Bare Knuckle Pickups Forum

Forum Ringside => Pickups => Topic started by: Jofipe on September 25, 2011, 04:23:25 PM

Title: Hmmm, help me out on this one
Post by: Jofipe on September 25, 2011, 04:23:25 PM
So I have a LP with Alnico Nailbombs...  sounds.... freaking fantastic. Love the gritty top end, tight bottom.. just perfect.

I recently got a Gibson explorer pro..  bought a Miracle Man bridge, and slapped it in the guitar this weekend.

First of all..  why the heck does it have less output than my ANB? "it has 500k pots"

Also...  I don't like the sound. It's too bass heavy, less crunchy and gritty in the top.

Do you think a Alnico NB would fit in an all mahogany, quite dark sounding Explorer just as well as in my LP? Or should I go for something more toppy?

Title: Re: Hmmm, help me out on this one
Post by: Madsakre on September 25, 2011, 04:28:52 PM
the miracle man has shiteloads of bass. try and ajust it nearer to the strings. it helped with mine
Title: Re: Hmmm, help me out on this one
Post by: Jofipe on September 25, 2011, 04:34:31 PM
Iv done everything.. I simply don't like it in my Explorer. I want more of the Marshally sparkle... its way too bass heavy.

It sounds like a nicer fersion of my 500T

But why, oh why does it have less output than my alnico NB??
Title: Re: Hmmm, help me out on this one
Post by: BigB on September 25, 2011, 05:34:42 PM
The MM is described has having "smooth hi-mids", perhaps not the best choice for the tone you're after. It also may explain the perceived output difference (BTW, your pots value will impact the hi-end response but not the output level). The Painkiller might have been a better choice if you were looking for a much more middy tone (disclaimer: I tried neither of the MM or PK, it's only from the tone charts, descriptions, and what I know of the ABomb).

I'm personnally quite happy with the ABomb bridge on my SG, but a SG is smaller and thinner than an Explorer and these full mahogany planks are known to easily mud out with mid-hi output alnico 'buckers. But anyway: you do have an ABomb bridge, so you can just try it on your explo and find out how it works for you.

Oh and yes: I assume you double-checked your wiring, pots etc...
Title: Re: Hmmm, help me out on this one
Post by: Sancho on September 25, 2011, 05:55:51 PM
I asked BKP about pickups for an Explorer. Ben or Tim advised me to go with a Cold Sweat, and to avoid the MM as it would probably be too bass heavy in such a big slab of mahogany.
From what you're telling, they got it right :?

On a related note : A-Bombs in a Les Paul do indeed sound killer!
Title: Re: Hmmm, help me out on this one
Post by: Jofipe on September 25, 2011, 06:10:38 PM
Ah, great :)  Yeah.. maybe the CS.  Or anyone tried the Steve Stevens?  Will they do actual metal?
Title: Re: Hmmm, help me out on this one
Post by: BigB on September 25, 2011, 07:14:25 PM
Ah, great :)  Yeah.. maybe the CS.  Or anyone tried the Steve Stevens?  Will they do actual metal?

The Rebel Yell are alnico pups and lower output (well, lower DC resistance at least) than the ABomb, so I'm not sure they'd work fine in an explorer.
Title: Re: Hmmm, help me out on this one
Post by: Sancho on September 25, 2011, 07:40:38 PM
So far, I've bought BKPs twice, and followed their advice. I haven't been disappointed yet. So if I decide to replace the pickups in my Explorer, I'll definitely go with Cold Sweats.
The Rebel Yells will probably be very middy in an Explorer.
Title: Re: Hmmm, help me out on this one
Post by: BigB on September 25, 2011, 08:26:54 PM
The Rebel Yells will probably be very middy in an Explorer.

From the tone charts, description and clips, the Rebel Yell ARE very middy, period ;)

@Jofipe: RY came to my mind when I first read your post, but I'm not sure they'd be at home on an explorer, cf my previous post.
Title: Re: Hmmm, help me out on this one
Post by: Jofipe on September 25, 2011, 09:33:44 PM
Judging from the clips id say..  isnt the cold sweat a bit too ripped from midrange?

What about the Nailbomb Ceramic?  It seems very up front, with a nice highs.  Or the Aftermath?

Title: Re: Hmmm, help me out on this one
Post by: Alex on September 25, 2011, 10:14:04 PM
I guess it depends on the individual guitars, setup and the string gauge. I had one in the guitar I now have the Nailbomb and it was hotter. In the baritone now, with its thick strings, the MM is A LOT hotter and very crunchy.

I almost guessing that maybe one of the pots is broken. It happened once to me, I think I may have gotten it too hot while soldering and damaged it
Title: Re: Hmmm, help me out on this one
Post by: Jofipe on September 25, 2011, 10:20:10 PM
Actually I soldered it straight onto the plug, for abslut minimum resistance... so thats not the deal.

Im gonna write BKP an email and ask what they suggest :)  I can't live with this PU hehe
Title: Re: Hmmm, help me out on this one
Post by: Madsakre on September 25, 2011, 11:13:23 PM
I remember you as being danish. what about a hs cpig 90 for that baby :-) i have this lying around
Title: Re: Hmmm, help me out on this one
Post by: Jofipe on September 26, 2011, 11:08:43 AM
Yeah, im in CPH.. you?

I once had a Apig in a les paul...  too bassy.
Title: Re: Hmmm, help me out on this one
Post by: Jofipe on September 26, 2011, 10:59:29 PM
OK.. so Tim just recommended me Riff Raffs... I guess I better go for that then. How do they hold up in the hi gain society?
Title: Re: Hmmm, help me out on this one
Post by: Roobubba on September 29, 2011, 02:09:39 PM
OK.. so Tim just recommended me Riff Raffs... I guess I better go for that then. How do they hold up in the hi gain society?

While I now use Aftermaths in my custom baritone, I did use black dogs for a long time, and they are very, very capable of ripping brutal high gain tones. You should be fine :)
Title: Re: Hmmm, help me out on this one
Post by: ericsabbath on September 29, 2011, 06:57:27 PM
the riff raff is amazing, but I think you're after the cold sweat
and actually, they have a similar voicing, despite of what they charts show, but different textures and output levels
the cold sweat has a nice gritty and bright top, balanced crunchy mids, just the right amount of low end, but not much low mids like the nailbomb or the miracle man
it's technically a brighter and sharper ceramic nailbomb
Title: Re: Hmmm, help me out on this one
Post by: Jofipe on September 30, 2011, 09:06:19 AM
Excellet :)
To be honest im very keen to try out the riff raff. I bed they put out a killer tone, and i heard they are more "open"

What should i put in the neck? Remind you, i still play hi gain doom metal.