Author Topic: Pickup thoughts for an Eggle Berlin Pro (Read 3859 times)

Kilby · « **on:** March 22, 2007, 01:06:59 PM »

I bought myself a NOS 1997 Eggle Berlin Pro away back in mid January, and decided against any immediate changes.

However after spending a little time getting to know the guitar I have decided that it needs it's top end tamed, thats saying a lot as I love Rickenbackers ! Anyway the intended tones are in the ballpark of ZZ Top, late 60s blues rock, up to early/mid 80s heavy rock (previously known as metal ;) )

The guitar construction is mahogany body, maple cap, maple neck, ebony fingerboard, tun-o-matic bridge & sperzel tuners

Switching is 5 way and is currently wired
1 Neck HB
2 Outside coils in parallel
3 Neck & Bridge HB
4 Outside coils in parallel
5 Bridge HB

The most used amps will be a Zvex Nanohead (also a recent purchase & still have to but a cab), Fender Blues Jr. I do use some digital stuff via headphones or laptop when I'm stuck in hotels.

I was thinking of a pair of Mules, but as the Berlin is known as a bright sounding guitar it may still be a little overbright.

Any thoughts on something suitable ? (also open to suggestions regarding the pickup switching)

Rob...

Should I bother posting images or have we seen enough guitar pr0n ?

ToneMonkey · « **Reply #1 on:** March 22, 2007, 01:33:06 PM »

That's one badass guitar man.

I picked up a 96 Eggle Berlin Anniversary Classic (like your's but it's got diamond (shape not material unfortunately) inlays and the electrics are 2 Tone, 2 Vol and a 3 way switch. It was fresh from the factory when I got it last year. It might have been made in 96 but it still had all the masking tape down the fret board (which is a bitch to get off when it's been on for over 10 years) and it's never been strung up......it's brand spanking new :P

Got all the electrics except for the pickups. Holding out for BKP's but got to wait until we've recovered from the wedding before I can even start to think about saving for them. Also need to wait for the weather to heat up so that I can make some carbin fibre cavity and truss rod covers.

What colour have you got?

Here's what mine was like when I picked it up. My mate had peeled a bit of the masking tape off. It's also been flatted down but not buffed to a finish as shiney as the arse on a policemans trousers.

Kilby · « **Reply #2 on:** March 22, 2007, 01:54:30 PM »

^

It's a greenburst Theres a pic somewhere but I have resized a couple of images (as shown below)

The guys in TMC have a couple of the anniversary models for sale and I have to say that theyre lovely (and have normal LP controls which I slightly prefer).

Have you got an after picture (but obviously pre BKP photo of yours ?)

ToneMonkey · « **Reply #3 on:** March 22, 2007, 02:04:30 PM »

Not pics I'm afraid :(

It's still not recieved the final buff. I've hand buffed it a bit to look at the figure, but I'll get the drill attachment on it once I have all the bits together.

Forgot to add that I haven't got a bridge for it yet. Got the tail piece and some old Ibanez pups to go in, but without the stop tailpiece there's no point getting it all up to A1 condition. It's only £20 but like I said, all my monies going on the wedding and £20 for what is essentially a luxury item just isn't feasible. I really don't want to install the Ibanez pups either, I kind of don't want to bring the guiatr down to my level. At the minute, it's WAY too good for me and that's how I want to keep it.

Kilby · « **Reply #4 on:** March 22, 2007, 02:19:16 PM »

Hey I know what a low budget means don't worry, and also remember all to well what it was like saving up to get married. The damned DJ still played "Woman in Red" & "I just called to say" even though I stated that he would not get paid if either where played (nevermind what would happen to him if he played both !)

What pickups you thinking of installing ?

ToneMonkey · « **Reply #5 on:** March 22, 2007, 02:34:28 PM »

Dunno, which is why I was very happy to see this thread. :D

I'll be after something between The Black Keys and JJ Cale.

I think that generally I've got the blues and I normally play through the Fender and Vox amp models on my amp. Do like the odd bit of funckyness aswell. Not really into anything that heavy anymore, I'm more for a nice mellow tone.

Probably going for P90's (well cheap copies that I have laying around at the minute) in my reverse firebird copy, so wont want anything too close to that.

Philly Q · « **Reply #6 on:** March 22, 2007, 02:38:40 PM »

Maybe a set of Crawlers for that Eggle, Rob?

Kilby · « **Reply #7 on:** March 22, 2007, 03:07:25 PM »

Tonemonkey : Yeah P90s could be a real nice idea (damn I'm thinking again thats always a bad sign)

Quote from: Philly Q

Maybe a set of Crawlers for that Eggle, Rob?

I hadn't considered Crawlers, which shows that I'm not as clever as I think I am Hmmmmmm.

Sadly this and the Nano have cured me of GAS (for the first time in 25 years). I just need pickups, and a speaker cab to complete things. Oh yeah probably a set of Sperzel locking tuners for it too (could that be a GAS reinfection !)

Rob...

froglord · « **Reply #8 on:** March 22, 2007, 03:08:56 PM »

Kilby, are you sure those are Kent Armstrongs in your Eggle? I thought they'd started using Seymour Duncans exclusively by '97 (although I could well be wrong).

The Mules in my Berlin certainly aren't too harsh, although I see you've got a maple neck instead of mahogany, which could have an effect.

How about a set of Alnico II Mules? That should roll off the high end a bit more in comparison to the Alnico IVs.

Philly Q · « **Reply #9 on:** March 22, 2007, 03:11:33 PM »

Quote from: Kilby

Sadly this and the Nano have cured me of GAS (for the first time in 25 years)

Hmmm, I was under the impression GAS is incurable....

ToneMonkey · « **Reply #10 on:** March 22, 2007, 03:16:41 PM »

Kilby - Have you taken a look over at the patrick eggle forum:

http://patrickeggleguitars.org/smf/

They've got a very indepth knowledge over there.

Kilby · « **Reply #11 on:** March 22, 2007, 03:37:43 PM »

Quote from: Philly Q

Hmmm, I was under the impression GAS is incurable....

I'm in remission !

Quote from: Froglord

are you sure those are Kent Armstrongs in your Eggle? I thought they'd started using Seymour Duncans exclusively by '97 (although I could well be wrong).

Yeah theyre Armstrongs, I had to rewire the switch myself and they even have the diffrent colour wiring for neck / bridge pickup (pink / red & blue / black wierdness). As usual (it seems) with an Eggle there is no such a thing as a standard one ;) Apparently my bridge is also unusual for any eggle (never noticed one on another guitar either and keep on thinking it's a wrapover)

The A2 mule is also an interesting idea it's starting to get to the stage of contacting Tim (again)

Quote from: ToneMonkey

http://patrickeggleguitars.org/smf/

Yeah I promised to post the guitar details (and more photos) over there on Saturday

Rob...

dave_mc · « **Reply #12 on:** March 22, 2007, 05:25:05 PM »

ah, I didn't realise your neck was maple, rob! Very nice. that probably makes all the difference, as I've come to the conclusion that mine (same but mahogany neck) is pretty warm, though the ebony adds a nice little bit of snap to proceedings. No idea about the pickups, I'm just kinda lurking too as I want to put BK's into my eggle vienna pro eventually. I'm still kinda trying to work up the courage to try to swap pickups in a semi-solid! :lol: I must check mine to see what p'ups they are, they're apparently "custom handwound" humbuckers...

Simon D · « **Reply #13 on:** March 22, 2007, 06:59:09 PM »

As far as pickups go, for the styles you mention my two cents are thrown strongly behind the Mules. Not very original I know, but I've not ceased to be impressed with mine since I fitted them (to an Epi LP) about a month ago. I can hardly put the thing down.

Regarding Sperzel tuners Rob, I don't know if you've seen Stewart Macdonald's prices, but with the dollar as it is, the prices are pretty favourable, virtually half the UK rrp.
http://www.stewmac.com/cgi-bin/hazel.cgi?action=SERVE&G=1&sku=3421&ITEM=catalog/sku.html&CURRENCY=GBP
Just in case you hadn't seen it.

Kilby · « **Reply #14 on:** March 23, 2007, 11:41:25 AM »

I had been considering Mules from the start, but the guitar is very very bright (not harsh though), so I still have thoughts that I may have to go to something a little darker than the 'regular mules'.

Thanks for the pointer towards stumac, though I won't have any money to do this for about a month. However once I have the money I want to be in a position to take immediate action (otherwise the nearedt & dearest will spirit the cash away :( )

I know I shpuld speak to tim about it but will leave it to a later stage (like when I have the money in the bank)

Rob...