Will a DiMarzio Crunchlab (Bridge) and a BKP emerald (neck) sound good?

[JPHaze]

My friend is thinking about doing this combo....I just wondering your thoughts... :)

[Kiichi]

Hi and welcome!

I am interrested in what the other have to say as I have the CL LF combo in my 7 string still and want to replace it. Funnily enough I have more of an issue with the CL than the LF, which to me while a bit lifeless in comparison to BKPs is still a decent PU to me, while the CL seems over compressed, middy in a funky way and dead.
Gotta add that I loved the combo since it came out, but the more BKPs I play the more I dislike it.

However I think the Emerald is something nice. I am thinking about the HD Emerald combo as a replacement. The HD is further off, but the Emerald should be in the same vain as the LF, more vintage, organic and sweet though, while retaining the fluidity.
If he is looking for something closer the Cold Sweat neck should do.

[JPHaze]

I was thinking about the HD emerald combo as well but i really like my crunchlab....and i played the emerald and the coldsweat...and I like the emerald because when i go into distorted ...It still mantains cleanness with sweeps and such...but when i use the coldsweat...it was good but felt muddy in distortion...if you know what I mean

[Slartibartfarst42]

I once thought of mixing a DiMarzio pickup with a Bare Knuckle but surprisingly, I was put off by the DiMarzio forum when one of the contributors advised against it on the grounds that once a BKP was in there I'd spend all my time wishing I'd paired it with another BKP instead of a DiMarzio. I quite like DiMarzio pickups and much prefer them to Seymour Duncan but I suspect that the reality of your proposal is that the DiMarzio will have its shortcomings highlighted rather a lot by the Bare Knuckle and you'll wish you'd just got a Bare Knuckle for the bridge too instead of settling for something that's just not quite as good. There's a very good reason why someone like Kiichi has reacted in this way and gone increasingly off the DiMarzio the more he plays BKP.

[JPHaze]

Ah I gotcha...so stick with CL/LF combo for now until I can afford a full BKP set

[Kiichi]

Ah I gotcha...so stick with CL/LF combo for now until I can afford a full BKP set

Yeah Slarti speaks the truth as usual. Well put there mate.

You can of course start with one, maybe you will still like the CL, but chances are rather good I would say that you will start to see those shortcommings. If that is so, that may be a good thing, being that you are set on the Emerald neck, a execlent choice, but maybe not sure on the bridge.
Figuring out what you donīt like about the CL, if that should occure, could help there.

The ususal said replacement for the CL is I think the Ceramic Nailbomb. I have thought about that for some time but since discovered that I like a more old school tone (love my RY to death) and therefore would probably be happier with the HD, which can still do the heavier things with relative easy, as I do own a nice OD.
Plus I am now convinced that my tastes are pretty close to Slarti (and GuitarIV too, but I am tamer so more Slarti) and he (they) rave(s) about the HD bridge.


What I am trying to say is that no way is a wrong way really...and some rambling on top of that. I think it can seems at times like I like trying to make choices harder for people. I do not think this is entirely untrue.

[JPHaze]

Your replys are really helpful! I think I may grab the emerald neck for now with the CL bridge and if I like it I'll keep it but I will still be putting money away for a holy diver bridge ...just in case :) thanks