Bare Knuckle Pickups Forum
Forum Ringside => Pickups => Topic started by: igor.majer on April 30, 2020, 01:36:30 PM
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Hi guys!
I'm new to this forum, and this is my first post here....
I have 2 USA PRS Trmonti trem guitars, and I would like to fit them with some BKP pups that would allow me to cover 1970s-2000s Hard rock/metal tones,.... just to be perfectly clear about it,.. I want different PUS in 2 guitars, to be able to cover more grounds.
I was researching a lot on the theme, and find A/C-bomb , Miracle Man and Mules up to the task,.... it is worth to sat that I also have 2 PRS CU24s, one of them is fitted with Rebel Yell set and other one with Cold Sweat set...
Also, I'm fairly certain that one Tremonti will be fitted with the Mules,... for more classic tones.... so this really seems a fight between MM and A/C-Bomb...
What are your opinions guys?
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Considering you already have a RY and a CS loaded guitars (they would be my suggestions), I'll say Riff Raff bridge/Mule neck (one of the best and most versatile combos, in my experience) for the classic stuff and modern non-metal rock and Miracle Man or Painkiller for the metal guitar.
I like the Alnico Nailbomb for early/mid 90's heavy rock: Rage Against The Machine, Faith No More, Helmet, early Tool
The ceramic version sounds more like Sepultura, Biohazard, early Machine Head and late Pantera.
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I think out of the high output ones I would go for the Miracle Man. It should cover a lot of ground and the bridge pickup is great for both rhythm and lead.
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Thanks guys,...
Nice suggestions... somehow I decided on using hi gain PUS for both of guitars instead of making one low gain, since I don't use clean much... so now I'm thinking A-Bomb for one, and MM for other,.... or Maybe even RY for one of them,... so many choices, not enough guitars :)
Ben from BKP suggested Black Dogs for the other guitar... I used to have PRS McCarty 594 but I got rid of her, since I could never bonded with low turn pups she had, so now I'm hesitant about vintage PUS, and always afraid they won't be enough....
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If you are looking for something different that gives more modern tones I liked this PRS with Impulses.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C8MyXNAj_6E
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Thanks Dave.... not my cup of tea,... not into this Djent stuff :)
But I have a question....I will probably go with alnico Nailbombs for one guitar and Miracle Man for other one,…and since I haven’t find anything about neck versions of those pickups, tell me is it worth getting the Bridge/neck sets of said pickups, or is there a better neck combo that would work better?
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I liked the neck VHII better than the neck Nailbomb and it matches the Alnico Nailbomb nicely.
For the Miracle Man guitar, I find it the neck Cold Sweat to be a better match than the neck Miracle Man.
The neck Miracle Man sounds great installed in the bridge position, though, kinda like a Suhr Aldrich or something, quite thick and singing (the neck VHII and neck Cold Sweat sound great in the bridge too!)
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Thanks Dave.... not my cup of tea,... not into this Djent stuff :)
But I have a question....I will probably go with alnico Nailbombs for one guitar and Miracle Man for other one,…and since I haven’t find anything about neck versions of those pickups, tell me is it worth getting the Bridge/neck sets of said pickups, or is there a better neck combo that would work better?
I'm not into djent at all ... but I think this pickup set is pretty versatile. Here's some examples of it doing other things
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7kot1vCp0IQ
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i-5Ysauhjw4
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I am going to offer my $0.02, but do consider the exchange rate.
I got a really good result with an Alnico Nailbomb in a Les Paul for huge as a house heavy tones. The guitar has this overwhelming rock voice to it but it can get good and heavy anyhow.
Not sure how that would translate to a PRS Singlecut, which has a different voice. It seems the A-Bomb is quite at home in a Les Paul kind of guitar.
For my money, I found that I like super strats for metal. I know this may not be an option in your case but to my ear, the voice of that kind of guitar just metals much better.
