BC Rich Ironbird Pro Pup Swap (EMG 81 For 89R)

[Phantasmagoria]

I love this axe & it sounded great with the EMG 81 (18v mod) but being a single pup guitar with an EMG 81 it was pretty limited/one dimensional tonally and at times that was a bit boring/frustrating.

Pretty sure this pup solves that problem nicely. The two modes (humbucker based on the EMG 85 & single coil mode based on an EMG SA) are quite distinct from each other and certainly give me more options for tones. Having said that I do kinda miss the screaming 81 in what is far and away one of my most Metal of axes...

I had an 85 in an old Korean Warlock in the mid nineties and loved that guitar. The 89R definitely does sound like it in humbucker mode...

So, can't complain :bigthumb:

 

[Rex_Rocker]

I actually like the 89 in humbucker mode more than an 85. It still retains the 85's smoothness (compared to an 81), but I find it's also tighter and clearer.

I do like the 85, don't get me wrong. Especially in the bridge. But I do find the low mids can get a little overwhelming at times with some amps and some boosts.

The 89 is a bit more controllable in that department.

It's funny how the coil-splittable versions of EMG humbuckers always have their own character compared to the humbucker-only versions. The 81TW I had was the complete opposite way compared to a regular 81. It was fatter.

Cool clip! And fantastic-looking guitar!

 

[Phantasmagoria]

Thanks! And yeah, it definitely catches the eye :bigthumb:

Sounds like I might have to try an EMG 81TW sometime :lmao:

From what I remember of the 85 in my Warlock this pup (89R) is certainly in the ballpark, though you're probably right that there's a bit of a difference. Still it sounds the way I was hoping it would sound and the humbucker/single modes are really quite dinstinct from each other.....which is what I was hoping for ..a bit more versatility tone-wise.

 

[Rex_Rocker]

Oh, yeah, those coil-splitting EMG's are actually pretty nice. IMO, it's because they're just not a simple coil split like with most passives where the designer has to focus on getting a cool sound out of the humbucker and then hoping the split tone is alright (or viceversa). Those coil-splitting EMG's are actually two pickups and separate preamps housed inside a single shell. Pretty neat, IMO.

 

[Phantasmagoria]

Yeah,it sounds like two different pickups with different charecter, EQ etc. not just "thinner" in single coil/split mode. The humbucker mode is smooth and round, kinda dark & pretty thick with sweet overtones..ie EMG 85-ish & the single coil mode is more middy/ & raw sounding with a kinda vowelly aspect to it, it's also pretty thick but with sharper highs. They're both completely different sounds ..ie. like two different pickups :bigthumb:

 

[Phantasmagoria]

I was just looking at this thing when I got up earlier this morning & I thought, wow this is just the axe for some nice slow, ballady stuff :bigthumb:

I'm going to put the 81 I pulled out of this in an old Cort guitar of mine that's currently without pickups along with a 60A I have in the neck, then do another ballad :

 

[Phantasmagoria]

And compared to the EMG Fat 55 Retroactive pup's in another of my my Cort's ...just for kicks :bigthumb:

 

[Phantasmagoria]

......and vs. another Cort with SD Blackouts (Blackouts Metal bridge , regular Blackouts neck) :bigthumb:

 

[Phantasmagoria]

Well since that swap w/the Ironbird went so well. I decided to swap out the Dean DMT (Baker Act & MAB Hands without shadows) passives in my Raven West for an EMG 57/66 set too.

The DMT's used to sound awesome when they first went in but then I rewired it and fu.cked something up really badly so they sounded thin & shrill and I decided that I'd just swap them out for EMG's (quick connects) instead of checking/re-soldering all that stuff again and as it turns out I'm actually loving it with the new EMG's so all's well that ends well :bigthumb:

80's style jam with the 57 bridge pup...