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Author Topic: Warpig custom set installed in Ibanez S-Classic  (Read 11117 times)

TonyGibson

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Warpig custom set installed in Ibanez S-Classic
« on: February 02, 2007, 06:07:57 PM »
Long story bearable, I order a Warpig set for my MIJ Ibanez S-Classic with the following specs:

1) Ceramic bridge
2) customized Warpig neck...I wanted the power of a Warpig, but the cut of the Cold Sweat neck pickup
3) 53 mm, 4 conductor
4) Open covers with screws instead of allen bolts. Very plain looking, but I like the "Wolf in sheeps clothing" approach to guitar appearance.  :twisted:

Long story short I used to love this guitar, now I can't stop playing it. I sent the following email to Tim today and it explains it all.

For those who don't believe that BKP are simply the best there is, BELIEVE IT.

Quote from: Tony

Hi Tim, I finally got my Ibanez S-Classic back with the BKP Warpig set you built for me (Ceramic bridge and "Cold Sweat-like" Warpig in the neck. To put some context around this, the guitar and pickups have the following configuration (via the 4 conductor wiring and 5 way pickup switch):

Switch Position 1: Neck humbucker
Switch Position 2: Neck tapped
Switch Position 3: Neck and bridge tapped
Switch Position 4: Bridge tapped
Switch Position 4: Bridge humbucker

In order of usage, the neck humbucker is outstanding!!! Whatever custom winding you did to the neck made this THE best neck humbucker I've ever used, bar none. I was hesitant to order a Warpig neck because I don't like fat bassy sounding neck pickups (ala EMG 85). This pickup sounds HUGE but has cut and clarity like the Cold Sweat...but bigger...much bigger!

The neck pickup tapped is freakin' incredible. I had a hard time playing heavy stuff with the bridge pickup because I couldn't stop myself from playing blues licks with this thing. Warm, clear and tons of tone. Simply beautiful sounding.

The middle position is great for funk...the tapped neck and bridge have great clarity and bite for 9th chords and staccatto funk rhythms.

...but hands down, the bridge humbucker is the most devastating metal pickup I've used. I never thought I'd find something to rival 18V (two battery configuration) EMG 81 in a bridge but this does it EASILY...but with way more tone and without the sterility. Also position 4 (bridge tapped) actually sounds suprisingly good when I turn the tone knob down a bit.

All in all, I am blown away and I can't thank you enough...especially for the neck pickup! Whatever custom winding you did on it made it sound God-like.

Right now I'm actually on EBay bidding on the same Ibanez that these pickups went into (albeit in a different color) for the sole purpose of buying a set of Nailbombs. Also, when I get my G&L Legacy I will be looking at Apaches or Irish Tours (not sure yet).

This is my third set of BKP's (first is an MM bridge/CS neck in my Les Paul studio, MQ set in my Les Paul Special), and I am convinced these pickups are the logical addition to any guitar I buy. You have a customer for LIFE.

Thanks so much!!!

- Tony
BKPs: Miracle Man, Cold Sweat neck, Ceramic Warpig, Mississippi Queens, Holy Divers

BloodMountain

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Warpig custom set installed in Ibanez S-Classic
« Reply #1 on: February 02, 2007, 06:14:30 PM »
wow..... sounds great Tony!!!

if i upgrade my neck pickup, it seems that that winding will be for me, and according to you the C-Warpig will suit me fine!

enjoy your pickups!

BM
:twisted: CERAMIC WARPIG - GREATEST HUMBUCKER ON EARTH! :twisted:

38thBeatle

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Warpig custom set installed in Ibanez S-Classic
« Reply #2 on: February 02, 2007, 06:23:22 PM »
Cool stuff indeed.
Send three and fourpence we're going to a dance
BKP's: Apache, Country Boy, Slowhands.

adamzap

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Warpig custom set installed in Ibanez S-Classic
« Reply #3 on: February 02, 2007, 07:10:25 PM »
i hope the new site will have a testimonies section because i'm seeing more and more of these.

