Bridge P/U for Kramer Nightswan (pt2)

[seancorker]

Folks,

I'm retreading old ground here but I'm still looking for the right p/u for my Nightswan. For those unfamiliar, it has a mahogany body, maple neck and ebony 'board with a Les Paul 24.75 scale. So far I've tried:

Holydiver - Muddy, too compressed and uninspiring
Crawler - much better but too much in the low mids brittle top end
WCR  Murkat - my favourite pickup which kills all in my alder Pacer and Basswood Baretta but sounds wooly and brittle in the Nightswan.
SD Custom custom - experiment - love the mids but the bottom end is a disaster and the top end is smoother but still sounds a little brittle!

So I'm wondering if the Juggernaut might be worth a look? For reference, I love the (old)JB's wound to approx 14k rather then newer 16k versions.

I'm not aiming at any particular style but trying to work around the guitar in questions natural low mid, less then tight low end and brittle top. (It's a fabulous guitar honest!)

For those who don't know the Nightswan it has a bridge and middle but no neck P/U. The rebel yell sounds wonderful in the middle - rounded full and smooth but with enough bite to retain clarity.

Are there any Jug users with experience in a similar guitar?

Cheers

[darthphineas]

I'm the original owner of a Nightswan and I also have a Blaze Shredder. Both have Full Shreds and JBs wound by MJ. The Nightswan has older models from when she was on the production floor. The Shredder has a set she made for me in the custom shop, requested to meet the specs she used in the 80s. So, first off, have you thought about putting a MJ-wound FS in the bridge?

The first thing that comes to mind from BKP is the RY, which it sounds like you are already using in place of the middle JB. I'm also wondering if a Suhr SSH might work out for you.

For other BKP options, maybe the Emerald or the A-Bomb. My thoughts are the Juggernaut might not be too much like an old 80s JB.

[seancorker]

Cheers - first off - you've got a Buddy blaze! I'm jealous lol. I'm not necessarily trying to get a JB sound, I'm trying to find a P/U that will work with the strengths and weaknesses of the guitar. In short, smooth out the brittle top end, tighten the bottom and give it more high mid cut. I wondered if the Jugs would do all that after reading the specs and listening to the demos.

After a lifetime of using regular Kramers the 'swan is proving a challenge because it's so different. I've started considering 'solutions' that I'd not have considered when I started - such as SD mustaine live wires so anything considered.

I didn't realise Full shreds had changed, but then SD did the same with JB's so not surprised the old ones are better. The one it came with was awful!

Thanks again

[darthphineas]

where most Kramers from that time were poplar (maybe alder, rarely maple) with maple necks and generally rosewood boards, the nightswan is mahogany with maple neck and ebony board.  from what you're describing, it almost doesn't sound like the same guitar, which I'm guessing could probably be the differences in our respective amps.

after looking at your OP again and considering the BKP catalog, I'm still wondering about the A-Bomb or maybe an Aftermath.  someone with hands-on knowledge of the Juggernaut would be your best bet on that one.

it is simply my opinion and observation that a company like the one behind the other pickups mentioned in your last post will most likely make choices over the span of 25-30 years when it comes to suppliers and what-not.  so things are going to shift a little.  there is a video out there of one of the models you mentioned spinning on a winding machine, without any human hands involved...as in, a machine is programmed, they load the bobbin and push the 'start' button.  no quite what was going on in the 80s.  and that's why I went on the hunt for some 80s models made by MJ for my Nightswan and then I ordered the same models from her in the custom shop this year for the Shredder.

the mass-produced method some companies use just doesn't quite do it for me in the same way, and that's why I like my BKPs so much.