The ceramic nailbomb - a review-ish

[Zaned]

A very nice review! As the C-bomb is the overwound brother of the Cold Sweat, I read this with enthusiasm. Sounds quite familiar :) In the right guitar it's a wonderful pickup. As is every BKP.

-Zaned

[MDV]

I also have a cold sweat bridge (in my acoustically darkest guitar, 24.75 scale thats also down in drop A#) and its very clear that they're family members.

[Dr. Vic]

dunno why but I knew that one day, after having heard some good opinions about the C-Bomb, the idea to try one would have turned out to become an obsession !  :P

After being decieved by the nailbomb you are now one of his ambassador, old Jedi !  8)

And your review is F%$ING awesome, couldn't say more !

[pagan7]

Yesterday I fitted a calibrated set of C-Bombs into my Ibanez RGT42 to replace a set of A5-Bombs which sounded great but did tend to emphasise the rather "middy" natural tone of this guitar (mahogany/walnut through neck, rosewood board, mahogany body and thick polyester finish all over) and I was looking for something like the A5 sound but tighter and with more "fizz"
Tim says that with a calibrated set  ( C-Bombs) he normally leaves the neck pup with an A5 magnet, but I asked for a ceramic magnet in that too, so he fitted them both with the ceramic magnets he uses in Painkillers. I also asked for nickel allen bolt pole screws (after reading the recent "pole screws" thread).
I intially set the pup heights the same as those of the proceeding A5-Bombs and boy what a different sound these C-Bombs have. Much more upper mid and top end emphasis and sizzle (though the new Rotosound 10's that came with them could have contributed to that) and a much fizzier and focused bottom end and dare I say a touch of harshness (and the occasional wolf tones) until I lowered the pups which smoothed things out considerabley.
The overall effect is a bit like switching from a valve amp to a solid state one compared to the A5s and they have really woken this particular guitar up.
I still haven't found the perfect sweetspot combination of pup and pole screw heights yet but I'm really looking forward to that particular adventure.
So far  I can only say.......Get Some Today !!!   :D

[AndyR]

Well, I don't play the same kinda stuff as you MDV, and I only wandered in here because I'd run out of threads I hadn't read ... :lol:

But that's a class review, and for a moment there you had me going "I gotta get me some of this!!"

Luckily for my wallet, I soon calmed down, turned up the volume on my Riff Raff'd SG (around my neck even as I type), and continued to noodle Eric-Clapton-Bluesbreakers-type riffs and licks like I have been all morning...

But one day, it's gonna be one of your reviews/replies that sticks me over the edge and places a contempory BKP in my signature line :lol:

Nice one.

[dheim]

great review!

i hate to say it, but i kept telling you that you should have given another chance to the bomb...  :)

[MDV]

Cheers andy....come on dheim, you told me, like, once, maybe twice!

And this is the c-bomb.

Try as I might, I just cant really get on with an A5 bridge. I can appreciate them, and see redeeming features independent of my tastes, but ceramics where its at in the bridge. 

[With Full Distortion]

Hey... Thats one really funny and awesome review.
whats your zodiacal sign by the way?
q: p

i Would like to know which what are the basical differences between the traditional NB and the ceramic.
does any frequency gets boost up LIKE THE MIDDLES maybe? Q: P
any frequency gets Reduced ?
The character of any of those frequencies get changed???
Hails and congratulations
NOW i want a CNB and maybe an AFtermath. Q: /
JP

[MDV]

My zodiacal sign? :lol:

Why dont you guess?

I mean, if theres a connection between character and the month you were born in then you should be able to work the sign backwards from the character, right? ;)
Anyway, the C-Bomb is a bit bassier than the A-Bomb, has a little less mids and a little more top end, Its sharper, tighter, hotter and a bit more compressed. Usual C8/A5 differences, but the C-Bomb is a little smoother in the top end than most ceramics.

[Shotgun]

What is the differences between the C-bomb and Aftermath, I know that you have an AM too and I've heard your soundclip with both of them, but I'm interested in the feel of playing and the live sound. My guitar has koa wood (similar to mahogany but a bit brighter) with ebony board and I play stacatto-ish percussive modern metal in drop H tuning. What's the differences with these pickups in my style?

Thanks a lot!

[MDV]

To play through....well, the aftermath fights you more. Its a harder pickup to play; it punishes loose playing, unclear picking and and fumbles of any sort mercilessly, but rewards precision much more.

With the C-Bomb youre going to find plenty of BK clarity, but its compression and (slight amount of) extra output give a lusher feel thats easier on the picking hand and fretting accuracy. Its got more of a 'guitar plays itself' feel.

Both would do your style, and if you want something that can get there but is easier on the technique then C-Bomb. But the aftermath will give you greater clarity and precision in stocatos and low tunings, but you have to play that much more clearly and precisely; it doesnt do it by magic, the extra is there if you can do it.

[Shotgun]

Thanks MDV! That was perfect answer for me. The accuracy and clear are so important if I have to practise harder to get the best picking techniqe for the best performance I will do that. I ordered a Camo Battleworn Aftermath and that was the good decision for me. IMO

Thanks a lot again!

[MDV]

Quite welcome. Good choice!

[With Full Distortion]

My zodiacal sign? :lol:

Why dont you guess?
I will. q: p
but i need to some more research on your posts and read.
ahahahah you seem to be either frmo the Fire element (Aries , Sagitarius or Leo) Or from the Air Element (Gemini, Libra, Aquarius) Q: p

Hummm Thats good to know about the differences between Nailbomb and ceramic Nailbomb.
I would like to have a Nailbomb with hotter Highs(like the Painkiller), The same amount of High Middles. Way more middles and a different character to the middles. Grinder middles. I love its Bass and i love its mid Bass.
I would like to have it with extra Clarity for Extreme metal and massive amounts of distortion.
cause compared to the Warpig that i have.. when i perform some palm mute/non palm mute a La Black/death metal... i feel that it lacks a bit of clarity and tightness.
That would be the perfect Bare knuckle pickup for me.
If it can be done, ill order mine right way and ill name it ... "Nihility"  name of the album and song from Decapitated.
Crushing,Meaty, Tight and screaming Fire.

Now that you talked about the Ceramic Warpig.. have you owned or played in a traditional Warpig? if so... can you compare both in the same style of comparison/description you did here with the Nailboms???

I would thank you very much
Hails
JP


I mean, if theres a connection between character and the month you were born in then you should be able to work the sign backwards from the character, right? ;)
Anyway, the C-Bomb is a bit bassier than the A-Bomb, has a little less mids and a little more top end, Its sharper, tighter, hotter and a bit more compressed. Usual C8/A5 differences, but the C-Bomb is a little smoother in the top end than most ceramics.

[ShredHeadJHJ]

I heard Chris Broderick uses Nailbomb's. Any other big shred guys out there use them?