[Drache713]

I sent him an e-mail asking for his input on what pickups I should get, and I haven't received a response yet. How long did it take for him to respond to your e-mails?

[ohio_eric]

I'd try again or PM through the forum on their website. He usually responds fairly quikly. He might have other business that is consuming his time.

[Jongpil Yun]

I've never e-mailed him, but when I PM'd him on the Bareknuckle forum, he responded in about 36 hours, on top of responding in my thread. You may want to try the forum.

Like Eric said, he might be busy right now. BK might be growing, or he's designing the 8-string pickups for Blackmachine right now. Or something.

[Stitch]

I've had emails back withing 24 hours, but I email him in British hours, and I'm from Scotland, so I get preferential treatment.

I'd send him another email, saying you aren't meaning to harass him but you are rather interested in his product.


Also, when did you email him? IF it was over Saturday or Sunday don't be surprised if he hasn't replied

[Drache713]

Yeah I've already sent him a second e-mail, but still no reply. No matter, I signed up and posted on the forum, hopefully he replies on there.

[Drache713]

Well i'm not really getting much of any responses over there, so I might as well ask you guys and basically repost what i posted over there...after all, I know there are a few of you BKP guys out there!

WARNING: If you are not into lengthy posts, do NOT read any further!

I haven't decided which guitar I want to install new pickups into, but one of them is an Ibanez RG7421 and the other is an Ibanez S7420. I use a Digitech GNX3000 pedal for my tones and effects, and I usually run the pedal to the PA to take full advantedge of the pedal's amp and cabinet modeling. The type of amp models I tend to favor include the Engl Powerball, Mesa Rectifier, Peavey 5150, and VHT Pitbull.

The vast majority of the type of music I play is metal along the lines of All That Remains, Arch Enemy, Between the Buried and Me, Children of Bodom, Devildriver, In Flames, Into Eternity, Lamb of God, Machine Head, Nevermore, Pantera, Unearth, and others along those lines. Essentially, heavy music with an emphasis on technicality and skillful playing while remaining heavy. While this is the style of music I am most into, I also venture into other types of music, including Prog like Dream Theater, Classic metal like Iron Maiden, classical and jazz, and Instrumental rock such as Joe Satriani. So in short, the vast majority of the material I play is technical heavy metal, but I also like to venture into other territory genre wise, so I need a set of pickups that are versatile and flexible.

Tone wise, I am looking for tight bass that has some kick to it and warmth. I don't want so much bass that the sound becomes dark or boomy and out of control with sloppy definition, and at the same time I don't want so little bass that palm mutes have no impact and the tone is cold and thin. In the mids I am looking for a good full, snarly, growly sound with body that stands out well in the mix. I don't want so much mids as to be out of control crunch or become muddy and too vowel like/airy, and at the same time I don't want so little mids as to not have any body or definition to the tone with no depth. With the high end I am looking for some bite and aggression that gives a little sizzle. I don't want so much high end that the tone becomes harsh and fizzy/scratchy, and I don't want so little treble that the tone is perpetually smooth and has no attack or distinction/clarity with the tone. The pickup set needs to have good harmonics, respond well to palm mutes and riffs, and be equally capable with cleans and overdriven/distortion tones. It also needs to be equally useful both for rhythms and for leads.

One thing I have noticed with many of the bands I have mentioned is that a lot of them use EMG's. I've played EMG's before and what I don't like with them is the scratchy, plastic, sterile tone and high end to them. It sounds too digitized and harsh to my ears. I need a set of pickups that has tight tone with great articulation, great definition, and great clarity, but I want them to be more organic and natural sounding than EMG's. It might also be an issue of Ceramic vs. Alnico 5 to my ears...it seems that when I listen to guitarists that use ceramic pickups it has this annoying harsh, fizzy, scratchy high end to them, but maybe I'm just speculating. I don't know to what extent or validity the type of magnets used truely effects my ears.

I know that there is not one pickup set that can give everything you could ever imagine for with tone or be so versatile that they can do everything, but I'd like to be able to get as close to that as possible. Looking at the pickups on the site, my first instinct would be to go with a Cold Sweat in the neck and a Nailbomb in the bridge. Any help or suggestions as to what pickups you would recommend me to get would be very highly appreciated!

[kmanick]

I have the Cold Sweat/NailBomb combo in my Carvin and it may be just what you are looking for. I emailed Tim and told him what guitar (woods etc), what amps (5150/JSX) and what style of music ...Nevermore,Dream theater, Arch Enemy etc, but I also wanted to be able to play stuff like Greg Howe, Satch, Vinnie Moore etc.
the Combo I have works great for the versatility and warmth (both Alnico magnets) , but it's not an all out metal machine. for that I would go with a warpig in the bridge (you can get that in ceramic or alnico).
I had a Duncan SH-5 in there before the Nailbomb and if the Sh-5 had an Alnico magnet it would probably be hard to tell them apart. the nailbomb is warmer (which is what I wnated because my Carvin was so freaking bright).
as far as Tim goes, sometimes he gets back to you right away and sometimes he doesn't. if you email him letiing him know you want to buy a set he'll get back to you with his suggestions (but he's not a hand holder so don't expect an open line of communication for Q&A sessions. ) he's got a pretty full plate over there.

[sonofabias]

I had no problem getting a response from Tim within twelve hours, just keep trying and he'll get back to you. Cheers

[Drache713]

yeah I ended up getting a reply from him, my e-mail was being sent to the wrong folder.