Pickups for a Washburn N2...

[Ced777]

Hi all,

I already have a Nailbomb and Riff Raff and I will receive next week a Mule set and Irish Tour set...
Well, as you see, I'm totally BKP-addicted!  :twisted:

I was looking to my cheap N2 today (HH, alder body). The pickups in there are not bad (stock ones: L500 bridge, Washburn-not-so-cr@ppy neck). But off course, I start to looking for a BKP change....

I would like to find something in the same league as the L500: good power, tight bass, sweet fat mids (a bit greasy, more high mids than low mids I think), and clear sparkly highs. Splitted, it is (almost) tele-like.
Hard-rock of the 80's would be the deal. (From Jake E Lee to Nuno and all the hairy bands: Whitesnake....)

... off course I thought about the Holy Diver. Seems the deal.
Does it have greasy mids and a power equal or higher than L-500L (which has less output than my Nailbomb)? I like to get pinch harmonics with ease (part of that style  :P )

What neck PU would you choose to go with? I think something with more bass (but the neck pos is bassier anyway) to have an interesting middle position....

Any Holy Diver owner testimony would be appreciated. Or any advice for another pickup (maybe the future "Cold Sweat"? I'm not in a hurry at all...)

Ced777

[Ratrod]

How about a Miracle Man set?

I don't now if it will do a Tele impression when split, but it'll do all the other things.

[Ced777]

Maybe... The MM is not too bass heavy? It has sparkly highs?

[Ratrod]

Well, the MM is a pretty bassy pickup. But I find the Warpig even bassier, not more of it but just bigger. Also, you're gonna put them in an alder body guitar. To my ears alder has a lot of upper midrange. It's a popular wood for so called crotch rockets. I think the MM will sound less bassy than th ones in the soundclips (mahogany). The MM has ceramic magnets, same as the EMG81, Gibson T500, DiMarzio Super Distortion, XL500 etc. All these pickups have one thing in common: tight bass and piercing highs. Cuts like a hot knife through butter. And I have no doubt that those pinch harmonics will fly off your fretboard. :twisted:

[HJM]

Holy Diver

Miracle man might just be too powerful in the low midrange, the diver has the 80s metal thing going!

[Ratrod]

Holy Diver calibrated set or something else in the neck?

PAF type pickups were very popular in the neck those days. (well, they still are)

(Hairspray and blow dryer included?)

[Ced777]

I already have a Riff Raff neck and a (future) Mule Alnico IV neck. So, another "taste" would be appreciated (maybe a bit more modern...)
A calibrated set, why not. Or something else but I have no idea...

[HJM]

Thinking about the N2, a Miracle Man would probably sound great - there's not as much natural mid from the body.
Being bolt on there should be a decent amount of treble, but not as much as the Nailbombs.

Choices, choices.. :roll:

[PhilKing]

I have a calibrated Miracle Man set.  Tim makes the neck pickup with alnico V so it has a much more rounded sound.  They are a great balanced set. Mine are wicked looking too, with the black engraved covers.

I tried Tim's Foster LP (the one in many of the BKP ad's), and never realised he had put a MM in the neck.  It had a great blues/rock tone, with a ton of harmonics and drive.

Perhaps if you are not in a hurry, the Cold Sweat set might be the one you want, with the John Sykes sound.  I also just got the HB sized P-90 in the chrome cover and it really rocks.  This would give you a totally different sound, like early Black Sabbath or Alex Harvey.  I am using this with a mini-Mule, but I think it would sound great with something like a VHII neck, or even a Stormy Monday - but this would be very classic rock then, not too much 80's.

[Tim]

Go for Miracle Man-it'll blow the socks of the L500 and the bass won't be an issue in an alder body-it'll sound tight and focused,perfect for 'hair'metal :D
The calibrated set is a good call too as the Alnico V neck is terrifying!

[Ced777]

I have to think about it...
Between a Holy Diver (you wrote -Tim-: "The bottom end is tight, mids smooth and very clear highs." remember me what I described first), a Cold Sweat, and a MM... all in the 80's metal era...

I have to listen some band to choose...
If I'm correct:
Holy Diver = Vivian Campbell / Dio....
Cold Sweat = John Sykes
Miracle Man = ? (Zakk Wylde? Randy Rhoads?)

Ced777

[Tim]

Got it in one CED777.
For an 'improved' L500 tone go for the Miracle Man.

[Ced777]

Ok I'm trusting you, Tim.  You spoke as if the Force was with you ;-) (I saw tonight Episode V  :P )

I had to check my bank account, but will probably recontact you VERY soon.  

[Ced777]

Humm... I listened the new MM clip, but I'm half convinced with the tone. Understand: it is an excellent one but maybe not what I'm looking for. Seems a tad too "extreme" (to my ears)...

I will wait to hear some Holy Diver clip, or the brand new Cold Sweat.  

(my L-500 is from Bill Lawrence USA, not Bill&Becky: it is less powerfull, more sweets mids, less bass than the Bill&Becky L-500XL)

Ced777

[HJM]

Humm... I listened the new MM clip, but I'm half convinced with the tone. Understand: it is an excellent one but maybe not what I'm looking for. Seems a tad too "extreme" (to my ears)...

I will wait to hear some Holy Diver clip, or the brand new Cold Sweat.  

(my L-500 is from Bill Lawrence USA, not Bill&Becky: it is less powerfull, more sweets mids, less bass than the Bill&Becky L-500XL)

Ced777

Remember that you're listening to a Les Paul, a lot of the extra mid and bass comes from the guitar!