :lol:

But what am I reading here ? You agree with Yoda ? And you're changing your name for MVM, which is pretty close to MDV (maybe that's the next step !) Is the Sith turning to become a jedi ?  :lol:

Thanks for this precious input : forum rule number 2 can be applied now !  8)



Still calling HTH for some comment/details about his post ! :mrgreen:

I really wouldn't rule out the Cold Sweat - it's the most fat and organic sounding ceramic pickup I've ever heard.  It has nice cut, but wouldn't call it thin or bright at all (or anything like the Dimebucker/L500XL). 

 

[gwEm]

usually, words like 'warm' and 'organic' are more often applied to Alnico magnet based pickups... and they do have a sweeter sound...

[Dr. Vic]

I guess that's why he said :

I really wouldn't rule out the Cold Sweat - it's the most fat and organic sounding ceramic pickup I've ever heard.  It has nice cut, but wouldn't call it thin or bright at all (or anything like the Dimebucker/L500XL). 

[HTH AMPS]

dunno how I missed this one, but anyway.  I'm generally not a fan of ceramic pickups and never considered the Cold Sweat at all until it was getting major love on the forum - once I tried it in my Les Paul I was blown away.  I wouldn't call it bright, there is a nice amount of upper-midrange 'cut' but it's a FAT sounding pickup with great grind - reminds me of Mick Mars' or George Lynch's tone.

I would say the Miracle Man is the most trebley BKP I've tried - wasn't my cup of tea.  The Nailbomb was quite bright in it's on way too in the upper mids but the treble was FAT (wierd, but thats how I remember it).

[Dr. Vic]

dunno how I missed this one, but anyway. 

me neither  :lol: :lol:

I wouldn't call it bright, there is a nice amount of upper-midrange 'cut' but it's a FAT sounding pickup with great grind - reminds me of Mick Mars' or George Lynch's tone.
I would say the Miracle Man is the most trebley BKP I've tried - wasn't my cup of tea.  The Nailbomb was quite bright in it's on way too in the upper mids but the treble was FAT (wierd, but thats how I remember it).

Interesting to see you consider the MM brighter than the CS and the NB as also a bright pickup.
Would it mean you would consider the C-NB as even more bright than the CS too ?