Ibanez RGA32

[benfan]

Hi Guys,

This is my first post and i'm asking for advice on pickups so forgive me!

I got the above guitar as a gift for christmas, and I'm looking to use it as a project guitar, with the first things I'm wanting to do is upgrade the pickups and electronics.

I already have a guitar with active EMGs so i'm wanting to get some passives in this.

The style of music I will be recording with it is Progressive/Thrashy Metal, a few bands to think of bieng Opeth and Sylosis.

I'm looking for a bridge pickup with a tight bottom end that can handle fast picking/palm muting, and with a good mid range to cut through well. I want to try and get away from the overprocessed sound some active pickups give. I will be dialing in a fair amount of gain however.

From the neck I would like a fat, articulate sound for leads and cleans, but not overly round (the EMG 85 I have in the neck of my LP was too fat and warbly until I did the 18v mod).

The guitar itself is a 3 piece mahogany body with a bolt on 3 piece maple neck and rosemary fret board. It has a string through gibraltar bridge.

The guitar is quite bright sounding unplugged and when playing chords and patterns higher up the neck it shimmers brightly.

I play in standard tuning (occasionally drop D) and use regular/power slinkies.

I was thinking of getting an Alnico Warpig in the bridge and a Cold Sweat in the neck to achieve the above, is anyone with their expansive knowledge of BKPs able to help me out at all?

Thanks very much and happy holidays!

[silence2-38554]

Hey, welcome to the BKP forums!  Given the description of your guitar, the Alnico Warpig is probably one of the last pickups i'd recommend.  You have a mahogany bodied guitar with no maple cap & a string through bridge.  The Warpig is one of the bassets BKP's, and the Alnico would just add to that.  I personally own an RGA121 & have a set of Alnico Black Hawks in it, which I feel fit it perfectly.  Keeping in mind that my RGA has a very thick Maple top, which is why I went with Alnico.  IMHO, if I were you, I'd go with a set of Black Hawks with a ceramic bridge.  It'd fit your style of music perfectly.  Here's a link to my RGA w/ Black Hawks so you can get an idea of what they look like.  Sorry, no sound clips just yet though.

http://www.sevenstring.org/forum/standard-guitars/252758-ngd-rga121-blackhawks.html

[Kiichi]

Since Blackhawks are BKPs take on an active sound I feel they would be quite out of place here, although they do fit the sound requirement. I agree that the Warpig will probably be too much here though.

My suggestion for Opeth sounds would be the Nailbomb. Perhaps rather ceramic than alnico, but both are quite possible. For the neck the Coldsweat sounds resonable, but I feel there is something better...just canīt seem to think of what at the moment.

[Telerocker]

Aftermaths, Nailbombs, Blackhawks could do it. The description of the bridgepickup made me say Aftermath. Surgical tight, good mids and cut.

[Dave Sloven]

For the neck the Coldsweat sounds resonable, but I feel there is something better...just canīt seem to think of what at the moment.

With a C-Bomb or A-bomb bridge a Rebel Yell, VHII, or Nailbomb neck would also work.  Maybe it was the RY neck you were thinking of?

[Slartibartfarst42]

A-Bomb bridge was my first thought. Incredibly tight, aggressive and with the warmth of alnico. For the neck I think I'd be inclined to stick to my trusty Emerald.

[benfan]

I think I've decided to go with a C bomb bridge with a Cold sweat neck.

I'm also going to upgrade the electronics with the BKP 550 pots and Jensen BKP 0.022μfd capacitor.

A few questions. What is the quality of the cable that comes with the pickups like? The wiring in the back of the RGA is cheap and nasty so I was thinking of buying better quality cable, but if the BKP is of good quality I shouldnt need to bother.

And also, as far as covers go, what is the name of the cover option that is pictured on the link for the Nailbomb, and is it still available for the Nailbomb and Cold Sweat as I cant seem to find it.

https://bareknucklepickups.co.uk/main/pickups.php?cat=humbuckers&sub=contemporary&pickup=nailbomb

From what i can tell, the guitar should have an F spaced bridge. Short leg and braided 2 conducter (3 way switch, 1 volume and 1 tone)

[Arthurus]

And also, as far as covers go, what is the name of the cover option that is pictured on the link for the Nailbomb, and is it still available for the Nailbomb and Cold Sweat as I cant seem to find it.

I think that's the camo finish. Not sure though.
I wanna try the C-Bomb soooo bad ! Tell us what you think about it afterwards.

[Dave Sloven]

I'm pretty sure there is an option for the Nailbomb etc still in the shop.

I bought a Nailbomb neck pickup earlier this year and remember seeing it.  There is a choice of no etch, the BKP etch, and the Nailbomb etch.  As far as I am aware you can get the etch on any style of cover.

[darkbluemurder]

I think I've decided to go with a C bomb bridge with a Cold sweat neck.

That should be a very good choice.

I'm also going to upgrade the electronics with the BKP 550 pots and Jensen BKP 0.022μfd capacitor.

You will need to swap out the EMG pots anyway because they are only 25k which will make passive pickups sound very very dull.

Cheers Stephan

[pagan7]

Hmm, no one mentioned a set of Painkillers which work really well in fixed bridge mahogany RG's , not only the tones you're looking for but are very versatile too , especially with dual pots for individual tone and volume and a phase switch for more options .  A  .033 cap works well with them too. Your rosemary fingerboard sounds especially fragrant by the way  :)

[benfan]

Haha brilliant! I didn't even realise  :lol:

I've put the order in. Cbomb bridge and CS neck. 2 conducter because I can't be arsed with all the messing about and I want to keep things simple.

2 of the 550 pots and the Jensen 22 cap.

Will let you guys know when I'm up and running.

[darrenw5094]

Just wondering, apart from 5 way switching, of all the 4 conductor wire pickups bought worldwide, how many actually are wired up to be split tones. Probably less than 20% i would guess.

[darkbluemurder]

You may be right on that. Not all my four conductor pickups are wired for more than series humbucking operation. But it's a good feeling that if I wanted I could - better to have and not need it than to need it but not have it.

Cheers Stephan