New to BKP and about to purchase my first set. HELP!

[Duck2587]

Hey everyone,
Im new to BKP and I am about to purchase my first set. Need some help. I'll try my best to get across my needs and my gear. I have narrowed it down to Black Hawks, Warpig, Juggernaut or Aftermath based on sound clips.

-For my pick ups needs, I know BKP is known for their clarity in all pick ups. I need a pick up that is harmonically rich, present low end but not muddy and nothing too tight(too compressed), more low mids, the high mids and highs need to be present but not ear piercing-something that shimmers in the high end and blooms with chords.

-I play almost everything. Fusion, shred, and metal are the majority though.
Acoustically, my guitar has a balanced eq with a strong but firm low end.  Needs some low mids.

*Amp-EVH 5150 III 50 watt, 2x12 cab with V30's and another with Creamback M and G12H30, Maxon OD-9 in front of amp, delay and looper through effects loop.
*Guitar-Jackson SL2H Alder body, maple neck, ebony board. Neck through construction with Floyd Rose.
*Strings 9-42 standard tuning and drop D.
*Picks-Bronze, Brass and Stainless steel. Waiting for Hufschmid plectrum to come in the mail.  :lol:

[Kiichi]

Hi and welcome!

I can not give you a full answer, but I can tell you at least one thing. Throw out the Aftermath. If you do not want too tight you are in the wrong place here. Dry as the desert, surgically tight and very center mid heavy. Not for you I recon.

Sorry that I do not have more, I am thinking about it, but I am not too solid on Ash and those pickups.

[Dave Sloven]

Yeah I would avoid the Aftermath.

Seeing as it is a pretty bright guitar (at least judging by the woods) maybe you should consider the combination of an alnico Warpig in the bridge and a Juggernaut in the neck.

I don't really know the Juggernaut neck but I suspect it's better for cleans than the Warpig, and aesthetically they look the same as long as you don't go for the special bulb etch.

[Kiichi]

I don't really know the Juggernaut neck but I suspect it's better for cleans than the Warpig, and aesthetically they look the same as long as you don't go for the special bulb etch.

Depends on what cleans you want I would say. It is not for everyone, but the Warpig is somewhat famous for a certain type of clean sounds. The WP neck does do a special jazzy neck sound very well (heck I really want a semihollow with a WP set for a reason). Just check out what kind of sounds out own Fourth Feline did with the WP neck in a hollowbody. Migth just be me, but I find it impressive.

However the Jugg neck is more likely to do the shred part better I guess.

[Duck2587]

I forgot to mention, I really want the amp to work in the power tubes section so it will push on its own and not so much have the pre-amp pushed so much with a high output bucker. So will a high output pick up like the Warpig not be a good choice?

[darkandrew]

Not wishing to muddy things for you but I'm wondering why you've left out the Nailbomb (either Alnico or Ceramic)?

[Dave Sloven]

Yeah, going by what is said about the acoustic EQ an A-bomb might be a logical choice, although I don't think that as a bridge pickup it's that great for shredding.  With a Nailbomb I think you need to use the neck more for that.

[Duck2587]

Originally I wanted the nailbomb because Tim said it would be most beneficial for me but I tried one out in another jackson(same type, wood, etc.) and I loved the midrange to it but it was only good for one specific sound and didn't like much gain.

[Dave Sloven]

What did he say about Juggernauts?

Also, a ceramic Nailbomb might be the go.  Maple neck throughs seem to like ceramic mag pickups like the Miracle Man, so maybe a C-bomb would be a better choice?

If a guitar sounds like a one-trick pony that usually indicates a mismatch of guitar and pickup.

[Telerocker]

You might want to consider the Holy Diver too.

[Duck2587]

Tim said the juggernauts are his next recommendation because they are so harmonically rich like the holy diver but retain the intact low end. And for holy diver, the low end is too loose for me for all of the clips i listened to. He also mentioned the black hawk but as an alnico version because its naturally bright and said its extremely versatile. Another gentleman I talked to on the phone said go with the Ceramic Warpig and don't be turned away by its high DC. He said it can cover almost anything. With all of that thrown at me, I figured the forum was the best way to go to find out.

[Dave Sloven]

Ceramic mags definitely have a good rep in Jackson neck through guitars.  If a C-Pig was suggested (by Ben?) I'd say go with that and maybe consider a Jugg for the neck.

[Duck2587]

After listening to clips, a juggernaut neck is def. going in. I want to hear more feedback on the bridge PU situation but I feel I'm going to go with the C-pig or black hawk.

[Yellowjacket]

I have a set of Juggs on order for my Super Strat  (Which is currently in the shop)
Definitely looking forward!

[Dave Sloven]

A Black Hawk in the bridge is okay if you don't mind your pickups looking completely different.  I tend to think it might be a bit bright though.  I think Ben is on the right track with the C-Pig.