Motor City Pickups users please help...

[NinjaRaf]

Ive got a set of hell babys being put in a guitar that I should be able to pick up on wednesday night. Ill be able to do some clips on sunday with my new condenser mic as well. Ill definitely post up some reviews on how I think the hell babys sound, and Ill post up the clips too, of course.

 

[gibson5413]

I've got an Afwayu bridge and detroiter neck pickup being built for my JP6 and you know what type of playing/style I do.

I've found that after playing countless pickups, even for the heavy scorching leads, I prefer a low(er) output neck pickup as they seem cleaner and less stuffy and compressed when using a lot of gain. when I had my mojo fly, it came with the JB/Jazz pickups and they were ok but when I swapped them for a pearly gates bridge and Alnico II pro neck, the instrument just came to life and you could hear the thing really breathe if that makes any sense.. A much clearer and more articulate sound at the expense of a little saturation. It just meant that the amp had to drive the sound more than the pickups.

I've talked this stuff with wade from motor city, shep from Sheptone pickups and Tim from bareknuckles and it seems like they're all saying the same thing and that's a lower resistance will = a cleaner sound and as long as you're willing to sacrifice a little output and drive from the pickups, you'll have an overall cleaner and more articulate sound.

From what wade has said, the detroiter is what I'm after from a neck pickup. A hotter PAF... The sheptone BK signatures I'm using in my Tokai are absolutely incredible pickups but with the JP6, I'm wanting a bit hotter of an overall sound so a pickup that falls into the "hotter PAF" camp should hopefully fit the bill.

Good thing is that if it doesn't quite give what I'm looking for, he has a good replacement policy to try another one.

I had Wade custom wind a Solution set for my JP6. I'm sure you knew this already but make sure Wade cuts the pickups to fit the JP6. The corners needs to be triangular. Look forward to watching your review video for them.

 

[moltenmetalburn]

+100 on this. Particularly with your Peters there is no need for a high resistance PU. I love my Solutions set but next time I will probably go the Afwayu route. Phatgirl has experience with a couple of Wade's creations. Might want to pm her

Argh, I didn't see this till after I posted the above.

I know this works for many people, but it just doesn't work for me.
I've tried many 7k-10k pickups from Duncan, Dimarzio, BKP, etc... with this principle in mind, and it never works out.
I've come to know that for my applications and tonal requirements, I need the push from the pickups.
Appreciate the input though.

I also have tried the lower output PU's and cranking the amp a little more but I also prefer to the hit the front end harder.

 

[firejack]

Ive got a set of hell babys being put in a guitar that I should be able to pick up on wednesday night. Ill be able to do some clips on sunday with my new condenser mic as well. Ill definitely post up some reviews on how I think the hell babys sound, and Ill post up the clips too, of course.

Yes! The Raf-man delivers yet again.
Look forward to it mate.
As well as your usual in-depth overview, can you pay particular attention to hi-gain single notes on the Hell Baby neck?
I need to hear it low-down near the open position, in the 12th fret area and way up high on the fretboard.
Cheers Raf.

I also have tried the lower output PU's and cranking the amp a little more but I also prefer to the hit the front end harder.

Agreed!
There's just something about setting up a nice, open-sounding heavy-rhythm tone and then hitting the preamp hard that does it for me tonally.

 

[NinjaRaf]

Ive got a set of hell babys being put in a guitar that I should be able to pick up on wednesday night. Ill be able to do some clips on sunday with my new condenser mic as well. Ill definitely post up some reviews on how I think the hell babys sound, and Ill post up the clips too, of course.

Yes! The Raf-man delivers yet again.
Look forward to it mate.
As well as your usual in-depth overview, can you pay particular attention to hi-gain single notes on the Hell Baby neck?
I need to hear it low-down near the open position, in the 12th fret area and way up high on the fretboard.
Cheers Raf.

I also have tried the lower output PU's and cranking the amp a little more but I also prefer to the hit the front end harder.

Agreed!
There's just something about setting up a nice, open-sounding heavy-rhythm tone and then hitting the preamp hard that does it for me tonally.

Sure thing man.

