Bare Knuckle Pickups Forum
Forum Ringside => Pickups => Topic started by: llJasonll on July 01, 2009, 03:27:48 PM
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Hi all!
I just discovered these pickups yesterday, as I have been spending the past week obsessing over new pickups for my custom guitar. I would like to know what you all think might sound good, so I will give as detailed of a description as possible. Let me start out by explaining my custom guitar that these will go in, my gear that I play through, and then I will discuss the sound I am looking for and the music that I play.
My guitar is a bolt-on soloist style body. I have a Mahogany body, with a thin Koa top. The neck is a bolt-on AAA Birdseye Maple neck; and a Brazilian Rosewood, scalloped fretboard (22 Frets). I have a Floating Trem (Kahler Steeler). It is a pretty dark sounding guitar with KILLER sustain. The pickup layout is 2 Humbuckers, bridge and neck.
I am currently playing through Engl amps, and I play mainly Heavy Metal. I do dabble in blues and other styles, but I love Metal and the guitar greats like Paul Gilbert, George Lynch, EVH, Satriani, etc. My Favorite bands are Soilwork, Arch Enemy, Killswitch Engage, Lamb of God, etc.
*********Going to post a follow up since I am running out of room**********
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Okay...
I want something Gainey, but not too gainey (clarity is more important I think), crunchy, soaring lead sounds, and can clean up nicely too. I want a lead sound with great harmonics, and that just has that beautiful texture to it that can send shivers down my spine. I suppose since my guitar is already dark sounding I want a brighter pickup that can compliment the guitar nicely. I still want to be able to get that awesome metal rythm sound, like Lamb of God.
When I was looking (before I discovered these pickups), I was seriously considering purchasing a Seymour Duncan TB-6, Distortion. I found somewhere that the Painkiller is a higher quality version of this pickup? I do want a brighter sounding pickup that can cut through the mix, and I think the Duncan distortion is what I WAS looking for. Does the Painkiller sound similar? I want a pickup that has a resonant peak of at least 6 KHz, or something pretty darn close.
I also want a nice neck pickup to compliment the bridge pup. Any advice for a newb??? :D
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Sounds like you want a painkiller set.
P.S., BKs are what duncans dream they could be one day.
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I was thinking that I have narrowed it down to the Painkiller, or Nailbomb.
Would someone who knows be able to describe the difference between the 2, or is there a stat chart that I can view to see how the pickups are voiced, comparitively?
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If you want brighter, I'd avoid the Warpig. It's as thick as a whale omelette.
There's no stat chart I'm afraid, just the opinions of people on here who've tried them :)
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Before I got to you talking about Painkiller, the only pickup I was thinking about for you was... painkiller.
Just one correction: the Painkiller isn't a 'better version' of any other manufacturer's pickup (the same is true of all BKPs).
For the bands you describe, the woods of your guitar and your specific tonal requirements (in particular, clarity, crunchy (by which I take it you mean slightly open rather than over-compressed), cleans up nicely... all of these point straight at the Painkiller.
The nailbomb is an AlNiCo magent-containing pickup, rather than the ceramic PK, and doesn't quite tick the boxes you've outlined.
Go for a calibrated set of painkillers, and you will be in tonal heaven :)
Roo
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if you're looking for a neck pickup, either go calibrated set or pick a neck from the vintage hot range (abraxas - VHII methinks for brighter tones)
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sounds like a nailbomb to me, not a painkiller
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syr and roo's replies cut my legs as i was quite sure the unanimous answer would have been nailbombs... i'm joking, in this forum you'll NEVER get the same answer from different people... get yourself used to this! :)
anyway my answer is nailbombs, without any reasonable doubt.
NBs have got the best lead tone on earth, IMO, more dynamic than the PKs and much less "in your face". PKs are great too for the melodic death stuff you citated, but my personal choice would be nailbombs. with PKs close seconds...
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sounds like a nailbomb to me, not a painkiller
indeed...
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Hmmm... ok so nailbombs or painkillers, for sure.