Considering the PRS Singlecuts are the options, consider the A-Bomb. It will do heavy thrash tones. If you like the Rebel Yell, you'll like this pickup. Similar, but beefier with more gain saturation, hair, and aggression. Just don't get something that will fight with the natural sound of the guitar.
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For my money, I found that I like super strats for metal. I know this may not be an option in your case but to my ear, the voice of that kind of guitar just metals much better.
I agree with this statement 100% ... Gibson scale sounds okay for stoner or sludge, but most metal genres sound better with the longer scale and the flatter 14" fretboards are great for metal playing.
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I hear you guys,.... I used to own EBMM JP12, EBMM Axis and Ibanez Jem FP2 before I transcended to PRS guitars.... they were great for metal stuff,.... but they were lacking the character IMO... so now I own 2 PRS singlecuts, and 2 CU24s,.... CU24s are a bit longer scale,... and are great all-around axes... I was very hesitant to change the PUs in expensive guitars like that, but I always felt like smth was missing in that department.... so when I tried CS set and RY set in my cu24s, it opened a completely new world to me,... and that is what I'm hoping to achieve with Tremonti singlecuts,.... so ATM I'm leaning towards A-bomb set in one of them and MM set in the other one,... and these past few days I started looking at Holly Divers as a potential option,.... I always liked PUs to be a matching sets,... but, if there is a really better combos, maybe I would be willing to try it out...
also, I read somewhere that A-Bomb are not so good with leads, but are fantastic for rhythm,... not sure if that is the case,.. but I need this PU to do booth equally...
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I hear you guys,.... I used to own EBMM JP12, EBMM Axis and Ibanez Jem FP2 before I transcended to PRS guitars.... they were great for metal stuff,.... but they were lacking the character IMO... so now I own 2 PRS singlecuts, and 2 CU24s,.... CU24s are a bit longer scale,... and are great all-around axes... I was very hesitant to change the PUs in expensive guitars like that, but I always felt like smth was missing in that department.... so when I tried CS set and RY set in my cu24s, it opened a completely new world to me,... and that is what I'm hoping to achieve with Tremonti singlecuts,.... so ATM I'm leaning towards A-bomb set in one of them and MM set in the other one,... and these past few days I started looking at Holly Divers as a potential option,.... I always liked PUs to be a matching sets,... but, if there is a really better combos, maybe I would be willing to try it out...
also, I read somewhere that A-Bomb are not so good with leads, but are fantastic for rhythm,... not sure if that is the case,.. but I need this PU to do booth equally...
BKP are legit a whole different level of quality and performance. I notice it a lot with the feel, sensitivity, and response when playing.
I think I complained about the leads with my A-Bomb. I've since monkeyed with the height more and got some cool tones out of it.
The amp makes a big difference. Switching to a Revv Generator 120 for heavier tones, I've not had lead problems anymore. The amp is more forgiving but it also is still articulate and responsive.
I was just fighting endlessly with my Mesa Dual Rectifier. I love the tone of those things but they just don't jive with me as a player. I remember rehearsing with my band and switching to the other guitarist's Mark V. And my bandmates commented on how much BETTER I sounded. A Mark V is a tighter and more precise amp that translates better with the player is playing. It isn't slow and sludgy.
My REVV has the grind of something like a recto, but it is tight like a mark series amp. It is also more aggressive and responds like it is boosted. <3
AMP is important for high gain.
For guitars / tones. Metal does have tone but it is a different sort of a sound world. I love BKP with my superstrats because while the tones are different, they still sound great. They just tend to be aggressive and articulate, with lots of attack, present harmonics, and a huge roar in the mids.
Have fun!
-p
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I read somewhere that A-Bomb are not so good with leads, but are fantastic for rhythm,... not sure if that is the case,.. but I need this PU to do booth equally...
