Warpig for Downtuned Guitars

[Chargrilled]

Hello this is my first post!

I keep hearing about the greatness of the Warpig and I'm thinking of getting of one but want to ask a couple of questions about it first.

I have an Ibanez Apex 2 (mahogany body)

 which I use purely for PC based recording, it goes into an active D.I. Box and then into an audio interface. The sound I can get from the stock DiMarzio PAF-7's is pretty good but I used to own a BC Rich Bich and I've never been able to get the same grindy heaviness out of this guitar as I could with that one.

If I downtune with the Warpig will it cause any muddiness at all? I'm looking for a nice heavy distorted sound with zero muddiness so you can make out all the power chord riffage going on.

Plus is it possible to get a different cover for it!

Looking at the options on the Buy page is 'coil colour' the colour of the cover? Also can I ask the difference between Open and Covered pickups and Ceramic/ Alnico magnets.

Sorry for all the questions but I need to find this stuff out before I take the plunge!!

Many thanks

[Transcend]

how far are you downtuning?

[Chargrilled]

Thanks for the reply

It's down one whole step A, D, G, C, F, A, D  (7 string guitar)

[Telerocker]

The pig has tons of bass, which could be too much in a downtuned A. Maybe a Painkiller is the more balanced pu for your style/downtuning.

[MDV]

I dont like a heavily detuned warpig (a-pig at least) for anything needed real clarity. Its smashyourskull heavy, but its not so clear. The c-pig is better, a mid-high output pickup better still. Aftermath, cold sweat, ceramic nailbomb or painkiller should be top of the list, depending what sort of sounds youre going for.

[Transcend]

I was just going to say with it being a 7 string the WP will probably be too much on the lows.

I would go for the aftermath or cold sweat

[Madsakre]

No. Nut muddy, but its not surgical either. You have to alter your eq settings a bit. But thats just normal.

[Chargrilled]

I've been checking out the soundclips and I really like the sound of the Nailbomb - it's got like a nice middley punky hardcore sound to it even though it's still a metal pickup. I also like Rebel Yell it's very distinct. I might go for the Nailbomb instead here.

What do you guys think would be better Ceramic/Alnico and open/covered for my set up.

[Madsakre]

I just gone for the Alnico version. Its going into a flying v tuned to C#/Drop B. I play crust/grindcore

[Ephemeria]

I've been checking out the soundclips and I really like the sound of the Nailbomb - it's got like a nice middley punky hardcore sound to it even though it's still a metal pickup. I also like Rebel Yell it's very distinct. I might go for the Nailbomb instead here.

What do you guys think would be better Ceramic/Alnico and open/covered for my set up.

Regarding the magnet, you'd need to elaborate on what music your exactly playing first. With the covered/open coil option, the covered pickup kind of warms the bottom/highs, but you'd be very hard to notice. I don't think you'd actually hear any difference to be honest. So just go for what looks best for you're guitar :)

[Chargrilled]

The music will range from Nu Metal Limp Bizkit/ Korn/ Deftone type heavy sounds to the clean guitar sounds that these types of bands also incorporate into their music. What I need overall is heaviness + clarity in the riffage

[Transcend]

Hmm i dont think you could go wrong with the C pig, miracle man or painkiller then.

I think the cold sweat could be a little polite for what you are wanting

and the aftermath wont be beefy enough

[Transcend]

Then again the Nailbomb to me is a Nu metal sounding pickup so maybe try that?

[MDV]

Bear in mind that with regard to the output, its going into a DI and ampsim. The benefit you get from hitting a preamp harder is nullified by

A: lack of actual preamp clipping. No valves to hit harder, emulation only.

B: gainstaging - input, if the OP knows what hes doing (I'll give him the benefit of the doubt) is going to be to a mic pre with the gain set such that the DAW will show -18dbfs regardless (0VU, +4db, 1.24V, nomnial optimal level for all audio gear, including the mic pre). Less that that and your SNR is less than optimal, more than that and youre just getting distortion from the mic pre.

Unless hes using US hardware in which case its -12dbfs. The voicing of the pickup is all that matters, not its output. It would be better to have a lower output pickup with a clear character, lots of mids and top end, than a hot and heavy pickup that would hit a guitar amp pre harder.

[Transcend]

Very good point.

I always forget that people arent using amps even though they have said so only a few posts before!