Bare Knuckle Pickups Forum
Forum Ringside => Pickups => Topic started by: syr2012 on April 23, 2009, 12:55:39 AM
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I'm sure there have been several trillion other topics like this one. I'm getting a new guitar soon and want to put some BKs in it. It's most likely going to be a warmoth build, with an Ash or Alder body, Maple neck, and Rosewood board. I'm contemplating a Nailbomb, but I'm not sure. I'm looking for something that crunches nicely, cleans up well, and has rich lows, as well as good highs. Harmonics should practically jump out and the sustain needs to be substantial as well. I play a lot of Muse stuff, so I'm all over the place, and while I like Matt Bellamy's sound, I want something that's more my own. I also need it to split nicely at the bridge, since the neck will most likely be a MQ wound to work with whatever goes at the bridge. Is the Nailbomb a good idea?
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I think a Nailbomb would fit your needs nicely (though so might a number of other options). I have a set in an SG that I'm probably going to do a magnet swap on (to ceramics), but in a brighter guitar I think the stock Alnico 5 will work fine. I can't comment on how well they split, having never done it with the NBs, though. Nailbombs, to my ear, have a fairly balanced EQ: full bass, no lack of mids, and a fairly smooth treble; awesome harmonics (I mean, wow - probably the best harmonics I've had in an Alnico bucker); and they crunch really nicely for powerchords, but it's more a fat, round crunch than a gritty, harsh crunch.
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You should decide on the woods first..ash is different from alder! My brother has a nailbomb set in an alder bodied strat, with an all-maple neck. It sounds awesome. Aggressive, very detailed, but still warm. Cleans up very well, and they're very versatile.
I have an upcoming strat with rosewood+maple neck, alder body with 4mm maple top. Nailbomb in the bridge, irish tours in the middle and neck. The maple cap does push the alder tone to the direction of ash. However, I have never owned a guitar with an ash body so I can't give a detailed opinion.
They do split very well. Note however that the coils sound different from each other!
-Zaned
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Hi,
Im not sure on Nailbombs for Muse. I have found them a little bit too smooth sounding to get that tone. I was thinking Painkillers might get you closer. It may be I have not quite got the right pedal amp combination to go with the guitar but thats my finding anyway.
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Maple neck, pau ferro board, swamp ash body. Love the Nail Bomb.
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yeah, it fits that bill (just got off playing one and you basically described what I heard)
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It's most likely going to be a warmoth build, with an Ash or Alder body,
Don't really know but I have the feeling that alder would suit the Nailbomb better, maybe...
And Harmonics should practically jump out and the sustain needs to be substantial as well.
The sustain will more depends on the design of the guitar, rather than the pickup.
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It's most likely going to be a warmoth build, with an Ash or Alder body,
Don't really know but I have the feeling that alder would suit the Nailbomb better, maybe...
And Harmonics should practically jump out and the sustain needs to be substantial as well.
The sustain will more depends on the design of the guitar, rather than the pickup.
Very true - in last part (on sustain). But I've given up correcting everyone on it.
Sustain - here are the facts
Powerfull pickups can transmit a lesser vibration more stongly
High gain amps can amplify said lesser vibration more strongly
The two together can fool you into thinking you have more sustain.
You dont.
Neither factor makes a string vibrate longer, and sustain is ultimately a property of the guitar and guitar alone.
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It's most likely going to be a warmoth build, with an Ash or Alder body,
Don't really know but I have the feeling that alder would suit the Nailbomb better, maybe...
And Harmonics should practically jump out and the sustain needs to be substantial as well.
The sustain will more depends on the design of the guitar, rather than the pickup.
Very true - in last part (on sustain). But I've given up correcting everyone on it.
Sustain - here are the facts
Powerfull pickups can transmit a lesser vibration more stongly
High gain amps can amplify said lesser vibration more strongly
The two together can fool you into thinking you have more sustain.
You dont.
Neither factor makes a string vibrate longer, and sustain is ultimately a property of the guitar and guitar alone.
I know, I know. Since I'd rather harm myself than install a sustainer, I'm just gonna have to settle for the fake kind :D I really want to try ash, though, since I already have a guitar with an alder body, but we'll see...
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Hi,
Im not sure on Nailbombs for Muse. I have found them a little bit too smooth sounding to get that tone. I was thinking Painkillers might get you closer. It may be I have not quite got the right pedal amp combination to go with the guitar but thats my finding anyway.
doesn't bellamy actually use nailbombs?
