NGD: Chapman ML-1 Norseman

dotsdad

dotsdad

Well-known member
Meet my new friend.
image.jpg
image.jpg
image.jpg

Gorgeous woodworking. Solid hardware. Awful pickups....

Lets hot rod it!

Solid Mahogany body and neck. Maple top. Ebony fretboard.

Acoustic tone is lively yet fat. THICK. Chunky.

Sooo...what pickups should I put in there? I'm thinkin Saturday Night Specials. I like the thought of a slightly underwond PAF nexk and slightly overwound PAF bridge. Your thoughts?
 
Re: NGD: Chapman ML-1 Norseman

Black Winters.

Sent from my MotoE2(4G-LTE) using Tapatalk
 
Re: NGD: Chapman ML-1 Norseman

Looks great!

All mahogany and reverse headstock (longer wounds) leads to a heavier sound in my experience. Play it as is for a few days to get a good idea of the wood's natural sound and then decide from there.

Also, Grovers don't agree with me when they are in line. The buttons are too close together. Schaller will drop right in with no extra holes if they bother you as well.
 
Re: NGD: Chapman ML-1 Norseman

Yeah, its a lot thicker tone than im used to (strats, superstrats). Do
I get super bright pickups knowing the lows will be there, or do i get mid heacy pickups too and just frolic in the thud.
 
Re: NGD: Chapman ML-1 Norseman

Like I said, Black Winters.

Sent from my MotoE2(4G-LTE) using Tapatalk
 
Re: NGD: Chapman ML-1 Norseman

Dayum, she's gorgeous!

I wonder what a set of Pearlies would sound like in her. Or AP2 Slash pups.
 
Re: NGD: Chapman ML-1 Norseman

dotsdad said:
Yeah, its a lot thicker tone than im used to (strats, superstrats). Do
I get super bright pickups knowing the lows will be there, or do i get mid heacy pickups too and just frolic in the thud.
Click to expand...

Always approch from the view that the pickups are going to enhance or amplify what is already there. That is why I say play it a few days to learn it’s personality. I have an all Mahogany reverse as well (maple top) and I still use my favorite DiMarzio combo as I do in other guitars.

You know your amp, your playing, and your ears. Too dark, get brighter pickups, etc.
 
Last edited:
Re: NGD: Chapman ML-1 Norseman

Beautiful, congrats!

And for the pickups, I'd probably try the old Custom/Jazz combo. But I've been eyeing Suhr SSV and Thornbucker pickups too, so I'd consider those too. Or maybe an Alpha and Omega set. I dunno......
 
Re: NGD: Chapman ML-1 Norseman

Beautiful guitar. Personally and from your description I think a set of Saturday Night Specials would ROCK in that guitar. Playing it for a bit as is makes a lot of sense though.....
 
Re: NGD: Chapman ML-1 Norseman

dotsdad said:
Aren't they for playing the brewtalz?

Sent from my SM-G930T using Tapatalk
Click to expand...

They are, but they're very versatile. Sorry for the crappy phone vid and mediocre playing, but here's my BW set through my Splawn. They can do just about anything, but I will say that they can be kinda sterile at times. I still like the Custom/Jazz combo a little better, though.


 
Re: NGD: Chapman ML-1 Norseman

Thanks for sharing the video! I'm not too thrilled with the bridge tone, but the neck sound is a pleasant surprise!
 
Re: NGD: Chapman ML-1 Norseman

dotsdad said:
Thanks for sharing the video! I'm not too thrilled with the bridge tone, but the neck sound is a pleasant surprise!
Click to expand...

Well, you've got to bear in mind that they were in an alder body with a bolt on maple neck and a rosewood board. The BWs greatly reflect the host guitar's tone. When I had them in my Epiphone Les Paul Custom they sounded more warm and full. In my Explorer, I got alot of honky low mids (Explorers ate known for that). They're currently in my Ibanez RG421MH (mahogany body, bolt on maple neck, rosewood board). That they sound decent in there too, but that guitar is on the bright side, and it shows. But in all of them, the BWs could get sterile, which is great for some tones. I like to think of them as a set that straddles the divide between traditional passive and traditional active pickups.
 
Re: NGD: Chapman ML-1 Norseman

And I still think you'd be happier with a Custom in the bridge, and a Jazz, or something similar in the neck.
 
Re: NGD: Chapman ML-1 Norseman

Distortion, Custom, or black winter in the bridge would work well. And you could also try a Dim****o (yes I did just recommend a competing brand) super d or tone zone. The neck is really personal preference, I like the jazz or Duncan distortion. My all-time favourite combo: JB-TB4 and Duncan distortion neck
 
Re: NGD: Chapman ML-1 Norseman

PierceOkken said:
Distortion, Custom, or black winter in the bridge would work well. And you could also try a Dim****o (yes I did just recommend a competing brand) super d or tone zone. The neck is really personal preference, I like the jazz or Duncan distortion. My all-time favourite combo: JB-TB4 and Duncan distortion neck
Click to expand...

Really
A competitor's name is censored?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

Masta' C
PRICE DROP! First-Gen, Limited-Run Chapman "Norseman" ML-1 with Floyd Rose & DiMarzios!
Replies
4
Views
703
Masta' C
Masta' C
Masta' C
NGD - Chapman Norseman!
2
Replies
20
Views
4K
Masta' C
Masta' C
Pierre
NGD: Reiver Kompact. This is a long one, folks...And it is GOOD
Replies
5
Views
2K
Pierre
Pierre
Back
Top