Need Pickup Recommendation (BKP hating content)

[Mizati20]

Hey fellas... had a custom guitar come in... was SUPER stoked to finally give BKP's a shot... had a set of Ceramic Warpigs come in the guitar...

Granted I will say the woods in this guitar are completely different than what I am used to... and that could be a huge factor... so whether it's the guitars woods, or the pickups, regardless... the pickups gotta go...

I can't even really describe the BKP's... it's almost like they are TOO dynamic... they have this strange pick attack to them, and odd overtones that almost just sounds like unwanted noise... really difficult to explain...

I like a really warm fatter sound with good mids, rolled off highs, and a tight bass response... I do NOT like bright guitars... with that being said here's my guitars woods... which kinda contradicts me not liking bright guitars... regardless any pup recommendations would be great... not a fan of Dimarzios but will entertain opinions... I'm a big Seymour Duncan guy... NOT looking to go the BKP route again, I just don't see what justifies the price with these things...

Guitar is Swamp Ash Body, thinn Ebony Top, Rosewood Neck, Ebony Fretboard...

I play heavier music, not death metal or anything, but also need to get a good clean sound from both the bridge and neck pups...

Annnnnd GO!

 

[spirit7]

It was undoubtedly the woods.

Try MCP.

 

[Mizati20]

Ya like I mentioned I'm not being naive to the fact that the guitar probably has EVERYTHING to do with it... regardless though I need to do a pickup swap... and I can easily sell these BKP's and get something much cheaper that I'll be just as happy with...

I guess I like darker tones if that helps anyone out with suggestions...

Was actually thinking about a Duncan Invader.... I remember putting one in a Mahogany guitar a LONG time ago and it was WAYYY too dark... maybe would be a good choice for a guitar like this...?

 

[Ventura]

Most certainly could be a wood equation, but I will say this, the War Pigs, ceramic at that, are fkn sledgehammers. I've veered away from using them for the very fact they're too heavy hitting. But again, what's done is done. Did you run this recommendation up the flagpole with Tim at BKP? Guy KNOWS his woods/magnet relationships like none other.

Anyway, sorry to read this is setting you back a bit. It's gotta suck to get a new sword only to find it's not slicing the you had envisioned.

Peace,
Mo

 

[JimmyDoomsday]

i'd say the wood definitely has a lot to do with it, but does the guitar have locking trem? if not, might wanna try muting the strings above the nut and past the bridge (if string thru) too in order to silence overtones.

 

[Mizati20]

Most certainly could be a wood equation, but I will say this, the War Pigs, ceramic at that, are fkn sledgehammers. I've veered away from using them for the very fact they're too heavy hitting. But again, what's done is done. Did you run this recommendation up the flagpole with Tim at BKP? Guy KNOWS his woods/magnet relationships like none other.

Anyway, sorry to read this is setting you back a bit. It's gotta suck to get a new sword only to find it's not slicing the you had envisioned.

Peace,
Mo

Yea I think "BKP Hating" is probably being a bit dramatic, as I didn't really choose these pickups FOR this guitar... and it's not really any fault of the pickups, I'm sure they are great, so many people raving about them HAS to mean something...

Actually the builder had a pair and offered them up and the price of the guitar was going to be the same... so I figured why NOT get the $300 pickups ya know? I'm honestly not really bummed... the guitar is AMAZING... just doesn't have that "Home" sound yet... I will say I looked up the specs on the Warpig and Holy shit... just SO much output, and SO much of every frequency... I think that's what I was trying to explain in the original OP... there's just so much of EVERY frequency in the sound, almost just makes it sound like noise...

Always appreciate your replies... any recommendations? Was thinking of going with a Duncan Invader... I had put one in a Mahogany bodied guitar awhile back and it was SUPER dark... could be a perfect choice for this guy....

 

[Mizati20]

i'd say the wood definitely has a lot to do with it, but does the guitar have locking trem? if not, might wanna try muting the strings above the nut and past the bridge (if string thru) too in order to silence overtones.

Hipshot bridge... already have something to dampen past the nut...

 

[Vede]

I know you said that you're not typically fond of DiMarzios, but what you described as your ideal tone - "I like a really warm fatter sound with good mids, rolled off highs, and a tight bass response" - is also my ideal tone, and the pickup I've used again and again over the years to achieve it in many different "metal" guitars is a set of DiMarzio Breeds: http://www.dimarzio.com/pickups/humbuck ... eed-bridge

It will warm-up and smooth-out just about any guitar it's in. Be advised, however, that if it's going into a naturally bright guitar, and it sounds like yours is, the Breed will help tame it, but it will probably always be a relatively bright guitar.

