Pickups suggestions for a Mockingbird Supreme?

[Hansi]

So I just got this beautiful USA made '98 BC Rich Mockingbird Supreme this week and even though I can get a good enough tone out of the stock Super Distortion/PAF combo I'm still looking to replace the pickups with some BKPs in the future as there is still some quality to the tone that I dislike as is my usual experience with DiMarzios. The guitar is a mahogany neck-thru and mahogany wings construction with a flame maple top and an ebony fretboard. Also comes equipped with the BC Rich partial active electronics system which includes an onboard preamp, coil splits, phase switch and a Varitone. I use 12-54 gauge strings (mostly in Eb and D Standard) and play through a TS808 copy boosted Splawn Quickrod.

Now what I want the guitar to do is a great modern-ish metal tone à la Iced Earth (Alive In Athens/Horror Show era), Blind Guardian but also something a bit more traditional like the recent Edguy or Avantasia albums. Of course it wouldn't hurt if I could use the guitar for some more aggressive stuff like thrash and melodic death metal occasionally. And why not some classic rock too...  Yeah, I want everything it seems. :lol: Basically this is the kinda rhythm and lead tone that the pickups should at least be able to pull off without any problems: http://youtu.be/BY5VmDzzHzI.

I've tried a lot of different BKP pickups already and currently own some Black Dogs, Cold Sweats, Rebel Yell, Holy Diver and an Aftermath so I'd kinda want to try something new too. That's why I'm thinking about the VHII 'cause going by the specs and clips it should perform quite well for the aforementioned stuff and apparently they split very well too which is a plus considering the electronics on the guitar. But do they have enough balls while still tight enough for the heavier stuff? Do you think some of the pickups I already own would be better suited for the job or another pickup altogether? How about the VHII neck pickup or something else?

[JimmyMoorby]

I posted a thread asking for help with the bridge pickup mainly.

I completely get the type of sound youre going for but im not sure which pickup to suggest as I dont own any BKP's.....

What got my interest if that you said you own aftermath and you play in a similar tuning to me..... I would have thought from the research ive done that pickup would have been ideal in some ways, its just whether or not its sorted to 'traditional metal' tunings.

Any way did you know John Schaffer has his own signature pickups with WCR?

[PhilKing]

I have an 82 mockingbird which I put cold sweats into - it really gives a great set of tones with the BC Rich switching.  However, since you were looking for something different, have you thought about the Blackhawks?  I heard them in one of Tim's Les Pauls and they sounded great.  I know Tim was using a Les Paul with Mules when he was playing with Iced Earth, but VHII's are great pickups too.  I used to have them in a PRS, but cheged them for Mules (I'm more of a classic rock & blues player, and wanted a little different sound than the VHII's, which had a little too much bass in the PRS).

[Hansi]

What got my interest if that you said you own aftermath and you play in a similar tuning to me..... I would have thought from the research ive done that pickup would have been ideal in some ways, its just whether or not its sorted to 'traditional metal' tunings.

Any way did you know John Schaffer has his own signature pickups with WCR?

I don't think the Aftermath has any problems doing stuff in Eb probably not even E standard. It's tight as hell and has a lot of balls but still extremely clear so it kinda shines at the higher gain and lower tuning stuff. I love it in my mahogany body/bolt-on maple neck Caparison Apple Horn and I rarely play tunings lower than D. Don't know if it'd be a good match for the Mockingbird though and I am searching for something more in the vintage hot category...

Yeah, I am aware of the WCR Ice Buckers but I can't really believe they're worth the 200 EUR more with shipping and taxes compared to the BKP stuff. If I ever come by a "cheap" used set I will definitely go for it but I'm not going to pay for a new set.  :)

[Hansi]

So Tim said that I might need a pickup with a ceramic magnet for the tightness and suggested I try the Cold Sweat I already have. I guess I'll have to take out the Cold Sweat from my Bacchus LP and try it out at some point. He also recommended that I try the Black Hawk which is an intriguing option but I'm a bit hesitant if it's too hot and modern for my tastes...

[darkbluemurder]

Basically this is the kinda rhythm and lead tone that the pickups should at least be able to pull off without any problems: http://youtu.be/BY5VmDzzHzI.

It will be very difficult to nail that tone with just one guitar because it is so multi-layered. I would say the Rebel Yell set or a RY bridge with a VH II neck should get you at least in the ballpark.

Cheers Stephan

[ericsabbath]

the vhII is pretty tight sounding and the most iced earth sounding model, in my experience
the cold sweat might work for the earlir tones, but the vhII gets pretty pretty close to the last 3 albums
by the way, all leads on framing armageddon album were done with a splawn quickrod
I'm almost sure I can hear splawn rhythms in a couple songs as well

[TheyCallMeVolume]

VHII's should work well here.

[Laars]

So I just got this beautiful USA made '98 BC Rich Mockingbird Supreme this week and even though I can get a good enough tone out of the stock Super Distortion/PAF combo I'm still looking to replace the pickups with some BKPs in the future as there is still some quality to the tone that I dislike as is my usual experience with DiMarzios. The guitar is a mahogany neck-thru and mahogany wings construction with a flame maple top and an ebony fretboard. Also comes equipped with the BC Rich partial active electronics system which includes an onboard preamp, coil splits, phase switch and a Varitone. I use 12-54 gauge strings (mostly in Eb and D Standard) and play through a TS808 copy boosted Splawn Quickrod.

Now what I want the guitar to do is a great modern-ish metal tone à la Iced Earth (Alive In Athens/Horror Show era), Blind Guardian but also something a bit more traditional like the recent Edguy or Avantasia albums. Of course it wouldn't hurt if I could use the guitar for some more aggressive stuff like thrash and melodic death metal occasionally. And why not some classic rock too...  Yeah, I want everything it seems. :lol: Basically this is the kinda rhythm and lead tone that the pickups should at least be able to pull off without any problems: http://youtu.be/BY5VmDzzHzI.

I've tried a lot of different BKP pickups already and currently own some Black Dogs, Cold Sweats, Rebel Yell, Holy Diver and an Aftermath so I'd kinda want to try something new too. That's why I'm thinking about the VHII 'cause going by the specs and clips it should perform quite well for the aforementioned stuff and apparently they split very well too which is a plus considering the electronics on the guitar. But do they have enough balls while still tight enough for the heavier stuff? Do you think some of the pickups I already own would be better suited for the job or another pickup altogether? How about the VHII neck pickup or something else?

How about photos of your Mockingbird...... I've got a 1998 Mockingbird supreme in Silver that I enjoy playing. I'm using Black Dogs in my LPs and was thinking about adding them to this guitar.

It has a Lindy Fralin Pure PAF 8.6K in it right now, but I'd like something a little hotter.

Our other guitar player has a VHII in one of his LPs, and its a great sounding pickup. Don't think you can go wrong with any of the bare knuckles.

[Hansi]

Oh damn, that's a beautiful Mockingbird you've got there man! 8) Is that a Clayton pick I see there? I use the rounded triangle picks myself. :lol:

Pics? Sure here's a few of mine, bad lighting so the flametop is barely visible but you get the idea...








(Click the thumbnails for a full-size picture)