Blackouts into a BC Rich Mockingbird ST

[Marrow]

Hi all. Just bought a Mockingbird ST, and was wondering which replacement pickups would be suitable due to the switching options on the guitar.

PICKUPS: Duncan Design
CONTROLS: 2 volumes, 1 tone, 1 three-way toggle, individual mini switches for pickup coil tap and reverse phase, and one 5 position varitone tone filter. (All passive)

I mainly play rock/metal through a modelling amp and have it set up with a Satriani type tone. Have played a guitar with Blackouts (AHB-1 I think) before and really liked them but I'm not sure if they will fit. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

 

[Zerberus]

Re: Blackouts into a BC Rich Mockingbird ST

Fit physically or tonally? Physically there should be absolutely zero issues, tonally however I don`t think Blackouts would be my first choice for Satch-Boogie.

Then again, actives generally work very well with processors, and Joe`s tone is very heavily processed, to the point where about 15 years ago every multi-effects unit on the market had a satch preset that pretty much nailed it using any guitar in the store.....

 

[Marrow]

Re: Blackouts into a BC Rich Mockingbird ST

Fit physically or tonally? Physically there should be absolutely zero issues, tonally however I don`t think Blackouts would be my first choice for Satch-Boogie.

Then again, actives generally work very well with processors, and Joe`s tone is very heavily processed, to the point where about 15 years ago every multi-effects unit on the market had a satch preset that pretty much nailed it using any guitar in the store.....

Thanks for that. Was just wondering if there would be any issues wiring them into the switches (and there's quite a few) on the guitar. Thanks for the reply, much appreciated.

 

[ThunderLizard]

Re: Blackouts into a BC Rich Mockingbird ST

You will have a problem if you go with Blackouts. You will need to bypass the coil tap switch due to blackouts having 2 conductor wiring. You need 4 conductor wiring to do coil tapping. If you absolutely need coil tapping you will need to stay with passive pickups with 4 wires. If you want to go with active pickups you'll need to change your volume and tone pots at the minimum.

 

[Aceman]

Re: Blackouts into a BC Rich Mockingbird ST

Yeah - Blackouts will not play with all the BC switches and doodads to the best of my knowledge.

That said - they do sound awesome, don't they?

 

[Marrow]

Re: Blackouts into a BC Rich Mockingbird ST

You will have a problem if you go with Blackouts. You will need to bypass the coil tap switch due to blackouts having 2 conductor wiring. You need 4 conductor wiring to do coil tapping. If you absolutely need coil tapping you will need to stay with passive pickups with 4 wires. If you want to go with active pickups you'll need to change your volume and tone pots at the minimum.

Aha, thanks for that. That was precisely the problem I was trying to avoid. I'll have a look at what else I could use. Thanks again.

 

[Marrow]

Re: Blackouts into a BC Rich Mockingbird ST

Indeed they do. Change of plan for the Mockingbird then, might just have to find something else to put Blackouts in

 

[LatsMcGee]

Re: Blackouts into a BC Rich Mockingbird ST

In my old mock I had the Invader bridge and a StagMag in the neck, they sounded great together...

 

[Marrow]

Re: Blackouts into a BC Rich Mockingbird ST

Thanks for that. Never tried a StagMag so might try to search one out.

 

[Zerberus]

Re: Blackouts into a BC Rich Mockingbird ST

Thanks for that. Was just wondering if there would be any issues wiring them into the switches (and there's quite a few) on the guitar. Thanks for the reply, much appreciated.

OOPS, I apparently spaced it on you wanting to keep the "extra" switching options (tapping, varitone).

The others are correct, that will cause a problem. You`ll need passive 4 conductor pickups for that.

 

[ThunderLizard]

Re: Blackouts into a BC Rich Mockingbird ST

I personally would put a set of Black Winter's in there. From everthing I've heard they do everything from the metal you like to clean sounds equally well.