In the market for BKP!

[HolyDriver]

Hi Ladies and Gents

I've heard and read good things about BKP.  Now that i am in the market for new pickups, why not give BKPs a shot.
I currently play an Ibanez Rg with basswood body.  I mainly play progressive metal and sometimes cover songs (deep purple, metallica, dream theater, Paul Gilbert and etc) as well.
For the Neck pickup, I was looking for something that will give me a smooth clean or dirty rhythm tone and still be able to play smooth solo's.
For the Bridge, i was thinking of either Holydiver or a Nailbomb(alnico or ceramic) or something else.  I'm after something that can provide nice articulate cleans, nice crunch and great smooth leads.
My current set up is Jcm2000 Dsl50 (might make a switch to ENGL soon), boosted with a TS9 or OCD.

Any advice would be appreciated.

[Telerocker]

Welcome here. Nailbomb would be a good choice for the bridge. Alnico is warmer and will clean up better, ceramic provides a tighter bass. For the neck a Cold Sweat comes to mind. You could also go for a calibrated N-Bomb-set. You can ask the BKP-team for advice.

[HolyDriver]

I'm scared the nailbomb in the neck will be too hot.  I was thinking of the mule for the neck, i think it has the potential to do petrucci style solo's.

I'll give the BKP team an email and see what they say.

Thanks.

[Telerocker]

The Mule is great for the neck, so is the Abraxxas. But I read on the forum the Cold Sweat in the neckpos. would be great for what you're after.

[HolyDriver]

I've been checking out the cold sweat, but cant seem to find much.  Would the cold sweat be close to a AIr Norton or Liquifire?

Cheers

[Doadman]

The Cold Sweat is probably the most popular neck pickup on this forum as it does pretty much everything well. Both the Mule and Abraxas are good calls and excellent Alnico IV pickups but for the music you state, I more naturally think of Alnico V. Nevertheless, the Mule and Abraxas are both worthy of consideration. For Alnico V, as well as the Cold Sweat, you might want to consider the Nailbomb or Holy Diver for the neck but your choice of neck pickup may well be partly conditioned by the power of the bridge pickup you choose.

I'd certainly look at the Nailbomb for the bridge as it's a very versatile pickup but I also think you'd quite like the Holy Diver, which has a thicker, fatter tone but is still very articulate. It's not as cutting as the Nailbomb but has a sweeter tone and cleans up beautifully.

[kevinr]

Holydiver set, both great sounding pickups! my equal favourite neck pickup, the VHII is the other!

[Doadman]

Yep, the more I think about it, the more I think you'll like Holy Divers and if you think Kevinr is enthusiastic about them, try reading what Antag has to say about them! I'm not convinced You Tube has good enough sound quality to justify the pickups but here's a Holy Diver bridge pickup in action:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tzk3VygT0y8

BTW Kevinr, if the Holy Diver is your joint favourite neck pickup out of all the Bare Knuckle pickups you own, which is your favourite bridge pickup and why?

[kevinr]

Doadman, since you ask I have a herd of Eggle Berlins! most have BKPs (3 have SDs) so I get to try and compare my BKPs in like guitars, first off I think that they are all great, (all alnico) my favourite (because it does everthing that I ask) is Holydiver, it really does deliver and is really quite a master at covering all the styles that I'm required to play.

[Doadman]

They're beautiful guitars but I'm surprised at your choice of the Holy Diver. It's a great pickup but most of the Berlins seem quite dark guitars tonally so I'd have thought that you'd need something a bit brighter and more cutting. BKP never cease to surprise! I'm putting my choice of new pickups on hold until the new site is launched so I can listen to all the new clips and check out the EQ charts.

[kevinr]

I first fitted them to a 22 fret HT with maple neck/rosewood board, and they surprizingly did not sit well! after fitting that guitar with VHIIs I fitted the HDs in this one 24fret HT mahogany neck ebony board, and it really sounds amazing, I have moved a few sets around and I'm very happy with all the results, the Abraxas AIIs sound great in a trem fitted Pro, about the same power as SD CC and PGs (both AII) Tim was not sure how these would work being 14k and AII, not as tight as the AV pups,great just the same.

[Doadman]

I've jumped between so many pickups searching for the right one I've just tied myself in a knot! I know I want something fairly warm, organic and fluid but still very articulate if that makes sense. I don't want a pickup that's too unforgiving because I just don't think I'm that good  :D Like you I was initially drawn towards the Holy Diver but as it's a very middy pickup and my guitar is maple neck-thru and therefore middy, I think it might have too much in the mids. Mind you, Antag has one in an SL3 and he raves about it. The Warpig sounds fluid but might be too thick and bass/mid heavy and that kinda just leaves the Nailbomb as an option, though looking at the EQ results that MDV collected I can see why so many people think a Miracle Man would work in an SL3. HolyDriver has my sympathy in trying to choose the right pickup for his guitar as it's bloody hard! I think it might be easier to just abdicate all responsibility and just phone Tim and buy whatever he says  :?

[HolyDriver]

I'm thinking about a alnico nailbomb set at the moment, might switch them later on if i have too.  The main concern is the basswood body, but the clip of the nbomb with the rg550 sounded pretty good and had me convinced.
Not to convinced with an Nbomb neck thou,

Cheers guys.

[kevinr]

It is very difficult recommending pickups as we all extract different tones with our playing etc, so, Tim knows his products best, his comments will be the best, as long as what is relayed to him is correct! the sound clips can be very helpful in a lot of cases.

[Doadman]

I wouldn't be too worried about the basswood body as it's quite a neutral wood so should work well. I think the Nailbomb for the bridge is a good choice and I really think you'd like either the Holy Diver or Abraxas in the neck. It's a hell of a lot easier suggesting pickups for other people than it is choosing them for yourself  :)