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Author Topic: Which Humbucker on Jackson?  (Read 10992 times)

2e rocker

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Which Humbucker on Jackson?
« on: February 20, 2012, 06:34:32 PM »
I'm looking for pickups for a long time now. I'm sure i want BKP I'm looking for help

I have a Jackson Dinky Pro
Mensur: 25,5" / 648mm
Body: alder
Top: Flamed maple
Neck: Maple
Fret board: Rosewood

I also have a Engl Steve Morse+ Engl Pro Cab (4x12 V30) that has lots of low-end and mids but not that much high-end.

I want to change the bridge for a warm humbucker with a smooth bass (not to punchy, as my amp delivers enough low-end) sparkling high smooth and a little pronounced mids. Not very aggressive.
like a train of angels- Joe Satriani

Madsakre

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Re: Which Humbucker on Jackson?
« Reply #1 on: February 20, 2012, 06:45:39 PM »
Holy divaaah.
Your music will never be as hard as this!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DfFrqhJwbhE
Cattlepress

Attica!

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Re: Which Humbucker on Jackson?
« Reply #2 on: February 20, 2012, 09:04:26 PM »
Holy Diver's a great bet. But funnily enough, for them Satriani type songs, I love using an Abraxas. If you're going to be playing some insane shredding at very high gain, as well as them 80s style riffs, then Holy Diver would be perfect. If you want something more for them beautiful instrumental style Satriani solos, get an Abraxas.

Another thing to consider is, if you want a tone more in the Satriani end of things, then something with a little extra top end, such as the VHII could be a good bet. Even though the DC is around 8 as compared to the Abraxas' 14, don't worry. Both still feel powerful. I find it kind of makes the balance between Alnico IV and V.
« Last Edit: February 20, 2012, 09:06:14 PM by mbchepburn »

Telerocker

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Re: Which Humbucker on Jackson?
« Reply #3 on: February 20, 2012, 09:55:24 PM »
HD, Crawler, Abraxas are all to be looked at: they have a strong midrange.
I have Crawler in a swampashstrat that delivers the goodies on my Orange Rockerverb/2x12 cab. It has certainly enough treble, topend is not much muffled, but round under highgain, great for soloing. The Abraxas sits between the open sounding Mule and the, a little compressed, Crawler. Topend has a bit more chime, which will fit your amp maybe a bit beter.  To my ears it's a hotrodded Mule. If (some) PAF-flavour is a must: Abraxas.
If you want a more contemporary tone: Holy Diver. The HD has a lot of centermids and is not very bassy. Could be the ideal voicing for the Engl.
Mules, VHII, Crawler, MM's, IT's, BG50's.

Aizaku

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Re: Which Humbucker on Jackson?
« Reply #4 on: February 21, 2012, 08:34:18 AM »
I just want to mention the Cold Sweat. I have a bassy amp, myself and also my guitar's voice is very dark but I have no problem cutting through all that when playing lead.

darkbluemurder

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Re: Which Humbucker on Jackson?
« Reply #5 on: February 21, 2012, 09:10:47 AM »
Warm humbucker = Holydiver, Abraxas, Crawler
Smooth bass, not too punchy = Holydiver, Abraxas, Crawler
Sparkling smooth highs = Abraxas (the other two aren't really sparkling in the highs)
A little pronounced mids = Holydiver, Abraxas (the Crawler has very pronounced mids)

The Engls have very pronounced mids too so my vote goes to the Abraxas to keep a balance on the midrange.

Some words on the Cold Sweat bridge: I love it as much as Aizaku does but it's totally different from all the other pickups mentioned. It has a very punchy bass, a rather flat (not scooped) midrange and a strong cut in the highs. Together with the Engl it could work really well. You did not say whether your guitar has a fixed bridge or a vibrato. If it has a fixed bridge it is very similar to the guitar I have the Cold Sweat bridge in. It is my favorite guitar for blistering 80s hard rock but I do not really hear Satriani (Flying in a Blue Dream) with it. 

Cheers Stephan

Telerocker

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Re: Which Humbucker on Jackson?
« Reply #6 on: February 21, 2012, 11:51:19 AM »
Some words on the Cold Sweat bridge: I love it as much as Aizaku does but it's totally different from all the other pickups mentioned. It has a very punchy bass, a rather flat (not scooped) midrange and a strong cut in the highs. Together with the Engl it could work really well. You did not say whether your guitar has a fixed bridge or a vibrato. If it has a fixed bridge it is very similar to the guitar I have the Cold Sweat bridge in. It is my favorite guitar for blistering 80s hard rock but I do not really hear Satriani (Flying in a Blue Dream) with it. 

Cheers Stephan

This
Mules, VHII, Crawler, MM's, IT's, BG50's.

2e rocker

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Re: Which Humbucker on Jackson?
« Reply #7 on: February 21, 2012, 04:03:45 PM »
My Jackson has a Locking trem (floyd ofcourse). Never knew it really would make a difference.

Can someone tell me about the voicing of a Abraxas. For now, i think the Abraxas is the best (cause of that chime)
Do the Crawler and HD have a chime to? 

(I think) I want a modern tone, but i never really understood the difference between modern and vintage,  so i'm not sure.

Telerocker

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Re: Which Humbucker on Jackson?
« Reply #8 on: February 21, 2012, 04:08:52 PM »
Of course they have highs, just less airy then the Abraxas. The difference between vintage, vintagehot and modern have basiscally to do with the type of wire used and the amounts of turns.
Mules, VHII, Crawler, MM's, IT's, BG50's.

