Author Topic: Versatile "metal" pickup(s)? (Read 15904 times)

cschneider154 · « **on:** March 04, 2014, 09:02:14 PM »

I bought a B.C. Rich Bich NJ made in 84. I cant seem to find a whole lot of information about the specs of this guitar, other than that it was made in Japan in 1984. I dont know what wood the body is, but i want to replace the pickups since i just replaced the strings. I found a Chrome PRS JUNIOR Tune-O-Matic Bridge on ebay and im thinking of buying that to replace the bridge. I definitely DO NOT want a floyd rose. I want to put pickups that are good for metal (metalica, led zepellin, slayer, korn, etc..) but can also play jazz, blues, pop etc... I know that sounds like im asking for a perfect pickup but i did not list EMG 81-85's on here because i feel they are more geared towards metal and not much versatility. I am leaning towards the EMG 81/60 set. I have been reading around and heard the following are good pickup sets. i would prefer if people suggested sets:

1- SD JB in the bridge but idk what in the neck? maybe SD Jazz?
2- EMG 81/60 set
3- SD blackout AHB-1 in the bridge but idk what in the neck?
4- Bareknuckle holydiver in the bridge but idk what in the neck? i was suggested a coldsweat
5- Dimarzio Liquifire/Crunchlab

P.S- i posted on an other website too and im getting a lot of "put black winters in the bridge". What about the neck? Im suggested pairing the black winter with a 59 in the neck. Thoughts? or the full black winter set? Also does anyone have any experience with the bareknuckles?

P.S.S- The amp i plan on using is a VOX VALVETRONIX AD30VT 30 WATT GUITAR AMPLIFIER

littleredguitars2 · « **Reply #1 on:** March 04, 2014, 09:24:12 PM »

i'd probably suggest either a nailbomb or a holy diver bridge. both seem to be pretty versatile. not sure about the neck though. and both of these sort of depend on the wood.. which you dont know. the HD may be the safer choice.

Dave Sloven · « **Reply #2 on:** March 04, 2014, 09:44:11 PM »

The Cold Sweat set is very versatile in the right guitar. Unlike a lot of sets it works well in SGs. It likes middy guitars.

Emerald is apparently a better neck pairing with the Holy Diver than a Cold Sweat. I agree that in most guitars that combination (Em/HD) would be very versatile.

Nailbomb set can also be very versatile but it is the opposite of the CS set. It doesn't work in middy guitars.

The Rebel Yell set might work really well in the Rich Bich if it is quite bassy. That set loves Explorers, which like the Bich have a lot of wood behind the bridge. If the wood is mahogany I'd definitely suggest that set as an option. If it is a middy wood like basswood maybe go for the Cold Sweat set

Don't forget that the alnico and ceramic options on the NB can be quite different.

Alex · « **Reply #3 on:** March 04, 2014, 09:50:29 PM »

Tell us a bit more about the acoustic properties of the guitar. A picture might help as well, I'm not familiar with that model.

Also, you're amp isn't really the ultimate in terms of tone. You'll get more out of the pickups by upgrading the amp. While it might not be something you can tackle right away, you should keep this in mind mid- to long-term.

Dave Sloven · « **Reply #4 on:** March 04, 2014, 09:56:26 PM »

http://www.bcrich.com/shape/bich/guitars-and-bass/5

Seems like currently they tend to be mahogany, except the cheapies, which are nato.

I'm guessing that the old ones were all mahogany.

From memory a lot of them were neck-through. I can't remember the neck construction but I do remember some that had several woods in the neck.

metale · « **Reply #5 on:** March 05, 2014, 05:57:45 AM »

So it has a Floyd and you are going to convert it to a fixed bridge? When you are in there, confirm if the wood is Mahogany. It may be cheaper to get a Tremol-no or similar device. Or another guitar.

Also no pickup set (or guitar) in the world will give you both Led Zeppelin and Korn. IMO, you need to be a bit more focused or you'll end up with a guitar that does many things ok-ish but does nothing great.

Just my two cents.

Dave Sloven · « **Reply #6 on:** March 05, 2014, 06:06:27 AM »

I think it's probably got a wraptail, most of these Rich Bich model guitars seem to have those.

We had a recent discussion here of the Graph Tech ResoMax NW1 and NW2; those are available on ebay for US$105 plus postage. I just ordered one myself this week for my SG Junior. You would need to check the measurements but I am pretty sure it might work.

The thread on them is here: https://bareknucklepickups.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=31514.0

Sarkasis · « **Reply #7 on:** March 05, 2014, 06:13:21 AM »

The Abraxas might do it.

cschneider154 · « **Reply #8 on:** March 05, 2014, 06:49:15 AM »

Quote from: metale on March 05, 2014, 05:57:45 AM

So it has a Floyd and you are going to convert it to a fixed bridge? When you are in there, confirm if the wood is Mahogany. It may be cheaper to get a Tremol-no or similar device. Or another guitar.

Also no pickup set (or guitar) in the world will give you both Led Zeppelin and Korn. IMO, you need to be a bit more focused or you'll end up with a guitar that does many things ok-ish but does nothing great.

Just my two cents.

i have no idea what the bridge is. I sent an email to bcrich last night with pics and the serial number and havent heard back yet. Also i plan on getting a new amp i plan on upgrading to a PEAVEY VYPYR 100 MODELING GUITAR AMP 2 X 12 SPEAKERS 100 WATTS.

cschneider154 · « **Reply #9 on:** March 05, 2014, 06:51:42 AM »

well i also have a acoustic/electric ibanez so i guess ill have that for the led zepellin and focus this to be more towards korn.

metale · « **Reply #10 on:** March 05, 2014, 08:29:00 AM »

You can post a pic here, that would help.

My vote goes for the Cold Sweat or the ceramic Nailbomb then. I supose you are going to tune low?

Dave Sloven · « **Reply #11 on:** March 05, 2014, 08:42:30 AM »

Yes, and if you can post a pic of the inside of the control cavity if there is any wood showing there I could probably tell you what it is.

If the bridge looks anything like the ones in the BC Rich link I posted above, that's a wraptail. A tune-o-matic - which I doubt would work on this guitar without extensive routing to covert it to a string-through-body design - either has a separate tailpiece or the strings fed through the body. If the strings feed through the bridge and then wrap over the top then that's a wraptail, and the ResoMax or a Pigtail would be the best bet as a replacement. Again if you post a pic I'm sure me or someone else here can tell you what it is.

I'm a fan of Peavey amps - or at least their better tube amps - but I've never had any luck with modelling amps. Make sure you try it out well before you buy to make sure it has sounds that you like.