Just ordered my first BKP

[Deafcat64]

Hello everyone! I just placed my order for my first BKP a little while ago. I have a Gibson SG Standard that sounds quite bright and jangly. I 've had it for a long time (the only thing my father ever did to support my musical career was give me this guitar, and it was used when I got it 15 years ago), I thought it might mellow with age. It is so bright at the bridge, that in all this time I have hardly ever used the bridge pickup alone. After a lot of deliberation, and a couple questions to Tim, I decided to go with an Abraxas, and adjust it a bit farther from the strings as Tim suggested. I never use a distortion or overdrive pedal, and use my volume and tone controls constantly while I'm playing. I built myself a Dumble ODS, from the ground up. A project that took 18 months and was worth every second of circuit redesign and parts changes. It's irreplaceable. I know an Abraxas is not the common recommendation for an SG but in this instance I wanted a bit more beefy pickup to counter the jangly, almost single coil sound of the bridge position. I tried several replacement pickups in it and though I could counter the jangle, I lost definition and the organic feel I like in my sound. I'm hoping this will cure the problem. I'll post the results when I get it installed.

I'm also considering a Mississippi Queen for the neck. Any thoughts on this one?

[stratfeelblues]

If you look for a vintage sound, you can also consider the Stormy monday hambucker. They are really fantastic, clear, crunch and lead. And they work well when splitted.
Actually, my next project will be to upgrade a SG '61. I am looking at the Stockholm. This is also P90 pickup. Maybe it could be a good compromise for a vintage/modern sound.
Cheers
Stephane

[Deafcat64]

Thanks Stephane! I considered the SM and the Mule. I just need more oomph because I use the guitar to drive my amp. I also rarely use a pick. So the vintage output are a struggle for me. I actually got to try several BKPs when I was in NYC for a little while, and I love the Stockholm an MQ! My style is more classic than modern. Think Knopfler meets Page, or a bit of Jeff Beck aggressiveness. I may go with some SMs in an SG special I intend to give to my girlfriend though. She's awesome at blues, and I think that would suit her well.

[Deafcat64]

Thought I should say that I'm not saying I'm that great a player. I have 30 years in the game, but I'm no Page, Knopfler, or Jeff Beck by any stretch. My style is a mix of the bunch though. Just thought my first post made me sound like some arrogant ass. I do regularly build and repair valve amps, and my amp is the high point of my building career. I'll try to post some clips as soon as I get my recording rig back up and running.

[BigB]

Just thought my first post made me sound like some arrogant ass.

It didn't (to me at last but I think most people here would agree).

[darkbluemurder]

Congrats! Abraxas is one of my favorite BKP sets, and the bridge pickup in particular. And building an ODS is also a remarkable achievement. Have fun with those two.

Cheers Stephan

[Deafcat64]

Thanks Stephan! I actually got to try the Abraxas bridge a while back. I loved it! Just got an update that my pickup is on it's way! Yeah the ODS was a tough build. There are lots of schematics but the values are mostly guesswork. I spent a lot of time changing parts and signal path variations but I'm pleased with it. It absolutely sings, and is more than a match for any Two R*%K I ever heard. I'm hoping that the Abraxas will complete my elusive dream tone!

I was hoping to get some feedback on a MQ neck pickup with the Abraxas bridge. I'm not sure how the two will work as a pair.

[Deafcat64]

A quick pic of my current gigging rig. I hope to get some BKPs for the G&L some time soon as well.

[LiveWire]

Can't help you with the MQ as I haven't tried it, but just have to drop a big +1 on the Abraxas. Have got it in my beloved #1 guitar for a week now. Needed a pickup to bring out the wood and tone the guitar has and have tried five different top-notch pickups (including a Painkiller) instantly settling for the Abraxas. I play a self build too, but not quite as ambitious, a 100w plexi clone. An excellent set, they've become friends. Will post a sound clip as soon as I can find the time to setup the recording gear.

