Pickup Selection For Mockingbird

[PSY]

Hi there,

I'm thinking about changing the stock pickups in my BC Rich Mockingbird (NJ Classic Series through neck) guitar. I play rythym (and a little bit of lead) in a rock band that tune to B E A D F# B (11-58's strings). I use a Marshall JCM800 head through a homemade 2x12" cab loaded with Celestion Vintage 30's & I use a Boss GT-6 multi FX pedal.

You can hear examples of my band's music here.

What do you guys recomend? I've heard that the Kent Armstrong Motherbucker may be a good option for the bridge position...

Cheers,

Simon

(Appologies if that was too much information there)

[crafty]

Dimarzio D-Sonic bridge and PAF Pro neck.

[PSY]

Dimarzio D-Sonic bridge and PAF Pro neck.

Cool, thanks. I'll check those out.

[crafty]

The thing I like about the PAF Pro is that it sounds really good through layers of effects and processing--and just going straight into the amp. The D-Sonic is also good for drop tuning and doesn't get flabby, stays nice and tight with a helping of power into the preamp on that JCM 800.

Edit: I was also thinking--you might check out Bare Knuckle Pickups considering you're in the UK and they might be a better deal for you than importing the DiMarzios. Some of the UK guys here swear by 'em, especially the Miracle Man and Warpig. Not having ever played or heard a guitar with them, I can't tell you whether they're great myself, but I'd encourage you to check 'em out nonetheless from what I've heard about 'em.

Edited March 10, 2007 by crafty

[PSY]

The thing I like about the PAF Pro is that it sounds really good through layers of effects and processing--and just going straight into the amp. The D-Sonic is also good for drop tuning and doesn't get flabby, stays nice and tight with a helping of power into the preamp on that JCM 800.

Edit: I was also thinking--you might check out Bare Knuckle Pickups considering you're in the UK and they might be a better deal for you than importing the DiMarzios. Some of the UK guys here swear by 'em, especially the Miracle Man and Warpig. Not having ever played or heard a guitar with them, I can't tell you whether they're great myself, but I'd encourage you to check 'em out nonetheless from what I've heard about 'em.

Hi Crafty,

Thanks for the pointer towards Bare Knuckles. I've been on thier website. I've had a look at the War Pig. That's one metal looking pickup Canny pricey too at £115 each ($222 at current exchange rates). Just on trying to some clips of it in action that aren't 100 mile an hour Slayertastic riff-o-rarma's But hey. You only live once & it's certainly worth investing in. Going to check the Miracle Man out now.

Cheers,

Simon

[Robert_the_damned]

You can hear examples of my band's music here.

I like your stuff, sounds quite differant.

What do you guys recomend? I've heard that the Kent Armstrong Motherbucker may be a good option for the bridge position...

The motherbucker is a good pickup but it doesn't have the best bass responce in the world and gives out a lot of trebble. I'd look at the Kent Armstrong super distortion which is a lovely pickup, or if you can get it the mega distortion (not normally available in the UK but if you want one I think I know where you can get one at the moment) which just oozes tone and output (IMHO of course).

A D-sonic set so its with the bar piece closest to the bridge might sound good but I've never had one so I can't really comment.

Another option I'm sure you've thought about are EMG pickups....actives really do help bring out a lot more definition when you've got a lot of low notes ringing together. That's what I've got on my V (tuned to what you're tuned to but on a 24.75" scale so I'm strung with 13-60's )

There are a lot of pickup choices out there so if you're want to change (and trust me any change from stock B.C. Rich pickups will make a huge improvement) then just buy something you like the sound of....if its not perfect (and you never will get the perfect pickup first time for a guitar unless you've tried lots of pickups with your setup) then buy some more until you find something that's good. The other pickups can always go into other guitars that need upgrading or else be sold on.

Robert