Pup choice for a mass of mahogany! Pics

[Justice4all]

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a13/Sparkfire/Rico%20Jr/SIN_4.jpg

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a13/Sparkfire/Rico%20Jr/P1000024.jpg

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a13/Sparkfire/Rico%20Jr/P1000028.jpg

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a13/Sparkfire/Rico%20Jr/DSC00486.jpg

Ok, this is my handmade Bernie Rico Jr Sinister archtop.
It is loaded with a Duncan distortopn and a Jazz, the guitar is mahogany body and neck. Flame maple cap and ebony finderboard.
My problem is its such a huge chunk of mahogany it sorta sounds a little muffled/not alive/not in your face. Im actually thinking its the lack of midrange, i could be wrong but it sorta sounds like its all been sucked outta it, just the huge mass of mahogany. But it plays killer as all hell!

So ive just ordered a MM set for a a Warmoth project im doing so wot do u guys reccomend for this, i was thinking a Nailbomb set?

Not worried to much about bottom end as the wood has that covered, just something alive sounding and grindy!. its tuned to d-dropped d.

Harley.

[Philly Q]

I haven't really got a pickup recommendation, but that's an amazing looking guitar!  I've never seen one before.

I'm surprised it lacks midrange given all that mahogany.  Maybe it's the neck-through construction?  I've never been sure if a neck-through is as resonant as a Gibson-style set neck.

If you have a Miracle Man set on the way, why not try them in the Rico before installing them in your Warmoth?  That way, even if you don't like them you'll have a reference point for comparison with other BKPs.

[daveirl1]

omg, that guitar is .... wowaaah!

[downrodeo]

I'd definitley try a new set of pickups in it. It can make a world of difference. Let's put it this way...my Schecter C-1 Classic is far superior in quality to my old LTD MH-301 but I couldn't stand playing it with my amplifier because the pickups (DUNCANS!!!) sucked so badly compared to my LTD's EMGs (! :lol: !) . But when I had my Nailbombs thrown in, it finally felt worth playing again. It's funny how much the pickups changed the guitar in my mind, and it's a credit to really how well Tim's creations work in assisting you in your "Tonequest"! Try it. Mahogany guitars need the right pickup to bring out how good they really sound. There are a lot of Les Pauls that sound wretched with their stock pickups that would sound absolutely beautiful if they were given the BKP treatment. I really think they let a guitar reach it's potential.

[Justice4all]

Thanks guys, yeah the guitar gets alot of attention!
Tim recomended me a Rebel Yell set..... so guess what its getting?
I may ask him to comment on a ceramic RB 8)

Oh for anyone interested. www.ricojrguitars.com
and www.drumcityguitarland.com holds a lot of his stuff! Enjoy.

[downrodeo]

I'd still go Alnico, for what my two cents is worth. I like how warm it is, though Alnico's not as tight as Ceramic in the bass. Very expressive though and many of Tim's alnico pups are just as good for traditionally Ceramic pickup territory (i.e. METALLLL!) as his Ceramic pickups are. Just a thought. I just think the Rebel Yells all about being able to get a maximum amount of versatility out of a pretty hot pickup and the Alnico magnet is a big factor in this. If you got a Ceramic REBEL YELL, wouldn't that be like getting Cold Sweats anyways???

[Peter Antal]

If you got a Ceramic REBEL YELL, wouldn't that be like getting Cold Sweats anyways???

Here's an interview with Steve Stevens:

http://www.musicianshotline.com/issue/features/200607_artist_stevens2.asp

He mentions somewhere in the article that the two coils of the RY are wound with different wire and there's quite an offset between them to let more top end come through. Of course he may be wrong as he also claims he isn't a tech guru. ;)

[Philly Q]

He may not be a tech guru, but reading that article he seems pretty damn clued up.  He even talks about pots and soldering techniques!  Who'd have thought that Steve Stevens would fit his own pickups?

Looking forward to getting my RY, I think it's going to be pretty special.

[TwilightOdyssey]

The Rebel Yell really is a great pickup!

[CaffeineJunkie]

i asked about a ceramic RY a while back, and apparently it'll lose most of the harmonic detail and make it ridiculously smooth, which goes against what they were intended for

[Ratrod]

I think you should get a MM set for it. Nailbombs may get too bassy with all that mahogany. Or.....if you wanna get super evil with that axe, howabout a Warpig?

[Crazy_Joe]

I want you're guitar!!!!