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I really want to try ash, though, since I already have a guitar with an alder body, but we'll see...
What I said about that was just my feeling, as I said, so nothing reliable.. As far as I know, each time I had the opportunity to compare an alder strat to an ash strat (esp the heavy ones from the 70's), the alder always has seemed to be more warm and rounded whereas the ash was rather percussive, and maybe also middier.
I guess you could ask Tim what he thinks. Of course the choice of pickups don't have to command the choice of the wood to use for your custom guitar project (at least because once you have it you'll be tempted to try other pickups in the future, while you couldn't change the wood once you have the guitar :roll:)
..... But the alchemy between wood and BKP is so strong..... so maybe it is worth to hear from him few words about the-story-of-wood-and-pickups-matches, if you hesitate between those very differents woods. .
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I really want to try ash, though, since I already have a guitar with an alder body, but we'll see...
What I said about that was just my feeling, as I said, so nothing reliable.. As far as I know, each time I had the opportunity to compare an alder strat to an ash strat (esp the heavy ones from the 70's), the alder always has seemed to be more warm and rounded whereas the ash was rather percussive, and maybe also middier.
I guess you could ask Tim what he thinks. Of course the choice of pickups don't have to command the choice of the wood to use for your custom guitar project (at least because once you have it you'll be tempted to try other pickups in the future, while you couldn't change the wood once you have the guitar :roll:)
..... But the alchemy between wood and BKP is so strong..... so maybe it is worth to hear from him few words about the-story-of-wood-and-pickups-matches, if you hesitate between those very differents woods. .
You do have a point there. Do you think we could somehow convince Tim to post in this forum (I kinda don't want to email until before I buy, and I'm not there financially yet)?
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no problem if you just ask info... i asked many times about pickups i bought some month after...
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I don't think there would be ANY problem if you explain him the situation. He will then easily understand that you need the guitar to be built before buying some BKP's.
You can drop him an email or phone him, or send him a PM here, as you like.
We could try to call him here for you if you want but not sure it will work..
No, The Man doesn't show often, but be sure he is somewhere hidden.......watching you ! :twisted: :twisted: :twisted:
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Looks like you are right about the nailbomb. Heres a bit from wikipedia.
For the 2006 album, Black Holes and Revelations, he bought a new guitar, the "Black Kaoss Manson". The guitar features two P-90s, a Fernandes Sustainer System on the neck and a touch pad which connects to a Korg Kaoss Pad. He also bought the M1D1, which is similar to the Black Kaoss Manson but has a Bare Knuckle Nail Bomb humbucker in the bridge position and a Fernandes Sustainer System (FSK-101 model, which is the humbucker version of the latter one) on the neck. He is also known to use an Ibanez Destroyer on stage (Hullabaloo). Bellamy uses Diezel amp heads, along with Marshall Mode Four cabinets, Soldano Cabinets and Line 6 digital effects. Most of Bellamy's rack effects are made with Line 6 modules. On April 14 2009, Manson Guitars
Sorry if I gave some bad infomation, guess it means I need to look at my amp and pedal combination to get it closer sounding.
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Matt does use nailbombs, yes.
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Hi,
Im not sure on Nailbombs for Muse. I have found them a little bit too smooth sounding to get that tone. I was thinking Painkillers might get you closer. It may be I have not quite got the right pedal amp combination to go with the guitar but thats my finding anyway.
My friend Nailbombs are the only bridge pickup Matt bellamy uses! Nailbomb through Fuzz Factory is the Muse tone :)
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all Matt Belamy's guitars are made by Mansons too and I know they have their own unique BKP - does Belamy use that or the Nailbomb? (I'm sure I've heard that the Manson BKP is based on the Nailbomb).
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an ash strat (esp the heavy ones from the 70's), the alder always has seemed to be more warm and rounded whereas the ash was rather percussive, and maybe also middier.
Weight of the ash body makes a huge difference in tone!
I do not care for heavy ash. Light swamp ash is very resonant. Your unfinished body will ring like a xylophone.
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all Matt Belamy's guitars are made by Mansons too and I know they have their own unique BKP - does Belamy use that or the Nailbomb? (I'm sure I've heard that the Manson BKP is based on the Nailbomb).
How to be sure of the right answer ?
