Classic spanky Gibson tone

[submix]

Hi all,

I was hoping someone with a good knowledge of the BKP range could recommend a set for me, I installed yardbirds on a tele recently and adore the sound. So now want BKP in all my guitars.

Figured I could use the upgrade to try get a sound I've always loved but don't feel I have in my arsenal of (4) guitars.

Is basically this sound http://youtu.be/dPBtZSnagsA <---- *warning* this will link to Phil X doing stupid things with a guitar

It's the really crispy and spanky tone but still quite dark and not really trebly I love on that guitar demo. Heard it on. Few songs but think that's the best example of the sound I'm chasing. I'm aware he uses a compressor in parts of the video to eventuate the sound but there's parts where he just plays it clean, or overdriven, but without compression.

Anyway, yer, anyone pointers would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

Alex

[Zaned]

That's a combination of great sounding guitar (warm, yet clear) and bright, low output pickups. Points pretty much to BKP vintage range :)

In this particular case, he also mentions this 'strat-meets-humbucker', which reminds of e.g. the Riff Raff neck. I don't own it (just the bridge), but I've heard clips and it has this almost single coil like character.

The guitar also has to have this certain tonality for it to really sound in that vein, not muddy and honky like many Gibson LPs sound, for example. It can be approximated with a pickup set that that accentuates certain things..but one cannot really polish shite :)

-Zaned

[FELINEGUITARS]

Nice clip - however The firebird had the brightest sound of any Gibson - note that they are mini hum buckers.

I think that the Riff Raff will be a bit too full sounding in my opinion

So if you have a Gibson with regular size pickups the following will benefit you
Stormy monday pickups
swap pots to 550k (BKP/CTS) ones and wire in 50s wiring which lessens unwanted effect of tone control when full up and volume rolled down

Whilst you are there - why not stick Jensen paper in oil caps on the tone.

I have this setup on one of my guitars if you are close to me and want to check it out.

[submix]

Thanks for the pointers, I've actually not decided what guitar the pickups will go in yet, so any size or style would be fine as I'm gonna build it from ground up, did that with a tele, buying a body, neck etc and got a great result. Don't know if firebird kits exist but if they do may well go all out and try match that guitar, specially that finish, yummy.

So yer any pickup choices, or wiring points, greatly received.

Alex

[gwEm]

on ebay you'll be able to find humbucker -> miniHB conversion rings.

[Philly Q]

Don't know if firebird kits exist but if they do may well go all out and try match that guitar, specially that finish, yummy.

I don't think you'll find a Firebird "kit" as such, but Warmoth make F-Bird bodies and necks (it'll be a bolt-on, of course):

http://www.warmoth.com/Guitar/Bodies/Vintage/FBird.aspx

http://www.warmoth.com/Pages/ClassicShowcase.aspx?Body=1&Shape=62&Path=Misc,FBird

[GuitarIv]

Philly:

"In response to Gibson’s legal demands over potential trademark issues, Warmoth is no longer building new product for this precise body shape. However, there may be existing product available from our In Stock Showcase that will satisfy your needs – until they are all gone. New body styles will be available in the coming months. We apologize for any inconvenience this might cause."

This appears when you click on the Firebird Body Shape in the Body Builder on the Warmoth site. Gibson is trying hard to establish themselves as scumbag brand.

[BigB]

Hi all,

I was hoping someone with a good knowledge of the BKP range could recommend a set for me, I installed yardbirds on a tele recently and adore the sound. So now want BKP in all my guitars.

Figured I could use the upgrade to try get a sound I've always loved but don't feel I have in my arsenal of (4) guitars.

Is basically this sound http://youtu.be/dPBtZSnagsA <---- *warning* this will link to Phil X doing stupid things with a guitar

Nothing in the BKP range will gives you this mini-humbuckers tone - it's really a thing on it's own -, and _not_ all mini-hbs share the same construction so it's not just like any mini-hb will work, the firebird ones were really something special.

 

[Philly Q]

Philly:

"In response to Gibson’s legal demands over potential trademark issues, Warmoth is no longer building new product for this precise body shape. However, there may be existing product available from our In Stock Showcase that will satisfy your needs – until they are all gone. New body styles will be available in the coming months. We apologize for any inconvenience this might cause."

This appears when you click on the Firebird Body Shape in the Body Builder on the Warmoth site. Gibson is trying hard to establish themselves as scumbag brand.

Ah, doesn't entirely surprise me.... Warmoth have had to discontinue a few body shapes in the past, like their Mockingbird copy.

Unfortunately (for anyone who wants one) there are no Firebird bodies in the Showcase.