Nailbomb or Painkiller...?

[ElectricTurkey4369]

I e-mailed Tim about both and they both sound awesome to me, but i just cant decide which would be better for my amp and guitar. I'm using a Mesa Single Recto with a Gibson Les Paul Studio (mahogany with maple top). Im looking for tightness in the bottom end and a very smooth tone. Some people say the PK has to much treble, but i heard some demos and they sound pretty good to me. I also like to downtune sometimes. Soryy about all the questions I just want to make sure Im absolutley sure on what im getting since Im in Canada and it wont be cheap to order a BKP :lol:

[MDV]

Neither. Get a miracle man.

[ElectricTurkey4369]

Neither. Get a miracle man.

I heard the Miracle Man is very focused on lead playing and sounds scooped :?

[MDV]

Not really. Its a bit scooped in some guitars, or with some amps, but its a superb metal rhythm pickup as well as lead, and the smoothest sounding of the high output BKs (that I've used).

PKs and NBs both grind; they arent especially smooth.

Perhaps some reference sounds would help.

[gepetto33]

From experience - Spalted maple veneer + all mahogany + MM = scooped.

But a big fat Gibson maple cap should balance out any mid deficiency, one may assume based on wood tonality theory - the amp signal chain will certainly play a part in that balance as well.

If using standard tuning mostly, i recommend these clips to be a good representation; actually of a couple pickups you mentioned -

http://bareknucklepickups.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=11726.0

[ElectricTurkey4369]

From experience - Spalted maple veneer + all mahogany + MM = scooped.

But a big fat Gibson maple cap should balance out any mid deficiency, one may assume based on wood tonality theory - the amp signal chain will certainly play a part in that balance as well.

If using standard tuning mostly, i recommend these clips to be a good representation; actually of a couple pickups you mentioned -

http://bareknucklepickups.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=11726.0

Yeah I'm trying to stay away from a scooped sound, but i dont mind a pickup having less mids as long as its not scooped :lol:
And the MM is very similar to an EMG IMO. Im not really a thrash player, more of a progressive Metal/Rock, think Tool and Porcupine Tree and Dream Theater sometimes. Im leaning towards the Nailbomb the most because it sounds very organic and 'natural' if i should say.
If i wanted an EMG sound i would get EMG's in another guitar. Well mabye down the road, you never know  :lol:

[dheim]

i've got MMs in a mahogany RGA and they're not scooped at all.
but i'd suggest either Nailbombs or Rebel Yells

[gepetto33]

i've got MMs in a mahogany RGA and they're not scooped at all.
but i'd suggest either Nailbombs or Rebel Yells

Think the spalt top is what doomed me on the MM, not to mention low tuning - made for much scoopage...

i was also looking for more mids.

+1 for the Nailbomb, i really wanted to put it one my guitar, but everyone i talked to advised against it due to the wood composition. 

[Transcend]

i also have a MM in a mahogany body with maple top ibanez RGA

sounds great not scooped at all

[octavio_amzer]

"Miracle Man" will definitely achieve the tone you describe.

[Alex]

Miracle Man is one powerhouse of a pickup!

[ElectricTurkey4369]

"Miracle Man" will definitely achieve the tone you describe.

Does the MM sound like an EMG? Im trying to stay away from that sound. I want a natural, big fat passive tone that can handle lows well, and at the same time stay tight. I dont want mids scooped, but i dont mind if theres a decrease in mids.

[James C]

MM doesn't (at least to my ears) sound like an EMG, it is a fat and smooth p/up, i was using it in an LP and playing anything from Gary Moore to Testament.

[Roobubba]

From experience - Spalted maple veneer + all mahogany + MM = scooped.

But a big fat Gibson maple cap should balance out any mid deficiency, one may assume based on wood tonality theory - the amp signal chain will certainly play a part in that balance as well.

If using standard tuning mostly, i recommend these clips to be a good representation; actually of a couple pickups you mentioned -

http://bareknucklepickups.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=11726.0

Yeah I'm trying to stay away from a scooped sound, but i dont mind a pickup having less mids as long as its not scooped :lol:
And the MM is very similar to an EMG IMO. Im not really a thrash player, more of a progressive Metal/Rock, think Tool and Porcupine Tree and Dream Theater sometimes. Im leaning towards the Nailbomb the most because it sounds very organic and 'natural' if i should say.
If i wanted an EMG sound i would get EMG's in another guitar. Well mabye down the road, you never know  :lol:

NO NO NO NO NO NO NO.

Get that silly silly idea out of your head.

None of the BKPs 'sound like' EMG pickups. For a start, they have some dynamic range, yes, even the brutal ones.

Second, the MM isn't scooped. You may find it scooped if you take all the mids out of your amp, though (!). I run a MM in low (LOW) tunings, and it's raw, thick and brutal in my axe, not scooped or thrashy (and in my setup, not actually all that smooth either, though it's smoother in my ibanez).

With that said (and while I think a MM would SLAY in that guitar!), you're after a more Tool-y/Prog sound, and I think the MM may be a bit too much for you, though in voicing, I think it's probably the closest to what you describe. In any case, I think the PK and NB are probably not smooth enough (if it's smooth you want, as you say).

Just to clarify, when you say lows, are you talking E/D/C tunings? Or do you mean LOW, like B/A/G tunings?

Roo

PS Don't believe anything you read that says a BKP 'is just like' an EMG. Sometimes people want to know tonal ballpark comparisons, which is where this misconception seems to occur.

[Transcend]

I agree with everything Roo said above the MM can sound like a miracle man if you set your amp to get those kinda sounds but it can also do a hell of a lot more.