I just picked up the guitar and took it to band practice last night, but I was playing through the POD xt live they have there, and I didnt have any time to set up a patch for myself, so I didnt get to really get a feel for them yet, but they sounded great through it. Very clear, even through the pod!!

 

[FastRedPonyCar]

I had Wade custom wind a Solution set for my JP6. I'm sure you knew this already but make sure Wade cuts the pickups to fit the JP6. The corners needs to be triangular. Look forward to watching your review video for them.

yeah he knows they're going in the JP. If it somehow slips his mind though, I'm sure modding them to fit can't be any worse that what I had to do to get the retail pearly gates/ANII Pro pickups into my parker.. everything about working on that guitar was a huge headache

 

[firejack]

Sure thing man.

I just picked up the guitar and took it to band practice last night, but I was playing through the POD xt live they have there, and I didnt have any time to set up a patch for myself, so I didnt get to really get a feel for them yet, but they sounded great through it. Very clear, even through the pod!!

I'll reserve judgment until you play it through your valve amp.

But since you mentioned it, what are you initial thoughts through the POD XT Live?
Especially the neck Hell Baby?

 

[moltenmetalburn]

I have the entire extreme line from MCP.

The Hell Baby Is the clearest pickup in that high output range Ive heard. I see many agree.

It doesn't sacrifice any power for it though. good midrange snarl and airy highs. no harshness. fat bottom and smooth, singing lead sounds. It rolls off to a clean sound like a dream with the volume knob.

The Solution is similar to the hell baby but with a less clear, more jagged pissed off crunch to it.

The Nuke is lower mid focused , fat and aggressive, doesn't clean up as well but slams the amp. Big, thick, and powerful.

hope this helps some.

 

[NinjaRaf]

Hey Gavin, just wanted to chime in with this...

viewtopic.php?f=3&t=67113

 

[firejack]

I have the entire extreme line from MCP.

The Hell Baby Is the clearest pickup in that high output range Ive heard. I see many agree.

It doesn't sacrifice any power for it though. good midrange snarl and airy highs. no harshness. fat bottom and smooth, singing lead sounds. It rolls off to a clean sound like a dream with the volume knob.

The Solution is similar to the hell baby but with a less clear, more jagged pissed off crunch to it.

The Nuke is lower mid focused , fat and aggressive, doesn't clean up as well but slams the amp. Big, thick, and powerful.

hope this helps some.

Thanks for all your help molten metal.
You steered me onto the Hell Baby earlier and you've just gone and sealed the deal there.
I'm ordering a Zebra HellBaby neck.

Hey Gavin, just wanted to chime in with this...

viewtopic.php?f=3&t=67113

Thanks Raf.
Checking it out now.

 

[moltenmetalburn]

I have the entire extreme line from MCP.

The Hell Baby Is the clearest pickup in that high output range Ive heard. I see many agree.

It doesn't sacrifice any power for it though. good midrange snarl and airy highs. no harshness. fat bottom and smooth, singing lead sounds. It rolls off to a clean sound like a dream with the volume knob.

The Solution is similar to the hell baby but with a less clear, more jagged pissed off crunch to it.

The Nuke is lower mid focused , fat and aggressive, doesn't clean up as well but slams the amp. Big, thick, and powerful.

hope this helps some.

Thanks for all your help molten metal.
You steered me onto the Hell Baby earlier and you've just gone and sealed the deal there.
I'm ordering a Zebra HellBaby neck.

Hey Gavin, just wanted to chime in with this...

viewtopic.php?f=3&t=67113

Thanks Raf.
Checking it out now.

Very cool! hopefully you agree with my description and it meets your needs!

 

[NinjaRaf]

I was able to get to some comparison clips today with the hellbaby and painkiller bridge...

viewtopic.php?f=42&t=67235

Ill get to some neck comparisons as soon as I can, but I dont think I can get to them tonight. Hope you enjoy...

I really prefer the clips of the hellbabys as well as them in person. They sound a lot fuller...

 

[firejack]

Very cool! hopefully you agree with my description and it meets your needs!

I'll let you know how it pans out.

I was able to get to some comparison clips today with the hellbaby and painkiller bridge...

viewtopic.php?f=42&t=67235

Ill get to some neck comparisons as soon as I can, but I dont think I can get to them tonight. Hope you enjoy...

