Querying about BKP

[RuleBySecrecy]

Hello to the forum.

I just thought I'd make a general query about BKPs as I've not really got first hand experience with them. I'm not going to be ordering any pickups soon, so at the moment I'm just trying to narrow down my choices to get an idea of my options.

The guitar hasn't actually been made yet - it's still being discussed at this stage - but the basics look like it will be a thick mahogany body with maple top, bolt-on mahogany neck with ebony fretboard. Things may change, but that's what we have upto now.

What I'm looking for is a set of humbuckers which will work well with wood that has good resonance. The luthier has a great ability for finding really resonant piece of wood. I like my high output pickups, but I also prefer to have that organic quality that sounds expressive. I like my bridge pickup to sound thick and weighty on leads, huge on power chords, but retain clarity when chugging the low E string. Only problem in the past is that most of the high output pickups I've used haven't been worked well with the volume pot, and the tone pot has always added a blanket to my sound when turned down.

Regarding a neck pickup, the most experience I've ever had is with an EMG 85 and an Ibanez stock IBZ. I guess with the neck, I'd like a nice balance between clean playing and lead playing, with added touch sensitivity - something I've never really had before.

As I said, this is purely research at this stage, but I'd like to have made a decision sooner than later, but sorry if I ask a few more questions now and again.

Hope everyone had a happy new year :)

[Kiichi]

Welcome to the forum mate.

Everyone around here gladly answers questions as good as he can. Tis what we do.

If you are looking for a PU that will work well with resonant wood and give you clarity BKP certainly is the right adress. Muddy is not even in their vocabulary as far as I am concerned.

Now, before we can really start to give you recommendations it would be helpful if you could tell us which style of music you play.
Also, if you can describe this, what is it that you like about high output HBs better? Is it just the output or the compression they bring?

For the tone pot issue you had I would suggest 550k BKP pots with better caps in smaller values and mabye 50s wiring. Though just getting BKPs whould help too.

[Telerocker]

Welcome on board?

+1 on what Kiichi says.

For modern styles, but still clean up great, I would pick a Holy Diver-bridge, paired with a Cold Sweat-neck. The Diver has full mids and a sweeter then average topend, great for soloing, but the HD is tight enough for chugging. Other options in the modern-organic range: Rebel Yell (brighter then most, lots of mids, less bass) and the alnico Nailbomb (more bass then the Diver, agressive uppermids, brighter then the Diver).
Vintagehot-combo with good mids capable of doing nice cleans, blues, rock, hardrock and even (prog) metal, would be the Abraxas.

[ericsabbath]

the miracle man has pretty much all the mentioned qualities and doesn't get dull with the volume rolled off

for the neck, something like the cold sweat, maybe the vhII

[RuleBySecrecy]

Hi and thanks for the replies :)

Now, before we can really start to give you recommendations it would be helpful if you could tell us which style of music you play.
Also, if you can describe this, what is it that you like about high output HBs better? Is it just the output or the compression they bring?

Regarding the music I play, this is quite a tough one. I'm quite an all around player, but I should mention I'm looking into getting a cheaper LTD Eclipse with EMGs for those stadium modern metal tones, so that's covered. It's hard to describe why I like higher output pickups. I think I just prefer how you can really rip out a solo at high gain, but as many of you will probably know, with an EMG81 you are quite restricted in terms of dynamics/feel. I am looking for a slight aggressive edge to my tone, but providing that organic sound and feel, which provides great partnership with the guitar's pots.

For the tone pot issue you had I would suggest 550k BKP pots with better caps in smaller values and mabye 50s wiring. Though just getting BKPs whould help too.

How does 50s wiring compare?

For modern styles, but still clean up great, I would pick a Holy Diver-bridge, paired with a Cold Sweat-neck. The Diver has full mids and a sweeter then average topend, great for soloing, but the HD is tight enough for chugging. Other options in the modern-organic range: Rebel Yell (brighter then most, lots of mids, less bass) and the alnico Nailbomb (more bass then the Diver, agressive uppermids, brighter then the Diver).
Vintagehot-combo with good mids capable of doing nice cleans, blues, rock, hardrock and even (prog) metal, would be the Abraxas.

I'm liking the sound of the Nailbomb, especially BKPs description.

the miracle man has pretty much all the mentioned qualities and doesn't get dull with the volume rolled off
for the neck, something like the cold sweat, maybe the vhII

I had a look at the Miracle Man, but with getting some EMGs, I think I may have that covered. I had a look around the forums, and whilst the Cold Sweat originally sounded great, the VHII seems really appealing. The clips also lead me towards the VHII. It really sounds more expressive than the Cold Sweat.

