Recent Posts

41

Pickups / What middle pickup to go with Nailbomb set?

« Last post by Donatello on September 19, 2025, 10:14:05 AM »

Hi, 20 years ago I got my Ibanez JEM a set of Nailboms instead of the Dimazio Evolution that comes with the guitar. All good, but I kind of forgot the guitar (I have too many guitars?) But I picked it up during the summer and had forgot how good the Jem-neck is, and the pickups sounds great. BUT... I still got the stock middle pickup (Evolution?) and its too weak compared to the Nailbombs. 20 years ago I didn´t care about the middle pickup, but nowdays I do. I actually find the middle position to be good at beding well... "bland" in a good way, nothing special but also a good position (just the middle pickup) for almost everything being in a coverband situation, where the humbuckers might be a little "to much" at times.

So I would like a suggestion for a good single coil that can keep up with the Nailbombs. Booth in terms of volume and maby also a little bit of tone. (The stock pickup is booth to weak in volume AND in tone).

Cheers / Daniel

42

Pickups / Re: Another Pickup Suggestion Thread

« Last post by RobAbrams84 on September 18, 2025, 06:14:22 PM »

Mules or the Thornbucker 2 (it's higher output than the original).  In my opinion you really don't need higher output pickups than that unless you're doing metal.  If the Mule is too bright you can just turn the tone knob down, or change the value of cap or potentiometer.  I don't know what value pots and caps the Charvel comes with, but that's an extremely easy way to take off some top end (change a pot from 500k to 300k, or increase the capacitor value).

43

Pickups / Re: Polypaf info..Tim/Nolly

« Last post by 089Ray on September 11, 2025, 12:17:13 PM »

I’m very interested in the PolyPAF as well.. since I really enjoy my Polymath
How does it compare to the Mule?

it's actually quite different, and at the same time similar. In my experience going from the Mule to the Polypaf was a positive improvement on top end, low end tightness and overall mid fullness. If you like PAFs but also want to play 'modern' stuff on them, you're not going to be disappointed.

44

Players / Polypaf VS Mule/Black Dog VS Polypaf

« Last post by 089Ray on September 11, 2025, 12:09:03 PM »

Hello there!

Been on a bit of a pickup rabbit hole lately and ended up doing a side-by-side of the Polypaf, Polymath, and Black Dog/Mule set - all in the same guitar so it’s a fair fight.
I recorded a bunch of DI tracks (clean, crunch, high gain) and put them into a video along with my thoughts on how each set feels and sounds. It’s not just “which one is best” - more like what each one does well and where it might fit.

You can check the Polypaf review with comparison here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tjoZEPRLP18

45

Pickups / Strat Tones From Silo Set With 5 Way Switch?

« Last post by BurritoConQueso on August 07, 2025, 01:44:35 AM »

I'm looking at the Silo set for my Ibanez RG1550m.  My other guitars all have active pickups and I'm looking for something more versatile that I can get strat tones out of in positions 2 and 4.  Would the Silo work for this, and what would be a good single coil pickup to pair with them in the middle position?

46

Pickups / Re: Nomad compared to flat 50 bridge

« Last post by b.gandt on June 29, 2025, 07:08:59 PM »

Having spent much time sailing on the Great Lakes (USA), I do dig a foghorn when near a reef.

 Less so coming out of my guitar.

47

Pickups / Re: Another Pickup Suggestion Thread

« Last post by b.gandt on June 29, 2025, 07:03:40 PM »

Did you solve your pickup problem?

48

Pickups / Re: Help IDing a Pickup

« Last post by ifarrer@ on June 04, 2025, 12:17:13 PM »

Thanks for the info. I'll have to try a more direct comparison with a newer NB-AL.

49

Pickups / Re: Help IDing a Pickup

« Last post by timmy_b on June 02, 2025, 11:32:22 AM »

Looks like an early example of an Alnico v Nailbomb. It's made before we moulded our own bobbins, so that might explain some variances from current specs.

50

Pickups / Help IDing a Pickup

« Last post by ifarrer@ on May 27, 2025, 07:34:44 AM »

I bought it second hand a few years ago as a Cold Sweat bridge(no packaging). It's lived in a drawer since then, but recently I thought I'd dig it out and give it a try. I measured the DC resistance, and it's 16.52k. You normally expect a bit of variance from the numbers on the website, but that's a lot more than the published 13.7k for a CS bridge.

So, this got me wondering what it actually is, and I can't find anything even close. It's 53mm, so definitely a bridge. The two coils read 8.08k and 8.43k.

Also, looking at the magnet, I _think_ it's a roughcast alnico. The coils are the shorter (1cm) height, compared to the high (1.2mm) coils you find on e.g., an MM.

Finally, when I installed it, it's bright and a little scooped. It's nothing like other BKs I've tried in that guitar (HD, NB-AL, MM).

Any clues greatly appreciated!

For reference:
Crawler 15.4K
Painkiller 15.6K
Nailbomb 15.7K
Holydiver 15.9K
Unity 15.9K
Miracle Man 17.9K