help on my pickups choice for semi hollow guitar!

[JiD]

hej!!
i'm interested in some BKP for my semi hollow guitar and i did make a big research on the tone (regarding the guitar specs) i wanted for this one. it's definitely the BLUE NOTE/MQ for neck and STOCKHOLM/SUPERMASSIVE pickups for bridge. the fact is i like the STOCKHOLM more but i'm afraid the output in the STOCKHOLM one will be too high for the semi hollow.. so, is it better to ask for a BLUE NOTE and a SUPERMASSIVE both in humbucker size?
thanks a lot,
xx

[Fourth Feline]

Welcome to the forum JiD ,  :)

I have used the Mississipi queens in a semi-hollow - and have used  Manhattans, Stormy Mondays and Warpig (Neck) pickups in fully hollow guitars.   The reason I mention that,  is because even the most powerful one in there ( The Warpig) - still let me hear the hollowness of the guitar, albeit in a much hotter and more focused way - than the Manhattans and Stormy Mondays.  

 All great pickups,  but of course, it would help to know what style(s) of music you may be playing , so we can advise further.  After we have 'chipped in' you still have the guidance of  the staff at B.K.P. , who are usually spot on for advising accurately.  So JiD , whats's your intended playing style / desired sound ?  :)

[JiD]

thanks for your experience feline, appreciate it!
i want this guitar to be a huge part of a new project i am starting on my own. with neck position i want some mississipi blues and with the bridge, modern rock. (i need a really good rhythm tone from the bridge position).
think jethro tull's aqualung recorded those days and mixed by chris lord alge.
so you think i shouldn't go wrong with the STOCKHOLM in my semi hollow? it seems to be clearer than the SUPERMASSIVE in my opinion but this last one has less output which could be what i need for a semi hollow..
and for blues i think i'd be happy if i can BK make me a BLUENOTE in humbucker size or have a MQ!

[Fourth Feline]

Hiya ,  :)

I have had a good listen at the B.K.P. sound clips - and compared them to my perceptions of the Pickups I own.  

My immediate thoughts were that the Missisippi Queens ( especially considering your requirement of them in the neck position ) - seem closer in character to the fatter / tighter and slightly darker sounding Stockholm.   The M.Q.s are clear, but not as 'lean' and bright/open sounding as the Bluenote seems to be .  Add to that , the fact  that Bluenotes are alnico II Magnets - and the Neck Mississippi Queens are Alnico IV,  -  then ( if we look at the original matched pairs as a starting point )  the  Stockholm pickups ( Alnico V bridge ) and Mississipi Queen ( also alnico V bridge ) seem closer stable mates at the outset.    Therefore , if approaching the same project , I would tend to think of putting the Stockholm bridge with the Mississippi Queen neck ,   or the Blue note neck with the Supermassive bridge.  

I usually prefer B.K.P. in their 'natural' pairs / sets, but as you want a much wider tonal palate between the pickups than I would - the above pairings would at least seem to sit closer to each other in power/ fatness ( Stockholm / M.Q. )  or mid ground / brighter ( ? ) open sounding ( Supemassive / Blue note ).

You can of course blend between the two pickups , and with B.K.P. I find that even a hotter / potentially darker pickup, can still deliver a better range of dynamics and tones ( by adjusting pickup heights e.t.c ) - than the mass produced brands.

Ultimately, I am having to speculate here - and of course the team at B.K.P. will have a more accurate opinion, based on them actually having heard all the pickups 'in the flesh'.  The forum members may be somewhat limited on this occasion, as the newer P90 pickups that have piqued your interest- are new to many of us too.

Happy tone hunting !  :)

[Telerocker]

Hiya ,  :)

I have had a good listen at the B.K.P. sound clips - and compared them to my perceptions of the Pickups I own.  

My immediate thoughts were that the Missisippi Queens ( especially considering your requirement of them in the neck position ) - seem closer in character to the fatter / tighter and slightly darker sounding Stockholm.   The M.Q.s are clear, but not as 'lean' and bright/open sounding as the Bluenote seems to be .  Add to that , the fact  that Bluenotes are alnico II Magnets - and the Neck Mississippi Queens are Alnico IV,  -  then ( if we look at the original matched pairs as a starting point )  the  Stockholm pickups ( Alnico V bridge ) and Mississipi Queen ( also alnico V bridge ) seem closer stable mates at the outset.    Therefore , if approaching the same project , I would tend to think of putting the Stockholm bridge with the Mississippi Queen neck ,   or the Blue note neck with the Supermassive bridge.  

