well, its a remarkable pickup. don't choose this one if you want an open and airy sound... in fact better fasten your seatbelts!
tried this in my Steinberger GP, hard maple body, graphite neck.
its undoubtedly the most compressed pickup in the BKP range, I wouldn't use it with an uber gain amp (for example a recto), though it is fine with my Marshall 2204, and whats more I would use it with a booster too. the compression isn't taken too far - but its enough to make a real easy playing pickup - laugh out loud stuff! no way would i order this pickup overwound though - Tim has judged it perfect.
bass response is thick and heavy - ideal for downtuning - ideal! IDEAL! but its great in standard tuning, or even tuned up (thanks to my TransTrem). It sounds contemporary though, rather than vintage. its a tight bass too... not surgical tight (for example painkiller), but tight anyway.
detuned, its a bit rammstein-esque. standard tuning is a sort of compromise between black album period hetfield, and crazy world period schenker... if that makes any sense at all (maybe not)!
the mid range is very prominent with an alnico character - its a smooth hump, rather than peaky. treble is balanced, not as sweet as something like the holy diver maybe (though it is hard to say).. the treble reminds of the miracle man perhaps.
this is definitely a fire breathing pickup - oh yes! but at the same time, it cleans up well, with a more than usable sweet clean tone. and it remains very clear - even detuned.
but, i'm not sure if its for me. i need to crank my marshall to be sure - i'll do it tomorrow. i could only get it to moderate levels just now. maybe tim was right, and the holy diver would be more my cup of tea.
