Author Topic: Pickup for Artist (Read 7725 times)

Peterku · « **on:** April 30, 2005, 04:12:20 PM »

Hello,

I'm having a solidbody guitar made at the moment. The shape's that of the Ibanez Artist. The body and the neck are Honduran mahogany (the blocks are very dense, fine-grained, and have been drying for 35+ years now, they can't be so bad... :) ). The top's another type of mahogany, the tap tone's quite bright and "old", if you know what I mean. The fretboard's African Blackwood (based on the tap tone it's a mellow sounding wood). The bridge's locking Tonepros TOM, tuners are Planet Waves, bone nut, ebony knobs, only a volume pot and a blend pot, no switch, natural satin finish.

For the neck position I have a Benedetto A-6 but might change it, if I don't like it. Intended to be used for jazz. For the bridge position, I'd like to try a Bare Knuckle model w/ that cool Camo finish. :twisted: I'd like the pup to sound HUGE for heavy rock riffs.

I'm thinking about getting a Nailbomb, or a Crawler, or a Mule, or a Black Dog, or an Emerald....... I can't decide, really. :D Help me please, LOL...

Peterku · « **Reply #1 on:** April 30, 2005, 04:19:52 PM »

One more thing: the string spread on the bridge is 52.4 mm's. Should I order a pickup with an 52 mm spacing then?

Ratrod · « **Reply #2 on:** April 30, 2005, 04:30:30 PM »

You might be interested in a Warpig. It's just the thing for huge metal riffs. It also has a killer finish and you won't need the wider spacing, those polepieces will pick up the strings easilly. Warpigs also have a very nice clean sound, they are pretty versitile for a high output pickup. I don't think you would want such a special guitar to become a one trick pony.

Peterku · « **Reply #3 on:** April 30, 2005, 06:30:20 PM »

Quote from: Ratrod

You might be interested in a Warpig. It's just the thing for huge metal riffs. It also has a killer finish and you won't need the wider spacing, those polepieces will pick up the strings easilly. Warpigs also have a very nice clean sound, they are pretty versitile for a high output pickup. I don't think you would want such a special guitar to become a one trick pony.

Yeah thanks, but I'm a bit "afraid" of that pup. I'd rather like something with less output. Not because of the tone but rather dynamics. Tim's a genius but I'm pretty sure that the Warpig doesn't respond to playing dynamics as nicely as a lower output pickup does. But I'd also like the pup to handle hi gain in a smooth way. These are the reasons why I'd still prefer a Nailbomb or a Crawler to the Warpig. But thanks for the info. :)

Tim · « **Reply #4 on:** April 30, 2005, 07:51:15 PM »

You're right Peterku, high gain pickups squash hell out of dynamics and 'can' end up sounding smaller in some instances.
My personal fav is the Mule as it's very dynamic and has just enough power to rock out. the Nailbomb is a great allrounder too but it's quite pokey so dynamics will suffer in comparison to a lower output pickup.

Note:any humbucker can have a camo cover so don't feel you have to choose a Nailbomb for it's cosmetics.

As you're using a lot of mahogany on this guitar it could come across to dark in the lower mids with a Nailbomb, a VHII would retain the highs alot better whilst still packing a punch.

Something worth remembering is any pickup you buy from us, if it's not right, we'll exchange it for another within 14 days as long as you haven't damaged it.This gives you the chance to install it carefully and live with it for a while and see if it works for you.
If we can't get it right we'll refund your money-simple as that, but I must stress, getting your tone right is the most important thing for me.

Having listened to some of the clips that have been posted Peterku, which ones catch you'ear'?

Peterku · « **Reply #5 on:** April 30, 2005, 08:34:52 PM »

Thank you very much for your thoughts. Concerning your question about the clips:
- The Crawler clip on the main site (bridge position w/ OD) sounds too... don't know how to put it... 'sweet' maybe. I know there's not too much gain used on that clip, though. I rather like pickups with a vintage tone but with a modern edge and presence ('growl' maybe?) on the top end, if you know what I mean.
- The Black Dog clip sounds quite cool to me, based on the criteria above. I assume that's not quite an LP-bridge-humbucker situation in the clip, but the base of its tone caught my ear.
- About the third part of your Mule clip where the bridge pup's played: I like the way how that pickup responds to the playing. It has that airy presence I like. On the other hand, I'd add some more lower mids and bass. Well, my luthier told me that my guitar would have a huge bass, so maybe it's some more 'push' or 'punch' what I miss in that section of the clip. Please don't misunderstand what I'm trying to describe here. The Mule clip's one of my favourites (along with the Black Dog clip), now I'm only trying to exaggerate my feelings so that I can describe things easier. Umm... sorry, if I'm confusing. :)

Generally, when I hear the bridge position of LP's played for solos, instead of being floored by the hugeness of the sound I usually find it to be dull. I usually miss the high-end presence and openness that my HH ash Strat has in the bridge position. What others consider the 'punch' and 'nastiness' of the LP's bridge position sound, I only hear as a certain amount of 'mush' or 'extra density' the mahogany adds to the lower-mids.

These are my initial thoughts on your question. Again, sorry if I wrote in a confusing way, this was just brainstorming. :D

Peterku · « **Reply #6 on:** April 30, 2005, 08:42:16 PM »

I've just listened to the "Mothers Milk and Crawler Demo Song". I think the Crawler's EQ'd in a little bit 'muffled' way. It still had that 'sweetness' mentioned above but also had a nice punch IMO.

Peterku · « **Reply #7 on:** April 30, 2005, 08:47:38 PM »

Tim, could you please answer another question of mine as well? For a string spacing of 52.4 mm's measured on the bridge, should I choose an 52-mm spacing for the pickup I'll order according to your recommendation?

Tim · « **Reply #8 on:** April 30, 2005, 08:50:47 PM »

I'm thinking that a lower output pickup is going to be best for you Peterku - the Nailbomb is brighter than the Crawler but I don't think it's going to have what you want.
The Mule is my still my first call for clarity and sweetness.

Peterku · « **Reply #9 on:** April 30, 2005, 09:00:23 PM »

Quote from: Tim

I'm thinking that a lower output pickup is going to be best for you Peterku - the Nailbomb is brighter than the Crawler but I don't think it's going to have what you want.
The Mule is my still my first call for clarity and sweetness.

Ok, I trust your opinion. Thank you. I shall order an Alnico IV Mule then, w/ a Camo cover. Please could you tell me what polepiece spacing you'd recommend, according to the info I posted above?

Tim · « **Reply #10 on:** April 30, 2005, 09:21:26 PM »

I think 50mm spacing is going to be best-I'm pretty confident you will like the Mule-if not we can always swap it .

Peterku · « **Reply #11 on:** April 30, 2005, 09:24:47 PM »

I'm filling in the order form for "The Mule, Covered Humbucker(s) with: Alnico IV, Braided 2 Conductor, Custom Camo, Plain, Bridge, 50mm" right now. Thanks.

Peterku · « **Reply #12 on:** April 30, 2005, 09:31:50 PM »

Tim, I've placed the order. I'm writing you an e-mail w/ the subject "Placed the order". Thank you.