I didn't mention it before but I currently have a Duncan Parallel Axis 3 Blues Sarceno model in the bridge and a Duncan 59 in the neck. I do think that they have a good sound, but I want to change to something with a bit more gain (not as much as an EMG) and a little more of an open sound. I'm thinking more of a frequency range focused with upper mids and treble for a bit more bite. I like a lot of attack for rhythm, then I like to swell the volume on my solos for more of a "soaring" lead sound.
Hopefully this might help narrow down between the 2.
and btw, thanks for the quick and educated responses. I'm glad I found a new home with other tone connoisseurs!!! :drink: Cheers!!!
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syr and roo's replies cut my legs as i was quite sure the unanimous answer would have been nailbombs... i'm joking, in this forum you'll NEVER get the same answer from different people... get yourself used to this! :)
anyway my answer is nailbombs, without any reasonable doubt.
NBs have got the best lead tone on earth, IMO, more dynamic than the PKs and much less "in your face". PKs are great too for the melodic death stuff you citated, but my personal choice would be nailbombs. with PKs close seconds...
Nailbombs would be safe in a dark guitar? Because, I have to admit, I thought Nailbomb at first, but didn't want to say so, since they would be going in a rather dark guitar, and I've always thought that Hot AV + dark instrument = mud.
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Oh, and don't forget to post some pics of your guitar ;)
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True to the forum fashion, I'm gonna make an alternative suggestion 8)
You listed players like Gilbert, EVH and Lynch. They all play (or have played) with pickups that are on the lower end of the output scale.
So my suggestion..VHII. You said your guitar is on the darker side, and the VHII is not dark. I don't own it but based on the clips, it's on the bright side and has a very nice VINTAGE edge. Which all those players you listed have. It can get quite aggressive, but is very dynamic.
-Zaned
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Come to think of it, Nailbomb might work very well too..but I'm gonna suggest the ceramic version. You said you like a lot of attack for rhythm, and the ceramic Nailbomb would bring that easily. It's basically an overwound cold sweat, which works magnificently for me in a warm-but-clear PRS McCarty (I have the normal CS there I mean). You have a maple neck which should brighten things already, so the increased mids from overwounding warm things a little. And if you feel the floating trem robs you a little of you attack and output, this would fight it.
However, I would still choose the VHII.
-Zaned
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having never tried the ceramic nailbomb i can't judge but it seems (in theory) a great option... anyway if what you're looking for is a sharp attack PKs will give you lots of it! nailbombs are quite bright, with TONS of hi-mids (like the PKs), but have got a thicker low end than the PKs, that's great for palm muting. i've got them in a guitar that's probably brighter than yours due to a thick maple top, and had them in a thin mahogany ibanez S (that is brighter too, i suppose), so i'm not sure of how they sound in a darker guitar...
painkillers seem to be the best choice, after all, mind that in both cases you'll never regret.
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I have Ceramic Nailbomb in my Dinky (mahogany body and maple neck with maple fret board, Shaller Floyd). Mahogany Dinky is very dark and powerful sounding and with C-bomb it sounds very good - good balanced, fat and chunky. Great for Heavy/Metal stuff.
Painkiller could be good choice also. PK has more powerful and aggressive mids and less compression and bass than C-NB.
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Nailbombs are amazing they have a killer tone from such a powerful pickup, if I had just one set of BKPs then they would be NBs! they cover so many styles and tastes, you will not be sorry if you fit them.
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I appreciate all the advice, especially from people that know thier wood-intonation!
I think I may have decided...either way I will head to my luthier's shop (who built the guitar in question) today to get the cavity measured (even though I am pretty sure I will be going the route of short-leg) in my axe, and I will be placing my order tonight!
Here are a couple pics of my guitar, in case anyone wants to check it out! :good:
I love guitars with a natural finish!
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that's a beauty! i love natural finishes too...
if i dare not too much, what are you oriented on?
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That's a great looking axe! I, too, enjoy the bare-wood finish (as you can see from my custom WezV build in the avatar). Enjoy whatever pickups you end up with, and be sure to post pics and clips when you have them (or it didn't happen!).
Roo
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Thanks! I got the body and the neck from Warmoth. I love thier work, especially with the compound radius fretboards!
dheim: I don't mind answering any questions :D ...but I'm not sure I understand what you are asking. Can you clarify, please?
