Set recommendations, again

[ventura]

 :D

This'll be my 6th set...  I'm looking for a calibrated set for an incoming ESP NT-7 (string-thru).  Ditching the EMGs (again) and am seeking a nice passive set up.  I've got PKs in my NT-II, MMs in my FR-II, and although I LOVE them, I do find them a touch too high in output for my Diezels.  This upcoming axe, being a 7 string, will need good range.  Intended use:
Axe-II
Diezel Hagen/VH4
Mak4

Styles: prog to djent.
Needs: to sound good split, clean up nicely, offer rich string definition, not be a sledgehammer to the amps' front end, balanced with good tonality.  String and note separation key - I can't stand compressed chugga chugga, I like my chugga chugga rich, especially now without muddying up the lowest string on a 7 string.

Ideas?

Peace,
V.

[Telerocker]

Black Dogs?

[ventura]

Black Dogs?

Better suited to my '68 Custom Lester.  I should mention I have the following:
Mules in a '57
Emeralds in a '57 Black Beauty
Riff Raffs in a Hamer
MMs in an ESP Horizon
PKs in an ESP Horizon

All for different musical reasons, barring the Lesters which tend to play the most range of music.

For this upcoming axe, I'm looking for "modern organic".  I like the uncompressed burble and grind of a pup with big mids.  The BDs have this, but knowing them as I do, they're not going where I want this guitar to go musically.  It's a 7 string drop tuned beast.  Lots of low string chuggin'.

Thanks!
V.

[ericsabbath]

I agree this is not a black dog job, although it might sound good

how about a blackhawk? maybe the alnico version

the vhII might sound interestig as well, although it's not a mid heavy pickup

ps: glad to see you back here, brother (I'm ericsabbath on rig-talk)  :D

[ventura]

I agree this is not a black dog job, although it might sound good

how about a blackhawk? maybe the alnico version

the vhII might sound interestig as well, although it's not a mid heavy pickup

ps: glad to see you back here, brother (I'm ericsabbath on rig-talk)  :D

BRADDAH ERIC!!!!!

Hell YEAH we RT'ers get around m'man!!  Good to BE BACK here lemme tell ya!!  Love me some BKPs!!!

I'm up for suggestions.  The Blackhawk's seem very intriguing.  I've done my ubiquitous email to Tim, and he's never failed me in the advice/recommendation department, so we'll have to see.

Good to see you here too m'man...
Chat soon!
V.

[darkbluemurder]

I would consider the Rebel Yell - strong mids, especially center and high mids, tight low end, a lot of cut but never harsh. And it would be a good alternative to the sets you already have.

Cheers Stephan

[WeAreNotGentlemen]

The Blackhawk is really only compressed in the g-e string range of chords. Think Passenger by Periphery. They do that tone really well with the right set up. The higher chords really shine. Low chugs have a huge detailed bottom. It's great.

[ventura]

Tim's recommendation?  Aftermath.  Also due to their great split sound.

So there it is - anyone have their thoughts on the AM?  Style you play, what you can tell me, etc. etc.?

Cheers gents!
V.

[TheyCallMeVolume]

Can't go wrong with Tim's recommendation. I'd go for the Aftermath.

[ericsabbath]

I can see why he advises the aftermath, but that wouldn't be my first choice for string separation, although it has the greatest single note clarity ever
the mids are very dense and intense, like the black dogs, but it has a waaaay hotter output, and considering the diezels prominent and also dense midrange, I think that's a bit too much of everything

did you ask him specifically about the hawk?

[ventura]

I can see why he advises the aftermath, but that wouldn't be my first choice for string separation, although it has the greatest single note clarity ever
the mids are very dense and intense, like the black dogs, but it has a waaaay hotter output, and considering the diezels prominent and also dense midrange, I think that's a bit too much of everything

did you ask him specifically about the hawk?

Said the BH may be a bit too anemic.  Agreed, I'm not too keen on a large output pup, especially with Diezels.  Then again, there'll be a fair bit of Axe-II action with this unit too.

I'm still pondering, wonder how a VHII would sound  :lol:

[EffigyForgotten]

Anyone have a painkiller neck? How does it do cleans? How is the lead sound compared to the cold sweat?

[ventura]

Anyone have a painkiller neck? How does it do cleans? How is the lead sound compared to the cold sweat?

I have a PK calibrated set in my ESP NT-II 6 string.  Coil tapped.  It's a really interested pup.  At first takes a while to understand it, definitely required some re-EQ'ing on my amps, but overall, offers a distinctive and punchy sound.  Neck sounds rich and fluid; only bitch I've had with it is the coil-tap going from humbucker to single in the neck resulted in huge volume - and therefore dynamics - loss.  I've worked around it, I have a clean boost in my signal chain, I tap the neck pup, go single, and punch in the boost - sounds gold.

FWIW, YMMV.
V.

[ventura]

Aftermaths mention "compression" in their description.  Mmmmmmmmmnot my style.  I like "wide open".

I've asked Tim about the VHIIs, I think this could be a killer set up knowing how I like the more open, gnawing sound of vintage voiced pups.

We'll see what his take on this is.

Just keeping y'all posted.
V.

[ericsabbath]

the vhII sounds like nailbombed riff raff
or a riff raffed nailbomb  :lol:

it has the thick low end and edgy top of the nailbomb, but it's quite uncompressed, like the riff raff
doesn't have the low mid bump of the nailbomb, though
very punchy and percussive instead of mid focused, unlike most people would expect from a supposedly "brown sounding" pickup
more like modern iced earth than classic van halen
quite the opposite voicing from the black dog, which is funny, since the dog was one of jon schaffer's favorites
the neck vhII in the bridge sounds pretty close to the riff raff, little more organic and classic sounding than the actual bridge pickup