Help needed on replacing the Alpha/Omega set in my 27" baritone

[caldo]

So I recently acquired my first baritone 27" scale (tuned to drop A). It's a Jericho Edge premium, neck through and made from wenge and walnut.

I decided to go for the duncan Alpha/Omega set after hearing a few demos I liked (specifically the Holcomb one in Keith Merrow's studio). Although I do like how the Omega (bridge) sounds whilst riffing in the lower registers I really can't get away with the shrill top end whilst playing chords or anything lead wise. The neck pickup I'm not crazy about either, I hear people describe it as being quite thin but in this guitar it is overly bassy and almost out of balance with the bridge and other positions on the 5 way switch. I'm assuming it has a lot to do with the scale of the guitar itself and the relative positioning of the pickups compared to the 25.5 scale they were designed for.

These guitars come with Nazgul/Sentient sets usually and I'm considering swapping the current set out to try some of those. I was wondering if anybody that had experience with the two sets could offer some opinion on the differences between the two. I'm thinking the Nazgul is probably pretty bright in itself and might not be what I'm after but the folks at Jericho seem to think it's a good match in this particular guitar.

Is that shrill top end a symptom of the ceramic magnets in these pickups? I have a set of Juggernauts in an Ibanez 7 string that can be exhibit the same "Ice picky" characteristic when playing of the higher strings. Although again, there is much I like about those as well.

My favorite set is the Sentient/Pegasus set in my old Schecter C1. I would go for that in the baritone but I like the idea of having distinct sounds from my different guitars.

Another set I'm wondering about are the Ragnarok's (yeah all the djenty, droptuned usual suspects covered at this point). I'm just looking for any advice or opinion in comparison with the Alpha/Omegas so I can make a more informed choice going forward trying to get this thing to sound how I'd like. Even any insight into how scale length typically affects the sound of a guitar would be helpful in choosing something more suitable. I'm assuming the longer the scale, the brighter the sound?

 

[Adieu]

Re: Help needed on replacing the Alpha/Omega set in my 27" baritone

What music style? That kinda matters, too

 

[Mincer]

Re: Help needed on replacing the Alpha/Omega set in my 27" baritone

The Nazgul does have a lot of high end as well. You might want something more like a Black Winter set to tame that. Or possibly a Black Winter bridge with a Sentient neck, especially if you want a clearer neck pickup.

 

[caldo]

Re: Help needed on replacing the Alpha/Omega set in my 27" baritone

What music style? That kinda matters, too

I play in a few different styles but this guitar in particular was intended for dropped tuned riffage mostly. I guess you'd term it "Djent" although I'm reluctant to do so as I like to do more than just bang on the low string so I'd say progressive metal might be more apt.

The issue I'm having is with what sounds like a very prominent resonant peak in the Omega bridge which almost lies over the top of any kind of chord work involving the top three strings or more. Whats more within that there is almost a clashing of the notes under distortion within that. Like a warbling oscillation thing going on that I find pretty unpleasant. Even though the pickup is pretty scooped naturally (according to the EQ chart on the product page) I find backing off the mids on the Amp (or kemper in my case) reduces these symptoms and when I did that it almost felt like the pickup felt more "at home" even to the point where it felt different to play...almost more forgiving but scooped is not really my thing. . I like reasonably rich mids and controlled, defined bass with just enough top end to give it sufficient bite and energy. I really dislike overly prominent resonances and that "cocked wah" sound you can run into at times.

 

[caldo]

Re: Help needed on replacing the Alpha/Omega set in my 27" baritone

The Nazgul does have a lot of high end as well. You might want something more like a Black Winter set to tame that. Or possibly a Black Winter bridge with a Sentient neck, especially if you want a clearer neck pickup.

Thanks for the response. I was thinking that the Nazgul might just exhibit the same kind of characteristics I'm trying to get away from, although on thinking about it more maybe it's not treble and more of a prominant resonant peak in the upper mids I can hear that is bothering me.

I hadn't really considered the black winter as I assumed it was a pretty niche choice aimed at that black metal kinda sound but I will do some reading up. How does the black winter compare to the Pegasus? Reason I ask is like I said in my earlier post there is nothing I don't like about the Pegasus and I feel it's nice and balanced with a great feel whilst playing under distortion. It's just I wanted something with a bit more attitude for this particular drop A tuned guitar.

I do keep thinking the Ragnaroks might be worth a shout. Especially after hearing this https://youtu.be/VCtvhLZpdYE?t=12m12s

That's pretty much what I'm going for tone wise and the fact it's a baritone ( although it's 28" compared to my 27") is a plus too as I do think the scale is playing a part in this too.

 

[Adieu]

Re: Help needed on replacing the Alpha/Omega set in my 27" baritone

I play in a few different styles but this guitar in particular was intended for dropped tuned riffage mostly. I guess you'd term it "Djent" although I'm reluctant to do so as I like to do more than just bang on the low string so I'd say progressive metal might be more apt.

The issue I'm having is with what sounds like a very prominent resonant peak in the Omega bridge which almost lies over the top of any kind of chord work involving the top three strings or more. Whats more within that there is almost a clashing of the notes under distortion within that. Like a warbling oscillation thing going on that I find pretty unpleasant. Even though the pickup is pretty scooped naturally (according to the EQ chart on the product page) I find backing off the mids on the Amp (or kemper in my case) reduces these symptoms and when I did that it almost felt like the pickup felt more "at home" even to the point where it felt different to play...almost more forgiving but scooped is not really my thing. . I like reasonably rich mids and controlled, defined bass with just enough top end to give it sufficient bite and energy. I really dislike overly prominent resonances and that "cocked wah" sound you can run into at times.

