Best punk pickups

[Casanova]

For the LP I am wondering why you don't go for the Riff Raff?  Those are vintage but the AC/DC sound has a strong resonance within punk, as I am sure you know.  It will give you that edge that punk needs.

Also, if you get the Riff Raff set and the Rebel Yell set and don't like them, swap them between the guitars.  The Riff Raff was designed for SGs and the Rebel Yell for Les Pauls, more or less, so they are a 'no brainer' set-up for each in many ways, as long as your RY is fairly dark.  If your LP is a bit brighter the Riff Raffs would be good for that, having been designed for the SG, which is a brighter guitar in general.

I hear that the Edwards guitars are very good.  Weren't they made by Fujigen, like the old MIJ Fenders?

Yeah I hadn't thought of the RR cause I was looking more at the "Vintage Hot" section. That actually might be a good idea. I'm not really sure if the LP is on the bright side or not because those pickups seems to mask the whole character of the guitar. And yes I think so, it's hands down the best guitar I ever owned aha.

I like the RY, but I favour the Alnico Nailbomb over it. I do like a pushy pickup though. The Emerald is really nice. It's like a lower output RY. I'd say its a pickup that doesnt get mentioned enough. It was the first BKP I ever got. It'll do the Have Heart / AN stuff easily and gallows too, they aren't that heavy. I haven't heard CBK since their first ever UK tour, and that old record has a fairly ballsy tone that I'd use a hotter pup for, but you can always use a little boost if you want heavier. The Emerald will be tasteful.
If you have active electronics you'll have to swap the pots too, in case you weren't aware.
what amp are you using?

I'm just afraid the Emerald might be too bright (or trebly). Yeah, playing hardcore I prefer lower gain tones to the standard LTD + EMG + Mesa setup. I'm using a Bugera XXX, that's a clone of a Peavey Triple X, but i've been looking into trying a jcm 800 or an orange dual terror, since i'm almost only using the bugera's crunch channel with the gain at about 1 o'clock (it has a lead channel with even more gain but it just sounds fizzy for what i play.) Yeah I have the previous electronics, 500k pots I think, the active system featured all the 4 pots + stereo jack etc.

I have to admit that I hadn't heard those bands before, but listening to the clips on youtube I'd say either an RY set or an A-bomb set in the SG couldn't go too far wrong.

You could also consider throwing a Supermassive in the bridge position of the Tele.  That might be good for the CBK style.  I think an A-bomb in the SG would handle the rest.

To give you an idea of what comes naturally to the A-bomb/SG combination, I'd say Ratos De Porao, The Exploited, Sepultura, and maybe the more recent poweviolence bands (if you need a more recent reference point!) like Weekend Nachos.  It *can* be more subtle than that, but it has a very pronounced chainsaw-like low-mid sound.  When I am playing darker music like Celtic Frost or Sabbath I have to either fiddle with the volume and tone knobs on the guitar or put an EQ between the guitar and the amp. You can of course change the sound with the amp EQ, but what I am getting at is that if you change from a Gibson 498T to an A-Bomb in an SG that's the direction you are heading in.

I've actually though about that when I read that the Subways custom ordered one but I think I'll miss the duncan's sound ahaha. Are you from Brazil? I'm from Portugal! I see what you mean, I think the A-bomb might be too heavy for me, but i'll check it!

Thanks guys!

[Dave Sloven]

Are you from Brazil? I'm from Portugal! I see what you mean, I think the A-bomb might be too heavy for me, but i'll check it!

I'm from Australia but RDP are popular around the world!  I don't understand the lyrics too much though.  I can play Agressao/Repressao! :D  I discovered them around the same time that I discovered Sepultura, 1989-1990.  Other than them I don't know too many Brazilian bands; a couple of grindcore bands, Hutt and that silly pornogrind band Manduca Na Roça.  You are lucky living in Portugal though as far as I am concerned; that means you are not too far from some of my favourite grindcore and death metal bands, Machetazo, Looking for an Answer, and Nashgul.  I bought the A-pig for my Explorer in an attempt to get that Spanish grindcore sound!

If you think that the A-bomb might be too much I'd say go for the Rebel Yell.  Or go for the C-Bomb, it has a lot of the same character as the A-Bomb but less aggressive low mids.

[EffigyForgotten]

I'm just afraid the Emerald might be too bright (or trebly). Yeah, playing hardcore I prefer lower gain tones to the standard LTD + EMG + Mesa setup. I'm using a Bugera XXX, that's a clone of a Peavey Triple X, but i've been looking into trying a jcm 800 or an orange dual terror, since i'm almost only using the bugera's crunch channel with the gain at about 1 o'clock (it has a lead channel with even more gain but it just sounds fizzy for what i play.) Yeah I have the previous electronics, 500k pots I think, the active system featured all the 4 pots + stereo jack etc.

