Rio Grande BBQ

[James Rock]

What is this p/up like?
is it similar to a c-5?
what are it specs tonewise?

[papersoul]

It is about 12.5k and very thick and rich sounding, but can be dark in the wron guitar. However it was cutting in my LP Standard. I think it is fairyl balanced with a round but pretty tight bottom, thick mids that can be too thick at times....LOL.......like a fat JB with smooth highs.

[Jeff5]

For me it was too thick and too bassy with not enough of the singing highs that I like in a bridge pup, especially for lead work. Sound quality was good, just not for me.

[papersoul]

To me the BBQ is rather transparent and the guitar will dictate the tone with this pickup. It sounded thick and bassy/muddy in my Dean but clear and somewhat bright in my LP but full and cutting. Depends on the guitar - great pickup!

[JALIN]

Woody, raw pickup. Great tone for rock, but not for a in your face heavy distortion, up your a$$ metal kinda tone.

[papersoul]

Woody, raw pickup. Great tone for rock, but not for a in your face heavy distortion, up your a$$ metal kinda tone.

Actually with the right guitar and amp, the RIO BBQ will do just that....

[superpete]

Actually with the right guitar and amp, the RIO BBQ will do just that....

Agreed! I like the tone I get with an SG w/ a BBQ for metal more than my V with EVOs!

[JALIN]

Actually with the right guitar and amp, the RIO BBQ will do just that....

Probably so but in my case my old JB suits my Solo 50 better, to my ears of course.

[Dirtyking]

To me the BBQ is rather transparent and the guitar will dictate the tone with this pickup. It sounded thick and bassy/muddy in my Dean but clear and somewhat bright in my LP but full and cutting. Depends on the guitar - great pickup!

What kind of wood is your Dean made of?

[papersoul]

My Dean was the same as an LP but with an ebony board. That guitar was dark! I think the mahogany in that guitar just had an extra dark tone.