Djent on a Kemper... lol I think that phrase could be used as a kid/church-friendly stand-in for expletives in my circles.

Lemme try it....hmmm "DJENT ON A KEMPER!!!"

mmm thx I'm keeping it as my catchphrase


PS btw i frankly suspect that said "cocked wah warbling oscillation" is actually a highly sought-after defining characteristic of your chosen genre's sound... No sarcasm.

 

[caldo]

Re: Help needed on replacing the Alpha/Omega set in my 27" baritone

Djent on a Kemper... lol I think that phrase could be used as a kid/church-friendly stand-in for expletives in my circles.

Lemme try it....hmmm "DJENT ON A KEMPER!!!"

mmm thx I'm keeping it as my catchphrase


PS btw i frankly suspect that said "cocked wah warbling oscillation" is actually a highly sought-after defining characteristic of your chosen genre's sound... No sarcasm.

Well that was one hell of a self serving reply to a genuine question.

Got nothing better to do than try and come off as superior on a message board? At least go hang in your "circle" and snigger with your "too cool to be seen dead ever using a kemper friends. Jibing at the kids playing their new fangled "djent music"

And no. For one, it's not actually a genre at all but an onomatopoeic descriptor coined half in jest. However, those of us that enjoy such adventurous, down tuned and rhythmically challenging music accept the need to dumb down and simplify things for the likes of yourself and therefore stoop to using the term for your convenience. Otherwise what would you have to snigger about in your uber cool ever so knowledgeable circle of music moguls?

Secondly it's definitely not a desired or defining sound characteristic of the kind of music I'm talking about so thank your huge ego for guiding you wide of the mark for what I suspect is probably the millionth time since you started believing you were so very special.

I only wish I could be half as cool as you..... much sarcasm.

 

[Mincer]

Re: Help needed on replacing the Alpha/Omega set in my 27" baritone

Please, if we have nothing nice to say (and if we aren't going to help), then please move on. This is a reminder that this forum is equipped with an ignore function anyone can use, and that we won't tolerate disrespect to any of our Forum Members. Please let a mod know is someone is being disrespectful. We try to keep this place helpful and friendly, ok?

 

[caldo]

Re: Help needed on replacing the Alpha/Omega set in my 27" baritone

My apologies.

I shouldn't have had such a reaction.

I also acknowledge the possibility that Adieu was merely trying to be humorous, however my disdain for this unfortunately all too prevalent an attitude won out in spite of my better judgement.

If we could get back on topic I'd really appreciate that.

 

[Toejam]

Re: Help needed on replacing the Alpha/Omega set in my 27" baritone

I've got the Nazgul in my 27" Carvin 8-string and love it. I think it's pretty balanced and great for all kinds of metal. As far as a neck pickup, I think the DiMarzio D-Activator would be a great match for it.

 

[STLMTLHD79]

Re: Help needed on replacing the Alpha/Omega set in my 27" baritone

I would be more than willing to take that Alpha/Omega set off your hands if you are interested.

 

[Aliascent]

Re: Help needed on replacing the Alpha/Omega set in my 27" baritone

The black winter is quite evenly EQ'd,and has more attitude and aggression compared to the Pegasus. It's tight too, maybe not as "clear" with chords as the pegasus but still decently clear.
I only tried it up to C (and not A), but I don't see why it wouldn't work for you.

I second the black winter / sentient neck suggestion.

As for the nazgul, I've never found it overly bright and ice picky, but mine is installed in an all mahogany guitar, and I play through a recto, and I don't run my trebles very high, rarely above 1 o'clock.

With that out of the way: the nazgul is phenomenal in lower tunings. The lower you go the more brutal it gets.

 

[caldo]

Re: Help needed on replacing the Alpha/Omega set in my 27" baritone

I would be more than willing to take that Alpha/Omega set off your hands if you are interested.

Where are you based?

I'm most probably gonna end up selling them to help fund all these different pickup trials.

 

[caldo]

Re: Help needed on replacing the Alpha/Omega set in my 27" baritone

The black winter is quite evenly EQ'd,and has more attitude and aggression compared to the Pegasus. It's tight too, maybe not as "clear" with chords as the pegasus but still decently clear.
I only tried it up to C (and not A), but I don't see why it wouldn't work for you.

I second the black winter / sentient neck suggestion.

As for the nazgul, I've never found it overly bright and ice picky, but mine is installed in an all mahogany guitar, and I play through a recto, and I don't run my trebles very high, rarely above 1 o'clock.

With that out of the way: the nazgul is phenomenal in lower tunings. The lower you go the more brutal it gets.

Thanks, I appreciate the input.

I have a feeling that to achieve that sought after gain drenched chord clarity there can sometimes be a trade off at the cost of a natural sounding high end without the harshness. Chord clarity was apparently one of the uppermost priorities whilst designing the Omega pickup to facilitate Holcomb's chord heavy style. If that is in fact the case, less clear might actually be a good thing as long as it's not the complete other end of the spectrum and off into Invader territory.

I'm most probably going to end up giving most of these a shot including the Nazgul although I do have reservations about it being similar in the highs although I have yet to hear a demo where anyone plays more than the lower strings to make a decent judgement. There is a lot of that grinding snarl that is awesome down in the lower registers just like the Omega but I'm starting to think you can't get away with so much of that without the spiky top end. Admittedly that's just a hunch at this point.