Yeah the A-Bomb is better than the C-Bomb in that respect but there are so many options that are better for leads on the bridge
Holy Diver
Rebel Yell
Black Hawk (either)
Miracle Man
Cold Sweat
Impulse
Silo
A-Pig
VHII
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Maybe a relevant info,... I have 2 Friedman amps,... Be100 Deluxe and 2015 BE100, Friedman 412 2x v30 and 2x G12m25 ... and Friedman 212 v30,...
Also,... I stay 99% of the time on the bridge pup,... for rhythm and leads,... neck I use mostly for cleans,... (and I don't play lot of cleans) but I would like to change that,....
so maybe
Miracle Man/Cold Sweat or MM set (not sure yet)
Holly Diver set
hearing and reading all of this, I'm leaning more and more to HD set instead of Nailbomb,..... maybe a safe bet going that way...
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The Holy Diver has a load of mids that the Nailbomb or Cold Sweat doesn't have
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The Holy Diver has a load of mids that the Nailbomb or Cold Sweat doesn't have
is that a good or a bad thing in your opinion?
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The Holy Diver has a load of mids that the Nailbomb or Cold Sweat doesn't have
Is that a good or a bad thing in your opinion?
sry for the double post
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Maybe a relevant info,... I have 2 Friedman amps,... Be100 Deluxe and 2015 BE100, Friedman 412 2x v30 and 2x G12m25 ... and Friedman 212 v30,...
Also,... I stay 99% of the time on the bridge pup,... for rhythm and leads,... neck I use mostly for cleans,... (and I don't play lot of cleans) but I would like to change that,....
so maybe
Miracle Man/Cold Sweat or MM set (not sure yet)
Holly Diver set
hearing and reading all of this, I'm leaning more and more to HD set instead of Nailbomb,..... maybe a safe bet going that way...
I have the MM/CS combo in my SG Standard, it is one of the few really good combinations I found for that guitar. I already had a CS set, so I just swapped the bridge for a MM for more bottom end than the CS. There is a bit of imbalance in output that led me to raise the neck pickup a bit when I installed the MM bridge. The differences between the MM and CS bridge are minor though. I have heard good things about the MM neck, so a MM set would be tempting. I'm not sure about the Holy Diver in this guitar, I think though that the HD, CS, MM, and RY sets are all safe choices for bridge lead work in a single cut, it just depends on the sound you are going for. There are actually a lot of similarities between the HD and MM bridges. In some ways the MM is like a ceramic version of the HD.
It's worth checking out videos online
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WCzh2of4AaA
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uSzGWTFMbcg
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Thanks guys,...
Nice suggestions... somehow I decided on using hi gain PUS for both of guitars instead of making one low gain, since I don't use clean much... so now I'm thinking A-Bomb for one, and MM for other,.... or Maybe even RY for one of them,... so many choices, not enough guitars :)
Ben from BKP suggested Black Dogs for the other guitar... I used to have PRS McCarty 594 but I got rid of her, since I could never bonded with low turn pups she had, so now I'm hesitant about vintage PUS, and always afraid they won't be enough....
Don't think of the Black Dogs as being anything like the 58/15LTs in your 594. The Black Dogs are best described as a low-output modern - the voice is modern and aggressive, but the low output means they clean up beautifully too. Wonderfully versatile pickups - yes they need a bit of help from a TS/boost for all out metal, but the payoff is increased dynamics.
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The Holy Diver is one of the best bridge models for metal, in my opinion, BUT it works a lot better with a booster (overdrive or equalizer) in front of the amp
Without a booster, it sounds warmer and less high output than the other mentioned models, so it requires a heavier hand for maximum punch and sustain
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The Holy Diver has a load of mids that the Nailbomb or Cold Sweat doesn't have
Is that a good or a bad thing in your opinion?
sry for the double post
Good thing for me as I like the extra mids for fullness, but it's not my choice though. The Nailbomb is leaner, but with a spike in the upper mids and is at home in mahogany set neck guitars.
