Pickup Articulation

Inspector #20

Inspector #20

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Want to start a discussion on this. One of my quests is to find higher output passive pickups (17k) that still retain the "chorus like" articulation of the G/B/e strings.

Some say this is simply a virtue of the magnets used, with A2 and A8 being more "articulate" than Ceramic or A5.

However, my EMG 81 has more articulation than most other passive pickups that I have heard.

So, I invite your suggestions and experiences....
 
You might want to try a p/u with high output, like a Super Distortion (etc), but change the magnets out to get the desired effect. (Just a thought)
 
Chubbles said:
You might want to try a p/u with high output, like a Super Distortion (etc), but change the magnets out to get the desired effect. (Just a thought)
Click to expand...

Good idea!

I am hoping to manage with a stock pickup configuration if possible...
 
Bare Knuckle seem to do this very well - they are articulate, and often high output too. I've only tried 2 (or maybe 1.5) Bare Knuckle puppies, but they have been the two most articulate puppies I've used (and, by some distance). I'm sure many other winders do this well too, but BK would be my starting point - send them an email telling them exactly what you want and see what they suggest.
 
Mr Grumpy said:
Bare Knuckle seem to do this very well - they are articulate, and often high output too. I've only tried 2 (or maybe 1.5) Bare Knuckle puppies, but they have been the two most articulate puppies I've used (and, by some distance). I'm sure many other winders do this well too, but BK would be my starting point - send them an email telling them exactly what you want and see what they suggest.
Click to expand...

Good idea!
 
Bare knuckles are nice, but Tom Anderson pickups are superior in the area of articulation and a "glass-like" sparkle. Bare knuckles would win in the area of warm and "throaty" and as far as that category is concerned, they are among the most articulate.
 
RVA said:
Bare knuckles are nice, but Tom Anderson pickups are superior in the area of articulation and a "glass-like" sparkle. Bare knuckles would win in the area of warm and "throaty" and as far as that category is concerned, they are among the most articulate.
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I guess I need both....An Ibanez V2, basically a DiMarzio Super Distortion, nails this very well with 16.2k and Alinco V magnets, but I may check out BKP too...
 
In this context, I think of it as being able to hear each note clearly and crisply, but some Google searching revelas that a more accurate meaning is the manner in which notes are put together.
 
Gahr said:
How do you define 'articulation' in this context?
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I'm not educated in music, so my answer is simple, but to my ear, its when the "fatness" of the E/A/D is heard slightly below the G/B/e as if they are singing in a chorus.
 
RVA said:
Bare knuckles are nice, but Tom Anderson pickups are superior in the area of articulation and a "glass-like" sparkle. Bare knuckles would win in the area of warm and "throaty" and as far as that category is concerned, they are among the most articulate.
Click to expand...

Certainly TA, Lollar and others do very nicely articulate puppies, but do they wind them at the output levels and to be played thru a cranked Marshall as the OP loves?
 
Robert Herndon said:
Want to start a discussion on this. One of my quests is to find higher output passive pickups (17k) that still retain the "chorus like" articulation of the G/B/e strings.

Some say this is simply a virtue of the magnets used, with A2 and A8 being more "articulate" than Ceramic or A5.

However, my EMG 81 has more articulation than most other passive pickups that I have heard.

So, I invite your suggestions and experiences....
Click to expand...

Keep in mind, if you put a weaker magnet in the pickup, that pickup will have less output, regardless of its DC resistance.
 
So...thanks to @Dave Sloven I am now a little confused and unsure...

I was all settled on using Seymour Duncan 59's in my Les Paul Studio project. But...after reading all his comments about Bare Knuckle (is that a cool name or what!), now I am a little uncertain. I've been checking out some of the sound clips of BKP's on their website and now I'm not quite sure what I want to do!

The BKP VHII pickups have my attention.

I wonder how well they split...?
 
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smitty_p said:
So...thanks to @Dave Sloven I am now a little confused and unsure...

I was all settled on using Seymour Duncan 59's in my Les Paul Studio project. But...after reading all his comments about Bare Knuckle (is that a cool name or what!), now I am a little uncertain. I've been checking out some of the sound clips of BKP's on their website and now I'm not quite sure what I want to do!

The BKP VHII pickups have my attention.

I wonder how well they split...?
Click to expand...

BKP Holy Diver...
 
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