Warpig / Nailbomb / Painkiller

[Le Mouk]

Hi! I'm from the french-speaking part of Switzerland.
I plan to replace both pickups in my Washburn WI68 US custom shop (mahogany body and neck / maple top)
I think I'll go with the Cold Sweat in the neck for a Steve Morse / Tremonti / Michael Ammott  creamy lead sound. Is it a good idea?

But I can't decide which PU will suit my needs the best, bridge-wise.
I play mainly metal, kind of "power-stoner-metal".
I'm still hesiting between the 3 mentionned in the title, and the more reviews I read, the more I'm hesiting! Tone-wise, I love the Killswitch Engage's rythm sound, or the Carcass's Heartwork kind of sound. Very punchy and percussive on the palm-mutes, midrangey, full and organic sounding. I really HATE piercing trebles or nu-metal low end.
I have a rack rig (Engl 570SE preamp + VHT 2/56/2 Black Beauty poweramp) with a VHT 2x12 P50e cab and a Marshall 1960A in a stereo configuration. I don't need a massive output to drive the amp, since the preamp has PLENTY of gain (way too much for my needs, actually, I set the gain knob at 9h on the rythm channel), well I think the Warpig could be overkill. I fear that the Painkiller would be too bright or scooped.
What do you think?
thanx by advance

[Jonny]

Stoner = Miracle Man.

But from your selection - Nailbomb possibly

[Le Mouk]

oh, and I love the Tool's Adam Jones rythm sound, too. 8)

[Jonny]

Have you listened to the sample clips of these pickups? Your judgement of them is better than any of our advice if you listen with your own ears. But saying that doesn't mean you shouldn't disregard our advice :)

Anyway, whatever, I think you'd like a miracle man. Can do tool-ish darkn-and-thick, but is tighter than that for the fast stuff.

Quoting from another topic on choosing pickups.

[ericsabbath]

I fear that the Painkiller would be too bright or scooped.

the painkiller is the middiest pickup on earth  :lol:

I vote for the nailbomb or a diver
they're both punchy, percussive on the palm-mutes, midrangey, full and organic sounding
you may not like the treble spike of the miracle man

[DimeZakk]

YOU want a Nailbomb, without a doubt

[pagan7]

If you want "organic" midrange that sounds like it's breathing - along with a clear and defined bottom end grunt and a biting but not harsh top end - has to be NAILBOMB !   Play around with the pickup and pole peice heights to find the sweet spot though.  8)

[Le Mouk]

Thanx a lot for your answers! It's difficult to choose in the BKP range, 'cause I read tons of great reviews, and every single pickup seems to be an improvement on all the existing pickups, no matter the style. Everybody seems to say that they never sound harsh on trebles, or muddy on low end, so I think I won't go wrong with either the NB or the PK.
My past mistakes learned me to be careful with the soundclips, but I'll give'em a try.
I think I'll go for a Cold Sweat neck / Nailbomb bridge set first, and I'll try the Painkiller later.  Now I have to decide what finish will suit my needs...
I checked out the prices, and I can't believe the Bare Knuckle are cheaper in Switzerland than EMG's, that's crazy, since they're handmade!?

[Le Mouk]

Uh... When I said "every single pickup", I actually meant "every single humbucker"!! :P

[MrBump]

Congratulations on your English - you write more eloquently than many of the "natives" on this forum..!

Nailbombs give a lovely, creamy midrange tone - they get my vote (because I have them and none of the others).

Mark.

[Le Mouk]

Thank you, I appreciate, because I'm almost self-taught, I mainly learned english trying to understand the lyrics, reading Guitar World magazine, or reviews! ;)

I feel like the Nailbomb becomes an obvious choice! Do you guys know how they match with the ColdSweat in the neck?
And do you know if the Nailbomb is available in black finish? I really like the camo finish, but my guitar is pretty "classy", flamed maple top and all, nothing of a warrior axe, so I think something more sober would be more appropriate! I'm thinking of having a black Nailbomb in the bridge, and a raw nickel ColdSweat in the neck. Oh, and it seems to me that the black cover is in plastic on the online-shop pics, is it!?

[ericsabbath]

the black cover has a satin finish, but it's metal too
it's not "black chrome" like some duncan and gibson pickups (mustaine and iommi signature)

[Le Mouk]

Satin black. Should be nice! I'm wondering if the NB is available with the same finish than the Warpig, with regular screws instead of the allen bolts, of course. The one with the "irregular" (not flat, as if it has been hammered) surface?
I use the bridge PU for the dirt, so it could be nice to have a "dirty looking" PU.  And, in contrast, the neck PU would be good looking, very clean...

And is it better to use 250 or 500K pot?

[Simon D]

For humbuckers, go with a 500k pot. I reckon the Nailbomb bridge, for the sound you're after, is going to be as good as it gets.

[Le Mouk]

Thank you!
For the NB finish options, I'd like to get the same than pictured on the BKP website (homepage > products > Nailbomb)
http://www.bareknucklepickups.co.uk/ZH-nailbomb.html
What is this finish? Is it a special order? on the online-shop, I can't find the same...