I usually prefer B.K.P. in their 'natural' pairs / sets, but as you want a much wider tonal palate between the pickups than I would - the above pairings would at least seem to sit closer to each other in power/ fatness ( Stockholm / M.Q. )  or mid ground / brighter ( ? ) open sounding ( Supemassive / Blue note ).

You can of course blend between the two pickups , and with B.K.P. I find that even a hotter / potentially darker pickup, can still deliver a better range of dynamics and tones ( by adjusting pickup heights e.t.c ) - than the mass produced brands.

Ultimately, I am having to speculate here - and of course the team at B.K.P. will have a more accurate opinion, based on them actually having heard all the pickups 'in the flesh'.  The forum members may be somewhat limited on this occasion, as the newer P90 pickups that have piqued your interest- are new to many of us too.

Happy tone hunting !  :)

Good advice here!

[JiD]

thx a lot guys, feline you really helped me on the set choice, you rock!
so now my only concern is about the output. the STOCKHOLM/MQ set wont give me too much feedback to deal with?
as i don't want to fail and find myself finally not using the pickups..
feline, in which fully hollow guitar did you try the WARPIG?

[Fourth Feline]

The whole issue of feedback with a semi-hollow on a loud stage is not one I can directly comment on, as I had stopped gigging before I discovered the delights of Semi-hollow / Hollow guitars - and B.K.P.  pickups.  My l perception of hollow body / feedback problems in general, being  that controlling feedback is more a question of postioning one's self to the amp, and adjusting pre- amp and E.Q settings to 'Tune to the room'.  Again, check with the guys at B.K.P. - and of course, I hope that some of the hollow guitar / cranked amp players on here will chip in better than I can.

My own situation is hardly representative - as I have recently started over again from the beginning as a player , in the Chord Melody / Jazz style.  That calls for relatively low volumes - and the amps/ cabs tend to be tuned to minimise such problems..  Therfeore the guitar I put the Warpig neck pickup in , is a ES-175 copy.   The photos and sound clips can be found in the 'Players' section of the forum - under " Warpig , late night Jazz(ish)" and another take nearby " With brighter E.Q.".

Of course ultimately, unless we try - we will not know ;  but I could envisage where I would put the Warpig to use - whether or not it was 10th choice for everyone else.  I enjoy the sound of all my B.K.P. - but of course they are all very unique.  To me they are like paints on a pallette,  the choice of 'colour' and placement being something that only we can decide.  :)

[JiD]

again, THANKS for your help and experience! my guitar should sound huge :D i wait for answers from BK guys and also forumers in the meantime but i'll buy the pickups this week anyway!
i'll post some samples when my guitar is done if you're interested ^^

[Fourth Feline]

again, THANKS for your help and experience! my guitar should sound huge :D i wait for answers from BK guys and also forumers in the meantime but i'll buy the pickups this week anyway!
i'll post some samples when my guitar is done if you're interested ^^

Yes, it would be great to hear the end result.  :)

If I sound vague about which specific pair I would have fitted,  to the exception of everything else - then it is only because I think you would find  that even if you had the cash to put a Stockholm / M.Q. pair,  a Supermassive / Blue note pair- and a Whatever / Half note pair in each of three seperate guitars,  you would still love all three - and ( like the rest of us chronic B.K.P. addicts ) never get any actual rehearsing done,  due to constantly picking up and enjoying one  guitar and then the next - and the next - and then ' let's try number one again ... '.  :lol: e.t.c.

That is why I felt it was ultimately about chosing which basic tonality was more 'You' out of the three basic starting points ,  of :   'Darker/thicker'  -  ' Still fairly powerful but brighter'  -  or  ' Just powerful enough with expanded dynamics '.    It's all fun though - and even an older Geezer like myself had a huge grin , when the Warpig ( neck ) pickup grabbed my practice amp in it's Velvet fist - and demanded total obedience ...  8)

Meanwhile, I hope you get greater clarification about the stage feedback question, from the good people on this forum ; but know you can rely on the staff at B.K.P. answering your concerns with total honesty , and professional  insight.  

Have fun -  I look forward to the clips and ( as a side issue ) photos of the 'Wolf in sheeps clothing'  that will be your fire breathing 335 ( or similar ) .  With those pickups in, it may even grow into a  3,335,555.