Bare Knuckle Pickups Forum

Forum Ringside => Pickups => Topic started by: cam_rock on March 07, 2007, 10:38:16 AM

Title: Nailbomb for me?
Post by: cam_rock on March 07, 2007, 10:38:16 AM: Hey guys,

I finally got an ENGL Screamer today, and it's GORGEOUS. Anyways, now I've got my amp, I can better assess my needs pickup-wise (the stocks on my Schecter C-1 plus are very muddy). The amp is gorgeous, but obviously being EL34 based, it's got a lot of punch in the mids and sounds quite bright, whereas the guitar itself is very bassy.

The stock bridge pickup in my Schecter is based on the SD JB. I looked on their site, and their estimated EQ is bass-5, mid-6, treble-8. This, mixed with the bright and middy ENGL, makes my tone very fizzy and harsh. However, the Schecter IS a bassy guitar so I don't want to overcompensate TOO much.

I guess I'm looking for something that you could estimate the EQ at around 7ish on the bass, 6ish on the mids, and around 5-6 on the treble... Obviously I'm not looking for an uber-bassy sound, but I feel somewhere in the middle is needed to balance out the brightness of the amp and the fizziness and treble-oriented nature of the pickup.

Here's what I'm after:

- Aggressive, hot and loud rather than really gainy and saturated.
- Open, not compressed sounding.
- Lots of low-mid. Fair amount of bass, not too much upper mids and trebs, but obviously they gotta be tight.
- Lots of clarity, no muddiness whatsoever.

I think the Nailbomb's what I'm after, but I'm not sure if it has too much mids for me? Thanks.
Title: Nailbomb for me?
Post by: indysmith on March 07, 2007, 11:28:20 AM: I'd say you're after an AV Warpig
Title: Nailbomb for me?
Post by: FELINEGUITARS on March 07, 2007, 11:28:59 AM: Holy Diver is another good choice there
Title: Nailbomb for me?
Post by: jimmy_fowler on March 07, 2007, 01:33:54 PM: Thanks for the replies guys, any one else agree?

If a comparison would help, I tried out some EMGs the other day. I liked the 81 for the way palm-mutes just jumped off the fretboard. I loved how clear and tight and focused they sounded, but I found them too compressed sounding, not wide or open enough, and far too middy. So an EMG 81 with less gain and compression, more low mids and bass, and a lot wider sounding... I guess is another way of describing what I want...
Title: Nailbombs
Post by: Catalyst77 on March 07, 2007, 04:21:57 PM: I'm pretty simliar to you in that I like punchy mids and god bottom end with open sounding pickups rather than compressed/focused sounds.

I think if youve got load of gain on the amp, i'd consider getting something a little less powerful in the pick up area, maybe something from the vintage hot section. I find (although i may be wrong) that more often than not hotter pickups will compress the sound more.
Title: Nailbomb for me?
Post by: cam_rock on March 07, 2007, 05:12:00 PM: That's exactly what I thought... The Screamer is pretty gainy so I don't want to go overboard gain-wise... Don't know what to go for though...! Hopefully someone will be able to point me in the right direction! :D
Title: Nailbomb for me?
Post by: Oli on March 07, 2007, 05:57:00 PM: I just recently swapped my SD JB out for a Nailbomb, and couldn't be happier- more aggressive tone, more articulate and a much better clean... so i'd vote for the Nailbomb :)
Title: Nailbomb for me?
Post by: steve on March 07, 2007, 06:33:57 PM: VHII gets my vote.
Title: Nailbomb for me?
Post by: MDV on March 08, 2007, 09:26:03 AM: Quote from: jimmy_fowler
Thanks for the replies guys, any one else agree?

If a comparison would help, I tried out some EMGs the other day. I liked the 81 for the way palm-mutes just jumped off the fretboard. I loved how clear and tight and focused they sounded, but I found them too compressed sounding, not wide or open enough, and far too middy. So an EMG 81 with less gain and compression, more low mids and bass, and a lot wider sounding... I guess is another way of describing what I want...

For my money you just described a Miracle Man.
Title: nailbomb?
Post by: Catalyst77 on March 08, 2007, 09:38:19 AM: I'd have to disagree there, I had a set of MM's and I hated them, not because they werent any good, but because they were the complete opposite of what i wanted.

They are a pretty focused type of pickup, quite compressed and not very open sounding at all.

