Washburn WI200 Pro pickup question...

[Mr Ed]

I never said Seymour Duncan were bad pickups.

I said the Custom Custom was... >_>

I agree, I personally love Seymour Duncan. For me, they're the best pickups in the world but the Custom Custom is absolutely lousy.

The '59 is gorgeous though.

[Sailor Charon]

Personally I'd suggest trying the Washburn first, if it dosn't sound decent with Duncans in, then it's up to you to decide if a set of BKs will take it into the realms of sonic Nirvana. Unfortunitely you are the only one qualified to judge the tones.

Personally I have been a little dissapointed with basswood guitars in the past (though the pickups where only in the vintage hot ballpark), I would also suggest looking at the models Dave recomended as a backup plan.

Rob...

Well, my Strat's basswood, and I'm happy with the tone (Set of Trilogy Suites). Shame I'm not happy with much else :(
The main issue is do I go for the 65 and accept the limitations that mahogany places on aggressive pickups (and save 50-60 quid) or do I go for the 200 in order to put a pair of Painkillers in? I suppose it comes down to how badly do I want something that aggressive (which, alas, only I can decide. Or not.)
I suppose the question is, what's a humbucker that's vaguely equivalent to the bridge Trilogy Suite? [Since I'm selling my Strat... possibly]

[dave_mc]

^ wouldn't a miracle man work in mahogany? or have you got your heart set on painkillers?

^ ^ ^ cheers, rob.

[Sailor Charon]

^ wouldn't a miracle man work in mahogany? or have you got your heart set on painkillers?

^ ^ ^ cheers, rob.

You know, I think you've got me there. From what I hear the answer to the first is 'yes'. The answer to the second is... I think I have, the problem is it feels like the tail wagging the dog when I put it like that. I like the way they (Painkillers) sound... Hmm... More to think about... :)

[Crazy_Joe]

I never said Seymour Duncan were bad pickups.

I said the Custom Custom was... >_>

I agree, I personally love Seymour Duncan. For me, they're the best pickups in the world but the Custom Custom is absolutely lousy.

The '59 is gorgeous though.

Have you tried any BKP's? :P

[dave_mc]

You know, I think you've got me there. From what I hear the answer to the first is 'yes'. The answer to the second is... I think I have, the problem is it feels like the tail wagging the dog when I put it like that. I like the way they (Painkillers) sound... Hmm... More to think about... :)

yeah, i mean i dunno, it's up to you and all that, but to me at least, basswood is a bit more of a "jack of all trades, master of none" than things like mahogany and alder etc.. don't get me wrong, basswood's strength is the versatility, but that means for any given tone (apart from maybe 80's melodic shred like vai or satch), in my opinion at least, there's a better option out there... though basswood will "do" alder better than mahogany will, and vice versa.

i think i'm rambling a bit now, lol. EDIT: what i mean is, i'd buy the guitar you like best, and suit the pickups to that... tim does plenty of pickups that are aimed at mahogany, etc....

best if you can try them both (or all 3, including the x50pro)... only you'll know which you like best...

[Kilby]

The answer to the second is... I think I have, the problem is it feels like the tail wagging the dog when I put it like that. I like the way they (Painkillers) sound... Hmm... More to think about... :)

don't worry I have the same issue with Rebel Yells, I want them but I don't have the right guitar to put them in. Meanwhile I'm trying to avoid buying the obvious Mules (or Crawlers)

What sort of sound are you trying to get & what sort guitar do you actually want ?

I ask this, as although the Washburn looks like a nice enough guitar, but not one that you are mad about. Possibly based on price & the desire for painkillers.

I hesitate to make suggestions but if you are after a LPish (possibly double cut styling) that it may be worth looking at the Ibanez artist range may also be in the ball park, and give you mahogany with a maple top. A workmate got one and they have a pretty well balanced tone, and a bloody good price.

You also have a better range of dealers, so theyre easier to try out, but then I tend to take very few risks these days with my purchases

Rob...

[Sailor Charon]

The answer to the second is... I think I have, the problem is it feels like the tail wagging the dog when I put it like that. I like the way they (Painkillers) sound... Hmm... More to think about... :)

don't worry I have the same issue with Rebel Yells, I want them but I don't have the right guitar to put them in. Meanwhile I'm trying to avoid buying the obvious Mules (or Crawlers)

What sort of sound are you trying to get & what sort guitar do you actually want ?

