Clear yet vague

[JimmyMoorby]

I think most people would agree that it's the 'clarity' which sets BKP apart from other brands.

I don't think ill ever get over how clear and amazing my nailbomb sounds with high amounts of gain.

I'm still on my quest for awesome tone though. I'm mainly into metal and progressive music and have been playing guitar for over 10 years.  One thing that has really started to matter to me is unwanted noise.  By this I mean say unwanted buzzing/hissing or any thing which noticably clutters or muffles my sound.  I have OCD when it comes to this stuff now but I should add I love controlled feedback, I think it can be musical.

Any way before I blather too much what do people think is the clearest humbucker and even single coil pickup in BKP range vintage or modern but also leans to the bright side (unlike say the alnico nailbomb?) 

Which is the pickup that's bright, crytal clear and yet can still crystal clear even under high amounts of gain?

Would appreciate the help.

[ericsabbath]

you described the riff raff
don't need to add much to your description
it has a quite bright but balanced voicing
bright, but not trebly, punchy, but not bassy, wouldn't say it's particularly middy, but it will deliver that in a midrangy guitar
very transparent sounding and keeps all the clarity under lots of gain
I love how it adapts to any style really easily with the proper rig and hands

[JimmyMoorby]

Cheers. 

You wouldnt think any of that with a name like 'riff raff' but from reading through all the descriptions I suspected the riff raff, emerald and the apache would sound the brightest and cleanest but really you to play them or some one else has to describe the sound to get an idea.

[Slartibartfarst42]

Of the ones I've tried, an Emerald set would fit the bill very well indeed.

Other than that, an ISP Decimator is fantastic at getting rid of unwanted noise  :D

[braintheory]

The sultan in the neck position of my strat also fits your description quite well.  Also, the painkiller neck is the most articulate BK neck pick-up I've played and also leans towards the bright side for a neck pickup.  I've never played the riff raff, but based on my research I'd agree with Eric.

Based on all the pickups I've tried I would say the motor city 2nd degree black belts would definitely be the best for humbuckers.  I actually prefer the motor city detroiters because they're more aggressive and to my ears have slightly more character, but the black belts are brighter and a little clearer.  Also, both the neck version of the detroiter and black belts are even more articulate than the painkiller neck. 

So far the Entwistle HDN's I just installed also match your description, although it's definitely on the modern side.

[JimmyMoorby]

Yeah I can see the Emerald working too.

I had an ISP noise gate but with hindsight I really should have bought the G system.  I've sold it now and will get the G System and all my new gear in the new year after my holiday and xmas... I like to plan in advance and it gives me the confidence to know im not making a rash decision.....cant afford to splash out on gear now like I used to!  I think ISP have set the standard for noise gates, it was flawless I just really need one for the loop and front of the amp.

Do those Entwistle pickups really stack up against all the major pickup makers?  The low prices are really off putting haha!  I am a big believer in not having to pay a lot though to get good gear.

[gwEm]

For humbuckers: riff raff or rebel yell

Most of the strat coils I would say are bright, with the exception of The Sinner, which I would describe as balanced.

[Philly Q]

Most of the strat coils I would say are bright, with the exception of The Sinner, which I would describe as balanced.

Even Slow Hands?

When you say they're bright, is that just in comparison with humbuckers (stating the obvious) or actually bright for Strat pickups generally?

[Dave Sloven]

I think ISP have set the standard for noise gates, it was flawless I just really need one for the loop and front of the amp.

I recently acquired the ISP Decimator II G-String, which goes both in front of the preamp and in the effects loop.  I haven't had the chance to try it out yet though, as I am currently interstate and it arrived just before I left home.

[gwEm]

Most of the strat coils I would say are bright, with the exception of The Sinner, which I would describe as balanced.

Even Slow Hands?

When you say they're bright, is that just in comparison with humbuckers (stating the obvious) or actually bright for Strat pickups generally?

good point philly, i'm in fact comparing to humbuckers.

slowhands are brighter than sinners, though both are "dark" for strat pickups.

[fhn_lopes]

The Trilogy Suit isn't bright as well. I think they ballance well in bright guitars/amps.

For humbuckers, Riff Raff and Emerald are very good choices. VHII is bright too, but with a different low end (looser) from the other two.

[Telerocker]

Mother's Milk are very clear, even with loads of gain. That will probably go for a lot of other vintage singlecoils.
And the VHII in my strat can handle ferocious amounts of gain without mushing up, keeping things clear and dymanic. I don't have experience with them, but RiffRaff, Emerald, Cold Sweat and Rebel Yell are often categorized as being clear and bright.

[JJretroTONEGOD]

I have found mules to be excellent under even extreme gain, Tim wasn't wrong when he recommended them, superb clarity and detail

[JimmyMoorby]

I have found mules to be excellent under even extreme gain, Tim wasn't wrong when he recommended them, superb clarity and detail

I'm open minded re the bridge still but id definitely want a mule in the neck to go whatever bright and clear pickup I choose.  Interesting some one has mentioned the cold sweat. 

How does the cold sweat compare to the nailbomb?  Is it clearer than that or not so much?  I know Chris Broderick used the cold sweat and mule combo before he switched to Di Marzio........ just a random train of thought!

[ericsabbath]

broderick also used a nailbomb bridge/cold sweat neck combo
the bridge cold sweat sounds sharper, more compact and scooped
think Pantera's Vulgar Display of Power
love the singing but focused tone
not really among the most open sounding models, though (compared to the vintage and vintage hot models), but still versatile
cleans up really well

to take care of the noise, I've been using the rocktron reaction hush in front of the amp
costs half of an ISP and does the job really well
very robust pedal
I recently bought a new MXR noise clamp as it has a loop for the pedals, but the reaction hush works way better, so I'm gonna sell the MXR