I guess it depends what type of music you want to play. If you want to sound like metallica/Zakk Wylde, then go for the Miracle Mans.
Title: Nailbomb for me?
Post by: MDV on March 08, 2007, 10:40:20 AM: I too have miracle men, I've had a total of 3 bridge versions, and I've had EMGs. I based what I said on the reference point that Jimmy gave us of what he thinks of EMGs. Given that, I think MMs will be great for him. They're a lot less compressed than EMGs, they have more bass, plenty of low mids but overall much less mids, and are bigger and more natural sounding.
Title: Nailbomb?
Post by: Catalyst77 on March 08, 2007, 11:05:55 AM: Each to his own I guess, otherwise we'd all be playing the same stuff with the same pickups!
Title: Nailbomb for me?
Post by: cam_rock on March 08, 2007, 05:15:52 PM: Thanks for the replies so far guys, it's so much appreciated. It's so hard to choose without being able to try, and it's pretty hard to accurately describe the tone I want.

With the Miracle Man, how bassy is it? Because although I'd like more bass, I don't want an ostensibly bassy pickup, because my guitar itself is quite bassy. Mids and low mids are where I want the focus, but with ample bass, and less treble.

In terms of the compression and gain thing, I find it hard to discern the difference sometimes. In terms of the EMGs, I liked how tight and focused they sounded, especially when palm-muting; the way every note was defined and articulated and clear. However, what I did not like was how it sounded unbelievably gainy but very narrow. Is that compression? If so, will the Miracle Man give me the clarity and definition I want without being compressed?

Thanks again.
Title: Nailbomb for me?
Post by: cam_rock on March 08, 2007, 05:24:06 PM: Just heard Johnny Mac's MM clip:

http://bareknucklepickups.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?t=1341

That is gorgeous! Is that a fair representation of the bridge position MM? Also, if Johnny is reading, what neck pickup did you use? That was amazing too. Perfect clip!
Title: Nailbomb for me?
Post by: MDV on March 08, 2007, 05:46:18 PM: Yeah, cam, thats pretty MM.

Thats not the sound I play em with (I'll give you a clue: one of mine is 23k and double screw pole for more low end :twisted: ) but that tone there will fall right out of it
Title: Nailbomb for me?
Post by: dave_mc on March 08, 2007, 11:05:07 PM: I thought screamers had 6L6's/5881's?
Title: Nailbomb for me?
Post by: cam_rock on March 09, 2007, 09:14:18 AM: According to their website, they've actually got ECC83/5881's. Porved us both wrong huh hehe.
Title: Nailbomb for me?
Post by: MDV on March 09, 2007, 03:47:00 PM: Funny, mines 6L6.
Title: Nailbomb for me?
Post by: cam_rock on March 09, 2007, 03:59:21 PM: Curious. I think you're right, but the ENGL website lists it as a ECC83s.
Title: Nailbomb for me?
Post by: MDV on March 09, 2007, 04:12:46 PM: Maybe they changed it to fill the "Rock Amp" image they seem to be giving the screamer (rock amp? Mine will melt flesh and powderise bone)
Title: Nailbomb for me?
Post by: dave_mc on March 09, 2007, 04:23:17 PM: Quote from: cam_rock
According to their website, they've actually got ECC83/5881's. Porved us both wrong huh hehe.

I was right then... the ecc83's are the pre-amp valves... most amps have them as pre-amp valves (they're 12ax7's, basically).

:drink:

EDIT: 5881's are pretty similar to 6L6, aren't they... industrial 6L6 or something like that. They're interchangeable, far as I know.
Title: Nailbomb for me?
Post by: MDV on March 09, 2007, 04:25:20 PM: Yes, thats right, and now it all adds up :drink:
Title: Nailbomb for me?
Post by: dave_mc on March 09, 2007, 04:26:49 PM: ^ :drink:

oh yeah, sorry for de-railing the thread.... I just didn't want you to get pickup recommendations based on you having el34's when you have 6L6/5881's.

I don't know anything about the pickups, that's why I didn't mention them... good luck in your search!

:drink:
Title: Nailbomb for me?
Post by: jimmy_fowler on March 09, 2007, 05:03:00 PM: Hehe no worries, I know now! So would the Miracle Man/Cold Sweat still be a good choice based on this new information?
Title: Nailbomb for me?
Post by: MDV on March 09, 2007, 05:19:57 PM: Yes.