Fairly simple question

[Slartibartfarst42]

OK, I've decided to take the Holydiver out of my Jackson and return it to BKP to have the cover removed and turned into an open poled zebra. I will then put that pickup into my PRS SE Custom 24 and put a matching Holydiver in the neck of that guitar too. That leaves me with the question of what to put into the bridge of my Jackson. I'd like to keep all of the qualities I like in the Holydiver (thick, fat, fluid, smooth etc.) but make it sound rather bigger and with enough compression that I'll never feel the need to use a compressor with it. The Jackson is my main lead guitar so it needs to be really good for soloing and cut through well. Looking at the range, it sounds to me like a Warpig is the one I'm looking for but I'm unsure as to whether I need an A-Pig or C-Pig and whichever it is, do I need it covered or open poled. Any help would be appreciated or am I on the wrong lines and I need a different pickup?

[CanadianMetalhead]

If you want organic and sweet top end its definitely a A5 warpig. I own them both and the A5 being open cover and the Ceramic being covered.

I'm actually about to buy the Holy diver and asked tim about it for my Basswood guitar. He basically confirmed what i was already thinking which was I wanted something along the same lines as the A5 warpig just a little less and more tight bass and a little more trebs while keeping all the great qualities. Bass isn't overpowering or flumsy or anything it's very fluid sounding especially in my mahogany ESP LTD F-400fm where it currently sits and i LOVE its lead sound and how i can go from that to chunky heavy chording.

I'll be switching it out to try the Ceramic one as im curious lol but after reading your description i think the A5 would sit perfectly.

[Slartibartfarst42]

My maple neck-thru Jackson shouldn't be as bassy as your guitar so I imagine that if it will cut through there, it should be tight enough in mine. I hate mush and with all that bass on the Warpig I'd wondered if I'd have to go ceramic to keep that articulation. However, I'm pleased to hear that the A-Pig will cut it OK as after years with ceramic pickups, since I got the Holydiver I've been really taken by the lead tone of Alnico V.

Alnico Warpig it is then unless someone diagrees. Hopefully I should have the money for that next month  :D

[CanadianMetalhead]

In case you don't know of this thread

https://bareknucklepickups.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=15397.0

Take a listen. One of the best shootouts if not the best for lead tone.

[Slartibartfarst42]

The Warpig bridge tone sounds great to me. There are certainly similarities with the Holydiver bridge but it sounds that bit fuller and sweeter. I notice you said the bass in the Holydiver should be tighter but I'm hoping there's not that much difference in its articulation as the Holydiver I have is covered and the Warpig will be open. Can't wait to get it  :D

[CanadianMetalhead]

Open is the way to go since it has such a sweet top end its nice to open it up a bit. I should be ordering the HD in a couple days so i'll be a happy camper too lol. There shouldn't be much diff in the articulation. I'll know personally in a bit and will be able to do a side by side comparison myself!

[ericsabbath]

alnico miracle man
it's a lot like the pig, but without the fuzzy mids

[Slartibartfarst42]

I've never heard of an Alnico Miracle Man  :?

Anyway, I'd be very interested to hear your thoughts on the A-Pig and Holydiver once you're in a position to do a comparison so please either post your thoughts here of PM me  :D

[Philly Q]

I've never heard of an Alnico Miracle Man  :?

I don't think you can order an Alnico Miracle Man bridge pickup, as such, but the MM neck has the same DC resistance as the bridge, only with an Alnico V magnet. 

So you could try that in the bridge position (unless you need wide spacing)

[CanadianMetalhead]

Just ordered the HD bridge whoot! So yea I'll do that comparison and might be able to record some clips too.

As for the Alnico MM what you do is order the Neck Miracle man and just use it for the bridge. Or at least that's what I've read. Ask around to make sure. It would prob sound a lot like the warpig but with added brightness, tighter lows and less mids but thats speculation on my part.

