How do you solve a problem like ceramics?

[JimmyMoorby]

So I finally received my order of BKP's and I am/was well chuffed.

Slight problem though, I ordered a Black Hawk Bridge and asked for the alnico magnet option and theyve sent the ceramic one!
I wanted the alnico option as I wanted more bottom end and 'warmth' BUT I got to thinking.

1)  Do Ceramics generally have 'more treble'?
2)  As the black hawk is meant to have similar characteristics to an EMG wouldnt the ceramic on paper be the better magnet to use as generally speaking dont they have a more modern voice than Alnico mags?

I've e-mailed BKP to explain the oversight and asked if I can fit it and try it out and send it back if it aint ideal or whether they just want me to send it straight back.  Shame I got really excited about re fitting my guitars!

[FELINEGUITARS]

The ceramic will have more bass but it will be very tight and detailed rather than warm and fuzzy.
The ceramic will also have clearer crisper highs.

If your guitar is beefy sounding you'll love the ceramic
If it tends towards being a bit thin sounding the alnico may suit better

Comparisons to active pickups
EMG81 is caeramic
EMG85 is alnico

[ericsabbath]

I'd try it first

[JimmyMoorby]

The guitar is an ESP George Lynch Skulls and Crossbones which seems to gravitate more towards lead playing than meaty thrashy riffs which is nice as im a lead guitarist but I want the the riffage too amongst other things.

The guitar seems to be crying out for a pickup to dictate and dominate it so  I nearly bought a warpig but opted for black hawk instead. An EMG 81 might have been cool but I didnt fancy any of their single coil necks (Bought a sinner instead) and the black hawk is supposed to be a good alternative and passive (Hopefully it will be better too..... im sure itll be great).  I think the ceramic magnet will be ideal to be fair and ill only return it is it isnt an improvement on the seymour duncan SH13 Dimebucker.

I appreciate the assistance you guys have offered.  Just so you know Eric I got an Alnico Nailbomb bridge for my other guitar on your advice so ill be blaming you if I dont like it !  :)

Im gonna do some vids of the of how the Black Hawk Stacks up against the EMG 81 once ive got it fitted. 

[ericsabbath]

I appreciate the assistance you guys have offered.  Just so you know Eric I got an Alnico Nailbomb bridge for my other guitar on your advice so ill be blaming you if I dont like it !  :) 

well, you can swap it for the black hawk and see what happens  :D

[JimmyMoorby]

The guitar is on the bright side so im going aginst 'logic' but to hell with it ill stick with the ceramic I think when its cranked through a high gain amp and a high volume it will hold out better......it will sound more like a true active too I reckon.  f I only have one other guitar which will have an alnico nailbomb bridge.  I'm hoping theyll differ in sound quite a bit!

[gwEm]

the thing i notice most about BKP alnico humbuckers is the sweet sounding top end.

[JimmyMoorby]

the thing i notice most about BKP alnico humbuckers is the sweet sounding top end.

I agree.  I think i've developed a really good ear for fx, eq, gear etc (Shame i cant do the same wit learning songs by ear as well!).

Any way im like a spoilt 5 year old so when I got the wrong magnet I got a bit impatient and didnt want to wait for a new one, especially as its xmas so i breifley tried to convince my self it might be cool BUT ive made my final decision which is what I knew all along the alnico is the only coice.  It a bit darker and has that 'thunder' when you heavily chug on a chord which the ceramic doesnt have.  You know its blatant when you can hear it through youtube clips on a shiteety laptop.  

My guitar is bright and my amp sounds best when I pile on the treble so a bright pickup wouldnt sound good for my stlyle I think the ceramic black hawk would actually be very similar to the pickup it was replacing a Seymour Duncan SH-13 Dimebucker so it would be a pointless and costly swap.

I dont fancy the ceramic options of any of the pickups except for the warpig.  I think thatd work very well.