Nailbomb tone changing after time!

[gorath23]

I had a Nailbomb put in my (very) old LP about 2 months ago and at the time I was reasonably happy with it, it was tight and articulate without being particularly amazing or beefy sounding. I checked its output when I got it and it measured 15.9k. Anyway I played it for about 3 weeks on and off and then left for Uni (leaving the guitar behind). Having now come back after 6-7 weeks away the pickup sounds totally different! It seems to have grown in output, whereas I was previously setting the gain on my amp at 11-o clock I now set it around 9 (same as my EMG-equipped Schecter) and it has also grown some balls, it isn't as articulate as it was but, wow, its so thick and beefy. Is this a natural aging by-product (the rest of the signal chain is EXACTLY the same), has anyone else noticed this with their BKP's?

I did read somewhere a complaint that BKP's had a tendency to 'go-off' and degrade. Not sure I'd call this degrading but its certainly very strange.

[maverickf1jockey]

That sort of thing has happened to me too with my Warpigs.

It may not be that they are degrading but it may be that you have been away for a while and your perception of sound is different. Sometimes I find that my Tiny Terror lacks oomph at lower volumes but after playing it with a clean sound for about ten minutes it suddenly sounds MASSIVE.

It probably has to do with you using too much gain and maybe masking the qualities of the pickup.

[il˙ti]

I think it's more "settling" than degrading.

[ailean]

I'd be surprised if BK's 'went off' as I'm pretty sure they use high quality materials. I'm not saying that something hasn't happened, but I'm not sure what could have changed?

Have you changed the string height at all? BK's are very sensitive and a small change could be enough to change the tone. Could it be the switch or pots? I know my switch is a bit off, and sometimes I seem to lose power, cycle the swith and it comes back.

Send an email to Tim, it's worth asking...

[AndyR]

This might be a silly suggestion - apologies if you've already ruled it out - but strings, what age strings are on it?

I try and make my strings last as long as possible - I always used to be quite happy with older strings that some would say were distinctly "dead". As long as I could tune and the intonation wasn't too bad, I was ok.

But since getting hooked on BKPs, age of strings does seriously change the tone for me - sometimes in a good way, sometimes not.

[Philly Q]

I did read somewhere a complaint that BKP's had a tendency to 'go-off' and degrade. Not sure I'd call this degrading but its certainly very strange.

That sounds very strange - I can't think of any reason why BKPs should go off, degrade or settle any more than any other type of pickup.

What is there in a pickup that could change, apart from the magnets?  I believe magnets weaken somewhat over time, but it's a matter of years or even decades, not a few weeks or months.

I'd be interested to hear Tim's opinion on this one.

[Ratrod]

I think it's just perception. After I pickup a guitar that I haven't played in a long time it always sounds different than I remember.

[WezV]

I did read somewhere a complaint that BKP's had a tendency to 'go-off' and degrade. Not sure I'd call this degrading but its certainly very strange.

i would be interested to know where you read this

[PhilKing]

I have never heard of pickups going off after a certain amount of time.  I have pickups that are more than 50 years old and they still sound great.  None of my BK's have changed sound (the oldest will be about 5 years old now).

Are you sure it's not your strings that are going off?  Also, you really can't remember sound that well when you return to it after a while.  

There is really nothing in a pickup to go off with proper use (other than the magnet, and the drop over time is pretty insignificant).

[Antag]

I did read somewhere a complaint that BKP's had a tendency to 'go-off' and degrade. Not sure I'd call this degrading but its certainly very strange.

i would be interested to know where you read this

Yeah, count me among the sceptics too.

[38thBeatle]

There are so many factors affecting the tone that could be a factor. Obviously, as has been raised, string condition but also were amp/effects settings identical- what about the room you played in? Pickups do not age rapidly, if anything they get better with age but there must be another explanation.

[gorath23]

Oo, I have to admit I don't remember where I read the comment about the pups degrading and its certainly not something I want to endorse as I LOVE my BK's. Maybe I shouldn't have mentioned it, it was only a passing comment.

The only thing I will say is that I am 100% sure that the tone of the pickup changed and quite drastically. The guitar hasn't been played during the weeks away so the strings should be in relatively the same condition - ish. I cleaned them up with a bit of FastFret etc before playing again. I haven't noticed the change in any  of my other guitars when left for a period of time in the same room. Its always cool and dry (the house is pretty old) and the room is quite 'airy'.

My amp is an Engl Fireball and thus fairly simple as far as settings go, shared EQ only two channels, so I know my own settings down to a tee - no change there.

Differences in string age etc would not account for the extra output the NB seems to have acquired. Let me say again though, I am not complaining as I love the change!

[Zaned]

Could it perhaps be a solder joint or something like that?

Hard to see how it would IMPROVE while the guitar sits away though. Just shooting in the dark..

BTw, glad to see another member of the ENGL family. I have the Blackmore head + E212VH myself  8)

Zaned

[ledzettervall]

Probably just the bias of the amp, let a tech bias it. Either that, or if anything has gone bad it's probably the tubes in the amp. When the tubes age they distort earlier and gets less defined.

[MDV]

Its profoundly unlikely that the pickup has changed.

FAR more likely the guitar has changed.

The neck relief probably drifted a little. It will change the way the guitar resonates and change the distance of the strings from the pickup.

If youre happy with how the guitar plays, then change the pickup height and you should be able to find something a lot like your previous tone.