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Thanks a lot everyone!
In the end I ordered Miracle Man and A-Bomb sets for Tremonti guitars...
So now it's:
Miracle Man b/n - PRS Tremonti
Alnico Nailbomb b/n - PRS Tremonti
Rebel Yell b/n - PRS Cu24 2006 (replaced HFS/VB set)
Cold Sweat b/n - PRS Cu24 2009 corina body Killer Quilt LE (replaced 57/08 set)
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Too bad I don't have more guitars to test some more pups,....
Thanks again guys!
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Thanks guys,...
Nice suggestions... somehow I decided on using hi gain PUS for both of guitars instead of making one low gain, since I don't use clean much... so now I'm thinking A-Bomb for one, and MM for other,.... or Maybe even RY for one of them,... so many choices, not enough guitars :)
Ben from BKP suggested Black Dogs for the other guitar... I used to have PRS McCarty 594 but I got rid of her, since I could never bonded with low turn pups she had, so now I'm hesitant about vintage PUS, and always afraid they won't be enough....
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uSzGWTFMbcg Here's a clip of Miracle man calibrated set in my PRS std 24. I think they;re too scooped for your needs, you;d be better off with HDs or Black Dogs which have a more open and middy sound.
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Thanks guys,...
Nice suggestions... somehow I decided on using hi gain PUS for both of guitars instead of making one low gain, since I don't use clean much... so now I'm thinking A-Bomb for one, and MM for other,.... or Maybe even RY for one of them,... so many choices, not enough guitars :)
Ben from BKP suggested Black Dogs for the other guitar... I used to have PRS McCarty 594 but I got rid of her, since I could never bonded with low turn pups she had, so now I'm hesitant about vintage PUS, and always afraid they won't be enough....
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uSzGWTFMbcg Here's a clip of Miracle man calibrated set in my PRS std 24. I think they;re too scooped for your needs, you;d be better off with HDs or Black Dogs which have a more open and middy sound.
I appreciate your input bro,... but I see you using Engl amp,... (I use to own Engl special edition 670) and I see how it could sound scooped with it,.. also CU24 is a different beast then Tremonti that has a much thicker body and more of a LP vibe to it.... and btw, I have a Friedman, that is by itself a mid forward amp, so I hope it will be just fine,... I will report back when PUs are installed,...
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You can really only tell once you have them in. The MM bridge is quite scooped in itself, like the CS bridge. It just depends on how it interacts with your guitar and amp as to how all of that balances out.
MM and CS usually come out sounding fine in Les Paul style guitars. Should have a chunky bottom end at least.
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Just to confirm,... I installed MM into my Tremonti, and I love them,... perfect match! I love both Bridge and neck pup.... Nailbomb set is good,... I like it, but if I have to choose, MM kick it's ass.... I will wait a bit to give them both a chance, but I suspect I will get MM set for the other Tremonti also, just a matter of time :)
Couldn't find much on the MM neck, but I love it,.. perfect pair for the MM bridge,.. hot enough to match perfectly,.. and I got them split separate from each other , ton of combinations...
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Good to hear!
Other pickups that might be worth considering are the Ragnarok (which seems fairly similar to the MM, with more mids) and the Silo.
I also really liked the sound of the Impulse set in a PRS, but it was a double cut one, not yours. But I suspect you might like those. Output is lower, more like the Cold Sweat, and they seem to work in a wide variety of guitars.
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The Holy Diver is one of the best bridge models for metal, in my opinion, BUT it works a lot better with a booster (overdrive or equalizer) in front of the amp
Without a booster, it sounds warmer and less high output than the other mentioned models, so it requires a heavier hand for maximum punch and sustain
Agree. It's just too good that pickup! TBH most ppl even with actives or ceramic passives will still put an OD in front of a tube amo anyway. The wonderful thing about BKP, if you use them correctly with the optimal pickup height they can handle as much gain as you can throw at them.