I cant wait until my ceramic warpig arrives!

TonyGibson

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Warpig custom set installed in Ibanez S-Classic
« Reply #4 on: February 02, 2007, 07:37:59 PM »
Quote from: BLOODMOUNTAIN
wow..... sounds great Tony!!!

if i upgrade my neck pickup, it seems that that winding will be for me, and according to you the C-Warpig will suit me fine!

enjoy your pickups!

BM


If metal is what you're after, the ceramic 'Pig is as metal as metal gets!

I actually just went home from work during my lunch break to fire up my Mesa/Boogie F-30 to hear this thing wide open. The only thing I added today was my Maxon OD-9 overdrive...I like the "bite" it adds to the bottom heavy Mesa. Anyway, the sheer power of this guitar through that amp is staggering...but I still couldn't help going to the clean channel and switching to the neck pickup tapped...I cannot stress how great this neck pickup is, especially tapped!

From everything I've read (and with my personal experience with my other two sets of BKP) I *expected* the ceramic Warpig to be devestating...and it is. It outpowers the EMG 81, EMG 85 and Dimebucker EASILY.

I did NOT expect the neck pickup to be this great clean and versatile! To be fair, this Ibanez is pretty unique sounding...it's 25.1 neck scale and wrap-around bridge give it a very unique "twang"...but the EMG 60A in the neck that was previously there did NOT bring out the true tone of this guitar like the Warpig custom neck.
BKPs: Miracle Man, Cold Sweat neck, Ceramic Warpig, Mississippi Queens, Holy Divers

TonyGibson

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Warpig custom set installed in Ibanez S-Classic
« Reply #5 on: February 02, 2007, 07:40:29 PM »
Quote from: 38thBeatle
Cool stuff indeed.


I noticed you have both Slow Hands and Apaches? I'm going to be picking up a G&L Legacy custom toward the end of this year and I'm looking at one of those sets...just not sure which one yet.

In the meantime, I need to score another Ibanez so I can have a reason to get a Nailbomb set!  :twisted:
BKPs: Miracle Man, Cold Sweat neck, Ceramic Warpig, Mississippi Queens, Holy Divers

38thBeatle

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Warpig custom set installed in Ibanez S-Classic
« Reply #6 on: February 02, 2007, 08:50:34 PM »
If I had to chose between the two I would say Apache-they seem to be able to do just about anything I want.They are very sweet with all the classic Strat tones-bags of Character.The Slowhands are also extremely good but not quite so versatile.
Send three and fourpence we're going to a dance
BKP's: Apache, Country Boy, Slowhands.

Muzzzz

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Warpig custom set installed in Ibanez S-Classic
« Reply #7 on: February 03, 2007, 03:49:19 AM »
How does the 'Pig handle classic rock? (70's, 80's)

I like my nailbomb because it still has that classic vibe, but with a nice heavy edge.

I'm tempted to buy a new guitar just so I can put a ceramic 'pig in...
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JoshuaLogan

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Warpig custom set installed in Ibanez S-Classic
« Reply #8 on: February 03, 2007, 01:10:50 PM »
very nice... how much extra did it cost to get the custom wind? and how did you go about doing that, just ordered through an email with tim?

I was thinking about a custom wound bridge pickup based on the nailbombs but with a little more output, and for the neck something with similar characteristics to what he made for you

let me know about the custom winds when you get a chance. I want to place an order soon, so that info would be very helpful

-Josh

99_not_out

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Warpig custom set installed in Ibanez S-Classic
« Reply #9 on: February 03, 2007, 01:51:34 PM »
Good stuff! I knew I should have tapped my neck Warpig when I installed it ... but I couldn't wait to just play it :) Sounds like I should get around to it though.