Attica!

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Re: Which Humbucker on Jackson?
« Reply #9 on: February 21, 2012, 04:14:26 PM »
My Jackson has a Locking trem (floyd ofcourse). Never knew it really would make a difference.

Can someone tell me about the voicing of a Abraxas. For now, i think the Abraxas is the best (cause of that chime)
Do the Crawler and HD have a chime to?  

(I think) I want a modern tone, but i never really understood the difference between modern and vintage,  so i'm not sure.

Modern tones are usually a bit more compressed, whereas Vintage tends to be more vocal and open. I'd say the Abraxas has the best of both worlds. When it says it has a vocal character, it means you can really portray exactly how you want the guitar to speak when you play a note. It has that vocal quality.

I can't comment on the Crawler, but regarding the HD, I can only describe it as round/fat/compressed - this makes it a great soloing pickup for modern 80s shred.

I just find the Abraxas with it's Alnico IV magnet, gives you the best of both worlds in terms of Vintage & Modern. It's like mixing Slash's tone with Satriani's tone. Just remember Satriani gets his tones from Paf style pickups, but slightly more modern. The Holy Diver is on the other side of that spectrum, but the Abraxas is bang on :) It also has similar EQ to the Fred & Mo' Joe he uses.

2e rocker

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Re: Which Humbucker on Jackson?
« Reply #10 on: February 21, 2012, 04:44:50 PM »
My Jackson has a Locking trem (floyd ofcourse). Never knew it really would make a difference.

Can someone tell me about the voicing of a Abraxas. For now, i think the Abraxas is the best (cause of that chime)
Do the Crawler and HD have a chime to?  

(I think) I want a modern tone, but i never really understood the difference between modern and vintage,  so i'm not sure.

Modern tones are usually a bit more compressed, whereas Vintage tends to be more vocal and open. I'd say the Abraxas has the best of both worlds. When it says it has a vocal character, it means you can really portray exactly how you want the guitar to speak when you play a note. It has that vocal quality.

I can't comment on the Crawler, but regarding the HD, I can only describe it as round/fat/compressed - this makes it a great soloing pickup for modern 80s shred.

I just find the Abraxas with it's Alnico IV magnet, gives you the best of both worlds in terms of Vintage & Modern. It's like mixing Slash's tone with Satriani's tone. Just remember Satriani gets his tones from Paf style pickups, but slightly more modern. The Holy Diver is on the other side of that spectrum, but the Abraxas is bang on :) It also has similar EQ to the Fred & Mo' Joe he uses.

That vocal quality is what i'm looking for. Don't like compression that much  and i don't need a pickup that sounds "fat", just a bit punchy.
As someone said: Having some extra High isn't bad, you should check the VHII.
What's the difference between the Abraxas and VHII?


Attica!

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Re: Which Humbucker on Jackson?
« Reply #11 on: February 21, 2012, 04:55:46 PM »
A misconception with the VHII from it's description is that many people will immediately think of the Van Halen tone, but it's capable of a lot more. I personally preffered the VHII for playing stuff with excessive gain, but I changed it for an Abraxas. I was a little bit worried at first when I was recommended it, but it was a great investment. When I emailed BKP about a pickup for replacement, I was going towards  the Andy Timmons end of the spectrum, but with enough power to play Satriani, and I was told the Abraxas excelled in this. It depends whether you're going for the type of sound to play something speedy like Satriani's Crushing Day solo, or something emotional like Flying in a Blue Dream?

Telerocker

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Re: Which Humbucker on Jackson?
« Reply #12 on: February 21, 2012, 05:06:17 PM »
I want to change the bridge for a warm humbucker with a smooth bass (not to punchy, as my amp delivers enough low-end) sparkling high smooth and a little pronounced mids. Not very aggressive.
like a train of angels- Joe Satriani


Recommendations are, until now, based on your description. If you're looking for vocal qualities, open and punchy sounds, you'll end up in the vintagehot-range.  I have a VHII in a HSS-strat. Great rockpickup that does screaming solo's in spades. Very articulate and dynamic. Topend is not shrill, even in an ash strat. It will rock with the Engl and does indeed more then EVH-tones.
However, Abraxas, Crawler and HD will sound bigger bec of the extra weight in the midrange. Don't let you put of by the word ''compressed''. Of course the Crawler is more compressed then a Mule, but it has still good dynamics, don't worry about that. The strength of BKP's is their dynamics, articulation, stringseparation and ability to clean up in the best way. Still I think you should not rule out the Abraxas.
« Last Edit: February 21, 2012, 05:08:54 PM by Telerocker »
Mules, VHII, Crawler, MM's, IT's, BG50's.

2e rocker

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Re: Which Humbucker on Jackson?
« Reply #13 on: February 21, 2012, 05:29:41 PM »

However, Abraxas, Crawler and HD will sound bigger bec of the extra weight in the midrange.
[/quote]

Does that mean more full or more balanced? Don't have a picture now.

I'm more into Flying In A Blue Dream than Crushing Day and that Andy Timmons sound is also great. Abraxas?

Attica!

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Re: Which Humbucker on Jackson?
« Reply #14 on: February 21, 2012, 05:31:31 PM »

However, Abraxas, Crawler and HD will sound bigger bec of the extra weight in the midrange.

Does that mean more full or more balanced? Don't have a picture now.

I'm more into Flying In A Blue Dream than Crushing Day and that Andy Timmons sound is also great. Abraxas?
[/quote]

Definitely Abraxas in that case :) The Abraxas is actually quite balanced if I'm honest.