I've got a quick Off-Topic question though. On the Black Hawk clips, has anyone noticed the Alnico Black Hawk on the Progressive Clip, starts brighter than the Ceramic? :S

Thanks for all your kind words of advice. It's like going out on a crusade lol :)

[RuleBySecrecy]

Ok this may sound a bit unusual, but after listening to the clips with a new ear. I really love the progressive clip of the Nailbomb, especially the neck at the end. One thing which I find unusual is listening to the Black Hawks clips, they sound very Dimarzio in terms of tone, which I love I must point out. I'm actually really interested in these as well. If BKP is known for clarity, maybe these could be like a new breed. I really fancy trying the Alnico version in my basswood guitar. What are peoples opinions on the Black Hawk?

[Kiichi]

For the tone pot issue you had I would suggest 550k BKP pots with better caps in smaller values and mabye 50s wiring. Though just getting BKPs whould help too.

How does 50s wiring compare?

Well it changes the way the tone and volume pot interarct. The big thing it does is that you do not loose treble anymore when you roll down the vol pot. Plus you should not hear any effect from the tone pot anymore when it is turned up full.
Additionally it does a little sweetening to your highs (not really roling off like with the tone pot, just a tad nicer) and changes the taper of the vol pot a bit. Generally the way the two pots interact is different.

Since it is such an easy thing to do I would suggest you try it out on any guitar you got lying around. While the effect will probably feel more pronounced with BKPs you will still see what it is all about.
I for one am about to do it to all my axes, since I believe it adds versatility and I like the sound.

One can not say though if modern or 50s is better, it is a matter of taste and should be tried out.

[TheyCallMeVolume]

I like 50's wiring much better, especially having a one channel amp, as I need to roll off my volume for cleans.

[RuleBySecrecy]

I see Dimarzio solve this by using a cap between the middle and right leg of the volume pot. Is this kind of like doing the same?

[ericsabbath]

trust me, you can't get anywhere near a miracle man's tonal range with emgs
they sound quite sterile on crunchy/cleasnish stuff with the pot rolled off and not as deep on heavy stuff

[JimmyMoorby]

Ok this may sound a bit unusual, but after listening to the clips with a new ear. I really love the progressive clip of the Nailbomb, especially the neck at the end. One thing which I find unusual is listening to the Black Hawks clips, they sound very Dimarzio in terms of tone, which I love I must point out. I'm actually really interested in these as well. If BKP is known for clarity, maybe these could be like a new breed. I really fancy trying the Alnico version in my basswood guitar. What are peoples opinions on the Black Hawk?

Im due to fit an alnico black hawk in one of my guitars within the next week.  I was gonna  try and record a direct comparison with EMG 81's and show the results, id be happy to do a review if any one was interested.

[RuleBySecrecy]

If I was replacing my EMG, I'd look at the Ceramic model. But I really love the clips of the Alnico model. I'd love to hear some more clips :)

[JimmyMoorby]

If I was replacing my EMG, I'd look at the Ceramic model. But I really love the clips of the Alnico model. I'd love to hear some more clips :)

Ahhhh i bought the alnico as it had the massive bottom end but supposedly just as tight which appealed to me.  The ceramic might have been to bright for my guitars that was my 'problem'.  My amps also quite bright and hi gain.

[Kiichi]

Im due to fit an alnico black hawk in one of my guitars within the next week.  I was gonna  try and record a direct comparison with EMG 81's and show the results, id be happy to do a review if any one was interested.

We are always happy to read other reviews around here. There are many BKPs and they work so differently with different guitars and gear, plus everyone hears things differently. Also you may say something about a PU I have thought too but could not put my finger on...etc, etc.

Just write one up mate!

I see Dimarzio solve this by using a cap between the middle and right leg of the volume pot. Is this kind of like doing the same?

That is what should be done when you wanne stick to modern wiring. It is called a treble bleed mod. The cap bypasses the volume pot and allows some high end to go through when the pot is rolled down.

Thing is getting the values right is quite a challenge, youŽll have to do a lot of trying for that. There are different values of caps, different types of caps, you can put resistors parralel or in series with the cap, play with values for the resistors....
It just is really, really hard to get it right cause there are so many possibilitys.

That is why I like the 50s wiring. Simple to do and effective and much easier to get right. You have only the type or the cap and the value. Which does have only a small effect on the treble passing I believe and is just responsible for the amount of possible rolloff and sound of the toneknob.
I would first try the 50s wiring with different values of caps with an aligator clip and cheap caps. It is just the easiert and cheapest way to get started on this.
Get the range from about 47nf to 1nf (so 47nf, 33nf, 22nf, 15nf, 10nf, 2,2nf, 1nf for example, might even throw a 100nf / 0.1uf in there). The lower the values the smaller the effect. I personally like smaller values cause I never do the extreme rolloffs and the lower values give me a larger sweetspot. Some of the most common values are 47, 33 and 22. You are likely to find one of these in your axe.
When you got the right value upgrade the quality of the cap to something like a Jensen cap (BKPs caps) or a Orange Drop.
If you are then not happy you at least got the tone pot right can go into trying all the possibilitys for the treble bleed.

[RuleBySecrecy]

I'd love to hear an Alnico Black Hawk review. And I'll have a go with the 50s wiring.