Choosing a Neck BKPickup

[Corwin]

Well, i've read a couple of threads but I still cant make up my mind
So here it is:

Currently i'm playing an Ibanez 2550, and i'm soon buying a new tube amp. so i'm thinking why not get rid of these pickups.
Thing is, I like Mahagony guitars but I start paying my Higher education now and I prefer to buy a really good guitar (umm... PRS Custom 22), instead of buying a "ok" guitar. I know the RG2550 is not the best but I like it. It sounds pretty good and feels awesome too.

Now, i'm looking for something that will give me a pure tone, something that will make my sound be a little "fatter". I dislike (very) "thin" sound. I like the cleans alot, and i'm playing stuff like Psychedelic rock, alternative, progressive. I was playing alot of metal but I just got bored lately. But i'll like a good pu for both distortion and clean.

What Tim suggested was a Nailbomb. But i'm thinking of maybe getting something "cooler" to the neck. something really really smooth. I really like sustain and making cool sounds. (Porcupine tree style)
Will the NB set will be ok for both neck and bridge ? anything else  you would suggests ?

If there's any info missing just tell me.


Thanks alot!

Edit:

BTW, if I taked a covered set, will it make a real difference on my sound ? and what difference ? They just look awesome, I can't resist.

[kevinr]

I have Nailbombs and they sound great (all my BKPs do) some people prefer the Coldsweat neck to the Nailbomb I believe it is very smooth ( from what I have read) I don't think that covers will make any audible difference, if you like them go that way.

[indysmith]

I'd go for a Cold Sweat in the neck. From what I've heard it matches the Nailbomb very well and has great cleans with plenty of sustain.

A covered set should not sound different - the tonal differences from putting a cover on a pickup are minimal and BKPs which are getting covers are wound to compensate for this.

[Dr. Vic]

Hi and Welcome !  :drink:

Now, i'm looking for something that will give me a pure tone, something that will make my sound be a little "fatter". I dislike (very) "thin" sound. I like the cleans alot, and i'm playing stuff like Psychedelic rock, alternative, progressive. I was playing alot of metal but I just got bored lately. But i'll like a good pu for both distortion and clean.

What Tim suggested was a Nailbomb. But i'm thinking of maybe getting something "cooler" to the neck. something really really smooth. I really like sustain and making cool sounds. (Porcupine tree style)
Will the NB set will be ok for both neck and bridge ? anything else  you would suggests ?

The CS neck is one of the most popular choice around here, to combine with the mid/ high output pups (NB, PK, MM, Pig). I haven't tried it yet so can not comment really, apart from saying that listening to some clips it appears to have great capabilities in both clean and high gain settings, with an overall-smooth-liquid-AND-ultra-clear-tone. One of the best choice among the shredders anyway. (Note that the CS Neck is D.C. 8.3K Alnico V whereas the CS Bridge D.C. 14K Ceramic)

Dunno really what you call a 'pure tone'  :! but I am guessing you may be more on a authentic-natural-soul-warm-raw-vintage side, which is why I am tempted to say it might be worth for you to look at an Alnico IV magnet like the Crawler (D.C. 7.6K AIV) which is a perfect match with the NB too, or even the MQ, for another totally different experience (I read somewhere it is the Matt Bellamy combo !).

Apart from those 2 I expect any BKP of the Hot vintage section to fit the bill for you, with the Abraxas neck (still AIV)  having the particularity to be one of the sweetest. (Dunno if it's a good match with the NB bridge though, in both voicing and power). 

So many options anyway !   :good:

[dheim]

hello and welcome!

first advice... don't mind the hype that surrounds certain instruments... if you think that your RG plays awesome there's no reason on earth to change it with a PRS that you could not like at all (despite being "better")... try some guitars and buy what you like, not what people like! (your personal list could include a PRS of course, but not necessairly...)
second advice... unless you want a really clear and articulate sound i'd go for a cold sweat and not a nailbomb in neck position. nailbomb is "cool" for sure, but CS is smoother and mellower, and it's great for the kind of sounds you're after. NB has got better cleans, though.
third advice... for your style a CS set works really good. at least in mahogany. you say you like "fat" sounds and so Holy Diver is the instant association, but i don't know how it works in basswood... the Nailbomb bridge is an excellent choice too, maybe the best BKP for leads and soloing.
fourth advice... if you want a mahogany guitar AND like the feel of the RG try an RGA, they're awesome!

all the above statements are just a matter of opinions, of course! :)

