Bridge Pickup for Tokai LP, fast and technical melodic hardcore / punk

[jan]

Hi guys,

First post here; I need your help ;-) I’ve looked through previous posts and although there are some that are similar I didn’t find exactly what I was looking for. So here goes, and sorry for the long post!

OK so I recently bought a nice, somewhat higher-end Tokai Les Paul (R9-ish copy) as I was looking for a LP to record with. The guitar sounds great acoustically and for a LP it is relatively bright and clear sounding but of course there’s still a decent bass foundation.

However, the bass does not translate well through the current pickups and playing it through an amp it feels like it needs a bit more punch and  “oomph”. The current pickups are stock Tokai MK-2 PAF clones, which aren’t bad but not what I’m looking for.  

I would like a bridge pickup that is ballsier and has a bit more output (but not super-high-output). It shouldn’t be too bright or harsh, just overall well balanced, maybe leaning towards chunky. I’d also like it to be tight rather than loose.

I’ll use this guitar mainly in my melodic hardcore band (fast, somewhat technical stuff, a bit of a mix between A Wilhelm Scream, Rise Against, Strung Out, and a little bit of chugga chugga thrown in there). This band is in D tuning, but it would be cool if the pickup could also handle tuning down even further (like C or B).

I play a Diezel VH4 and an ENGL Savage 120. I hardly ever play clean but I also don’t set the gain to 11… I normally use just enough gain to have a chunky tone that is still “tight”. I use the bridge pickup 95% of the time.

From the clips on the website (the “modern metal” ones because I can relate to that tone the most) I have to say I seemed to like the Emerald, Nailbomb and Aftermath the most. But my fear is the Aftermath my not have enough bass response and that the Nailbomb may be a bit too over the top. The emerald clip is nice but if I look at the graph it seems it may be too bright? Also, from the description the Abraxas “reads” great...  option paralysis! What would you get?

Thanks so much for your help!
Jan

[jan]

…maybe I can also give you my take on some pickups that I know fairly well, hoping that may make it easier to recommend something:

Duncan JB: Really dig it in my ESP Eclipse and Horizon. But for the LP I am looking for something tighter and a bit cleaner.

EMG 81: Nope!

PRS Dragon II treble (in a custom 22): I do like the output level and overall sound, but maybe a bit too “dirty” and loose for what I have in mind with this.

PRS 7 treble (in a PRS Singlecut): sounds great recorded… I am looking for something like this with a little higher output and slightly more balls.









 

[ericsabbath]

I'd definitely pick the nailbomb

[Mr. Air]

I think the Alnico Nailbomb might work for you. It's agressive and quite tight, but versatile at the same time. I got one in a LP copy and if you back down on the volume and the tone pots you can get some more classic rock tones. I have no experience with the Aftermath, but I think it will be to dry and "sterile" sounding for you. Forum member Nolly has made a comparison clip between the Aftermath and Nailbomb which you can check out here

http://soundcloud.com/nolly/nailbomb-vs-aftermath

Emerald and Abraxas might work as well.

[darkbluemurder]

Given the styles and other pickups you described, I would also go for the Alnico Nailbomb.

Cheers Stephan

[BigB]

The Alnico Nailbomb is indeed on the hot side but really not over the top, stays tight and well defined even under heavy gain, and it cleans up quite well when rolling off the volume pot. It has tight but present lows that come out well with palm mutes without becoming boomy, enough meat to not sound thin but without fat - all muscle ;) - and overall a very roaring, growling voice that should IMHO work fine for the kind of application you describe.

My 2 cents.
 

[Roobubba]

You might find the black dog does the trick, although in near standard tuning if you want more grunt than that, the nailbomb (AlNiCo) is probably a good call. Given your setup, I'm not sure you'd need any hotter than the black dog, though. The aftermath is a different beast. It might work well for you, but I wouldn't describe it as 'fat' so much as 'grindy'

Hope this helps

Roo

[jan]

Wow, thanks a lot guys for the awesome response! All of your replies have been very helpful...

OK so it seems the Aftermath might not be what I'm looking for.

Good to see the almost unanimous recommendation of the Alnico Nailbomb. But thanks also for pointing me to the Black Dog, I didn't really consider that one before (don't know why...). Listening to the clips now I find I really like it.

OK so I think now it's a tie between the Alnico Nailbomb and the Black Dog. I guess the BD sounds a bit more open and the A NB has more oomph... not easy! Has someone compared both? I guess I'll do some more forum-searching on that one...

You've already been of tremendous help, thanks gents!

Jan

[Alex]

I love both the Nailbomb and the Black Dog. I think both could work, but will sound different and more importantly, feel different.

The NB is probably more what the majority of people would feel comfy with. I don't feel it has too much bass, but feel it is rather tight on the low end. It also works great with clear sounding guitars.
The BD is in a way "gutsier" and has a heavy midrange with a clear top end. I always think it is "the" Jimmy Page pickup. It can be very filthy though, what you'd want for punk. Sometimes the tone I get remind me a lot of Wolfmother.

[ericsabbath]

having tried both nb and bd in my main guitar (73 lp custom), I gotta say the nailbomb was a much punchier and edgier pickup
I liked the black dog better, but it was quite "friendly" and soft sounding, no near as loud and tight as the nailbomb
center mids sound sweeter and highs are round, while the nailbomb seems more low mid and high end focused


any BKP humbucker should sound hot and amazing through your rig, though

[jan]

Eric and Alex, thanks a lot guys, your input is much appreciated! This does sound like I'll be happier with the greather tightness of the Nailbomb. So I guess I'll rather go with that one then! I'll let you know how I like it when I get it.
Cheers
J