Best BK pickup for getting Akerc--ke's tone?

[bermuda_]

Hey guys :D

I'm huge fan of this bands work, I personally think as a musicians they are without a doubt one the most original/talented band around to this day, with the exception Devin Townsend of course that guy is just a musical icon.

So I was just wondering which BK pickups would be best suited for playing Akerc--ke's style of music?

Thanks guys.

[MDV]

I'm not *terribly* familiar with them but I'd say warpigs, from what I remember.

[bermuda_]

Unfortunately man my guitar body is made of mahogany wood, so Tim strongly opposed against me putting a Warpig in my axe, He said that if I was to put this type of pickup in my guitar, the low end coming from the pickup would sound unbalanced.

So I was just thinking as an alternative would a Painkiller in the bridge of the guitar, be able to nail the tone I'm looking for?

[_Rebourne_]

Listening to their tone, my first impression is that it's very dark and warm sounding.  In my opinion you would want something with an alinco magnet and a good tube amp to get something like that.  I'm guessing nailbomb... but yeah I have no idea lol.

[MDV]

PK would be too bright for ackerc--ke

Naibomb maybe. Its a little refined for their sound though.

I agree that  you need to be looking at A5 for their sound.

Unless your amp is quite dark. If youre using, say, a TSL, you could get away with something brighter.

[bermuda_]

The amp I currently have is a Mesa Boogie Dual Rectifier 3 channel, with 4x12 Mesa standard sized cabinet.

So since the amp/cabinet I'm using naturally have a dark tone to them, I was thinking a painkiller in the bridge of the guitar might be able to give me the tone I'm looking for

What do you think guys?

[MDV]

Could get away with it. You seem to want the painkiller, so you may as well go for it. Certainly wouldnt be my first choice (or 2nd 3rd or 4th) for what I hear on ackerc--ke though. Too much attack, mids, tightness and sizzle.

[bermuda_]

Well to be completely honest with you, I was intending on buying a Warpig as my first choice of pickup, but seeing as I can't now, I have not other option but to go for the Painkiller instead. :(

But just out of interest man, if you wanted to achieve this type of tone, which pickup would you choose as your first choice?

[MDV]

I already told you - warpig.

After that, nailbomb, holy diver and ceramic nailbomb are all better choices than the painkiller, imo. You dont have "no other option" at all. 

[bermuda_]

so would a Warpig ceramic pickups still sound good in a mahogany wood bodied guitar?

[MDV]

Yes. Youre gonna have a shiteton of low end, but provided the mahogany isnt too dark it should be tight and clear, and a much sharper top end than the a-pig.

Its a perfectly good choice for the guitar, and will sound great, but for ackerc--ke its like a katana to do a broadswords job. Given your amp, though, yeah, maybe.

[HTH AMPS]

I know the reputation Painkillers have, but I remember them sounding really fat in my mates LP custom, not bright at all just enough bass and that great meaty midrange.

Listening to some Akerc--ke now, I'd say that the Warpig is too big and bloated for their tone (especially with a Mesa Recto).  Also, you'd want to bass to track a bit faster than a Warpig for their riffs too.

MDV's suggestion of a C-bomb sounds about right.  I think a painkiller would be too direct sounding, you need something thats both articulate and a little lose at the same time.  You might even get away with a regular alnico Nailbomb, but the mids are probably a bit too overbearing for that tone - the ceramic magnet of the C-bomb corrects that.

[bermuda_]

Oh I see what you mean, but I know the Bk Ceramic Nailbomb pickup is one of the most versatile type of pickups around, but having said that when it comes to covering extreme metal would the Nailbomb be just as good as the BK Painkiller for doing that type of style.

Also does the Nailbombs low end sound bigger than the BK Painkillers.

Thanks guys :)

[HTH AMPS]

from my experience with the regular alnico Nailbomb and the Painkiller, I'd say the NB has more bass.

[MDV]

And I'd agree.