Just ordered my first BKP

[ericsabbath]

sounds like you got a bare knuckle pickup  :D :D :D

[Deafcat64]

Thanks Eric! I have to say that BKPs are excellent! This guitar has been a tough one to find the right pickups for. I was really leaning toward Fralin High Output Humbuckers, which, by the way, are nearly identical to the Abraxas in construction. I got to try several BKPs on a trip I made to NYC a couple months back. While they all had great clarity, the Abraxas stood out to me. I found the Riff Raff somewhat shrill and spiky. The Emerald neck was exceptional, but the bridge didn't have much bass and the upper mids and highs overpowered the bass. The Mule was beautiful, with a great even tonal spectrum,but I wanted just a bit more power. I also tried a Cold Sweat, and Rebel Yell, but they both lacked the earthy tone liked in the Mule and Abraxas. The Abraxas is pretty much the perfect pickup for this guitar. I'm sure I'll find other BKPs that are exactly what I'm looking for in other guitars but for this one, there was no question! I'll let you know how the MQ works in the neck paired with the Abraxas.

For the record, the comments i made about the Riff Raff, and others, were only in regard to this particular SG Standard. I'm certain that they sound wonderful in other guitars. I'm actually looking at a set of Mother's Milk, or Irish Tours for my G&L.
I think that Tim and company are producing the best pickups available. I know I'll be a loyal customer!

[darkbluemurder]

I would describe it as a very rich sounding pickup.

+1. Exactly my experience of the Abraxas bridge in two different guitars.

Cheers Stephan

[Deafcat64]

Stephan, I believe the Abraxas may very well be the best humbucker ever made. In the"vintage hot" category at least. I think a lot of people overlook the Abraxas for some strange reason. It is perfectly balanced. No one frequency is more powerful than the others, and the pickup seems to bring out the natural character of the tonewood in the guitar. It has a "rich" full tone and the upper mids, and highs are sweet, and clear. For lead lines, and slide, it is absolutely spectacular! For chords and rhythm, it's full and deep, with exceptional note separation. Very "organic", earthy tone. Highly recommended! Tim is dead on when he says ALNICO IV is the best magnet for vintage tone in hotter wound pickups. The Mules are outstanding as well!

[Telerocker]

Stephan, I believe the Abraxas may very well be the best humbucker ever made. In the"vintage hot" category at least. I think a lot of people overlook the Abraxas for some strange reason. It is perfectly balanced. No one frequency is more powerful than the others, and the pickup seems to bring out the natural character of the tonewood in the guitar. It has a "rich" full tone and the upper mids, and highs are sweet, and clear. For lead lines, and slide, it is absolutely spectacular! For chords and rhythm, it's full and deep, with exceptional note separation. Very "organic", earthy tone. Highly recommended! Tim is dead on when he says ALNICO IV is the best magnet for vintage tone in hotter wound pickups. The Mules are outstanding as well!

You like the Abraxas, don't you?  :lol: You describe exacty my experience when I got a Mules-loaded Saint Blues (all mahogany). I have a Crawler too, which is a sort of fired-up Abraxas. Great all purpose pickup, just a tad too compressed for my taste. I'm considering the Abraxas for a while and now even more.

[Deafcat64]

Telerocker, I just can't say enough good things about the Abraxas. I've struggled to find the right pickup for  this SG for a long time. It's bright sounding for an SG. Don't get me wrong, it sounds wonderful and woody, like a good slab of well aged mahogany should, but it almost sounds like it's loaded with single coils. I tried Lollars, Fralins, Gibson pickups of various sorts and in an act of desperation, even DiMarzios. I even tried out several BKPs in it that sounded good, but too trebly. The Abraxas is perfect in this guitar. It fills out the full range of tone and still keeps the "woody" sound of the guitar intact. It's not very compressed, and has a nice open feel in the upper mids and highs. Perfect clarity, and drives the valves well with just the right ammount of grit when you need it. I have a Mississippi Queen neck on the way. I can't wait to hear them together!

