Covered BKPS in a EBMM JP6.

[Jacob Speers]

Hey guys. I'm planning on purchasing a set of BKPS for my Ernie Ball Music Man John Petrucci 6 Guitar. I am very intrigued by the Burnt Chrome Covers, and think they would look great with my Mystic Dream finish (let me know if you agree or disagree). I've been warned by some people that covered pick ups might not fit in my PU cavities without modification. I'm just wondering if anyone here owns a Music Man JP and has installed covered BKPS, and if any modifications were involved. I am of course okay with black open coils, but I'd like to at least know if the Burnt Chrome is an option.

Also, I'm not expecting any responses to this one but if anyone is skilled in photoshop and is willing to help a guy out. I am curious to see what the burnt chrome bkps would look like in a mystic dream JP.

Hopefully you guys have something to contribute to this thread. Thanks

['Ash' J. Williams]

I have a JP6, i can tell you that you'll need to specify triangular mounting tabs for the pickups.
I'm not so sure about the covers but i suspect the cavities will probably need a bit of work to make them fit - especially at the corners, it should be a pretty simple work for somebody with a bit of experience though.

[Slartibartfarst42]

Simply out of curiosity, which pickups were you thinking of buying and why?

[Jacob Speers]

Simply out of curiosity, which pickups were you thinking of buying and why?

Hey. Right now I'm torn between a few combinations.

Ceramic Nailbomb Bridge and VHII Neck
Holy Diver Bridge VHII Neck

I'm open to other options but it seems like it's narrowed down to those two.

I'm basically looking to capture JP's tone on older DT albums such as Awake, but less compressed and more organic and versatile. It's hard to explain what I'm going for. But essentially I'm trying to take what in my opinion is the holy grail of tone (JP's tone) and use it as a benchmark to create my own. 

[Slartibartfarst42]

Difficult one for me to answer this as the Holydiver is certainly far more versatile than the C-Bomb (I'll take no argument on that one  :)) but for some reason I can't quite understand, it's the Nailbomb that is usually suggested for the Petrucci tone. Personally I found the Nailbomb to be insanely tight and very aggressive indeed and I only had the alnico version! I always thought I'd prefer it in a guitar with lots of mahogany but from memory, isn't your guitar basswood? That's my experience of them but plenty people seem to love the Nailbomb so perhaps it was partly my taste and partly the guitar it was in.

[Jacob Speers]

I'm not too worried about which pick-ups I'm getting. I feel confident in the ones I've narrowed it down to. I really want to know if the covers are going to work out though. Anyone want to shed some light on this?

[James C]

Tim recommends the Nailbomb for the Petrucci tone w/Basswood and the Painkiller w/Mahogany.

I have a NB7 (AlNiCo) set in a basswood RG7321 and can say that it is really awesome for earlier DT tones like Under a Glass Moon and The Mirror.

The NB can be aggressive, but i've never found it overwhelmingly so although other peoples mileage may vary.

[Philly Q]

I am very intrigued by the Burnt Chrome Covers, and think they would look great with my Mystic Dream finish (let me know if you agree or disagree). I've been warned by some people that covered pick ups might not fit in my PU cavities without modification.

I think that might be one of the few finishes Burnt Chrome would work with!  :P

I see the JP's cavities are a rectangular shape even though the stock pickups are uncovered, but the covers extend past the edges of the baseplates so the covered BKPs will be a little bigger than the uncovered DiMarzios.  They might fit, but if they do it'll be tight.  Hopefully someone who's actually put covered pickups in an EB/MM will contribute.

[Jacob Speers]

I am very intrigued by the Burnt Chrome Covers, and think they would look great with my Mystic Dream finish (let me know if you agree or disagree). I've been warned by some people that covered pick ups might not fit in my PU cavities without modification.

I think that might be one of the few finishes Burnt Chrome would work with!  :P

I see the JP's cavities are a rectangular shape even though the stock pickups are uncovered, but the covers extend past the edges of the baseplates so the covered BKPs will be a little bigger than the uncovered DiMarzios.  They might fit, but if they do it'll be tight.  Hopefully someone who's actually put covered pickups in an EB/MM will contribute.

Thanks for your input! I'm hoping they fit. But I'm lucky enough to know two amazing luthiers/repair shops in the area both of which I've contacted with the issue.

['Ash' J. Williams]

It be great if you could keep us updated about this once it's done. I sure am interested and would love to try covered bkp in my JP6 !

[Jacob Speers]

I've decided that I will be getting a Ceramic Nailbomb for the Bridge position. I'm torn between the VHII and the Coldsweat for the neck. I know a guy who's had both pickups in the same guitar as me and prefers the VHII. On the other hand the CS is more often recommended for my guitar. Thoughts anyone?

['Ash' J. Williams]

Well, for Awake the CS is spot on, even though i don't like it so much myself and MUCH prefer the VHII and Emerald in the neck.
But, if it's the petrucci sound you're after then yeah, a smart combo will be NB ceramic and CS neck.

[Jacob Speers]

It's going to be a tough decision. I haven't considered the emerald but maybe it would be good. I know that I want a ceramic powered bridge so it's just the neck I'm deciding on.