Alternative neck pickup pairings for a Ceramic Nailbomb

[Miek]

Hey y'all. I just added a new Ibanez S5541 to my collection (thin body, bolt on neck), and having played an S540 with a Nailbombs for quite some time now, I know I'll be going with another set of Bare Knuckles.

The bridge CBomb is not even a question, but I want to try something new for the neck pickup this time. I find the neck Nailbomb to be an excellent pickup but it's not quite what I'm looking for. My favorite neck pickup is currently the DiMarzio Dominion in my RGA121 (thicker body, still bolt on neck). Knowing that the Dominion is a ceramic magnet neck pickup, that kind of directs my attention perhaps towards the Painkiller? I'm not certain.
Maybe a VHII? A Miracle Man? Cold Sweat?

What do you folks think?

[Dave Sloven]

The Miracle Man neck has a lot of output and might be too much for a Nailbomb bridge.

I would be looking at something like a Rebel Yell, Cold Sweat, VHII, or Holy Diver.

[Miek]

Makes sense to me. I think the characteristic that doesn't click with me on the Nailbomb neck is the sort of twisted PAF-ish scooped mid hollow sound. Out of those, which have a less scooped sound?

[Dave Sloven]

The Rebel Yell will be a brighter and less scooped version of the Cold Sweat.

The VHII is from what I can tell fairly dark and rounded, qualities that a lot of people seem to like in a neck pickup.

From what I have heard the Holy Diver is the brightest of those mentioned, I don't know about scooped or PAFish ... from what I have seen written about it the pickup has been described as more Strat like than most.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S_tnOFRowug

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uRaoBDi1Hgc

[gwEm]

The Miracle Man neck has a lot of output and might be too much for a Nailbomb bridge.

Its not as hot as one might think with the DC rating, at least in my opinion. Anyway, its not the right choice here.

[darthphineas]

Hey y'all. I just added a new Ibanez S5541 to my collection (thin body, bolt on neck), and having played an S540 with a Nailbombs for quite some time now, I know I'll be going with another set of Bare Knuckles.

The bridge CBomb is not even a question, but I want to try something new for the neck pickup this time. I find the neck Nailbomb to be an excellent pickup but it's not quite what I'm looking for. My favorite neck pickup is currently the DiMarzio Dominion in my RGA121 (thicker body, still bolt on neck). Knowing that the Dominion is a ceramic magnet neck pickup, that kind of directs my attention perhaps towards the Painkiller? I'm not certain.
Maybe a VHII? A Miracle Man? Cold Sweat?

What do you folks think?

could you be more specific about what it is that you are looking for?  or maybe since the Dominion is your favorite neck model, what about that one are you wanting more or less off?

[Miek]

In comparison to the nailbomb I currently have, I'd like a little less bass, and a little more midrange. Something a bit brighter, without the hollow sound. What I like about the Dominion is that it's a little compressed and has a nice sparkle to it. What it lacks is the same sort of fullness that the Nailbomb has, which could be due to the difference in bass response between them. I suppose some kind of middle ground would be nice.

[Chris Rowberry]

From your description I would recommend the Painkiller neck. It's hotter than the dominion pickup but it will certainly give you the neck characteristics you're looking for. As with all our pickups, being hand-wound by us means you will find it retains the fullness you're hearing in the Nailbomb neck too.

[ericsabbath]

I think he meant the fullness of the bridge pickup, instead of the scooped mids of the nailbomb neck model

[Miek]

Thank you all!