Nailbomb vs. Cold Sweat (Bridge Pos)

[watsonb2]

Hey all,

Just picked up an RGA121 and want to replace the standard pups.

I'm loving the BKP sound, but am up in the air as to which bridge pickup to go with.

I've heard enough clips of the two to know what they're capable of tone-wise (a lot coming from the amp and FX used), but I just have a feeling that the nailbomb is going to be too "over the top" for my tastes.  I do listen to and play a lot of heavier metal (i.e. Bulb, Opeth), but I love using the bridge pickup for "flowing" leads as well, almost like Timmons' style. 

I've heard Nolly playing through a BM with a set of Cold Sweats getting the really heavy djenty tone, but I was wondering if the Nailbomb is able to get as clean a lead as the CS.

(If it makes any difference, I'm going with a Wolfetone Custom pup (similar to the Nailbomb neck) for the neck position. He's local, so I'm trying to help him out...)

Hope your insights can help me choose!

-Ben

[ericsabbath]

I've heard enough clips of the two to know what they're capable of tone-wise (a lot coming from the amp and FX used), but I just have a feeling that the nailbomb is going to be too "over the top" for my tastes.  I do listen to and play a lot of heavier metal (i.e. Bulb, Opeth), but I love using the bridge pickup for "flowing" leads as well, almost like Timmons' style.  

I've heard Nolly playing through a BM with a set of Cold Sweats getting the really heavy djenty tone, but I was wondering if the Nailbomb is able to get as clean a lead as the CS.

I have both sets in similar sounding Les Pauls

the neck models are very different from each other, but the bridge models are surprisingly similar
they're both loud, bright, lot of punch, controlled mids
the cold sweat is slightly tighter, brighter and more focused, with more midrange crunch
the nailbomb is a bit punchier in the lower frequencies, colder and cleaner in the mids, still in the same ballpark, but alnico sounding, like a modern rock version of the 80's hard rock/classic metal oriented cold sweat
both feel quite fluid for leads, just not as fluid as a Holy Diver, for example
the ceramic magnet of the cold sweat (mine has a C4 type magnet) gives it a bit more "djent"

[watsonb2]

Thanks for the info mate, I appreciate it.

As far as the magnet in the CS goes, it that standard, or a custom option you chose to go with?

I don't suppose you'd happen to have uploaded some clips with both of these?
(If not, it would be GREAT if you could just do a quick djenty/open chordy type recording with both bridge pups...or direct me to any clips if you know of them as I haven't had much luck finding that kind of thing in the player's section.)

I have a feeling that the Nailbomb is more along the metal lines of what I'm looking for, but if I get a nice amp in the future, the CS could always get that sort of range as boosted by the amp...

Anyway, thanks for the post.

-B

[watsonb2]

Since I'm no expert, I was also wondering what the difference is between covered an uncovered pups in the sense that they have to fit into the routed cavity. 

My RGA has the pups direct mounted to the mahogany core; would covered pups be able to fit, or do I need to buy uncovered ones for it to work?

Thanks guys,

B

[Antag]

My RGA has the pups direct mounted to the mahogany core; would covered pups be able to fit, or do I need to buy uncovered ones for it to work?

Just looked up a pic of the RGA & I think that covered pickups would go into it (the corners of the rout don't look overly rounded), however you will definitely need to order triangular feet (available as special order, simply put it in the comments box on the order page) because the feet definitely won't fit.

[watsonb2]

I do like the look of the roughed up covers, but if the uncovered pups would require no modification, that'd be great...So, anyone know if that's the case?

[dheim]

i'd choose nailbombs... bridge nailbomb is my favourite lead pickup, and i've got a load of BKPs, if you give a look at my signature... :)
it's more aggressive than the CS, smoother on highs, fuller on mids and punchier on lows... i love my cold sweats, but nailbombs are a step above for that kind of tones, at least IMO.
oh, they're great for opeth!

[IntenseJim]

i'd choose nailbombs... bridge nailbomb is my favourite lead pickup, and i've got a load of BKPs, if you give a look at my signature... :)
it's more aggressive than the CS, smoother on highs, fuller on mids and punchier on lows... i love my cold sweats, but nailbombs are a step above for that kind of tones, at least IMO.
oh, they're great for opeth!

