Author Topic: Metal Pickup for a Custom made Guitar (Read 12122 times)

Jappse · « **on:** April 22, 2006, 09:59:27 AM »

Im ordering this custom guitar from Poland, with some help from ztevie. Though I do not know what pickup I am to put IN IT, and its driving me nuts. BKP are beginning to get too many choises...

Im am a former customer, bough the Nailbomb and im happy above all else. But I want a different one for this guitar, so what now?

I play through an amp similar to a marshall but with more gain, the tubes are EL 34`s. I run the signal through a tube screamer as well, just to give it some more gain.

I play basically metal, but play all sorts of stuff. Zakk Wylde, COB, Iron Maiden, Trivium, Megadeth, Pantera, Metallica, Lamb of God and Opeth are the bands that claims my attencion the most. Though i also like Satriani, Bonamassa, Molly Hatchet, Vai, VH and my farourite band G n` R (Becouse of Slash, of course).

The guitar specs are as following:

Mahogany Body & Neck
Flamed Maple Top
Ebony Fretboard
Neck-Thru constuction
White-Black-White Binding on Body
White Binding on Fretboard
Tonepros Wraparound PRS bridge w/locking studs
Sperzel Locking Tuning Keys Black
Schaller Strap Lock
Schaller Hardware
Chrome Hardware
Black Pickup frames
???"A pair Bare Knuckle pickups"???

Deep-Green Color

PRS Body and Headstock

stu__r · « **Reply #1 on:** April 22, 2006, 10:21:08 AM »

Miracle man leaps to mind.

If you wanted something a touch more subtle then Crawlers would be great also.

Steve-Mr Pig 2U · « **Reply #2 on:** April 22, 2006, 10:34:27 AM »

I would go with the Cold sweat. Its very harmonically rich, with a big tight bottom end. Its wound with the same wire as the Nailbomb, but it is more open and a bit brighter.

jt · « **Reply #3 on:** April 22, 2006, 02:17:26 PM »

Quote from: Steve-Mr Pig 2U

I would go with the Cold sweat. Its very harmonically rich, with a big tight bottom end. Its wound with the same wire as the Nailbomb, but it is more open and a bit brighter.

:D + 1

:D 8)

indysmith · « **Reply #4 on:** April 22, 2006, 03:41:43 PM »

sounds like a sweet guitar you've got there man, who made her? By the way - i think the Cold Sweat will pretty much nail what yu need

ztevie · « **Reply #5 on:** April 22, 2006, 05:46:53 PM »

No shite! You ordered one?
Which company did you order from? And what did it cost?

As for the pickups, MiracleMan could surely do everything you're listing there, but send Tim a mail and ask him. Mahogany is a pretty dark sounding wood, and you don't want boomy or muddy bass...

Jappse · « **Reply #6 on:** April 22, 2006, 11:36:39 PM »

He he, I have not ordered it yet, but ive made them aware that Im intrested. Im ordering the guitar from REK guitars (thanks to you ztevie, their answers where both better and "faster" than the other luthiers) in late may, then Ill pick it up in poland, cheat the customs, and get it home before early september. The price will be around 1.600 € depending on the inlays, which i dont have a clue what to fit on the guitar, any ideas??

And thanks for all the replies guys. Though Im a bit sceptic towards ceramic magnets in a pickup, but thats only from my bad experiences with a pair of Gibson 500T & 498R ceramics. But thats not pups made by Tim though...

Somehow the two pickups that have shimmered the must when ive viewed their specs and listened to some clips, the Miracle Men and Cold Sweat have separated themself from the rest of the pickup line, though the new Holy Diver seems tempting.

Now comes the major question, which one???

dave_mc · « **Reply #7 on:** April 23, 2006, 11:53:23 AM »

If you haven't ordered it yet, it might not hurt asking tim and the guys what wood to get the guitar made from too, to match the pickups and wood to the tones you want. You know "what wood does the warpig suit best" etc.- since you're going custom, might as well have it matched to perfection!

ztevie · « **Reply #8 on:** April 23, 2006, 05:32:01 PM »

Hey Jappsee!
So you're gonna order it in late May?
I should have my guitar by then, give or take a few weeks, so you can have my opinion of the quality and impresssion of their work before you actually order it...? Plus some pics closeup of their work.
dave_mc has got a point too... But I don't think you should build your guitar around the pickups, if you know what I mean.
But if you're sure you want it all in mahogany, then go for it, but check with Tim how the CioldSweats and Miracles can expect to sound with that wood?
If you're not 100% about the wood, take dave's advice and check with Tim...

