Pickups for Ibanez RG and Music Man JP 6

[calvincohee]

Hello all, I've been considering BKP's for awhile after reading the reviews and watching some videos. I'd like to put them in my RG and my JP 6. I play on an EVH 5150 III 50 watt head. The band I'm in plays mostly hard rock in the style of Chevelle, Avenged Sevenfold, Tool, etc. On the side I like to play stuff by bands like Obscura and Between the Buried and Me. I want super clear and tight distortion with great cleans as well if possible. I've never been a fan of actives or passives that are modeled after them.

Right now my RG is in Standard/Dropped D. The JP is in Dropped C. I was thinking about getting a Holy Diver set for the RG and an Aftermath set for the JP. But, not having had any previous experience with any of the pickups in the BKP line I wanted to ask the forums opinion on what they thought might be best for my needs.

Thanks!

-Calvin

P.S. I hope this isn't against any forum rules but, I've attached a song from my band in case anyone wants to listen and give a suggestion based off that.

[calvincohee]

One of my biggest concerns is that I might have too many upper mids going on with my choice of guitars, Amp and pickups. Any suggestions on how to get the best balance would be appreciated.

[m t soule]

I can understand having too much upper mids.
I got 3 rgs all loaded with bkps bridge hb.
Holy diver
Miracle man
Abraxas
All sound great and all have thier niche.
However the holy diver has the most versatile sound across a lot of styles. Especially considering the way a player attack the instrument. Eg if i mute and attack hard i can get that percussive agressive modern crush sound. Open up the mute a little and 80's thrash comes out.

[Dave Sloven]

I would consider the Impulse as an alternative to that Aftermath

[calvincohee]

Another thing is that I already get a ton of gain from my amp so I really don't need a super high output pickup. Also, I'm a big fan of Paul Gilbert's tones. He's one of the biggest influences on my personal play style.

Is the impulse a very versatile pickup set?

[Kiichi]

Another thing is that I already get a ton of gain from my amp so I really don't need a super high output pickup. Also, I'm a big fan of Paul Gilbert's tones. He's one of the biggest influences on my personal play style.

Is the impulse a very versatile pickup set?

Seems to be pretty versatile. I think Josh described it as a more modern RY in some ways, which would mean it can do a lot.

For Gilbert there are different options depending on the era. An HD might be a good place to start there for the RG. For the more modern neck tones the HD is good too I think, though for the vintage ones (when he used that painted f holes thing) the Emerald might be more fitting.

Not having had a BKP before and the Aftermath being great, but very specific, I might even say just fill the RG first and then come back to us for the JP, as you then have a reference point within BKP too. COuld help.

[ericsabbath]

Holy Diver set for the standard tuned guitar
Miracle Man bridge and Cold Sweat neck for the downtuned one

[calvincohee]

Isn't a Miracle Man pretty similar to an EMG though? I've tried EMG pickups before and they've always been too sterile for my taste. Is the Miracle Man sterile sounding?

[Kiichi]

Isn't a Miracle Man pretty similar to an EMG though? I've tried EMG pickups before and they've always been too sterile for my taste. Is the Miracle Man sterile sounding?

Nope. It is inspired by the sound Zakk Wylde got on Miracle Man using an EMG, but it does not sound like one. Certainly not sterile. Big chugging lows, a midrange that is there, but not in focus, and a cutting high end. Less what we think of as EMGs and more late 80s metal (think Schenker, etc.) and capable of delivering some of the tones EMGs are used for in the way they should be.

[ericsabbath]

The Miracle Man is pretty organic sounding to me
Much more than the aftermath, which has a more forward tone, but lacks depth in the lows and low mids, like EMGs
The MM does the chevelle and tool without trouble, cleans up nicely and also splits really really well
And it does the BTBAM downtuned proggy thing like it was built for that

[calvincohee]

I will be ordering the Holy Divers next week for my RG. Still debating on the pickups for my JP. How does the Nailbomb compare to the Miracle Man?

[Yellowjacket]

I apologize for being late to the party here.   I'm been trying a Juggernaut set in an RG7421 and I highly recommend them.  I've commented on there being a 'hollow mid' characteristic to the tone of the pickups, but with the RG, the guitar fills in the missing mids and upper mids nicely.  The result is an articulate, muscular, and clear sounding pickup set.