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Author Topic: Do BKPs sound too clean?  (Read 5256 times)

rewt_

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Do BKPs sound too clean?
« on: November 30, 2006, 03:01:41 PM »
Every clip I hear of BKPs sounds super-clean, almost to the point that I don't like it.  Is it just me?  Nobody wants a muddy pickup but I feel like they lack some of the dirty mush that makes a great distorted guitar tone.  I'm not talking about tight, fast metal; I think they nail that pretty decently.  But I guess I'm just wondering how they sound in person.  Do they have any more dirt and grind than I hear in most of the clips?  I'm going to order a set to try out, but I'm curious to know if I'm just hearing things or if the particular recordings on the forum just have the cheap digital thing going on or what.  Thanks.
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hunter

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Do BKPs sound too clean?
« Reply #1 on: November 30, 2006, 03:51:45 PM »
They are clearer and more defined than other pickups, but they are more complex too. So you can almost say more complex audible information than provided by other pickups is made audible in a more transparent and clear way.

That means you will hear details of your playing, even if you have tons of gain and sustain, which is nothing else than perfect.

I think it's always easy to muddy up a sound, much more than to make it crisp if it isn't in its substance.

Maybe the reason why you hear clear clips here is that these are rather mature players that spend this kind of money on pickups and bother sharing their results. Think about band and complex mix context rather than playing alone, that's where a transparent and detailed pickup really shines.
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rewt_

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Do BKPs sound too clean?
« Reply #2 on: November 30, 2006, 04:04:40 PM »
I agree with just about all of that.  I'm a rather mature player myself, though, and I have had experience with some great gear.  I have many, many mixing hours under my belt and I'm fairly conscious of the way sounds sit in a mix.  To relate my question to recording, think of Pro Tools versus a machine running GP9.  I guess I'm kind of asking, in your collective experience, the pickups are more on the Pro Tools side of of things: much clearer, but kind of missing that rocking, hard-hitting thing.

From your response, it seems like they're not, and that's great.  That's what I want to hear.  I'd appreciate anyone else who'd like to chime in.   :)
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Ratrod

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Do BKPs sound too clean?
« Reply #3 on: November 30, 2006, 04:45:25 PM »
Most players that post clips take alot of effort to present good quality clips. Some use digital stuff that usually sounds a bit clean and sterile. Some mic up a tube amp and record through a desk. Most tube amp clips don't have the amplifier cranked to stage volumes so there's less dirt in these clips.

The clarity of the BKP's are one of the reasons these pickups are so great.

Some members here have a Epi Valve Junior (like myself) and we're pretty much all modding the thing untill it sounds the way we want it. It shouldn't be long before we can expect some clips of BKP equipped guitars running through this little gritty 5 watt amp.
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Bird

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Do BKPs sound too clean?
« Reply #4 on: November 30, 2006, 05:33:38 PM »
Quote from: rewt_
I agree with just about all of that.  I'm a rather mature player myself, though, and I have had experience with some great gear.  I have many, many mixing hours under my belt and I'm fairly conscious of the way sounds sit in a mix.  To relate my question to recording, think of Pro Tools versus a machine running GP9.  I guess I'm kind of asking, in your collective experience, the pickups are more on the Pro Tools side of of things: much clearer, but kind of missing that rocking, hard-hitting thing.

From your response, it seems like they're not, and that's great.  That's what I want to hear.  I'd appreciate anyone else who'd like to chime in.   :)


 I think part of the answer is in your post as well. Most of us are using some sort of computer software ( my clips are PT LE with  Mbox) and that obviously has a huge affect on the sound of the clips. Not to mention compressing the cr@p out of them to make mp3s. If you were to record on a nice tape machine with some U87s or Royer 121s and some nice tube preamps I think you'd have all that  rockin' warmth plus the definition and clarity that the BKPs are known for    8)
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cjpmmd

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Do BKPs sound too clean?
« Reply #5 on: November 30, 2006, 06:07:34 PM »
My Crawlers are able to go from super-clean through super-dirty (both with great note definition) depending upon my mood/taste at the moment.  Never any type of mush problem.

cjpm
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38thBeatle

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Do BKPs sound too clean?
« Reply #6 on: November 30, 2006, 06:53:18 PM »
When I have done clips, I have deliberately kept it clean so that the core tone(hopefully) can be heard rather than drenching it in distortion whether "real" or "Digital". I think that most people have thought about the circumstances that the pickup would be playing in.
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MDV

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Do BKPs sound too clean?
« Reply #7 on: November 30, 2006, 11:39:10 PM »
They are phenominally clear under extreme gain. For me thats a huge plus. You can hear every note and nuance

Hard rocking, hard hitting? Extremely so. Most of the guys here have switched from a big brand to BK, and most of the guys here go for rock to metal tones (not to say that BK dont cater for all else: thats just the majority of guitarists).

I switched from being an EMG man to BK. So hard hitting? Extremely so.

Think of it this way: BKs give you the hard-rocking edge with clarity and depth. You get both.
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JamesHealey

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Do BKPs sound too clean?
« Reply #8 on: November 30, 2006, 11:39:29 PM »
sometimes a bit of muddiness is great, and BKP's don't offer that..

I totally catch your drift, i sometimes love the sound of DiMarzio's for that slightly fluffy tone thats great for shreddy stuff, and i love the stock ibanez pickups in my Artcore because they're slightly muddy and thats what i like in a jazz neck pickup..

but for my strat i love the VH2, and Irish Tours the clarity is amazing and it's just fantastic for that twang, bang and crunch!!

I was trying out bkp loaded organic guitars into wkz amps tonight and the clarity was well, too much!! just sometimes a little muffled tone is lovely.. hence why people like tube screamers with that big warm midrange etc.

it's all apples and pears, different things do different jobs and it's totally up to you what, ya think.. I mean i really like the Seymour Duncan Custom Custom, DiMarzio PAF Pro and Air Norton.. so yea like i said..
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MDV

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Do BKPs sound too clean?
« Reply #9 on: November 30, 2006, 11:44:37 PM »
Though if youre after mud, like, you actively seek a muddy tone, BKs wont do it.

'Hard hitting, hard rocking' or 'muddy'....or 'thick'? I can see how you could try to commicate being after a thick tone and people recieve 'muddy'. They are often and very thick. You should hear a warpig!
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MDV

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Do BKPs sound too clean?
« Reply #10 on: November 30, 2006, 11:46:17 PM »
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MDV

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Do BKPs sound too clean?
« Reply #11 on: November 30, 2006, 11:49:55 PM »
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carlaz

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Do BKPs sound too clean?
« Reply #12 on: December 01, 2006, 11:20:52 AM »
My recordings certainly have the "cheap digital thing" going on ;) but I think the amount of "mud" (depending on what one means by that) can always be controlled via twiddling and augmenting one's gain/overdrive/fuzz/etc. and the EQ thereof.  I bet I could muddy up my cheap digital amp sims a treat without too much work. :) After all, you can always add mud, but it's tough to add clarity!
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Ratrod

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Do BKPs sound too clean?
« Reply #13 on: December 01, 2006, 12:36:41 PM »
Hey MDV, thanks for reviving my old Warpig clip. I still like that one.
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Philly Q

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Do BKPs sound too clean?
« Reply #14 on: December 01, 2006, 12:55:17 PM »
Quote from: MDV
Though if youre after mud, like, you actively seek a muddy tone, BKs wont do it.

For mud, try a Tone Zone in an SG.  Horrible, horrible tone.  :(
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