I'm sure it's been stated somewhere here but could you compare the NB to the HD? Ever try the Crawler?

[watsonb2]

i'd choose nailbombs... bridge nailbomb is my favourite lead pickup, and i've got a load of BKPs, if you give a look at my signature... :)
it's more aggressive than the CS, smoother on highs, fuller on mids and punchier on lows... i love my cold sweats, but nailbombs are a step above for that kind of tones, at least IMO.
oh, they're great for opeth!

Awesome, confirms my choice.

Don't know if this is like blasphemy or anything, but has anyone here tried Wolfetone pickups?  He operates out of a location about 45 minutes from my house and I wasn't sure how these two brands matched up.  I know on his website, he's got some higher output pups like the BK's...Any thoughts?

Thanks,

B

[Zaned]

i'd choose nailbombs... bridge nailbomb is my favourite lead pickup, and i've got a load of BKPs, if you give a look at my signature... :)
it's more aggressive than the CS, smoother on highs, fuller on mids and punchier on lows... i love my cold sweats, but nailbombs are a step above for that kind of tones, at least IMO.
oh, they're great for opeth!

I have both of these pickups, and I wouldn't say that the alnico Nailbomb is more aggressive. They excel in different guitars and different applications. For example, in a middy and warm LP the CS is aggressive and very forward, in the right way. I wouldn't put the NB there personally. On the other hand, for a typical strat I would definitely choose the NB.

-Zaned

[watsonb2]

i'd choose nailbombs... bridge nailbomb is my favourite lead pickup, and i've got a load of BKPs, if you give a look at my signature... :)
it's more aggressive than the CS, smoother on highs, fuller on mids and punchier on lows... i love my cold sweats, but nailbombs are a step above for that kind of tones, at least IMO.
oh, they're great for opeth!

I have both of these pickups, and I wouldn't say that the alnico Nailbomb is more aggressive. They excel in different guitars and different applications. For example, in a middy and warm LP the CS is aggressive and very forward, in the right way. I wouldn't put the NB there personally. On the other hand, for a typical strat I would definitely choose the NB.

-Zaned

That's what I'm worried about in regards to my guitar.  Technically, it's very similar to the PRS I just ditched, in the regard that it has a Mahogany Body with a Maple Cap, but I know that, like most Ibbys, it's fairly bright, despite the wood. 

Is the Cold Sweat going to accentuate the highs more, thus making it better for leads, and slightly less desirable for rhythm?

At this point, I'm definitely leaning towards the Nailbomb (probably with a ceramic magnet) to make sure I get the big mid/low end sound that would serve well for both rhythm and lead. 

BTW, I'm still waiting to hear back from Tim on this, but does BK charge extra for zebra bobbins or rounding the feet on the pups?

Thanks for all the input guys, it's appreciated.

-B

[Zaned]

My apologies; I mainly responded to dheim, ignoring the original question.

But anyway, for those tones and what is essentially superstrat, I would go for the regular nailbomb. It's high output, but organic sounding. Great for leads too! I don't find it over the top, and it works for lots of applications.

But wait until you hear from Tim.

-Zaned

[watsonb2]

Not a problem mate...

Thanks for the input.

-B

[CaptainDesslock]

i'd choose nailbombs... bridge nailbomb is my favourite lead pickup, and i've got a load of BKPs, if you give a look at my signature... :)
it's more aggressive than the CS, smoother on highs, fuller on mids and punchier on lows... i love my cold sweats, but nailbombs are a step above for that kind of tones, at least IMO.
oh, they're great for opeth!

is that what you put in that super fancy custom you bought a little while back?

[dheim]

i'd choose nailbombs... bridge nailbomb is my favourite lead pickup, and i've got a load of BKPs, if you give a look at my signature... :)
it's more aggressive than the CS, smoother on highs, fuller on mids and punchier on lows... i love my cold sweats, but nailbombs are a step above for that kind of tones, at least IMO.
oh, they're great for opeth!

is that what you put in that super fancy custom you bought a little while back?

nope, i put a ceramic pig in bridge position and a painkiller in neck... in the future i'll look for a way to put somewhere another nailbomb set (at least the bridge unit)... and this doesn't exclude the option of buying another guitar! :) i'm talking of a distant future, though...