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Thanks! I got the body and the neck from Warmoth. I love thier work, especially with the compound radius fretboards!
dheim: I don't mind answering any questions :D ...but I'm not sure I understand what you are asking. Can you clarify, please?
:)
what pickups did you decide to order at last?
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Okay I am 85% sure on this...(and it may change just as I am ordering)
The Alnico-wound Nailbomb set.
After hearing everyones suggestions, and Tim's (How awesome is that? The founder of the firm emails you with a recommendation, when you inquire about the products! I am shocked, I have never received treatment like that when I have enquired about another firm's product! Superior service!) suggestion, the nailbomb seems like the likely candidate.
Tim mentioned: "My other suggestion, albeit lower output, would be the Nailbomb-this is
Alnico powered so has a sweeter high and warmer bottom end" (Tim is comparing it to the painkiller) "although it maintains that mid range definition and has a very useable clean tone." Also after hearing his demo with the nailbomb...that gain is INTENSE! I don't see me ever needing more gain than that, especially with Engl amps. On the Powerball, your tone is already saturated with gain in the 11 O'clock position.
Who knows though, I may change it to a Painkiller set when I order in a couple hours... lol
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Okay I am 85% sure on this...(and it may change just as I am ordering)
The Alnico-wound Nailbomb set.
After hearing everyones suggestions, and Tim's (How awesome is that? The founder of the firm emails you with a recommendation, when you inquire about the products! I am shocked, I have never received treatment like that when I have enquired about another firm's product! Superior service!) suggestion, the nailbomb seems like the likely candidate.
Tim mentioned: "My other suggestion, albeit lower output, would be the Nailbomb-this is
Alnico powered so has a sweeter high and warmer bottom end" (Tim is comparing it to the painkiller) "although it maintains that mid range definition and has a very useable clean tone." Also after hearing his demo with the nailbomb...that gain is INTENSE! I don't see me ever needing more gain than that, especially with Engl amps. On the Powerball, your tone is already saturated with gain in the 11 O'clock position.
Who knows though, I may change it to a Painkiller set when I order in a couple hours... lol
my personal advice is: get whatever you prefer between those two, and then buy another (cheaper) guitar for the other...
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crunchy, soaring lead sounds, and can clean up nicely too. I want a lead sound with great harmonics,
I want a brighter pickup that can compliment the guitar nicely. I still want to be able to get that awesome metal rythm sound, like Lamb of God.
Why has no one said cold sweat.
I say cold sweat.
If youre on a powerball, which I am too, it will lack nothing in power, its bright, crunchy, clear, cleans up and backs off well for the lighter stuff you want to play, has a punchy low end, is quite rich and warm textured for a ceramic, will get a LoG rhythm easily enough (though first choice for that would be nailbomb, which I believe should be your second choice).
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Just ordered a set of Painkillers! Can't wait utill I get them!!! :P
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Gongrats on the purchase! Lovely guitar btw, gotta love that natural finish. It's gonna have some INTENSE tone 8)
-Zaned
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I hope I was right :)
Roo
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Just got my Painkillers today in the mail!!!! I just need to wait for my luthier to finish doing some work on another guitar of mine, then I'm dropping off this puppy to get mEtAliZed!! PDT_045
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Just got my guitar back with the Painkillers!
Wow! My new tone is awesome! The lead tone is great (has a very colorfull sound).
I absolutely love the clean tone. For my clean tone I keep the 3-way toggle In the middle position, It uses the top single coil from the bridge pickup and the bottom single coil from the neck pick up. With that setup, and with the Painkillers I have a very bright stratish type clean tone (think George Lynch).
Awesome, awesome, awesome! Thank you to everyone in this forum for being a great help. Now I need to make more money, buy another guitar and put a nailbomb in there! :D
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Pics and Clips or it didn't happen! :)
Roo
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Unfortunately I only have sub-standard recording possibilities right now (my laptop speaker, with no mic), so you guys will have to settle with pics and my word! 8)
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Sexy guitar!
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gorgeous guitar!
i would never have chosen the white open coils, but it's just a matter of tastes...