Down the road I'll prob buy that to compliment the HD bridge in my basswood anyways. Little poor at the moment though lol.

[Slartibartfarst42]

I confess that the idea of an Alnico Miracle Man really intrigues me as your description makes it sound like just what I'm after. However, as my guitar has an OFR bridge I'd need 53mm spacing so I assume that means the pickup is a non-starter for me   :( My only real concern with the A-Pig is the huge amount of bass it seems to have and the fear that it will swamp everything else and lose articulation. Of course, the language used may be the problem because when I read 'if in your face presence is your thing this is a no go because its almost the complete opposite' it makes me think of something a little muddy and I hate that, hence the presence is usually maxed out on my amp. However, that same post also describes it as 'fluid bottom end while still remaining tight', which suggests something that is highly articulate and will cut through with ease, rather like my Holydiver. I have about a month before I have the money so I will await CanadianMetalhead's comments with great anticipation  :D

[Slartibartfarst42]

Just in case this is an issue for anything else, I was going to order an A-Pig with allen bolts and open-poled to maximise the articulation and bring out the treble a bit more. I had assumed that the allen bolts would provide a more focused sound and hence increase articulation but when I mentioned it to BKP I was told:

'Going with the screw option on the Warpigs will give you a little bit more clarity and output compared to the bolts, and an open coil humbucker has more presence in the high end.'

It seems I was only half right.

[ericsabbath]

I've never heard of an Alnico Miracle Man  :?

I don't think you can order an Alnico Miracle Man bridge pickup, as such, but the MM neck has the same DC resistance as the bridge, only with an Alnico V magnet. 

So you could try that in the bridge position (unless you need wide spacing)

yeah, the neck miracle man is pretty much the same as the bridge, but with an alnico 5 magnet
I don't think Tim would refuse to make a 53 mm, since it's not some sort of customization
some guitars do have wider string spacing in the neck position
I think USA jacksons have trembuckers in the neck

can't compare much the diver to the pig as the pig was the only model I didn't try in a les paul
the pig has a quite unique tone and midrange character, and you'll hear it in most clips and videos

[CanadianMetalhead]

I should have it by friday (( i hope! )) so i'll def have a good side by side comparison.

By the way have you asked Tim or the BKP guys about any of this? They should know :P

[Slartibartfarst42]

I did email them and they did eventually say that the A-Pig would be best but frankly didn't sound convinced it was entirely like a 'Holydiver on steroids', which is kinda what I'm after. As I've said before, there's not that much in the contemporary range which is obviously like the Holydiver (warm, thick, fluid, smooth etc.) so choices are a bit limited. When I started looking at it, only the Warpig and A-Bomb sounded close and to be honest, I think BKP would have suggested an A-Bomb instead had it not been for the fact that I've already tried that one in my Jackson and really didn't like it. The A-Bomb was just too harsh and edgy while the Holydiver is smooth and thick, yet I always love the clips I hear of an A-Bomb so I was certainly disappointed with it. Maybe now I'm putting the Holydiver into the PRS I will prefer the difference an A-Bomb would give me but I'm not in a rush to take that route just to return it again. CanadianMetalhead however does make the A-Pig sound like what I'm after so I'm happy to wait and hear his thoughts once he's tried the Holydiver.

As for the Miracle Man with an Alnico V magnet; I mentioned it to them in passing but all Ben said was that they didn't do a bridge Miracle Man with an alnico magnet so I assumed it couldn't be done as there was no hint that they could make one with a 53mm spacing. I agree it must be possible so perhaps I should press it further, though my impression is that BKP are increasingly unwilling to do anything other than stock. It's understandable as the company gets bigger and more successful but also sad because it was that highly personalised feel that first drew me to BKP. Before I explore this further with them, I'd be very interested to hear from anyone who's tried an alnico Miracle Man in the bridge position to learn more about what it's like. I'd be especially interested in comparisons to a Holydiver and A-Pig.