PRS Bernie Marsden - replacement pickups.

[richard]

Hi Folks. I rehearsed with the Bernie last night going through a cranked Marshall DSL. It plays really well and is very resonant. The pickups - they're pretty good but they lack character and I think I knew in my heart that I want another set of BK's. Also, I have exactly £250 left in my new toy budget so I think it was meant to be -  I can hear the Tone God shouting 'Get more BK's, fool'.

So what to go for ? I've ruled out the Vintage range with the possible exception of the Riff Raff set. Most of the contemporary range is too metal for me so I'm basically looking at three choices - another set of RYs, Abraxas or Crawler. Whichever I choose I'll go for a set.

The Abraxas interests me the most. The specs seem very close to the RY. Same wire, similar EQ curve and DC resistance but different magnets.

Has anyone tried both these sets in an LP type guitar ? If so, what are the similarities and differences ? Are they in the same ballpark in terms of output ? Anyone who has Abraxas in an LP what do you think of them?

The Crawlers interest me as well but general consensus seems to be that they can be hit or miss in an LP. I like the idea of a fat tone in the bridge but I don't want the top end to be too smooth - does the Abraxas have more bite in the highs than the Crawler ?

I love my RYs in my Firebird and I know they have a great reputation in LPs so maybe just get some more although I would prefer to try something new.

I look forward to hearing your thoughts.

Cheers, Richie.

[Slartibartfarst42]

Interesting problem.

The Crawler is an incredible pickup but it is relatively dark sounding so I suppose it depends on how naturally dark your guitar is. It's certainly fat and growly with plenty mids but it's also not particularly tight so might miss that 'bite' you refer to. I've often heard of a progression from Abraxas, through the Crawler to the Holydiver so if the Holydiver is too hot, the Crawler doesn't have enough bite, your next port of call must logically be the Abraxas. The lighter wind and greater offset in the coils would suggest you would have more bite but against that, you have an AIV magnet, which will be naturally softer than an AV. Another option might be a Black Dog. It has the growly thick mids of a Crawler with the more vintage feel of the Abraxas through its lighter wind and will offer more bite than either of them. It can be used for material with a more vintage feel but is also a pickup popular with Metal players using dropped tunings thanks to the 'bite' that it has. Certainly worth a look I would have thought.

[richard]

Slarti, thanks for your thoughts. I like your observations about the family link from Abraxas to HD via the Crawler. Truth be told, there's loads of BKs I'd like to have a crack at but you have to narrow it down. I did listen to various clips of the Black Dog and there's something going on in the high end I don't care for. If it is modelled after the sounds on Led Zep 4 then I definitely don't want it. To me that album has some of the worst recorded guitar tones I've ever heard - just my opinion of course. I've been listening to a lot of Free lately and (again my opinion) Paul Kossoff's tone blows Jimmy Page's out of the water.

[AndyR]

I have the same issue with you on the Led Zeppelin IV guitar tones! But I am tempted by a Black Dog now... Check out Tom's Black Dog clips in the players section (although that is in an SG).

Paul Kossoff - I'd be going Mules (for some of the studio tones), but more likely, personally, Stormy Mondays (that does the Fire & Water studio tones and the live sound on Free Live better than Mules in my hands). Mule has more of a rasp on the top, SMs are plenty bright/clear, but sweeter with it... then I can get all the rasp I want by the way I dig in. If you've got a light touch all the time, probably Mules would be better.

But you want to veer away from vintage... I've not played Abraxas, but often wondered. I have a feeling that this might be where you want to be...

[Telerocker]

The Abraxas is a serious option for that guitar. More chime than the Crawler, more mids and output than the Mule.

[Kiichi]

I am fully with Andy on Kossoff. Nothing much to add there. However, that is of course a bit more vintage than the Abraxas. They are incredible for cleans and even classic hard rock though, so if that is your focal point, they are amazing.

[Slartibartfarst42]

I think the Abraxas could certainly be a great choice as I've even heard some decent Metal tones out of Abraxas pups. Ironically, I've never been a fan of Led Zeppelin but the Black Dogs always seem a lot better than I expect to me:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CaqEET376-I

[PhilKing]

I'm a great Kossoff fan, but the key to his sound is running an amp at enough volume to get break up.  I'm with Andy on the pickups, though I also like PG Blues, which gets the Peter Green 'out of phase' sound too.  If you can find a set of 10th Anniversaries, they would also be great.

I've got a 2002 PRS Single Cut with Abraxas' and also a Hamer Sunburst with an old prototype set.   I like them a lot as they are like a more powerful PAF.  They do work really well on the PRS (they are good on the Hamer too, but I play the PRS more).   You can still get a lot of the Kossoff sounds from them.  There is a combo that I have that works even better than this for PK sound, and that is a VHII Neck in the Bridge with a Stormy Monday bridge in the neck, which is a great classic rock combo.

I'm not a fan of Crawlers in LP style guitars (I have them in an Epi 58 flying V and in the bridge on an old PRS EG).   They always seem a little sterile in the LP (I tried them in the PRS SC before going with the Abraxas set).

[richard]

Well I've ordered an Abraxas set and now have that pleasant tingle of anticipation.

I phoned BK and spoke to Ben just to confirm I was on the right track. What a great guy !! Could not have been more helpful. I think he would have talked pickups all day. It's really great to see that although BK have grown a great deal since I first dealt with them (about 8 years go ?) their customer service is still second to none.

Also, big thanks to everyone that chimed in with advice and suggestions. This is a terrific forum.

Cheers, Richie.

Oops, put this in the wrong thread first time.