I really prefer the clips of the hellbabys as well as them in person. They sound a lot fuller...

I can hear that dryness you mentioned.
And yeah it really sounds full and punchy with nice chunk.
I like it and will definitely have to get it into the bridge of one of my guitars.
Looking forward to the neck pickup clips.
BTW... is that a mahogany guitar they are in?

 

[NinjaRaf]

Very cool! hopefully you agree with my description and it meets your needs!

I'll let you know how it pans out.

I was able to get to some comparison clips today with the hellbaby and painkiller bridge...

viewtopic.php?f=42&t=67235

Ill get to some neck comparisons as soon as I can, but I dont think I can get to them tonight. Hope you enjoy...

I really prefer the clips of the hellbabys as well as them in person. They sound a lot fuller...

I can hear that dryness you mentioned.
And yeah it really sounds full and punchy with nice chunk.
I like it and will definitely have to get it into the bridge of one of my guitars.
Looking forward to the neck pickup clips.
BTW... is that a mahogany guitar they are in?

Yeah, its mahogany. Im getting another set for my ninja, which is the same woods as the ibby. Ill be selling the painkillers as soon as the hallbabies are installed.

 

[RockStarNick]

I wish he would set his site up so that we could see the pickup characteristics by tone, output, etc. The descriptions of the pickups don't really tell you much at all. In fact the descriptions are quite laughable.

I'm working with Wade on this as we speak. I'm doing some web-design work for him.

Things that are being worked on:

1. Getting the categories in "hotness" order.
2. Easier site navigation - doing away with the whole java-slider-thingers, which have half the info missing.
3. More technical descriptions for the pickups.
4. Updated list of dealers
5. NEW pickups being announced.

We're looking to have an official launch right around the first of may. Again, the general design of the site isn't changing, but the navigation/info/ease of use will be much improved.

 

[ericsabbath]

I wish he would set his site up so that we could see the pickup characteristics by tone, output, etc. The descriptions of the pickups don't really tell you much at all. In fact the descriptions are quite laughable.

I'm working with Wade on this as we speak. I'm doing some web-design work for him.

Things that are being worked on:

1. Getting the categories in "hotness" order.
2. Easier site navigation - doing away with the whole java-slider-thingers, which have half the info missing.
3. More technical descriptions for the pickups.
4. Updated list of dealers
5. NEW pickups being announced.

We're looking to have an official launch right around the first of may. Again, the general design of the site isn't changing, but the navigation/info/ease of use will be much improved.

that's great news

is there some kind of 3rd degree black belt coming?
I'm loving the 2nd degree for the neck position, but I'm looking for a full wound PAF for the bridge of my next les paul
right now, I'm between the WCR godwood (expen$ive as fuck ), bare knuckle VHII or an overwound bare knuckle riff raff

 

[NinjaRaf]

Here ya go man. Hope this helps...Ill get some more done as soon as I can...

viewtopic.php?f=42&t=67410

 

[firejack]

I wish he would set his site up so that we could see the pickup characteristics by tone, output, etc. The descriptions of the pickups don't really tell you much at all. In fact the descriptions are quite laughable.

I'm working with Wade on this as we speak. I'm doing some web-design work for him.

Things that are being worked on:

1. Getting the categories in "hotness" order.
2. Easier site navigation - doing away with the whole java-slider-thingers, which have half the info missing.
3. More technical descriptions for the pickups.
4. Updated list of dealers
5. NEW pickups being announced.

We're looking to have an official launch right around the first of may. Again, the general design of the site isn't changing, but the navigation/info/ease of use will be much improved.

Really looking forward to these MCP site updates.
I agree that there should be some kind of reference from pickup to pickup as to each model's tone-curve in a tone-chart format (as used by Dimarzio and Seymour Duncan).

BTW... Any news on the following requests:
1. Separate descriptions for the neck version of each pickup?
2. DC resistance listings for both neck and bridge version of each pickup?

Here ya go man. Hope this helps...Ill get some more done as soon as I can...

viewtopic.php?f=42&t=67410

Thanks Raf!
Checkin it out now.