Thanks guys!

Try replacing the tubes with EL34's/E34L's, my 6260 sounded way better when I put the JJ E34L tube set in, and replaced the v1 preamp tube with a Tung Sol.

[Casanova]

I'm from Australia but RDP are popular around the world!  I don't understand the lyrics too much though.  I can play Agressao/Repressao! :D  I discovered them around the same time that I discovered Sepultura, 1989-1990.  Other than them I don't know too many Brazilian bands; a couple of grindcore bands, Hutt and that silly pornogrind band Manduca Na Roça.  You are lucky living in Portugal though as far as I am concerned; that means you are not too far from some of my favourite grindcore and death metal bands, Machetazo, Looking for an Answer, and Nashgul.  I bought the A-pig for my Explorer in an attempt to get that Spanish grindcore sound!

If you think that the A-bomb might be too much I'd say go for the Rebel Yell.  Or go for the C-Bomb, it has a lot of the same character as the A-Bomb but less aggressive low mids.

I only now a couple of those bands since im not really into grind, powerviolence, etc. But that's really cool, do you know any portuguese bands? Devil in me or For the glory, maybe? (not the best ones by far but definitely the most well know internationally) I think DIM toured with an australian band called Deez Nuts.

Thanks for the input on the pickups!

Try replacing the tubes with EL34's/E34L's, my 6260 sounded way better when I put the JJ E34L tube set in, and replaced the v1 preamp tube with a Tung Sol.

I play two of them. I got a combo at home with 6L6s and a head (that is owned by a friend of mine) at our rehearsal space that has EL34s. I also prefer the EL34's sound but since i'm not sure i want to keep it (at least as my main amp) i dont want to spend 200€ upgrading tubes. Hell if i was rich i'd just get a kemper, that thng is gold ahaha.

[Dmoney]

I know For The Glory. I got one of their ep's years and years ago. There was a video on it and I think half those dudes had Terror shirts on in every cut. I think I have a Pointing Finger 7inch somewhere too, and I have the Black Friday 29/What Went Wrong split 7inch, which is good. What Went Wrong where from Portugal I think? Reality Slap is another band I know. Deez Nuts ain't my kind of thing.

If you were rich, you should aim higher than a kemper. haha.

[Dave Sloven]

Try replacing the tubes with EL34's/E34L's, my 6260 sounded way better when I put the JJ E34L tube set in, and replaced the v1 preamp tube with a Tung Sol.

Something happened with the quotes above in case anyone's confused.  But on these tubes, I have EL34s as well in my Peavey, and I'm wondering if you found this out because a tube failed or you just experimented with different tubes?  I have read a lot of recommendations for the JJs.

I only now a couple of those bands since im not really into grind, powerviolence, etc. But that's really cool, do you know any portuguese bands? Devil in me or For the glory, maybe? (not the best ones by far but definitely the most well know internationally) I think DIM toured with an australian band called Deez Nuts.

I haven't really heard any bands from Portugal except Simbiose (great band, very much the style of music I'm into, are there other crust bands in Portugal?).  I haven't heard of any of the bands you have mentioned except for Deez Nuts, which I only heard about because they are included on the flyer for some show here.  To be honest my punk knowledge and taste is almost completely '80s bands, and pretty much hardcore genres like UK82 (e.g., The Exploited), Swedish (e.g., Anti-Cimex), Japanese (e.g., Warhead), crust (e.g., Doom), crossover (e.g., R.D.P.), crustgrind (e.g., E.N.T.), and grindcore (e.g., Unseen Terror).  In other words that fringe of punk closest to metal.  I've always been in that area of overlap between punk and metal, although I never got into NYC hardcore or the more recent metalcore and deathcore scenes (not a big fan of breakdowns, although I liked the way Dying Fetus used them that is the exception).  actually pretty much every genre that appeared in the '90s or later (including in metal, e.g. nu-metal, but also a lot of '90s death metal etc) I don't seem to like.  I guess I'm an old fuddy-duddy at 46 now.  Kind of sad!  I think some of the basic guitar sounds though are similar, its more the vocal styles and songwriting that has changed.  Actually powerviolence is the one new genre I've gotten into, but it has its roots in the '80s bands I mentioned above

[Casanova]

I know For The Glory. I got one of their ep's years and years ago. There was a video on it and I think half those dudes had Terror shirts on in every cut. I think I have a Pointing Finger 7inch somewhere too, and I have the Black Friday 29/What Went Wrong split 7inch, which is good. What Went Wrong where from Portugal I think? Reality Slap is another band I know. Deez Nuts ain't my kind of thing.

If you were rich, you should aim higher than a kemper. haha.