Yes sir, I like the Abraxas. I like it alot! :D

[A19DMW]

Hey DeafCat.
Ive had exactly the same issue. my 2012 SG is so much lighter than my classic. I fitted a VHII but it just doesn't work in mine. Too shrill in the upper range and very little bass. Clarity was spot on though. I must stress this is not the pickups fault, its my guitar. I would imagine in a nice heavy Les Paul this will sing. With only having a 20w valve amp, i was afraid the Abraxas might be too hot but bit the bullet yesterday and ordered it! Can't wait now.
I might change the order and get the neck pichup as well!!!

Cheers for the review, you have set my mind at ease :-)

Dean.

[ericsabbath]

hey, Dean
welcome to the forum

maybe your problem was pickup height or even string height, or perhaps the low power amp (the lionheart sounds amazing, by the way)

the vhII sounds amazing in my gibson SG and it's one of the bassiest bk pickups I had, only losing to the nailbomb, warpig and maybe the miracle man
got an instant sabbath-like tone from my marshall
I love how it fits perfectly the SG midrange

before taking it out, try setting both strings and pickups a little higher
and then get the bridge pickup closer to strings
makes all the difference and it's worth the experience even if you're swapping it for the abraxas
SG's are usually much more picky about matching pickups and finding the right setup than les pauls

[A19DMW]

Hi Eric. I've tried all that and still no joy.
I really do think its the guitar.
Its so light its untrue. My other SG is a lot heavier but its a classic with P90's and that sounds amazing. Guessing the VHII would sound good in this!

The Abraxas might not work yet but we will see :-S

All the best.

Dean

[Dave Sloven]

P-90s seem to like lightweight guitars.

My SG Junior is a lot lighter than my SG Standard and it sounds good with the stock P-90, even if a little shrill through my Peavey (it sounds great through more 'bluesy' amps).  The pickup set in the Standard (490/498) was the big problem.  They are finicky with humbuckers though, especially in the middle output range

[Kiichi]

P-90s seem to like lightweight guitars.

My SG Junior is a lot lighter than my SG Standard and it sounds good with the stock P-90, even if a little shrill through my Peavey (it sounds great through more 'bluesy' amps).  The pickup set in the Standard (490/498) was the big problem.  They are finicky with humbuckers though, especially in the middle output range

Interresting observation. I must say that I only tried one p90 in multiple guitars, a MQ neck, and for my taste I found it to sit best in heavy guitars, preferably LPs. Generally in my mind the heavier and LP like the guitar is the more it likes P90s. All guitars with a lot of midrange also.

To  be fair I have not tried anything to the likes of a Stockholm in a thinner, brighter guitar, but I can absolutly see them work. However so far my (still limited) experience points me more towards vintage p90s liking LP types.

That is also why I can see an MQ kill in a SG. If I ever am to get one (have not gotten around to liking them) I would surely put a MQ in there.

[Dave Sloven]

I'm sure it sounds a bit different in a Les Paul, but it seems perfectly happy in my SG.  The main issue with the stock Gibson pickup is that it's a bit trebly for my Peavey 6534+ amp, and tends to bring out it's shrillness.  I'm putting a Stockholm in it to give it more low mids and bass, as well as a more contemporary tone suitable for hardcore, but I can definitely see how a Nantucket would be a winner in this guitar too, especially if I had a lower-gain tube amp like a Peavey Classic 30 or Delta Blues.  My friend with the Laney Lionheart fell in love with it when he tried playing the Junior through his amp.

I would have no hesitation recommending someone swap out Gibson humbuckers for a BKP MQ set in an SG.

I should add here that my comments are based entirely on a BRIDGE P-90 ... Juniors only have a single bridge pickup ... and I'm surprised that more people don't run P-90s in the bridge.

[Deafcat64]

I have a MQ neck with the Abraxas bridge. The MQ is a good bit louder than the Abraxas. My friend, Brad Gum, a well respected Nashville session guitarist, and Gibson collector, says my SG with this combo is one of, if not THE best sounding SG he has ever played. I wouldn't hesitate to put a set of MQs, Abraxas, or Mules in an SG. The Abraxas may not like every SG, but when it does suit the guitar, it's spectacular.

[A19DMW]

Cant wait now. Should be awesome! The lionheart really does bring out the guitars natural tone too.

Dean

[Dave Sloven]

Lionhearts are very nice amps, although I did miss the master volume control.

My friend played my SG Junior (with stock P-90) through his Lionheart and it sounded great.  Let us know how the Abraxas sounds with it as he is in the market for new pickups for his Les Paul