Author Topic: More pickup help - clean guitar! (Read 2898 times)

fps_dean · « **on:** September 30, 2006, 07:01:09 AM »

Alright this one is way off in the future, but I might as well start taking suggestions now as I'll have plenty of time to think about it... I kind of like the stocks in this one but they aren't perfect and feedback too much... certainly are no match in tone to the Les Paul now (Rebel Yell set) in any way.

The guitar is a Carvin DC127, alder body, maple neck, ebony fretboard with two humbuckers and coil split switches for both. Neck-thru and a fixed bridge. I want some pickups that give me great clean tones and will gain up a little bit, and obviously split well as well.
I am thinking Crawlers are the best match for me here, although VHIIs or Black Dogs are very tempting too but I think the Crawlers may split better. I'm open to whatever as there are 6 quieter pickups available, most of which I am sure would do pretty well if not perfectly.... except the Rebel Yell because I have them in my Les Paul and would like to try something different for more variety.

I have never actually heard a PAF in alder either.... I know, I'm deprived...

Fourth Feline · « **Reply #1 on:** September 30, 2006, 10:44:35 AM »

For clean, sweet, rounded sounds with even frequency response, I love the Stormy Mondays. I have a calibrated set in an S.G. and they cover many bases whilst keeping the clean tone the one you most want to feast your ears upon.

Regards,

Derek.

PhilKing · « **Reply #2 on:** September 30, 2006, 01:09:33 PM »

The Abraxas work really well in neck through guitars. There was a set in one at LGS and it sounded great. They have a good clean sound and I think the AIV magnets will give you the sweet tones you are after.

fps_dean · « **Reply #3 on:** September 30, 2006, 03:52:35 PM »

The Abraxas huh? I haven't got to hear many clips of those so I don't know what they're like.... but this does sound intruguing...

Do you know if they split well?

fps_dean · « **Reply #4 on:** September 30, 2006, 03:53:32 PM »

Quote from: Fourth Feline

For clean, sweet, rounded sounds with even frequency response, I love the Stormy Mondays. I have a calibrated set in an S.G. and they cover many bases whilst keeping the clean tone the one you most want to feast your ears upon.

Regards,

Derek.

How do they work in alder though?

I_cant_play · « **Reply #5 on:** October 01, 2006, 07:45:39 AM »

as far as I know, in neck through guitars, the sound characteristics of the guitar take much more after the neck material than the body. maybe one of the experts can verify this just to make sure. if this is true you should keep in mind that should be a pretty bright guitar. I think abraxas and crawler would be a good choice. personally I like the crawler better.

PhilKing · « **Reply #6 on:** October 01, 2006, 01:57:39 PM »

Quote from: fps_dean

The Abraxas huh? I haven't got to hear many clips of those so I don't know what they're like.... but this does sound intruguing...

Do you know if they split well?

All BK's split well. The scatter winding seems to give a Fender like tone when you go with one coil.

As for personal experience, I haven't set my Abraxas set up for coil split (they are in a Hamer Sunburst and I just got a basic screeened cable not 4 wire). However, I have Crawler, Nailbomb, VHII, Rebel Yell and Warpig in my guitars with split coils, and I set up a Cold Sweat in TO's guitar with coil split and they all sound great.

fps_dean · « **Reply #7 on:** October 01, 2006, 09:22:47 PM »

Quote from: I_cant_play

as far as I know, in neck through guitars, the sound characteristics of the guitar take much more after the neck material than the body. maybe one of the experts can verify this just to make sure. if this is true you should keep in mind that should be a pretty bright guitar. I think abraxas and crawler would be a good choice. personally I like the crawler better.

I have three guitars which have alder bodies, maple necks and ebony fretboards. Two neck-thru and one bolt on, but they all sound very similiar, so if that is true for neck-thrus then it must be almost equally true for bolt ons if you follow.

defender of faith · « **Reply #8 on:** October 30, 2006, 07:24:50 PM »

Hey, I was wondering which of the BKP pups sounds enough post-henrix-like. Especially the Mahavishnu Orchestra's era. Does Abraxas take a chance? Or maybe there is some better stuff? What would you prefer? And would it be more suitable for a neck or bridge position? And one more question: what pick'up would you take for a more modern sound to fit with Abraxas, so that it wouldn't dominate, though, it could kick hell outta the axe?
Regards