On a related theme, what is the tonal difference between a ceramic warpig and an alnico one in the bridge ... I went for the Alnico as I wanted to be able to get a bit more of a classic rock sound from the neck as well as full on metal, but _everyone_ who has a bridge pig seems to have a ceramic one ...   hrmmmm
AV Warpig set; PK Bridge; Blackguard Flat 50 set

TonyGibson

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Warpig custom set installed in Ibanez S-Classic
« Reply #10 on: February 03, 2007, 04:05:49 PM »
Quote from: JoshuaLogan
very nice... how much extra did it cost to get the custom wind? and how did you go about doing that, just ordered through an email with tim?

I was thinking about a custom wound bridge pickup based on the nailbombs but with a little more output, and for the neck something with similar characteristics to what he made for you

let me know about the custom winds when you get a chance. I want to place an order soon, so that info would be very helpful

-Josh


Tim charged me nothing extra for the custom wind or for the Ceramic bridge. :D
BKPs: Miracle Man, Cold Sweat neck, Ceramic Warpig, Mississippi Queens, Holy Divers

TonyGibson

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Warpig custom set installed in Ibanez S-Classic
« Reply #11 on: February 03, 2007, 04:08:14 PM »
Quote from: Muzzzz
How does the 'Pig handle classic rock? (70's, 80's)

I like my nailbomb because it still has that classic vibe, but with a nice heavy edge.

I'm tempted to buy a new guitar just so I can put a ceramic 'pig in...


I'm not quite sure how the bridge would handle classic rock. I'd guess that with the volume rolled off a tad, it may handle it well.

To be honest, I didn't really grab this pickup for that...I got this set for metal and (at times) funk. For classic rock I have my Les Paul Special with Mississippi Queens and my Les Paul Studio with the MM/CS combo. I think the MM handles classic rock pretty well with the volume rolled down to 7.

From what I have been told by a Gibson SG user who reffered me to BKP in the first place, the Alnico Warpigs are GREAT for classic rock. My neck Warpig is Alnico but it's wound in a way to give it more top end (ala Cold Sweat neck) but with more power so it's the ultimate shred pickup!  :twisted:

In the future (near future) I plan on grabbing the Nailbomb set for their versatility.
BKPs: Miracle Man, Cold Sweat neck, Ceramic Warpig, Mississippi Queens, Holy Divers

TonyGibson

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Warpig custom set installed in Ibanez S-Classic
« Reply #12 on: February 03, 2007, 04:14:48 PM »
Quote from: 99_not_out
Good stuff! I knew I should have tapped my neck Warpig when I installed it ... but I couldn't wait to just play it :) Sounds like I should get around to it though.

On a related theme, what is the tonal difference between a ceramic warpig and an alnico one in the bridge ... I went for the Alnico as I wanted to be able to get a bit more of a classic rock sound from the neck as well as full on metal, but _everyone_ who has a bridge pig seems to have a ceramic one ...   hrmmmm


I don't own the Alnico bridge, but my understanding (and I could be wrong about this) is that the Alnico is more versatile, especially after you roll the volume down.

In the bridge I just really, really like a tight, bright powerful humbucker, so 95% of the time I go with Ceramic. In my next Ibanez though I will be going with a "stock" Nailbomb set...although I'm tempted to get another Warpig set, except this time in Alnico.
BKPs: Miracle Man, Cold Sweat neck, Ceramic Warpig, Mississippi Queens, Holy Divers

99_not_out

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Warpig custom set installed in Ibanez S-Classic
« Reply #13 on: February 03, 2007, 04:38:27 PM »
Quote from: TonyGibson
I don't own the Alnico bridge, but my understanding (and I could be wrong about this) is that the Alnico is more versatile, especially after you roll the volume down.


Its def versatile, I guess I was right (for my prefs) to go Alnico. Ta for the info :)
AV Warpig set; PK Bridge; Blackguard Flat 50 set

BloodMountain

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Warpig custom set installed in Ibanez S-Classic
« Reply #14 on: February 03, 2007, 06:34:11 PM »
tony, is the ceramic warpig a bright pickup? if so, do you think that Tim can do a custom wind to make it darker?

BM
:twisted: CERAMIC WARPIG - GREATEST HUMBUCKER ON EARTH! :twisted: