Abraxas or A-bomb??

[Muffler]

Hi everyone!

I bought an used PRS SC245 (mahogany, maple top, 22 frets, stoptail bridge) which came loaded with a ceramic Warpig bridge and a Holy Diver neck. That was my first experience with BKP, and I liked the clarity and definition of both pickups, but the WP has waaaaay too much output for my liking, and the HD, though I liked more, sounds not enough "necky" to me.

So, as I'm quite intrigued with these pickups, I'm looking for a replacement searching some info in this forum. I'd like to get a kinda modern/vintage hot sound (listen to the Rush live shows of the last 10 year to get the idea), but I need that the pickups are able to drive a high gain keeping his dignity unbroken when they're needed to do it... So thinking about this two pickups for the bridge position, my doubt about Abraxas is if it will be able to handle a high gain sounding not muddy. I think an A-bomb could do it with no problems, but I'd like to keep the tone of the guitar as pure as possible... and it seems to me that Abraxas could do it better...

About the neck position, I'm thinking about giving the HD a second chance, but on the other hand I would like to get a little more les paul neck tone... What would you recommend??

Thanks in advance!

[Dave Sloven]

Have you considered simply putting a HD bridge pickup in?

A-Bomb might be too hairy and modern for what you want.

An Abraxas set could also be nice for a less modern sound

[Telerocker]

If you have a highgainamp, you might want to consider Mules. Clean they sound very open and threedimensional, but Mules can handle highgain with authority too. For Rush you don't need to go much hotter imo. The neckpickup is the best BKP I've played. Genuine late fifties PAF-sound, without getting muddy.
The Abraxas is nothing more than a hotrodded Mule with enhanced mids. Both have AIV-magnets which are known for a good balance. I don't think you will encounter muddiness, although the bass is a tad softer than say a Rebel Yell.
Compared to the Abraxas the middy HD sounds way more modern.

[BigB]

Mostly the same as Telerocker here. Mules are amazing in a LP-like guitar and can go from pristine 3D vintage clean to chunky modern high-gain and just anything in between. Warm vocal yet clear neck, bright and almost twangy bridge, both incredibly detailed and touch-sensistive. Abraxas might be a good alternative if you a want a slightly beefier tone (not that Mules are thin in any way but most PRS I've tried were rather bright and lacking the deep lows of a true LP), but in doubt I'd start with the Mules and consider swapping them for Abraxas (14 days return policy) if you find put you need a bit more push and mids.

ABombs are great pups too and more versatile than one could expect but you might find them way too aggressive / 90s hi-gain, specially on a PRS (they are IMHO a btter fit for a warmer / darker guitar, and you still have to be looking for a lot of aggression).

My 2 cents...

[JimmyMoorby]

Actually Alex is using Gibsons high output ceramics at the moment 500t and 496r the same as Buckethead uses and the painkillers reminded me of those in my les paul a little!

I think you couldnt go far wrong with mules, abxraxas or nailbomb pickups.  Alex's sound is very full on these days and I think the nailbomb is ace for progressive hard rock/metal

[Yellowjacket]

Hi everyone!

I bought an used PRS SC245 (mahogany, maple top, 22 frets, stoptail bridge) which came loaded with a ceramic Warpig bridge and a Holy Diver neck. That was my first experience with BKP, and I liked the clarity and definition of both pickups, but the WP has waaaaay too much output for my liking, and the HD, though I liked more, sounds not enough "necky" to me.

So, as I'm quite intrigued with these pickups, I'm looking for a replacement searching some info in this forum. I'd like to get a kinda modern/vintage hot sound (listen to the Rush live shows of the last 10 year to get the idea), but I need that the pickups are able to drive a high gain keeping his dignity unbroken when they're needed to do it... So thinking about this two pickups for the bridge position, my doubt about Abraxas is if it will be able to handle a high gain sounding not muddy. I think an A-bomb could do it with no problems, but I'd like to keep the tone of the guitar as pure as possible... and it seems to me that Abraxas could do it better...

About the neck position, I'm thinking about giving the HD a second chance, but on the other hand I would like to get a little more les paul neck tone... What would you recommend??

Thanks in advance!

Ha!!  The A-Bomb really has a great synergy of Vintage / Modern going on.  When you compare it to a properly modern voiced pickup, it just has this sweetness, warmth, and crunch that only an Alnico V can bring to the table. 

That aside, the pickup sounds really gnarly with lots of treble detail in the tone.  The Sepultura namesake is really appropriate as there is this grindy and hairy sort of a quality to the tone.  FWIW, I really love it for what it does.  I have it paired with a Rebel Yell neck in my LP.  The result is a smoother more vintage / blusier sort of a tone with slightly less saturation out of the neck pickup.  It gives me the open and dynamic sort of a neck pickup tone I really like while being able to 'stomp on the gas' with a more focused and saturated crunch on the bridge pickup.  Generally, I set my neck pickups low and my bridge pickups high so I almost get the effect of hitting a boost simply by switching pickups.  A mahogany 22 fret SC with a maple cap should be warm enough to support an A-Bomb bridge and a RY neck or whatever other neck may work.  (VHII I think would work very well with the A-Bomb as well for a more raunchy neck pickup) 

Aside from that, a Holy Diver bridge with a VHII neck may work as well.  If the HD is a true stand-in for a Seymour Duncan JB, you'll get a bit more of a smoother sound with a great lead tone that is perfect for more proggy stuff.  While the VHII has a mean and grimy side, turning up the gain and playing in a shred style yields a surprisingly great liquid, smooth lead tone as well.  It also splits well for some great, super dynamic, and surprisingly warm single coil tones. 
I cannot comment personally but I would think the HD bridge is more of a gentleman than the swarthy sailor persona of the A-Bomb. 

I think you couldnt go far wrong with mules, abxraxas or nailbomb pickups.  Alex's sound is very full on these days and I think the nailbomb is ace for progressive hard rock/metal

+1 on the nailbombs.

Also, all this talk of Mules and Riffraffs...  Geez, it would be so tempting to get another Les Paul just for this.

[Dave Sloven]

I would think the HD bridge is more of a gentleman than the swarthy sailor persona of the A-Bomb. 

That's why I suggested it rather than the A-Bomb.  The A-Bomb can be quite gnarly.  I use mine for thrash metal and hardcore punk, but the Sepultura thing is pretty much on the mark.  The Holy Diver is more Jake E. Lee territory.

[Muffler]

Wow, thank you very much for the replies! It's helping a lot 

I felt attracted by the Mules from the beginning, but I wasn't considering it because I was afraid of getting a too soft sound for the bridge pickup. After your comments, I'm probably reconsidering it, especially for the neck position.

Right now I'm playing just at home with a blackstar ht-5 stack, but I'm likely joining a prog rock band (something between Rush, Camel, Floyd... and Transatlantic or Porcupine Tree), so I'm about to sell one of my guitars to get an Elmwood Bonneville/Modena or a Cornford MK50... Those are the kind of amps that I like, and I wouldn't consider those as high-gain style (maybe the Modena...), but power-rock amps, so I like too guitars with balls to make them scream 

I'll sure make you guys know what my final decision is. Meanwhile, I'll keep living on your wisdom 

[Telerocker]

Mixed pickups are an option here, like Abraxas/Mule-neck and even Crawler/Mule-neck. The Crawler sounds awesome clean and has a thick juice tone, but with enough topend. It's by far a dull pickup. And it has enough PAF-vibe left.

[m t soule]

Great! I was thinking a mule set for my Fireman (mahogany maple top)! or maybe mule neck riff raff bridge as a replacement for the dimarzio air classics in it now. I got the shred options covered in my RG's n Jem so now its time to go full on classic rock with something that splits without losing punch (alnicoV maybe.cos I like pick attack. tho the mules are AIV) What do you guys think?

[Telerocker]

Great! I was thinking a mule set for my Fireman (mahogany maple top)! or maybe mule neck riff raff bridge as a replacement for the dimarzio air classics in it now. I got the shred options covered in my RG's n Jem so now its time to go full on classic rock with something that splits without losing punch (alnicoV maybe.cos I like pick attack. tho the mules are AIV) What do you guys think?

Mules are good enough for Kravitz' Vee. They have a good pickattack. I have some hesitations about the splits. Imo mediumoutput pickups like the Crawler have a better split.

[m t soule]

yeah man the crawler really has volume in comparison the vhii when split. the air classics are nice and have a nice attack and sweetness (like chun li) about them but not enough presence. What the crawler lacks is attack, which the vhii has. The vhii pushes my clean to dirty easily with my blackstar (naturally) and want to avoid that.

[Muffler]

Mixed pickups are an option here, like Abraxas/Mule-neck and even Crawler/Mule-neck. The Crawler sounds awesome clean and has a thick juice tone, but with enough topend. It's by far a dull pickup. And it has enough PAF-vibe left.

That was just my last thought before went to bed last night... For what I know now, since I want something totally different from what I have now in this guitar, I'm discarding the A-bomb for the bridge for now (maybe for my future custom made 7 strings...)

I've almost made up my mind to go for the Mule for the neck position, but I'm not done yet with the bridge... Simple choice is to purchase a set of mules and pray for having power enough in the bridge position, but maybe I should go for the middle way with an Abraxas, VHII or even Crawler. What do you think the best combo is in terms of balance between pickups?

BUT my idea is to install a split coil pot, so maybe I'm not looking for the right pickups after all... Has someone tried the mules with the split coil?? What about my options for the bridge with the split?

[darkbluemurder]

If you want to split the bridge a pickup with a bit more power is beneficial. Hence, Abraxas (which is A4) or Crawler (which is A5) for the bridge. Pick attack is clearer on the Abraxas IMHO.

Since both sets come with a PAF type wind and an A4 magnet I cannot see why a Mule neck would not work with the Abraxas bridge.

Cheers Stephan

[BigB]

I wouldn't try splitting a low output 'bucker like the Mule - might sound quite thin. Crawlers are known to split very well. FWIW the Crawler neck is mostly a slightly overwound Abraxas neck (which is itself an overwound Mule neck).  But you might find the Crawlers a bit on the fat side unless your guitar is bright and possibly a bit lacking in the low-end department (now you may like the Crawler's fatness too).

While we're at it, you can also consider the serie/parallel option instead of a split - gives you a similar tone (less mids, less outputs, more highs) with still some body left (due to having both coil capturing the string's vibration) and you keep the hum bucking effect (which does'nt require coils to be wire serial).