[Deafcat64]

Awesome! I build lots of plexis, jcm 800s and the like. My favorite Marshalls are the jtm 45 and 18 watt. I do like to build some of the old Fender amps though. The ODS is based on the AB763 Fender circuit. I'm planning on quitting building amps for other people though. I'm just gonna build myself one each of my favorites before I quit.

I'm anxious to install the Abraxas. I'm really leaning toward the Abraxas neck as well but I'm curious as to the compatibility of the MQ. I love P90 loaded SGs, and I will probably end up with an P90 set in one of my guitars. I love to play slide, and I love the P90 tone for that. In fact, slide played a major part in my choice to build the ODS. I can't wait to hear the Abraxas on some Duane Allman and Derek Trucks tunes!

[LiveWire]

The plexi is my first build, have it for two years now and it gets me smiling every time I flick the switch. A friend of mine wants an AC30, I opted to build it for him, hope he'll take the leap.

To me the Abraxas stood out eight miles high above the other pickups in the Vintage Hot and Contemporary categories listening to the sound samples on the BKP site. It has so much tone and captures that true classic rock feel. The SG happens to be my favourite guitar and I'd say the Abraxas is perfect for it, though the heavyweights on the forum seem to lean toward Cold Sweats.

If you are already planning to get a P90 SG I'd say go for the Abraxas neck, if not the MQ seems like a very nice way to create a beautifully versatile guitar.

[FELINEGUITARS]

One bit of advice for you
Try changing the volume and tone pots first
Get a pair of 550k ohm pots and a pair of the Jensen caps - may be tricky fitting them in an SG.(may need to use orange drops instead)
I have found the improvement  over the stock 300k pots to be a revelation - I use them in 50s wiring configuration.

You may well hear a dramatic improvement in tone even with the stock pickups , then when you add the BKPs you'll really hear the difference (you'll appreciate your tone controls even more too!)

4 pots will cost you about £20 (the jensens will cost you about £30, although orange drops will be under a fiver) but this is money well spent in my opinion if also spending £200+ on pickups

[Deafcat64]

Thanks for the advice! The garbage that Gibson wired into the guitar originally, was replaced the first week I had the guitar. I build valve amps, so I have always had a good supply of CTS pots of all values, and a vast collection of capacitors. as I said earlier, the guitar is bright and jangly. Almost single coil sounding. The 300k pots were replaced with 500k which actually made it sound more jangly, so the bridge volume went back to a 300k again so as to roll off a bit more of the treble. 550k wouldn't help the situation. I tried caps of various sorts with no problem finding space for them. If you need more space in an SG, just change to a straight, short switch instead of angled. For caps, I tried paper in oil made with both aluminum foil and copper foil. I found the aluminum to be preferable. I later switched to orange drops because I needed the PIO caps for a customer's instrument in an emergency repair. To the average ear, the orange drops are probably an unnoticable difference from the paper in oil. Still they are a vast improvement over the ceramic rubbish from the Gibson factory. The pickups I have had in the guitar over the years have varied. I changed them about six times, from 490s to burstbuckers to Duncans and Lollars and out of desperation to tame the brightness of the bridge I even tried a DiMarzio before going back to the 490T. I'll find the rightr values for the Abraxas!

[Deafcat64]

LiveWire, that's awesome! The AC30 can be a tricky build with the trem. You can make it happen I'm sure. I'm with you on the Abraxas. I fell in love with the SG back in the early 70s when I first saw one in a pawn shop. I think the Abraxas will be perfect.

[Deafcat64]

Just wanted to update this thread with my thoughts on the Abraxas in my SG Standard. I can't say enough that this pickup is spectacular! It may not be the traditional SG sound, but it compliments everything the SG has to offer. It sounds very earthy, and organic. It is without a doubt the most responsive pickup I have used personally. It cleans up very well with the volume knob and the clarity and note separation is spectacular! The bass is very tight, and the tone is undeniably even through the entire range. The midrange is not pronounced or dark. The treble isn't too much or too little, but very present and  actually just perfectly balanced. I would describe it as a very rich sounding pickup.