Jappse · « **Reply #9 on:** April 23, 2006, 05:56:21 PM »

Tims advice was the Rebel Yell, which is made for S. Stevens LP`s that are all mahogany. I just need to know if the pickup sounds good coiltapped, since its not a contemporary pickup.

My primary reason getting the guitar all mahogany, is to have a guitar thats
in the vicinity of my LP Classic, all mahogany. (fitted with a Nailbomb and a Mule) I have not checked the different resonances and tonal character of woods, but i do know that mahogany gives a great resonance compared to its weight. But if theres any guidance towards woods you can teach me, I would be more than happy.

Ant thanks for the offer ztevie, it would be great to know about their quality, cant find any reviews from REK customers.

dave_mc · « **Reply #10 on:** April 23, 2006, 06:28:16 PM »

^^ztevie: yeah, i agree that he shouldn't build it round the pickups persay, but, for example, if tim should say "x pickup is great for the tones you want, but it's not so good for your choice of wood" then it'd be worth listening to...

ztevie · « **Reply #11 on:** April 23, 2006, 06:36:50 PM »

Well, you're set then...
Mahogany has some very good qualities like good sustain and overall it's a very "tonal" wood... What I don't like about all-mahogany guitars is I can't seem to get real bite out of them, the bass is not very tight but more rounded... That's my experience anyway...

There are a zillion sites about different woods, here are a few I found when googling:
http://www.ultimate-guitar.com/columns/the_guide_to/ultimate_guitar_guide_tone_woods.html
http://www.sweetw@ter.com/shop/guitars/electric-guitars/buying-guide.php#2
http://www.warmoth.com/guitar/options/options_bodywoods.cfm
http://www.edromanguitars.com/wood/main.htm

One question: Is the price on the guitar including pickups?

EDIT: Oh, and when you say deep-green color, is it a solid color or is it somewhat transparent?

ztevie · « **Reply #12 on:** April 23, 2006, 06:51:37 PM »

Quote from: dave_mc

^^ztevie: yeah, i agree that he shouldn't build it round the pickups persay, but, for example, if tim should say "x pickup is great for the tones you want, but it's not so good for your choice of wood" then it'd be worth listening to...

You're right, I agree...
These polish luthiers are also very good at giving advice about tonal qualities of different woods, and which woods will sound good together...
They've even talked me out of some things I suggested because they didn't think it would sound great, even if the guitar would have cost me more.

stu__r · « **Reply #13 on:** April 23, 2006, 07:15:40 PM »

Quote from: ztevie

Well, you're set then...
Mahogany has some very good qualities like good sustain and overall it's a very "tonal" wood... What I don't like about all-mahogany guitars is I can't seem to get real bite out of them, the bass is not very tight but more rounded... That's my experience anyway...

There are a zillion sites about different woods, here are a few I found when googling:
http://www.ultimate-guitar.com/columns/the_guide_to/ultimate_guitar_guide_tone_woods.html
http://www.sweetw@ter.com/shop/guitars/electric-guitars/buying-guide.php#2
http://www.warmoth.com/guitar/options/options_bodywoods.cfm
http://www.edromanguitars.com/wood/main.htm

One question: Is the price on the guitar including pickups?

EDIT: Oh, and when you say deep-green color, is it a solid color or is it somewhat transparent?

While we are talking tone woods here i realy must just throw in the advice that i think you should also consider some other woods than the general "mainstream" tone woods. Things like Walnut, Padauk, koa, korina, bubinga etc etc. I personaly have got better tones to my ears out of these tone woods (in particular the padauk,walnut and bubinga) than any of the more standard woods like ash, alder, mahogany, basswood etc.

just a thought.

Jappse · « **Reply #14 on:** April 23, 2006, 08:00:35 PM »

No ztevie, the price does not include the pickups. And when I mean deep green, i mean somewhere close to PRS Emerald Green.

Wonderful answers everybody, but what is your recommedation for a basically metal guitar that has the best sustain and tight bass, as the same time as it "sings" (tonal)??