For the glory are pretty cool, they rehearse right next to me, we have a full block of garages (maybe 9-10) where many hc bands from Lisbon rehearse. It's a shame that most of those bands are not around anymore, but FTG and Reality Slap are pretty big around here. I don't really listen to DN, but their lyrics crack me up. ahah

I didn't think it was any good before i actually saw one in a shop around here that mostly sells boutique stuff so i was intrigued. I tried it with the dude, and we profiled a couple of amps and it really does it! Of course the eq doesn't react the exact same way and such but it sounds much better then any other digital stuff that i've heard.

I only now a couple of those bands since im not really into grind, powerviolence, etc. But that's really cool, do you know any portuguese bands? Devil in me or For the glory, maybe? (not the best ones by far but definitely the most well know internationally) I think DIM toured with an australian band called Deez Nuts.

I haven't really heard any bands from Portugal except Simbiose (great band, very much the style of music I'm into, are there other crust bands in Portugal?).  I haven't heard of any of the bands you have mentioned except for Deez Nuts, which I only heard about because they are included on the flyer for some show here.  To be honest my punk knowledge and taste is almost completely '80s bands, and pretty much hardcore genres like UK82 (e.g., The Exploited), Swedish (e.g., Anti-Cimex), Japanese (e.g., Warhead), crust (e.g., Doom), crossover (e.g., R.D.P.), crustgrind (e.g., E.N.T.), and grindcore (e.g., Unseen Terror).  In other words that fringe of punk closest to metal.  I've always been in that area of overlap between punk and metal, although I never got into NYC hardcore or the more recent metalcore and deathcore scenes (not a big fan of breakdowns, although I liked the way Dying Fetus used them that is the exception).  actually pretty much every genre that appeared in the '90s or later (including in metal, e.g. nu-metal, but also a lot of '90s death metal etc) I don't seem to like.  I guess I'm an old fuddy-duddy at 46 now.  Kind of sad!  I think some of the basic guitar sounds though are similar, its more the vocal styles and songwriting that has changed.  Actually powerviolence is the one new genre I've gotten into, but it has its roots in the '80s bands I mentioned above

There a couple more like Atentado, Besta and I think Local Trap is also in the crust category. Grindcore the only onw that comes to my mind is a band called Holocausto Canibal, which is more of a gore kind of think, so i'm not really into that ahaha. There's a thrash-crossover band called PxHxT (pussy hole treatment ahaha). That's all i can remember cause i keep most flyers of the shows i attend and im looking at them! There's also another band that's one of my favorite portuguese bands right now called A THOUSAND WORDS, that features members of Pointing Finger, Broken Distance and I think Please Die (great portuguese bands), they play a kind of darker hc, you might want to check them out. Metalcore and Deathcore really are not my thing but i like a band called Underoath that most people classify as metalcore even though i dont see it as that, they have some instrumental tracks that are amazing. 46 aint old and you're never to old to rock!

[Dave Sloven]

Cheers!  I found some of them on youtube and bandcamp; I really like Atentado.

But they look almost as old as me in the clip, which kind of underlines my point ...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RpWmfuRVpL0

Also, you could certainly get their sound out of an A-bomb with the right amp.

[ericsabbath]

try these
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k3XFD1Wbj9s
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oj2HoFFMVM4

and my favorite brazilian thrashers
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I0DUvC8KxD0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qxpaligtcYs
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nNDub-oS-Cw
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yIELdzctr78
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X0e1rfo3K0k

[Dave Sloven]

Cheers, I've only gotten as far as Agrotóxico so far but it's great so now it might take me a while to get to the next one! ;)

The first band was good too.

EDIT: Checked out Claustrofobia, I like them too!

[Dave Sloven]

Bones from Discharge playing an SG Junior with the dogear P90 in the early '80s.



I've always wanted one of those!

[Dave Sloven]

Bones from Discharge playing an SG Junior with the dogear P90 in the early '80s.

[image]

I've always wanted one of those!

And now I have one!  Not a dogear version but close ... soapbar should have more adjustment to it anyway ... I will keep the Nantucket in mind, I'm pretty sure Bones had a stock Gibson pickup and he always sounds punk as hell!

[Dave Sloven]

I wasn't so happy with the P-90 that came in my Junior as far as hardcore and punk stuff goes - maybe it is different from the one Bones had (his was pretty old, might have been closer to the Nantucket) - but I have a Stockholm now, hopefully the extra output and bass will get around the issues I had with the stock pickup.

A P-90 with the output of an A-Bomb ... sounds very promising ... will give it a first try today

[Mr. Air]

Let us know what you think of the pickup  :)

[Dave Sloven]

It will have to wait until next week now as I've managed to lock myself out of the garage, and the only spare key is with my father, who has gone away until Monday!  Couldn't believe it!!!  Anyway I will get onto it ASAP next week.  I have the shielding and wiring harness for my Explorer to finish too - I just received the components in the mail and was going to instal them as soon as the shielding was finished  :?