Recommended PU on Ibanez

[TwinCalliber]

Hi all!

Im looking into getting a Bare Knuckle on my recently purchased Ibanez GRG250DX-BKF, http://www.guitarguitar.co.uk/electric_guitars_detail.asp?stock=09010711002929#ProductDetail, am really enjoying the guitar, but am wanting to replace the bridge and maybe neck pu's, and was recommended looking at Bare Knuckles by Guitar Guitar. I have a les paul also atm with EMG's on it, so this is my first tremelo guitar, and i want to stick to passive pu's with this one atm!

I heard the Aftermath would be perfect for me, but not being experienced really with these kind of bodied guitars, I was wanting to seek some aid before making a decision! I play looooots of Metallica kind of stuff, plus System of a down (Usual stuff ;)) so looking for something that is pretty fitting with these styles of music. I have listened to sound clips of the aftermath and warpig, and am enjoying both the sounds of them atm! but want some one to aid me really, not sure on this bridge spacing stuff as the pu's and electronics are on a the pickguard, not in a cavity like my les paul, but also want something that has good clean sounds aswell, mainly in the neck pu!

Im probably repeating what someone else has asked, so I apologise for that!

Thanks for any help!,
Leo

[James_B_K_P]

Hey TwinCalliber, Welcome to the forum.  Whatever pickups you choose to buy, You'll need the 53mm spacing (F spaced). The cold sweat neck pickup has some fantastic cleans but is also great for lead. Metallica and system of a down make me think that the Miracle man bridge pickup would be perfect for you, and it also works well with the cold sweat neck. Hope this helps :)

[TwinCalliber]

Thanks very much! :)

Fantastic!, will look into these two!  :D, if i was to replace the middle single coil pickup, what would you recommend for that?

Also, what is the main difference between 4 conductor and 2 braided? What one is the one I should choose?

Thanks!
Leo

[James_B_K_P]

No problem! Unfortunately I have no experience with single coil BKP's, although I have a hunch that the sinner will be a good match as it's the highest output single coil. As for the wiring, 4 conductor allows for coil splitting/ out of phase and other advanced wiring options whereas braided only allows for standard series. With the five way switch you'll need 4 conductor.

[TwinCalliber]

Thanks for all the help!

Im guessing 1/4" leg aswell? Would it be worth getting new pots? Would these be ok https://www.bareknucklepickups.co.uk/shop/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=24_71&products_id=201&zenid=88941bb052aa3b2c9d3b9df3898f8f26. The stock guitar ones are pretty shoddy i think :/ want to get the best sound I can!

Thanks
Leo

[James_B_K_P]

Yep 1/4" leg :) Also, New pots will really open up your guitar, the standard ones on these gio guitars seem to be pretty terrible :P I think the pot you linked should be ok but I'm no expert, someone else on the forum will know!

[CanadianMetalhead]

I dunno about him needing the 53mm. My esp doesn't have the F Spacing and its a floyd. Sometimes with the cheap guitars the makers just go "yea whatever" and drill with their CNC machines so it'd be best to measure it personally in my opinion.

My recomendation for the pickup is with james. MM would be an awesome choice. It was my first BKP. However the MM is a very VERY tight and compressed sounding pickup. Cleans aren't the greatest either. Other choices would be the blackhawk and the ceramic nailbomb.

The blackhawk being made specifically to get the active tonal qualities of emg's while being passive, expressive and not needing batteries. Also not sound like a dead sterile overly compressed lump of cr@p like the 81 lol. I still like the 81 though just for reference. The hawk doesn't have the mid scoop that the MM has either good or bad.

The ceramic nailbomb if you want a cutting, grinding sound of the aftermath with some more balls in the low end and the mid scoop like quality of the MM. The MM while having good trebs is not the mid crunch master like the aftermath is and is quite smooth in the mids but still very capable in that regard.

My 2 cents have fun!

[Toe-Knee]

For metallica & SOAD tones the Miracle man will deliver in spades

It's by far my favourite pickup from BKP.

I play mainly
Metallica
Megadeth
Testament
Exodus etc

and it works amazingly for all of them

[CanadianMetalhead]

Oh yea one other thing. New everything on that guitar would probably ideal but one thing to point out regarding pots is that single coils usually have 250k to tame their brightness. So just keep that in mind when you install 550k's and you switch to the middle and it's overly bright lol.

But hey i got 1 meg ohm pots on my guitar at the moment and its a Basswood. I love the sound of higher resistance pots with sweeter top end pickups!

Also another tip if your gonna get upgrade happy over the guitar or feel any inclink to do so aside from pickups try upgrading the guitars bridge to a gotoh floyd or one made of hardened steel construction. Along with a floyd brass block (( the gotoh floyd already has one )) and titanium saddle inserts. You'd be surprised just how much the tone will change for the better once you do so. Much more focus'd and rich sounding. And it's all probably gonna be the same cost or less then a set of BKP's.

But if you don't or don't even know wtf im talking about just chuck it out a window and enjoy playing!

[TwinCalliber]

Cheers thanks for that, I will probs get these two pickups then. I was thinking of replacing the bridge, but the guy in the shop said that these trems are actually pretty good, and close to floyd rose quality, dunno if hes right? But replacing that is something ill probs do later on anyway. Cheers for the advice on the pots, I dont really use the middle pickup much, so im not that bothered about it sounding a bit off, I may replace that pickup down the line anyway!, so i guess ill get the 550k's.

I have 53mm bridge spacing after checking with the tape measure, so ill order it all tonight, is there anything else I need to worry about before I order and start soldering stuff :P

Do I need to get a capacitor at all?

Thanks!

[TwinCalliber]

Just ordered everything :)

Cant wait to to set it all up, ill let you all know how it sounds !

Thanks for all the help!