Test Amp for Pickups (What do you use?)

[Bridgerhumbucker]

For years I always wondered " How do I know what a pickup will sound like from a clip?"
Cause when you think about it , the amp that they use ( which most times you don't know what it is or how its set) the miking and quality of the recording totally throws out the definite answer to that question
( Think about all the Youtube clips recorded with so-so phones)
In the end at best you can get an approximate idea ( even from quality clips)
and you have to rely your own judgement with your own amp ( and most people don't have the same amps and if so don't set them the same anyway.)
 So I'm wondering, what amp do you use that you consider " Ground Zero" for testing out pickups.  Also I take into consideration Clean and Dirty amp settings, as honestly, your not going to be able to tell if a pickup really has the qualities you want unless you take both into view.
 Also as a bonus Question, anyone know what amp(s) BK uses in their clips?

I am looking forward to everyone's replies.
 

[blue]

It's a very good point.  There are amps, particularly very high gain ones, that basically sound much the same no matter what you plug into them!  In my experience, Marshall Superlead or JCM 800 types react to different pickups well, as do old style Fender amps.  And those are types of amps most of us have at least some familiarity with. 

[Bridgerhumbucker]

It's a very good point.  There are amps, particularly very high gain ones, that basically sound much the same no matter what you plug into them!  In my experience, Marshall Superlead or JCM 800 types react to different pickups well, as do old style Fender amps.  And those are types of amps most of us have at least some familiarity with.

Good point about the High gain amps (and choice of amps) I forgot to mention my point of reference is a JCM 800 series also ( and believe it or not also a Marshall Lead 12, you'd be surprised how ' accurate' that amp is in revealing the true qualities of a pickup) Anyone else? what do you rely on for pickup test amps?

[gwEm]

agree with Blue - JCM800

[mantrasky]

Generally these two for rock tones.... Soldano SLO & Friedman BE-100 (HD calibrated set & Trilogy)

[Telerocker]

Orange Rockerverb and Diezel Schmidt. But, speakers do a lot too. So it's all about the chain: guitar, pickups, amp and cab/speakers. I compare pickups trough the same amp, which is the Diezel because it's a freaking honest amp. You hear what you feed it.

[Bridgerhumbucker]

Orange Rockerverb and Diezel Schmidt. But, speakers do a lot too. So it's all about the chain: guitar, pickups, amp and cab/speakers. I compare pickups trough the same amp, which is the Diezel because it's a freaking honest amp. You hear what you feed it.

Good points," honest amp"  is good way of saying it. Everyone's point of reference might  be different ( kind of the point of this thread) but what your ear is used to is whats important ( again, for me a marshall 800 series and, believe it or not a Lead 12 which might seem odd, but it's never let me down ( whatever I found sounded good through that, sounded good through most amps)
 Anyone else  have an " honest amp" that's their go to?

[Telerocker]

I have these, so my reference points. If you're used to a JCM800 you might look for specific frequencies in a pickup to match the amp.