Peavey Wolfgang

[artypaul]

Hi all,

I've got a US Peavey Wolfgang which currently has a Painkiller in the bridge position. It gives great clarity but I'm after something warmer. It's a basswood guitar with a bolt-on maple neck - the Painkiller is a little clinical for my taste I've decided - I'm guessing something Alnico might be more up my street. I'd like the guitar to come alive a little more, if you know what I mean...

I play a range of music, mainly metal, but also rock and cleaner tones. I have another guitar with a Duncan '59 in the bridge, so I know that high output isn't the be all and end all. Any suggestions?

Thank you for any advice!

Paul.

[darrenw5094]

Warmer classic rock is the Abraxas.

I wonder what the VHII would sound like in an EVH Wolfgang? 

[artypaul]

A friend has just popped VHIIs in a Kramer Richie Sambora - quite a different construction but I'll have a listen - I had wondered about those as a choice...

[darrenw5094]

Actually the Juggset will do metal, good cleans and was made for basswood. Modern voice though obviously.

[Slartibartfarst42]

I don't know about the Peavey Wolfgang but I recently tried an EVH Wolfgang and I thought the stock pickups were great for what you describe. A Holydiver set should get you what you want perfectly.

[artypaul]

I noticed a real improvement in clarity over the stock pickup when upgrading to the Painkiller. But that was a few years back, and I'm not so metal-centric in my hopes for the guitar now, and I just find the Painkiller a little harsh. Listening to the sound clips it might be a Holy Diver, or even a Riff Raff?

[Slartibartfarst42]

The stock pickups in the Wolfgang certainly weren't ideal for the Metal music that is the Painkiller's territory as they had more of that smooth, saturated 80s Metal tone but that is kinda what it sounds you're now after, hence my suggestion of a Holydiver. It's a very versatile set and for bridge pickups, the Holydiver and Crawler are the best two BKP products I've tried. In the neck, the Holydiver is sublime as it has a really sweet PAF feel to it. The Emerald neck is the other one I'd look at. Both were superb.

[artypaul]

Funnily enough, I recently put a Crawler into a Korean Wolfgang, and was quite surprised by it: I didn't like it that much 5 years ago, but I really quite enjoyed it just recently. Sadly, just as I lent the guitar to a friend... but that leads me to believe we're thinking along the same lines. Holy Diver might be the winner - I actually quite like the stock neck p/up, but am eager to replace the bridge again, though I'm sure I do have the original kicking around somewhere...

Thank you for your advice - much appreciated.

[Telerocker]

Beside the Diver you should really consider the Crawler. It sounds huge and warm, growls in a unique way when pushed and is capable of doing many styles. And no, the topend is not dull, just round with enough edge in most guitars. It has very nice, big cleans too and it splits well.

[Slartibartfarst42]

That's a good point on the splits for the Crawler. I've tried splits with loads of humbuckers but I've never been that fussed on the tones you get from them but when I was using the Crawler in the bridge, I found I was using the split tones all the time. They were better than most genuine singlecoils I've tried!

If you liked the Crawler bridge but fancy something different, the Holydiver is a good choice. Both have thick mids and both produce a lovely smooth tone. The Crawler is fatter, more growly and darker as it has more lower mids. The mids in the Holydiver are more evenly spread and the pickup is tighter. The Crawler will take you up to some 80s Metal, with its natural home being Blues Rock, Classic Rock and Heavy Rock while the Holydiver has a more natural home in 80s Metal and will push beyond there into more modern styles. The Crawler offers more versatility but neither is a one-trick pony.

[fdesalvo]

Damn you guys.  Getting me all crazy right now.

[Duck2587]

Holy diver, crawler, emerald or riff raff.

All are great.

Good luck choosing! lol

Keep it evil 

[artypaul]

See - that's what I think you have to accept about BKPs - there are always four options which are equally fantastic! It actually doesn't matter which one you choose - on any given day your choice is definitely the best, and on other days you could always play better. Give or take... I'm after something warmer than the ceramic Painkiller. As long as I get that - something lively and with bounce - I'll be happy...

For the record, I do like the Crawler. But I bet there's another one I like too...

[ericsabbath]

if you like the painkiller midrangy voicing, but want some warmth and less output, then you obviously want a holy diver
it has a spongier feel, smoother leads and medium output
a black dog should also sound pretty good and keep the pokey mids

[Duck2587]

See - that's what I think you have to accept about BKPs - there are always four options which are equally fantastic! It actually doesn't matter which one you choose - on any given day your choice is definitely the best, and on other days you could always play better. Give or take... I'm after something warmer than the ceramic Painkiller. As long as I get that - something lively and with bounce - I'll be happy...

For the record, I do like the Crawler. But I bet there's another one I like too...

Holy Diver. It's awesome in bolt maple necks. Sounds great.