Author Topic: New Member..Needs some pickup advice (Read 5660 times)

snatchss454 · « **on:** January 28, 2007, 10:39:59 PM »

Hey all this is my first post after doing a bunch of reading. Im located in the US and would like to put a Mule/Black Dog setup in my Gibson Les Paul Voodoo. Stock the voodoo came with a 496r/500t pup combo in a swamp ash body. I play mostly blues rock, tool, ratm, and pantera styles, Im using a Randall RM100M head with a Randall 2x12 cab.

First do you think these pickups will sound good in the Mule/BlackDog config with a swamp ash body? Second how complicated a task is it to swap out the pickups? Are there any how to's floating around? And last where is a good place to purchase these in the US?
Thanks for your time,
Shane

38thBeatle · « **Reply #1 on:** January 28, 2007, 11:38:22 PM »

Welcome to the forum -I am a single coil player but I am sure that you will get advice before too long.There are US dealers on the dealers link I think but there are quite a few USA forum bros here who can offer an opinion. As for "how to"- just ask away-we have some resident "gurus" who will be able to help.

shaman · « **Reply #2 on:** January 28, 2007, 11:41:57 PM »

where in the US??do it online..I am in the confines of the deeep south/...my rebel yells(should really look into these pups-religious experience as far as I am concerned...) took about 2 weeks in terms of emailing TIM..ordering..receiving...by going to the source, you can custom order..get whatever color/magnet,etc...your heart desires...the few dealers in the US have certain ones in stock...cut out the middle man..get a c card and get deal with the MIRACLE MAN himself!!

snatchss454 · « **Reply #3 on:** January 29, 2007, 12:31:03 AM »

Thanks for the replies. I live in South Florida and Im happy ordering online. I have been trying to find out what would be a Bare Knuckle comparison to the gibson 500T. Its really thick and great for palm mutes I just want the notes to be a little more pronounced. I cant stand the 496R in the neck, it just sounds to dull and boomy.

Any ideas feel free to let me know.
Thanks again,
Shane

shaman · « **Reply #4 on:** January 29, 2007, 01:01:14 AM »

what amp(s) do you play??
check the players section..pay the most attention to the clips by TIM
-just replaced the burstbuckers on my 2002 lp standard with rebel yells...un Gawdly
...if you listen to the Steve Stevens clips, you will become possessed!!!
..remember that a lot of clips have their fair share of "jape" added...
-forget the hype...the name says it all-Bare knuckles--no skit
-woth the $$$-check my post from yesterday in pickup section-my partner kept bithchin bout the $ I laid down...was jealous of the grail tone/nirvana I had reached
-anything from b dogs to the war machines will make you smile a black tooth grin!!!!!!!!!

snatchss454 · « **Reply #5 on:** January 29, 2007, 03:49:40 AM »

I use a Randall Rm100 head and Randall 2x12 cab. Ive been searching through the sound clips but it seems like everyone plays mostly classic rock or straight metal.

I love the classic rock AC/DC and Led Zepplin sounds but I dont want a pickup that will only give me that because thats not the signature sound Im going for. I play more like Godsmack, Tool, RATM, Corrosion Of Comformity, Soil, Korn, Helmet and bands like that. A really heavy drop-D blues Style is what Im after, with a thick palm mute and heavy open chords.

I really like the Gibson 500t pickup, it gets me really close to the sound Im looking for its just not defined enough. I also need to match that with something like a Mule or Black Dog which will give me good leads like Zepplin.

I guess Im looking for a replacement or hotter pickup for the 500T that will match up to a Black Dog or Mule.
Thanks,
Shane

shaman · « **Reply #6 on:** January 29, 2007, 04:10:58 AM »

the 500 is a ceramic,I believe...you should email tim -he is the guru who makes them..get on the homepage and look for contact info...tell him what you want and he will steer you clear-he is a player as well...with a rich vocab of music...lead guit player for Iced Earth as we speak...sounds like you are after a Miracle Man , Cold Sweat(modeled after John Sykes and the heralded Dirty fingers pup by gib..a ceramic as well...think whitesnake in their heyday..."Still of the Night"), or Painkiller
-I have a boogie and an old Marsh-my rebel yell gives my adam jones/tool easily thru my boog...remember, the amp is HUGE in your tone..sounds like you are really clse to that sound in your head...the knuck will give you that frequency you are missing
meanwhile, check out clips from those aforemntioned pups....I would also check out the HOLY DIVER....look for clips by Antag...
-oooh...check out twilight oddysey's clips as well..he has some groooovy youtue clips with a VH2,Cold Sweat, and HD,methinks..
welcome aboard!

ericsabbath · « **Reply #7 on:** January 29, 2007, 04:29:55 AM »

i'm using 500t/496r in a les paul too, but a mahogany lp

maybe a ceramic nailbomb would be close to 500t (?)
or a stock miracle man

i don't have much money now, so i'm thinking to buy just a bridge holy diver, but i don't know if it would match the gibson 496r, cause this pickup is too powerful, even compared to 500t that has 4 ceramic bars

Muzzzz · « **Reply #8 on:** January 29, 2007, 01:38:49 PM »

+1 re nailbomb...

I'll admit, it IS the only BK humbucker I own, but to me it is the ultimate - nice chuggy palm mutes, nice 'bity' tone which does the classics really well.

JonnyScaramanga · « **Reply #9 on:** January 29, 2007, 05:54:53 PM »

I've got the 496R/ 500T combo in my Les Paul. I'll be very interested to hear Tim's advice on that one. I have no doubt that my Les Paul could sound even better with a set of Bare Knuckles on board, but I can't bring myself to make the change just yet. It sounds so good as it is.

I'm also fascinated to hear how a swamp ash Les Paul would sound, because to me mahogany is a big part of the LP tone.

Somebody suggested to me that the Cold Sweat is in the same ballpark as the 500T, but that it breathes a bit more. Check it out.

snatchss454 · « **Reply #10 on:** January 30, 2007, 02:30:31 AM »

Well I sent an email to info@bareknuckle this morning hopefully that goes to Tim and he can lend me his advice. I found a couple of sound clips of the Cold Sweat and it does sound pretty good. I just need to take a little more time and listen to more clips and get Tim's advice before I make a descision and pull the trigger on a set of these badboys.

Thanks for all your input and Ill be sure to let you know what he has to say.
Shane

shaman · « **Reply #11 on:** January 30, 2007, 02:33:11 AM »

keep us posted....
badboys indeed!!

snatchss454 · « **Reply #12 on:** January 31, 2007, 10:58:36 PM »

Well no reply yet, should I shoot them another email? I understand they are probably busy so I dont want to be pushy. I have a horrible internet connection and it kind of froze up when sending so maybe it didnt go through. Whats the usual response time?
Shane

38thBeatle · « **Reply #13 on:** January 31, 2007, 11:29:04 PM »

I am sure you will hear- could be a few days.BKP customer service is superb-which is why they have so many loyal members on this forum. Tim or one of the guys at BKP will, I am sure, respond.

snatchss454 · « **Reply #14 on:** February 22, 2007, 05:54:08 AM »

well 2 emails and no replies. What email addy are you all using to hit up Tim? Ive sent one to Info and Sales @ BareKnuckle. Im looking to pick up some new pickups and would really like to go with BK Pups, any help would be appreciated.
Thanks,
Shane