Well, I'm mainly looking to replace a Strat - which, while I love the tone (Trinity Suites), I don't get on with.  Or, perhaps, something like the Burstbucker Pro, only more so.
What am I looking for in a guitar? A thin neck (60's style) mainly. I used to dislike single cuts, but I'm coming round. My favourite type of guitar is the SG - but you can't get one in alder, apart from the Epiphone G310 - but that's laminate... How is it otherwise?  Gordon Smith use poplar, spruce, or cedar... Tokai use Nato or Agathis - which regardless of anything else are mahogany substitutes...

[Kilby]

What am I looking for in a guitar? A thin neck (60's style) mainly. I used to dislike single cuts, but I'm coming round. My favourite type of guitar is the SG - but you can't get one in alder, apart from the Epiphone G310 - but that's laminate... How is it otherwise?  Gordon Smith use poplar, spruce, or cedar... Tokai use Nato or Agathis - which regardless of anything else are mahogany substitutes...

Funny enough I have an an Ash SG (the wood isnt as hard as maple) with maple neck and I love the sound of it with the rear pickup split. The one thing that irritates me about SGs is theyre always mahogany

If thats your preference I'd suggest having a word with GS and see if they could use a brighter wood (I hear they are very helpful)

What are the ESP vipers made from ? (just a thought and to lazy to go and look)

[noodleplugerine]

What am I looking for in a guitar? A thin neck (60's style) mainly. I used to dislike single cuts, but I'm coming round. My favourite type of guitar is the SG - but you can't get one in alder, apart from the Epiphone G310 - but that's laminate... How is it otherwise?  Gordon Smith use poplar, spruce, or cedar... Tokai use Nato or Agathis - which regardless of anything else are mahogany substitutes...

Funny enough I have an an Ash SG (the wood isnt as hard as maple) with maple neck and I love the sound of it with the rear pickup split. The one thing that irritates me about SGs is theyre always mahogany

If thats your preference I'd suggest having a word with GS and see if they could use a brighter wood (I hear they are very helpful)

What are the ESP vipers made from ? (just a thought and to lazy to go and look)

All mahogany with an Ebony Fingerboard.

That being said I think the Deluxe LTD one might have a flamed maple top.

Edit: It does, but a rosewood fingerboard.

[Sailor Charon]

Funny enough I have an an Ash SG (the wood isnt as hard as maple) with maple neck and I love the sound of it with the rear pickup split. The one thing that irritates me about SGs is theyre always mahogany

If thats your preference I'd suggest having a word with GS and see if they could use a brighter wood (I hear they are very helpful)

Thanks. I'll do that... not today, when I've got the money... :)

[PhilKing]

Just to throw a spanner in the works.  Tim had his Feline mahogany explorer at LGS and it was equiped with a set of Painkillers.  You can't get a guitar with much more body wood than an explorer and the painkillers worked fine.  I have a mahogany explorer with a Warpig/MQ set and again it works great.

[Kilby]

Personally I'm unsure regarding what pickup is supposed to work with which guitar, as almost everything I like falls into the vintage pickup catagory therefore I avoid the questions ;)

I'm beginning to think theres some confusion in regards of what combinations should be avoided. Possibly a table of (potentially) bad combinations needs to be knocked together (of course one persons bad combination is anothers sonic nirvana)

However from what I heard from the painkillers in the players area, they didn't sound as dark to me as people have suggested in various threads.

Come to think of it I seldom find SGs as dark as people say either. However I do fancy the thought of non mahogany SGs (but thats my own wierdness)

Rob...

[_tom_]

If you still want to hear what the Custom Custom (kinda) sounds like, listen to the song called "Angel" here, and pan it all to the left speaker - http://acapella.harmony-central.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1647885

Gives quite a good idea of its tone actually (though, hes also using it in a Strat like I was, so it'll sound a bit different to your guitar probably, but not too much I would guess).

[Sailor Charon]

Gaah...
I've just found that Gibson do do a Swamp Ash SG... but the only places that have it are in the US and won't ship to the UK :(
There's also a swamp ash Les Paul, but with a '59 neck... :(

Any suggestions?