Another DiMarzio pickup you may want to try is The Tone Zone: http://www.dimarzio.com/pickups/humbuck ... /tone-zone. Even more-so than the Breed, it's designed to thicken-up shrill-sounding guitars. I have far less personal experience with this pickup than the Breed but I've heard that it can be great in bright guitars and a bit too thick and muddy in naturally darker-sounding guitars.

Last word of advice is, whatever pickup you get, probably best to get something with an Alnico V magnet, which is almost always going to sound and feel warmer than a ceramic magnet.

 

[fluff191]

I have yet to try a BKP that I liked. Just too extreme in everything for me.

If I were you I would just at least get a baseline of how your guitar sounds by putting in a pickup that you are already familiar with. Throw in a JB or Duncan Distortion and go from there. Time consuming, but important data will be collected. Just my opinion.

 

[singtall]

duncan distortion humbuckers would do the trick. with that bright wood, you could use a tamed top end pickup.

first choice: dimarzio tone zone
second choice: duncan distortion

 

[Code001]

EMG 85. If you're into Duncan, then the Alt 8, Invader or Blackouts. I've had bright guitars in which the Distortion only made it worse.

 

[Mizati20]

Wow the opinions just took off!!! Thanks everyone...

I heard the Breed was actually good for this sort of thing... was thinking about the new Dominion as well which I've heard is a lot like a Breed but with a tighter bottom end...

Keep em coming guys!!! Really appreciate the input!

 

[NinjaRaf]

haha I know I responded on HCAF, but yeah...IMO, the dominion is a tighter breed...not just in the bottom end, but in the response and attack of the pickup, too. Its basically the difference between a ceramic and alnico magnet.

 

[metalmaniac93]

MCP Afwayu!!!!

 

[FourT6and2]

Ok, I understand you don't want to give BKP another shot. But I think you should try another one that doesn't have a ceramic magnet and isn't so high-output. Seriously. I have similar tastes as you. And I am in love with the Holy Diver set I have in my guitar. I have a set of Black Dogs on the way as well.

But, for you... I'd reconsider and give either the Holy Divers or Nailbombs a try. Again, not the ceramic versions.

But I understand they are expensive.

 

[Mizati20]

Ok, I understand you don't want to give BKP another shot. But I think you should try another one that doesn't have a ceramic magnet and isn't so high-output. Seriously. I have similar tastes as you. And I am in love with the Holy Diver set I have in my guitar. I have a set of Black Dogs on the way as well.

But, for you... I'd reconsider and give either the Holy Divers or Nailbombs a try. Again, not the ceramic versions.

But I understand they are expensive.

Let's do some trading

 

[FourT6and2]

Ok, I understand you don't want to give BKP another shot. But I think you should try another one that doesn't have a ceramic magnet and isn't so high-output. Seriously. I have similar tastes as you. And I am in love with the Holy Diver set I have in my guitar. I have a set of Black Dogs on the way as well.

But, for you... I'd reconsider and give either the Holy Divers or Nailbombs a try. Again, not the ceramic versions.

But I understand they are expensive.

Let's do some trading

lol no no. Those HDs are staying put.

 

[Mizati20]

Ok, I understand you don't want to give BKP another shot. But I think you should try another one that doesn't have a ceramic magnet and isn't so high-output. Seriously. I have similar tastes as you. And I am in love with the Holy Diver set I have in my guitar. I have a set of Black Dogs on the way as well.

But, for you... I'd reconsider and give either the Holy Divers or Nailbombs a try. Again, not the ceramic versions.

But I understand they are expensive.

Let's do some trading

lol no no. Those HDs are staying put.

No no no... by replying to the thread for recommendations you obviously failed to read the fine print that any and all pickups in your current guitars are subject to trade without your consent... sorry man... send em over

 

[chunktone]

MCP Afwayu!!!!

I second the Afwayu! I have a set in my Hamer, and they are great! Lots of lows and low mids, but still does not seem to be lacking highs, if that makes any sense. Nice warm highs. I was surprise how good the neck pickup was! There is no pickup I prefer over these. I would suggest that regardless of what you go with, I would avoid ceramic magnets. They seem to add a very abrasive and shrill highend, which I personally do NOT care for.

 

[Anonymous]

id vote for tone zone with a 59 neck. that combo is odd, but REALLY nice in bright guitars.