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Author Topic: Pickup advice question #1,000,000  (Read 2432 times)

loudblackguitars

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Pickup advice question #1,000,000
« on: April 08, 2010, 12:09:06 AM »
I just bought an Ibanez MTM2, Mick Thompson. Its the cheaper production model. Its mahogany, maple/walnut neck with Rosewood board, fixed bridge etc..

Anyways, came with Duncan designed Blackouts. I hate them. Also the pups are mounted to rings vs direct which stinks.

Im going to rip out the plumbing and restart.

Ive been reading about this "Aftermath". I play through a stock 6505+ thru an Engl cab, no outboard effects. Just a gate.

I tried a C-Pig in my other Ibanez Prestige, sounded great but lost out to a Lundgren Model M. It was just beefier.

Any advice on a good BKP for this guitar? Im more concearned with the bridge. I spend 99% of my time there. I play everything from 80's hair to VH to KSE. The heavier the better...

Thanks guys!!!

MDV

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Re: Pickup advice question #1,000,000
« Reply #1 on: April 08, 2010, 12:51:36 AM »
Pretty much doesnt get any heavier than a C-Pig (in the BK range). If you didnt that beefy enough then stick with the M6.

Unless.....I once had a double screw pole (more bass) 23k miracle man. That was (and presumably in Kierans hands, still is) the heaviest BK ever made oustide of R&D. I had a C-Pig at the time as well, and it was considerably heavier, in the guitars they were in at least. Maybe one of those built?

MDV

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Re: Pickup advice question #1,000,000
« Reply #2 on: April 08, 2010, 12:53:35 AM »
Oh, the aftermath is a custom pickup I had made for me and named myself; its not on the product line, I only mentioned as a recommendation a couple of times because it seemed to fit some peoples description better and Tim didnt mind me blabbing about it.

loudblackguitars

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Re: Pickup advice question #1,000,000
« Reply #3 on: April 08, 2010, 03:13:19 AM »
So the Aftermath isn't something I could have made? I went with the Lundgren because I A/B'd the two extensively. The Warpig sounded clearer, more articulate, but the Lundgren just had a little more bass. I like the concept of actives, just not a fan of the sterile tone. I'm after the sound you described in your post about the Aftermath, an 81 killer!! It had the best of both worlds. That's exactly what I'd like to have.


MDV

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Re: Pickup advice question #1,000,000
« Reply #4 on: April 08, 2010, 03:42:51 AM »
You could get one made, sure. Ask for an aftermath. Tim will know what youre talking about, and like I said, I asked if I had the green light to recommend them, and got it, so he must be prepared to make them for anyone else.

Its not an overly bassy pickup though, less so than a pig for sure.

Did you test the c-pig and the m in the same guitar? I've never played a lundgren (often fancied it though), let alone swapped them between a load of guitars, but all BKs respond very strongly to the guitar they're in - even a pig in a bright guitar wont make that guitar a sledgehammer (it will in a guitar of good quality mahogany, though, for example).

I'd wager that provided the MTM2 is a bassier guitar acoustically (which its specs *suggest*, and the one that I've played supports (bassier than most RGs, for example, I actually rather like it)) and there wasnt that much in it in the low end of the M6 and C-Pig in the prestige, the C-Pig will *probably* be equally bassy or bassier than the M6 in the prestige (if the prestige is of conventional ibanez woods and construction, like basswood and maple with an FR).

That said though, if you like the sound of the aftermath (in description and the track I recorded) then go for it, nothing stopping you.

loudblackguitars

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Re: Pickup advice question #1,000,000
« Reply #5 on: April 08, 2010, 01:13:54 PM »
Thanks so much for the advice. Like you said the C-Pig may react better in a mahogany guitar vs basswood, which is what my prestige is. I had the Lundgren in my Les Paul and it didn't sound stellar, but in the Ibanez it killed.

I asked Tim about the Aftermath and he said it's " not available yet ". Guess he's got bigger fish to fry lol. The last set of Pigs I had were covered with no screws exposed to look like an EMG. I didn't want anyone to know what they were. I'm curious if that configuration had an impact on overall tone? I think this time around I'll leave the Allen heads exposed..

loudblackguitars

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Re: Pickup advice question #1,000,000
« Reply #6 on: April 08, 2010, 01:19:21 PM »
And to answer your question, yes I tested both pickups in the same Prestige. I actually tested a bunch. A Blackout, Duncan Distortion, Duncan Full Shred, C-Pig, Duncan JB, Lawrence L-500, and the Lundgren. It came down to the BKP and the M6. I honestly don't think I gave the Pig a fair shot. I never tried it in a live environment.

MDV

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Re: Pickup advice question #1,000,000
« Reply #7 on: April 08, 2010, 06:28:03 PM »
Well, theres a chance that the cover and lack of allen poles took some focus and attack out of the sound, maybe.

Certainly you missed out on being able to raise the screw poles closer to the neck to increase the low end the pickup picks up.

If you dont want anyone to know what it is, why not just get black, uncovered pickups?

loudblackguitars

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Re: Pickup advice question #1,000,000
« Reply #8 on: April 09, 2010, 02:47:02 AM »
Mainly because the guitar looks very simplistic. Its all white with black accents. The Duncans look cool, but dont sound cool. I want to reproduce the look but differnt tone..

MDV

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Re: Pickup advice question #1,000,000
« Reply #9 on: April 09, 2010, 03:04:42 AM »
Pole pieces are very important to tone.

I recommend sacrificing some aesthetic concerns for the sake of Tone Win.

Maybe compromise like this

http://bareknucklepickups.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=2113.0

Or this, last pic

http://bareknucklepickups.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=585.0

Ribboz

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Re: Pickup advice question #1,000,000
« Reply #10 on: April 09, 2010, 04:09:08 AM »
Pole pieces are very important to tone.

I recommend sacrificing some aesthetic concerns for the sake of Tone Win.

Maybe compromise like this

http://bareknucklepickups.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=2113.0

Or this, last pic

http://bareknucklepickups.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=585.0

Man... those pups look glorious! I never get tired of those pics.
I love the way my c-pig looks :D
C-pig, C-Diver, Holydiver, Miracle man, Sinner, Trilogy, Slowhand.

loudblackguitars

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Re: Pickup advice question #1,000,000
« Reply #11 on: April 09, 2010, 02:50:46 PM »
Yeah maybe youre right. I was actually considering matte black covers with the stainless ( or whatever metal they are made of) screws. Im very much a fan of stark contrast. In all honesty Ive never adjusted pole peices. I gotta brush up on my pickup knowledge!!


Pole pieces are very important to tone.

I recommend sacrificing some aesthetic concerns for the sake of Tone Win.

Maybe compromise like this

http://bareknucklepickups.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=2113.0

Or this, last pic

http://bareknucklepickups.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=585.0