Bare Knuckle Pickups Forum
Forum Ringside => Pickups => Topic started by: akrabben on September 25, 2009, 02:51:24 PM
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Ok here's the deal:
I have an Esp Ltd KH602 with an alder body and a neckthrough maple neck. I have grown increasingly tired with the pair of EMG 81's it has on it at the moment, because of the harsh tone. I'm playing it through an Engl Screamer combo, which increase the problem as it is a quite modern sounding amp.
I like the tones i can get from my stock Epi LP Custom, but i need the playability of a superstrat.
The esp is used mainly for soloing (Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, Dio, Scorpions etc.) But i need a warmer tone than i have now.
I was looking at the Holy Diver as others have recomended it for this type of guitar, but im not sure if i should get something a little less hot? And what would be a good neck pickup?
Any help with my choice would be apreciated.
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Nailbombs
Welcome.
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Thank you for your advice, so should i go for a set of nailbombs or get something else for the neck?
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Well, your guitar is probably pretty bright, I know youre amps bright because I used to have one, so I say nailbomb set because they both have a smooth sweet top end that should let you get a little closer to the sounds you want that are really mostly derived from marshall type EL34 amps, bright guitars and middy pickups.
For the bridge the HD might be a good choice, but Id be wary of it because its a looser pickup with a looser amp when you want pretty punchy tones (which the NB has). The HD neck, tim informs me, is quite bright so I wouldnt go for that. painkiller in that guitar with that amp will probably be an icepick, the neck is overkill, as are the warpigs, miracle man is too modern sounding, dont know about the neck, VHIIs are the default NWHBM recommendation, but I wouldnt with a screamer because they have a lot of top end, most else in the vintage hot isnt going to get you there gain and punch wise, I guess, cold sweats are pretty much out of the question in a bright guitar with a bright amp, so, yeah, NB set.
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That is propably the best reply I have ever recieved on a forum anywhere. Thanks!
You have described what I needed when i couldn't do it myself ;)
I'll go and order a set of NB's.
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Nailbombs
Welcome.
seconded.
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Cold Sweat...?
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I choose you, Holy Diver!
(http://www.geocities.com/TelevisionCity/Taping/4420/ash-pokeball.jpg)
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I don't find the VHII neck all that bright! it is one of my favourite BKPs (neck) maybe its my guitar? whatever BKP you choose will be miles ahead in the tone stakes compared to the emgs you wont know what hit you.
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I choose you, Holy Diver!
*Choose Holydiver*
lol, epic post, and hey yeah, for your needs, I would go for Holy Divers, but if you still can't make up your mind, e-mail Tim. He'll respond to you within a day, and he knows best. He makes the pickups, doesn't he? :p
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That is propably the best reply I have ever recieved on a forum anywhere. Thanks!
You have described what I needed when i couldn't do it myself ;)
I'll go and order a set of NB's.
This aint no normal forum, such replies are normal here, but youre quite welcome.
Enjoy your BKs!
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Being a fan of the mentioned bands i would have chosen a cold sweat set, Miracle man or even a painkiller
I find the nailbomb too dark for my tastes unless the guitar is very bright
Miracle man bridge with Cold sweat neck is a good choice
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Remember the amp as well. The screamer is a very bright and glassy amplifier, and doesnt make for a level playing field here.
Tim used to have a screamer though, so he knows the deal with that, so as long as you tell him your guitar and that you have a screamer along with the sounds you want to achieve, he'll be able to sort you out no bother.
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I don't find the Nailbomb dark as most people say
mine is much brighter than I expected
reminds me a lot of the Cold Sweat, but cleaner and less bright (not dark)
it only gets dark in very low height settings
the Holy Diver is much darker, fatter and warmer, and still not that dark
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No, I've never found NBs dark either. Even when I didnt like them.
CS to NB (CNB, at least) - the cs has less lows and doesnt grind as much in the low mids, and has a more cutting, glassier and grittier top end, and the NB hits harder in the lows and is smoother in the highs (which it has a bit less of, but is not dark). In my experience. Same family sound though, its not like PK and MM, which are very different pickups despite similar on paper specs!
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Nailbomb bridge + Cold Sweat Neck - You get hard rocking bridge rhythm sounds with creamy, John Sykes, leads from theCS.
Jim