Author Topic: The Trooper - Charvel + V-Amp 2! (Read 9856 times)

Dakine · « **Reply #15 on:** January 29, 2007, 09:07:09 PM »

indeed he does.
However (depending how you phrased the question to him) even he told me the PK is NWOBHM in a box. And to me thats Maiden 2 a T.
But, then NOT owning a Crawler I cannot comment :)

Ooh, forgot, well nearly, again, Tim told me the PK testing was done on a LP and a MusicMan, just sharing.

_tom_ · « **Reply #16 on:** January 29, 2007, 09:09:48 PM »

Well heres what I put in my email to Tim -

"Also, when I replace the bridge pickup what would you suggest to go with the singles? I dont want it too hot, but loads of harmonics, not overly bright/harsh (the guitar is quite bright when played unplugged) and big (not scooped) midrange. Was thinking either a VHII, Holy Diver or Crawler. This guitar is mostly for hard rock and older metal (like I said in my first message - think Dio, Lynch, Whitesnake, Priest, Maiden, Van Halen etc)."

Perhaps it was "dont want it too hot" that made him steer me away from a 'killer?

Dakine · « **Reply #17 on:** January 29, 2007, 09:12:05 PM »

from that bud it would be my guess exactly.
Course cannot read Tim's mind, but he is a busy guy and you saying that may have made him shy away.
I don't think they are too HOT btw. They are very 'tameable' imo and cut well.
But u know what pups I have so what am basing my thoughts with.

dave_mc · « **Reply #18 on:** January 29, 2007, 09:14:21 PM »

^ heh, you and your super-powered pickups, nick.

:drink:

sambo · « **Reply #19 on:** January 29, 2007, 09:16:22 PM »

lolll.

what i dont understand though is, which seems to be a fundamental question to ask yourself when choosing any pickup, is:

is it better to have a slightly lower output pickup and get any required gain from the amp/any pedals e.t.c....

or to go for a higher output pup and not work the amp/pedals particularly hard?

dave_mc · « **Reply #20 on:** January 29, 2007, 09:20:42 PM »

^ they sound a little different, sam (at least they do from my experience).

a high powered pickup into a lower gain amp will sound a little different than a lower powered pickup into a higher gain amp, basically.

it'll get you the same amount of gain, but the tone and vibe will be a little different.

you really have to try it to see which you prefer, lol.

EDIT: of course, you can just put super-high powered pickups into a high gain rig like nick does and kill everyone. that works too, and sounds amazing (assuming you aren't a jazzer, lol).

sambo · « **Reply #21 on:** January 29, 2007, 09:25:00 PM »

:lol: :lol: :lol:

yer i getcha...

see this is why pickup choices are so nit-picky...

Tom could choose between a crawler (using more gain from the amp e.t.c) or something like a holydiver which would rely more on the pickup..

so much stuff to take into consideration! AGH!

Dakine · « **Reply #22 on:** January 29, 2007, 09:25:22 PM »

not entirely sure 'hotness' of pickup is what it's about here. The tone is more my thinking.
Windings create different tones/thickness etc. and the amp does the rest.
I would garner some guess (esp. now owning some) thats why alot of folks like EMG's. Sure there are differnt types (though not too many) but they are more sterile and therefore the tone is abit more AMP.
The thing with pups like Tim's is he sprinkles 'character dust' on em and gives em more flavor.

sambo · « **Reply #23 on:** January 29, 2007, 09:26:41 PM »

mm i see i see...

that would appear to be a good thing when your using a Knucklehead and a Boogie... lol....

Dakine · « **Reply #24 on:** January 29, 2007, 09:29:31 PM »

Sam
if the Flat Head did'nt come wired with EMG's I prolly never would have known and be jonesing for some BKPs for it.
As is it's a Custom Shop so I kinda hate to rip it up and I actually dig the EMG's right now.
And yeah, in a way the AMP's are shining through more.
It's like I mostly say. K.I.S.S. keep it simple stupid. Putting a more sterile pup into the equation means I can concentrate more on amp and pedal tweaking as it where.
Dunno, but variety is nice anyway.

sambo · « **Reply #25 on:** January 29, 2007, 09:31:40 PM »

yer it seems like a good idea/theory.

but i guess the only downside/catch to the whole thing is that youd have to be realllllllly happy with your amps tone.

but like you said, variety is good in the end. so you having the EMGs is just another tool at your disposal.

hmm.

Dakine · « **Reply #26 on:** January 29, 2007, 09:41:43 PM »

Sam my lil impetuous friend, are you STILL not got 'amp satisfaction'? Sheesh.
Whattaya doin'?
Ya got an Engl and a EQ, whats NOT to like?

And, I am not digging the Rivera most the time so NAH :P

Cos, it HAS to be cranked to really GRIND, and @ 50w thats hard (as ya know with your 'ooh they r so squidgy' conquest eons ago).
The Mesa is way easier to coax at lower levels.
Thus an attenuator (eek) is needed at some point.
Till then, I have a devious new GAS plan that shall be completed, esp. due to my Dual Country/Dual Voltage woes :)

_tom_ · « **Reply #27 on:** January 29, 2007, 09:47:29 PM »

Well now I think about it, I dont know if a hot pickup is what I want. The j90c in my charvel is pretty hot, around 16k dc resistance apparently and it sounds kinda "mushy" on the bass compared to my LP with mules (which have half the dc resistance). The Mules dont sound quieter though, just clearer and tighter with more of a "vintage" tone if that even means anything.

As they're around the same output, I was originally thinking VHII, but thought it may be too bright and raw but it was made to be played in a superstrat (I assume) so who knows.. I loved the VHIIs in a PRS at music live a couple of years ago but thats totally different to a strat!

Any rate, I cant even afford BK's for a while as I really need a new hotplate, I'm missing having one after re-wiring my cab properly to 16 ohm (before I was running my amp 8 ohms into 4 ohms cab without realising :lol: )

Might have to go LGS this year to have a go with various pickups and meet some people from this forum :)

dave_mc · « **Reply #28 on:** January 29, 2007, 09:52:54 PM »

Quote from: Dakine

not entirely sure 'hotness' of pickup is what it's about here. The tone is more my thinking.
Windings create different tones/thickness etc. and the amp does the rest.
I would garner some guess (esp. now owning some) thats why alot of folks like EMG's. Sure there are differnt types (though not too many) but they are more sterile and therefore the tone is abit more AMP.
The thing with pups like Tim's is he sprinkles 'character dust' on em and gives em more flavor.

yeah, that's what I meant as well.

dave_mc · « **Reply #29 on:** January 29, 2007, 09:54:37 PM »

Quote from: _tom_

Well now I think about it, I dont know if a hot pickup is what I want. The j90c in my charvel is pretty hot, around 16k dc resistance apparently and it sounds kinda "mushy" on the bass compared to my LP with mules (which have half the dc resistance). The Mules dont sound quieter though, just clearer and tighter with more of a "vintage" tone if that even means anything.

As they're around the same output, I was originally thinking VHII, but thought it may be too bright and raw but it was made to be played in a superstrat (I assume) so who knows.. I loved the VHIIs in a PRS at music live a couple of years ago but thats totally different to a strat!

Any rate, I cant even afford BK's for a while as I really need a new hotplate, I'm missing having one after re-wiring my cab properly to 16 ohm (before I was running my amp 8 ohms into 4 ohms cab without realising :lol: )

Might have to go LGS this year to have a go with various pickups and meet some people from this forum :)

heh, that could be part of it, also the mules might just be much better pickups. I'm not helping, am I? :lol: