Kiesel Vader - Replacing Pickups w/ Nazgul / Sentient

[jeffjwnz]

Love the Vader, but I'm not in love with the pickup sound. I'm also done paying folks to put in pickups for me.. it's time to learn.. with that being said I'm hoping that you guys can give me some tips and advise.

I picked up this nazgul / sentient set in ebay for $150 shipped.. so I figure I can give them a try. I've played them before in my KM7 MK1 and MK2. I really only play metal so I think they should be fine.

Here are my questions:

1) I read online that series wiring will give the pickups 100% power, while if I wire them in parallel I will lose a little bit of power and the pickups could sound brighter (I don't want those things). Is that true?

2) The Vader is set up with a 5 way selector switch HH configuration. So I guess positions 2 & 4 are single coil. To be honest I didn't even realize it was a 5 way switch until I took it apart. I only ever use neck and bridge. So my question is... when I drop in the SD set should I get a 3 way switch and wire these series or should I just wire them similar to how the Vader is wired and do parallel /w the 5 way switch?

Suggestions?

Thanks!:saeek:

 

[Mincer]

Re: Kiesel Vader - Replacing Pickups w/ Nazgul / Sentient

Welcome to the forum!

That is a cool guitar. First thing...will the new pickups fit? I notice these use rounded pickup tabs...so check the pickups you just bought to see if they will fit, otherwise you'd have to alter them. Find out how the 5 way switch is wired. Most likely the pickups are in parallel with each other, which is what you'd want. But find out what those other switch positions do, and think about what kind of sounds you want out of your new pickups.

 

[jeffjwnz]

Re: Kiesel Vader - Replacing Pickups w/ Nazgul / Sentient

Honestly the reason I chose these was because they look like they will fit without any routing. The 5 way is currently set in parallel for the lithium’s, so it would be easy to mirror this setup for the SDs.

My sound that I want is heavy metal without any sacrafies. Is singular going to sound thicker and heavier vs parallel?

 

[dxlxntxxlxr]

Re: Kiesel Vader - Replacing Pickups w/ Nazgul / Sentient

Honestly the reason I chose these was because they look like they will fit without any routing. The 5 way is currently set in parallel for the lithium’s, so it would be easy to mirror this setup for the SDs.

My sound that I want is heavy metal without any sacrafies. Is singular going to sound thicker and heavier vs parallel?

View attachment 87636View attachment 87636

Definitely go series, u can use a 5 way to switch to parallel

 

[dave74]

Re: Kiesel Vader - Replacing Pickups w/ Nazgul / Sentient

You'll have to either file the tabs or enlarge the tab routs on the guitar.
You want series wiring as you're base-tone,,,,,,,,,everything else is an optional bonus for that music style.

 

[jeffjwnz]

Re: Kiesel Vader - Replacing Pickups w/ Nazgul / Sentient

Definitely go series, u can use a 5 way to switch to parallel

Forgive me for not being up to speed. Would the first, third, and fifth position be series; two and four would be parallel?

I read that by wiring in parallel you lose power to be humbucker, but maybe I was misunderstanding what the guy was saying.

When wiring with a coil split do you lose any power to the humbuckers while you are in normal series positions (I.e. 1,3,&5)?

 

[jeffjwnz]

Re: Kiesel Vader - Replacing Pickups w/ Nazgul / Sentient

Ah I see, the tabs do look a smidge too big. Definitely not bastardizing this guitar so those will get shaved down a bit.

 

[dave74]

Re: Kiesel Vader - Replacing Pickups w/ Nazgul / Sentient

Ah I see, the tabs do look a smidge too big. Definitely not bastardizing this guitar so those will get shaved down a bit.

Good choice.

 

[Mincer]

Re: Kiesel Vader - Replacing Pickups w/ Nazgul / Sentient

How is it wired now? What don't you like about it?

 

[jeffjwnz]

Re: Kiesel Vader - Replacing Pickups w/ Nazgul / Sentient

How is it wired now? What don't you like about it?

It sounds pretty thin and with tons of mids. It isn’t angry or aggressive like the music I listen to.

 

[dxlxntxxlxr]

Re: Kiesel Vader - Replacing Pickups w/ Nazgul / Sentient

It sounds pretty thin and with tons of mids. It isn’t angry or aggressive like the music I listen to.

Well then, u bought the right pickups lol. Havent tried the sentient, but the nazgul is a fun as hell pickup. Not that clear, but its really pissed off, definitely fits the "angry and aggressive" description.

 

[Demanic]

Re: Kiesel Vader - Replacing Pickups w/ Nazgul / Sentient

If the 2&4 positions are wired for parallel (neck and bridge respectively) then I'd go with that. You'll get your full on humbuckers in three positions, and an option for a brighter sound in either bridge or neck.

Sent from my Alcatel_5044C using Tapatalk

 

[jeffjwnz]

Re: Kiesel Vader - Replacing Pickups w/ Nazgul / Sentient

If the 2&4 positions are wired for parallel (neck and bridge respectively) then I'd go with that. You'll get your full on humbuckers in three positions, and an option for a brighter sound in either bridge or neck.

Perfect, that's what I'm going to do. As far as shaving down the tabs a little bit so that they fit in the slots, what is the best tool for the job? I have a dremel and some old school files.

 

[Silence Kid]

Re: Kiesel Vader - Replacing Pickups w/ Nazgul / Sentient

I'd remove the baseplate before filing, to prevent metal shavings from clinging to the magnet.

 

[Mincer]

Re: Kiesel Vader - Replacing Pickups w/ Nazgul / Sentient

People usually use a Dremel for this (a vice helps here). If you are afraid to do this, I know people have also sent their pickups back to SD for them to do it. If you are going to do that, contact them first so they know your pickups are coming.

 

[jeffjwnz]

Re: Kiesel Vader - Replacing Pickups w/ Nazgul / Sentient

Great tip, thank you

 

[jeffjwnz]

Re: Kiesel Vader - Replacing Pickups w/ Nazgul / Sentient

Well - I used a dremel and taped up the guitar and pickups. This was my first time soldering and I guess things went well b/c they work great and sound thick and heavy. Thanks for the help!


https://reverb.com/item/9463699-kiesel-vader-v7-firestain

 

[Mincer]

Re: Kiesel Vader - Replacing Pickups w/ Nazgul / Sentient

Congrats on the successful project. That looks amazing!

 

[Bodeanicus]

Re: Kiesel Vader - Replacing Pickups w/ Nazgul / Sentient

Really digging that reverse burst paint job.

Sent from my KFGIWI using Tapatalk

 

[dave74]

Re: Kiesel Vader - Replacing Pickups w/ Nazgul / Sentient

Should call the finish "reverse flame-blast". Cool (more hot than cool lol) and unique!
Thick and heavy (with some amount of bite) is what I go for also in a pickup.
That fretboard is especially amazing,