Alnico V Neck Humbuckers from Brightest to Darkest

[brianhenson]

I've scoured the forums and emailed back and forth a bit with Ben and Tim and decided I'd attempt to list the lower output AV humbuckers in the BKP range by brightness, as well as by "bassyness" (totally not a word). Let me know if you agree and/or if you find it useful:

AV necks (under 8.5k) by brightness (brightest to darkest):
Riff Raff
Holydiver
Cold Sweat
VHII
Rebel Yell
Black Dog

AV necks (under 8.5k) by bass response (most to least):
Cold Sweat
Black Dog
Rebel Yell
VHII
Holydiver
Riff Raff

This was part of my own search for a neck pickup that met my specs. In the end, I've decided I'm going to get a Riff Raff neck and compare it to the Stormy Monday I currently have. The Stormy sounds very sweet but I think I really want something a bit more "lively" and a bit leaner on the low end and since the Riff Raff is the brightest, tightest AV neck humbucker BKP makes, I think that will fit the bill for me.

[Dave Sloven]

Output can be deceiving.

1. you don't mention the Black Hawk neck, which is rated at 8.0k, or the Impulse neck, which is rated at 7.9k
2. the Cold Sweet neck is hotter than its rating suggests, on a par with the Nailbomb neck (which is brighter).

[brianhenson]

Output can be deceiving.

1. you don't mention the Black Hawk neck, which is rated at 8.0k, or the Impulse neck, which is rated at 7.9k
2. the Cold Sweet neck is hotter than its rating suggests, on a par with the Nailbomb neck (which is brighter).

The DCR is all I have to go on since I don't have the inductance ratings and haven't tried any of the pickups in the list. I hadn't considered the black hawk or impulse since they're blade pickups and I've always thought of those as different beasts in my mind.

[ericsabbath]

I've scoured the forums and emailed back and forth a bit with Ben and Tim and decided I'd attempt to list the lower output AV humbuckers in the BKP range by brightness, as well as by "bassyness" (totally not a word). Let me know if you agree and/or if you find it useful:

AV necks (under 8.5k) by brightness (brightest to darkest):
Riff Raff
Holydiver
Cold Sweat
Rebel Yell
VHII
Black Dog

AV necks (under 8.5k) by bass response (most to least):
Cold Sweat
Black Dog
Rebel Yell
VHII
Holydiver
Riff Raff

This was part of my own search for a neck pickup that met my specs. In the end, I've decided I'm going to get a Riff Raff neck and compare it to the Stormy Monday I currently have. The Stormy sounds very sweet but I think I really want something a bit more "lively" and a bit leaner on the low end and since the Riff Raff is the brightest, tightest AV neck humbucker BKP makes, I think that will fit the bill for me.

the brightness range sounds right, but the vhII is definitely bassier than the cold sweat, and perhaps bassier than all the others too
others might sound fuller in comparison due to its hollowish midrange

[vincenz]

Very interesting thread !
It seems to give me a solution to my neck pup quest.

I love the Black Dog bridge on my Les Paul R9, especially for his hot/throaty mids and presence. It does the perfect breakup on my EVH 5150 blue channel.
But I found the neck position too bassy, with not enough push and definition in de high mids.
Reading the forum, the Holydriver and the Riff Raff are the two I am actually considering for the neck position.
But I also wonder about the power output comparing the the BD bridge.
Any thought about my case ?

[darkbluemurder]

As a partner to the Black Dog bridge I would choose the Holydiver neck out of the two mentioned. Balance should be ok.

Cheers Stephan

[darrenw5094]

Very interesting thread !
It seems to give me a solution to my neck pup quest.

I love the Black Dog bridge on my Les Paul R9, especially for his hot/throaty mids and presence. It does the perfect breakup on my EVH 5150 blue channel.
But I found the neck position too bassy, with not enough push and definition in de high mids.
Reading the forum, the Holydriver and the Riff Raff are the two I am actually considering for the neck position.
But I also wonder about the power output comparing the the BD bridge.
Any thought about my case ?

There is a video on YouTube with a Les Paul.....Black dog in bridge and a Riff Raff in the neck.

[vincenz]

Very interesting thread !
It seems to give me a solution to my neck pup quest.

I love the Black Dog bridge on my Les Paul R9, especially for his hot/throaty mids and presence. It does the perfect breakup on my EVH 5150 blue channel.
But I found the neck position too bassy, with not enough push and definition in de high mids.
Reading the forum, the Holydiver and the Riff Raff are the two I am actually considering for the neck position.
But I also wonder about the power output comparing the the BD bridge.
Any thought about my case ?

There is a video on YouTube with a Les Paul.....Black dog in bridge and a Riff Raff in the neck.

I saw that, Bruce Dickinson plays really great btw (if it's the video you mean).
The RR sounds good, but it seems to be a little weak beside of the BD anyway...

[brianhenson]

I've scoured the forums and emailed back and forth a bit with Ben and Tim and decided I'd attempt to list the lower output AV humbuckers in the BKP range by brightness, as well as by "bassyness" (totally not a word). Let me know if you agree and/or if you find it useful:

AV necks (under 8.5k) by brightness (brightest to darkest):
Riff Raff
Holydiver
Cold Sweat
Rebel Yell
VHII
Black Dog

AV necks (under 8.5k) by bass response (most to least):
Cold Sweat
Black Dog
Rebel Yell
VHII
Holydiver
Riff Raff

This was part of my own search for a neck pickup that met my specs. In the end, I've decided I'm going to get a Riff Raff neck and compare it to the Stormy Monday I currently have. The Stormy sounds very sweet but I think I really want something a bit more "lively" and a bit leaner on the low end and since the Riff Raff is the brightest, tightest AV neck humbucker BKP makes, I think that will fit the bill for me.

the brightness range sounds right, but the vhII is definitely bassier than the cold sweat, and perhaps bassier than all the others too
others might sound fuller in comparison due to its hollowish midrange

Interesting! I'd read that the CS had quite a bit of bass. So perhaps this would be closer?

AV necks (under 8.5k) by brightness (brightest to darkest):
Riff Raff
Cold Sweat
Holydiver
VHII
Rebel Yell
Black Dog

AV necks (under 8.5k) by bass response (most to least):
VHII
Cold Sweat
Black Dog
Rebel Yell
Holydiver
Riff Raff

[darrenw5094]

Very interesting thread !
It seems to give me a solution to my neck pup quest.

I love the Black Dog bridge on my Les Paul R9, especially for his hot/throaty mids and presence. It does the perfect breakup on my EVH 5150 blue channel.
But I found the neck position too bassy, with not enough push and definition in de high mids.
Reading the forum, the Holydiver and the Riff Raff are the two I am actually considering for the neck position.
But I also wonder about the power output comparing the the BD bridge.
Any thought about my case ?

There is a video on YouTube with a Les Paul.....Black dog in bridge and a Riff Raff in the neck.

I saw that, Bruce Dickinson plays really great btw (if it's the video you mean).
The RR sounds good, but it seems to be a little weak beside of the BD anyway...

Yeah.....that's the one