We need to call Tim ! :D
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all Matt Belamy's guitars are made by Mansons too and I know they have their own unique BKP - does Belamy use that or the Nailbomb? (I'm sure I've heard that the Manson BKP is based on the Nailbomb).
I've already asked Tim about it, their Manson "special combo," is essentially Matt's preferred combo, Nailbomb bridge and MQ neck
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all Matt Belamy's guitars are made by Mansons too and I know they have their own unique BKP - does Belamy use that or the Nailbomb? (I'm sure I've heard that the Manson BKP is based on the Nailbomb).
I've already asked Tim about it, their Manson "special combo," is essentially Matt's preferred combo, Nailbomb bridge and MQ neck
Yeah, that's basically what it is, except with the Manson logo on the bridge pup. Again, I don't really want Matt's sound, I'm trying to find my own. I'll send Tim an email, but if I go with a Nailbomb bridge, that leaves the neck open for consideration. I'd like something warm and fat, but responsive enough for finger-tapping, that contrasts nicely from the bridge. I was thinking about a BKP-92 if I get the neck routed for a P-90, but otherwise, perhaps an MQ or Nailbomb neck. Any ideas?
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I don't know who Matt Belamy is, but the combination works well for me in an ash body:
(http://i205.photobucket.com/albums/bb76/guitarzan_1/USACG/BB.jpg)
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all Matt Belamy's guitars are made by Mansons too and I know they have their own unique BKP - does Belamy use that or the Nailbomb? (I'm sure I've heard that the Manson BKP is based on the Nailbomb).
I've already asked Tim about it, their Manson "special combo," is essentially Matt's preferred combo, Nailbomb bridge and MQ neck
Yeah, that's basically what it is, except with the Manson logo on the bridge pup. Again, I don't really want Matt's sound, I'm trying to find my own. I'll send Tim an email, but if I go with a Nailbomb bridge, that leaves the neck open for consideration. I'd like something warm and fat, but responsive enough for finger-tapping, that contrasts nicely from the bridge. I was thinking about a BKP-92 if I get the neck routed for a P-90, but otherwise, perhaps an MQ or Nailbomb neck. Any ideas?
I'd still recomend the nailbomb, besides the fact its an amazing pickup you don't have to worry about sounding Muse-ey
unless you plug it into a fuzz factory, as far as the neck, errr....dunno, I'm guessing someone will throw you a bone and shout "Cold Sweat!' or "Holy Diver!" just from my experience on the boards.... 8)
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all Matt Belamy's guitars are made by Mansons too and I know they have their own unique BKP - does Belamy use that or the Nailbomb? (I'm sure I've heard that the Manson BKP is based on the Nailbomb).
I've already asked Tim about it, their Manson "special combo," is essentially Matt's preferred combo, Nailbomb bridge and MQ neck
Yeah, that's basically what it is, except with the Manson logo on the bridge pup. Again, I don't really want Matt's sound, I'm trying to find my own. I'll send Tim an email, but if I go with a Nailbomb bridge, that leaves the neck open for consideration. I'd like something warm and fat, but responsive enough for finger-tapping, that contrasts nicely from the bridge. I was thinking about a BKP-92 if I get the neck routed for a P-90, but otherwise, perhaps an MQ or Nailbomb neck. Any ideas?
I'd still recomend the nailbomb, besides the fact its an amazing pickup you don't have to worry about sounding Muse-ey
unless you plug it into a fuzz factory, as far as the neck, errr....dunno, I'm guessing someone will throw you a bone and shout "Cold Sweat!' or "Holy Diver!" just from my experience on the boards.... 8)
How would a ceramic pup in the neck work with the nailbomb at the bridge? plus, no matter what I get, I'm getting it with cap head allen bolts instead of screws, so perhaps I should consider that...
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neck cold sweat is alnico V
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neck cold sweat is alnico V
Oh hell, I so wondered what a ceramic neck would sound like. I honestly think P-90s cut through that beautiful mess of fuzz that is the fuzz factory better, but I digress. My main concern is that it allows for finger tapping, as well as a pleasant crunch when distorted. As for woods, the neck will be typical birdseye maple with a rosewood board, and I still can't decide between alder and ash for the body. I'd prefer to try ash, but if alder is the only wood available when I get the money to take this project on, then so be it.
However, the :twisted: in me is wondering how a warpig/pig-90 setup would work in moderate applications as opposed to metal.