Members GAS Man Posted October 2, 2010 Members Share Posted October 2, 2010 Just got a new 2009 Ltd Ed Nighthawk yesterday - BB3 in the bridge. Already had a Gibson Ltd Ed LP Studio w a BB3 in the bridge And a Joan Jett Melody maker with a BB3 in the bridge. They just seem to be a bit too sharp and edgie for my tastes. I absolutely luv the tone of the BB2 in the bridge my RI '59, but the 3 just seems to take it a bit too far. I would leave it as is in the Joan Jett because it's meant to be played with a good chunk of gain, and so of course was the idea behind the BFG But with the Nighthawk, I think it's got to go. They basically scare me. It's like when I often see an upgraded Epi LP with pickups they sometimes have had the BB2/BB3 combo, and I've thought, "gee if they had only done the BB1/BB2 combo, then that would really be something". But I do think it depends upon how much gain you like to use. For me, I'm playing clean most of the time. Any other thoughts here from BB3 users? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members ubernerd Posted October 2, 2010 Members Share Posted October 2, 2010 The solution is the Classic 57 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members GAS Man Posted October 2, 2010 Author Members Share Posted October 2, 2010 The solution is the Classic 57 I'm leaning towards pulling the BB-3 out of the NH and putting a BB-2 in there. They seem to my ears to be a little warmer than the '57s and yet still have a bit more 3-D to their tone due to the uneven coil winds. But then again I've never A/B'd the '57s and BB2s in and out of the same guitar. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members cratz2 Posted October 2, 2010 Members Share Posted October 2, 2010 Yeah, a bit to high output and a bit too bright for my tastes though I could live with one. My only experience (that I know of for sure) is with a BFG. Tried it over an extended period through a Delta Blues 2x10 and through a Vox something 120 watt Valvetronix... the one with the blue grille cloth. Honestly, I liked it, but I'm more of a Seth Lover/57 Classic kinda guy. I think if I had quite as many guitars as you, I'd personally consider leaving the BB3 in the Joan Jett, but put something a bit more tame in the others, esp in the Nighthawk. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members ΨWindingΨ Posted October 2, 2010 Members Share Posted October 2, 2010 I like BB 1 and 2s but I am slowly replacing them in my R9. Neck pup is out and I ordered the bridge pup last week. Be 9 months before I get it... These are what I am replacing them with. Tom Holmes Humbuckers. Tonequest Report on Tome Holmes. Very informative. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Les Paul Lover Posted October 2, 2010 Members Share Posted October 2, 2010 Never tried the BB3, but would worry about having something hotter than the burstbucker pro bridge pick up. I love the BB pro set, but not sure I'd like that BB3. I'll have to make a point of trying a guitar with one one day. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members the_gunslinger Posted October 2, 2010 Members Share Posted October 2, 2010 I like the BB3. I also like playing with a good amount of gain. I think they sound great, at least for what I do. The problem I have/had with them is that they can start squealing/feeding back pretty good when you start to turn up the volume. But I like guitars that are kinda out of control, I'm just weird like that I guess. As for the clean tones, I alway's just rolled back on the volume for a smoother warmer tone. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members JoJo68 Posted October 3, 2010 Members Share Posted October 3, 2010 I don't like em either. I play really loud so the squeal gets annoying. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Joby1knobi Posted October 3, 2010 Members Share Posted October 3, 2010 Your ears aren't lying Gas Man; I'm with ya. I had a BB3 come stock in an LP Traditional Pro and I hated it. I tried a few different bridge pickups before I found my new favorite - the Suhr Aldrich Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members GreatDane Posted October 3, 2010 Members Share Posted October 3, 2010 to each, his own i guess. my R4 Oxblood has a BB2/BB3 combo and it is my go-to hard rock guitar. the bridge pickup sounds great with the tone rolled back to about 8.5 (can get shrill at ten, IMO). i play it through a high-gain marshall and it sounds great- very present, but not overly so. not brittle and not squeaky. maybe i found the needle in the haystack, but i would never think of going with a different bridge PU in this guitar. BTW, i had a set of aldrich pickups in one of my Hamers and couldn't get on with them personally. they sounded like there was a blanket over the amp and generally dull. again- to each, his own. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Joby1knobi Posted October 3, 2010 Members Share Posted October 3, 2010 That's a beauty GD; didn't know those had a BB2/3 combo, figured it was 1/2. Definitely to each, his own as you said. Really surprised you didn't like the Aldrich set though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members cratz2 Posted October 3, 2010 Members Share Posted October 3, 2010 I have a buddy that had the Aldrich set for a while and I think they are one of those sets, much like the Tone Zone/Norton set, that really depends on your total package of how you dial your amp in. They are definitely darkish, but they can sound great and thick and do the soaring lead tones, but your amp DEFINITELY has to be set differently than, say, if you normally use a JB/59 set. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members GreatDane Posted October 3, 2010 Members Share Posted October 3, 2010 That's a beauty GD; didn't know those had a BB2/3 combo, figured it was 1/2. Definitely to each, his own as you said. Really surprised you didn't like the Aldrich set though. thank you! yeah, i really wanted to dig the suhrs because i've always appreciated Doug's tone (even if i don't consider myself a fan). they were in a Hamer USA Mirage II; mahogany body with maple cap and fender scale, so they should have sounded amazing, but just didn't do it for me. As it is, i have three other Mirage IIs with the stock SDs and they sound more "alive" than the one with the Suhrs. oh well, could have been a bad pair of pickups. it's possible. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members GreatDane Posted October 3, 2010 Members Share Posted October 3, 2010 I have a buddy that had the Aldrich set for a while and I think they are one of those sets, much like the Tone Zone/Norton set, that really depends on your total package of how you dial your amp in. They are definitely darkish, but they can sound great and thick and do the soaring lead tones, but your amp DEFINITELY has to be set differently than, say, if you normally use a JB/59 set. it's funny you mention the norton/tone zone Dimarzio set; i have them in another guitar and i love the combo. ballsy and thick, but nice and crisp when i'm doing the solo thing. just a nice sounding set of pickups. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Vexed Posted October 3, 2010 Members Share Posted October 3, 2010 I have a BB3 in the bridge position of my SG, it's superb. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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