Formulating a new custom build...

[HEadoftheAges]

Hey, everyone. I came across some rather good news today; one of the luthiers who built me a custom guitar (currently outfitted with an A-bomb in the bridge and a VHII in the neck) has decided to endorse me - as much a one-man operation can endorse someone; essentially I will be getting custom-instruments at a discount. So I am now formulating my next build. I keep vacillating between different scale lengths, but I have decided on these specs:

6-string
Black Limba set neck
Black Limba body
Macassar Ebony top with ebony binding
Ziricote or bocote fretboard
Schaller hannes bridge

I was initially veering towards a 27", baritone scale, but I was also struck by the idea of having something a little more versatile that could handle both low tunings as well as higher standard tunings, for use with both atmospheric black/death metal as well as more jazzy, classic stylings, so I think a 25.5" scale would work for both E-standard and C-standard. As far as pickups are concerned, I am torn between The Abraxas set and some manner of Humbucker-sized P90s, such as the Stockholm or even the Mississippi Queens.

Black Limba tends to sit closer to Mahogany on the tonal spectrum, but the slightly longer scale length and the ebony top will probably add a bit of brightness to it. Any recommendations would be helpful!

Regards,
Alec

[Slartibartfarst42]

Well, as it seems likely it will very possibly be a dark sounding guitar overall, coupled with the fact that you clearly like the A-Bomb, how about a Rebel Yell? If you'd like something with a bit more distance from the A-Bomb, I think a Cold Sweat set work work really well in that guitar. If you'd like something that's more vintage hot in character but a bit brighter overall, I think the Black Dog and Emerald would both be good possibilities. For the neck, with BKP I just can't see past either the Emerald or Holydiver, which until recently were the best neck pickups I'd ever tried by some margin.

[Telerocker]

I understand you want a more vintagestyle pickup? If you want good cleans, but a little more balls and mids than a Mule, the Abraxas is certainly a good option. If not, the Impulse might a worth a looking at.

[HEadoftheAges]

I am leaning more and more towards vintage-output style pickups as I do like the idea of my amp handling most of the heavy lifting, and virtually everything I have read about The Abraxas set appeals to me.  It seems to be the unheralded humbucker of BK's line, but I have yet to read a bad thing about it. 

- Alec

[dani]

from experience, black limba has even more low mids compared to mahogany. for the metal you play, i reckoned clarity is an important factor?

if so, you may want something that has slightly lower mids to maintain definition. vintage to medium output pickups is ideal and you can always use a boost for the brootz.