[Corwin]

Well, what Tim said to me was that the nailbomb neck is a little different from the bridge NB and it will fit my style.
Dr. Vic - what I was really wondering is if a CS neck would be good cause I thought it is Ceramic. thanks for the input.
You were correct tho - what i'm looking for is really crystal clear - smooth\liquid tone. not too vintage (maybe sometimes). I might be the first to say it but I feel weird when I sound like a 60's-80's guitar player. I just like to hear myself more modern, but keeping the feel.
Too many options now that  I think of it, and I hate to miss one  :(

dheim - thanks.
I just like PRS's. I like my RG but I prefer a Mahagony sound. I've played on some Basswood RG's that sounded BAD, but mine just sounds good. Good pickups through a nice amp and its pretty good.
And again, the AV CS sounds really nice, I'll check some samples.
I've seen the RGA's - they are nice and feel good, But I have a damn GAS for a Custom 22 PRS, that could destroy my education :( haha

Now... a burnt chrome set  :mrgreen: :mrgreen:

[Dr. Vic]

So there you go NB bridge / CS Neck !

And the Burnt Chrome cover are just killers : good choice 8)

And Enjoy  PDT_003

[dheim]

CS bridge is ceramic, neck is alnico!
anyway i think you'll love both sets, just buy another guitar, keep your RG and refit both with BKPs... easy or not? ;)

[Corwin]

No money for another guitar :(
actually i'm from israel and I need a new amp. Thing is...amps are SO expensive. I have strong gas for a Bad Cat Hot Cat R amp.
Any amp i'll buy outside the country is like 50% taxes of the amp price + shipping.
So a new guitar is not an option right now :(
You don't wanna know what i'm using right now... :(

Anyway, i'll hear CS Samples and i'll post again my opinions.

Edit:
I heard some clips, and I think its too hot.
I mean I look for something that will sound like the guitar with the whammy in Piano Lessons by Porcupine Tree,
Like the opening of Even Less by Porcupine Tree (Same album)
Something that will sound like the Riffs and lead in Deadwing - yes, porcupine tree too, im a Porcupine tree whore
cleans like Mellotron Scratch (same album - deadwing by porcupine tree)
the first and second solo on Buying New soul,
Or others like the clean of Guthrie Govan, Portishead (yes I know it might be because it is recorded like that), Opeth cleans, Leads like in Gothic Kabbalah By Therion (Path to Arcady as example)

It might sound like some of it, but im not sure about the rest.

I'll be glad to hear more opinions, because i'm short on money and it will really help me.

[JEFF MAKOR]

I think Tims advice is always a benchmark, but if you wish to obtain hot PAF tone, sustain, and a pickup that cleans up enough to make use of the necks rhythmic possibilities, you may be delighted by the 'Abraxas' alnico4 Tim offers.
It's fat, smooth as a baby's butt and yet very soulful, sustaining for ages and tonally terrific.
As to whether or not you should cover the coils, metallic covers sometimes take a minuscule amount of high end frequencies out of the attack.
My 'Abraxas' set are open coiled and provide me with all the juice i need, but a combination of abraxas neck and Nailbomb bridge could be a soulful solution to your inquiry.
Regards
Jeff Makor

[Corwin]

I might be getting a New PRS Custom 24\22
So the BKP subject is postponed, but I will upgrade them when I get her!

Thanks alot of the help guys, if I wont get the PRS i'll buy the NB + CS Burnt Chrome Set and post pictures :)

if anyone has any opinions about the PRS 22 vs 24 ill be glad to hear it (private or here or anywhere)

[JEFF MAKOR]

if anyone has any opinions about the PRS 22 vs 24 ill be glad to hear it (private or here or anywhere)

Hi.
I've owned both these guitars and can vouch for their sublime sound and performance.
The PRS 22 is a good machine but the pups sounded a tad sterile to my ears.
The PRS 24 has the Vintage bass and HFS bridge pups which remain a great double act.
However, it's the HFS bridge which gets my 'favourite pup award' as it is hot, dynamic and has a remarkable vowel vocabulary!
By comparison, the Vintage Bass is too thick and un-dynamic for single note work.
I recall owning a blot on version of the Custom (called the Classic maple top 24 and have to say that guitar was the best.
It had all the punch of the custom, but slightly airier tone and more clarity, even under masses of gain!
Whatever your choice, don't be fooled by how pretty it is or it's price.
The right guitar may surprise you.
regards
Jeff Makor