Author Topic: What type of BKP? (Read 7573 times)

fatbob · « **on:** November 15, 2005, 11:32:58 AM »

What would sound similar, tone & balance wise, but with less compression (output?) to the stock "Duncan/Ibanez" pickups in my Ibanez SZ320? I love the sound of this guitar, which I only got last week, but it overdrives my amps (Laney LC15R & Marshall VS275) a little early, rendering the top 1/3rd of each gain control redundant! The pickups would need to be coil-tappable for the middle position on the 3 way.

HJM · « **Reply #1 on:** November 15, 2005, 12:28:56 PM »

What do you like about the tone - bright/dark/midrange....that kind of thing?

fatbob · « **Reply #2 on:** November 15, 2005, 01:05:33 PM »

The basic tonal balance is very neutral, solid bass, smooth mids and detailed but smooth top end. Being critical, the neck pickup is maybe too bassy, but it is still clear. Does a nice Gary Moore tone. The output is balanced well between the pickups, but just a bit too hot.

HJM · « **Reply #3 on:** November 15, 2005, 03:28:49 PM »

You could go as low as a mule, or perhaps a VHII or Abraxas. WHat's the DC on the pickups?

fatbob · « **Reply #4 on:** November 15, 2005, 03:38:47 PM »

bridge is a ceramic based on duncan distortion @ 17.4, neck is based on a '59 @8.5.

_tom_ · « **Reply #5 on:** November 15, 2005, 04:28:28 PM »

Crawlers maybe? They are around 14k arent they?

HJM · « **Reply #6 on:** November 15, 2005, 06:31:33 PM »

You could try a cold sweat bridge, the new on sounds great, not as high output as your Duncan, but it's ceramic and sounds fat!

Ratrod · « **Reply #7 on:** November 15, 2005, 07:49:36 PM »

Nailbombs maybe?

dave_mc · « **Reply #8 on:** November 16, 2005, 11:20:45 AM »

^aren't nailbombs hotter than what he has already?

EDIT: although with an alnico V mag, they might not be- they should be more organic, anyway...

fatbob · « **Reply #9 on:** November 16, 2005, 04:44:44 PM »

I take it if in the calibrated sets, the neck has a lower dc than the specs quoted for the individual pickups?

Ratrod · « **Reply #10 on:** November 16, 2005, 04:47:06 PM »

Quote from: fatbob

I take it if in the calibrated sets, the neck has a lower dc than the specs quoted for the individual pickups?

Yep!

fatbob · « **Reply #11 on:** November 16, 2005, 04:51:29 PM »

Listening to the sound clips, the two that sound best to me are the mule and vh11. Which would suit my guitar best, bearing in mind i dont like an over bright sound.

dave_mc · « **Reply #12 on:** November 16, 2005, 04:54:33 PM »

i don't know much about the eq of either pickup (i haven't tried them)

but maybe vh2 bridge, mule neck (for a slightly hotter bridge pickup)?

both should soun dkind of warm, i'd have thought

anyway, you're used to a pretty high output bridge pickup, just watch you don't go overboard to one that's not hot enough!

Ratrod · « **Reply #13 on:** November 16, 2005, 07:20:56 PM »

The VHII is a bit on the trebly side. The Mule is much warmer.

fatbob · « **Reply #14 on:** November 17, 2005, 01:59:15 AM »

Thanks for all the advice, I've taken the plunge and ordered a set of Black Dogs, seem like the best option, being a "hot PAF" and being a huge fan of Alex Lifeson myself! Now for the ham fisted installation....