Pickup queries

[lyonk55]

So, after some thinking, I'm going to part with a guitar. The plan WAS to swap for a 7 string, but now I'm thinking of selling and using the money to sort my other 2 with some Bareknuckles. So, it's another one of THOSE threads I'm afraid.

First guitar is a Tanglewood Les Paul-alike. Specs are it's a mahogany body, set mahogany neck, rosewood fretboard and a flame maple veneer (for all the difference it will make). From this I'm wanting a fairly versatile rock/metal guitar for things like Metallica, Dark Tranquillity, Tool, Coheed and Cambria and some Silent Hill type stuff. Tuning will be standard, a half-step down or the dropped versions of either, so nothing extreme.

My other guitar is a Cort X-11. This already has a BKP Nailbomb and Cold Sweat, but I don't think the Nailbomb is quite right here for the tunings I use. It's got a basswood body, bolt-on maple neck, rosewood fretboard and a Floyd Rose style bridge. This is for metal almost exclusively; stuff like In Flames, Arch Enemy, Soilwork, Scar Symmetry and Carcass. Tuning will be C or B standard. Rather than a new pickup, I've been thinking of going for a rewind or a magnet swap so info on that (and the differences between the C and A-Bomb) would be good.

Any info and suggestions are appreciated guys!

[Telerocker]

CS or Miracle Man for the Tanglewood? And Painkiller for the Cort?

[lyonk55]

I had been thinking 'bout the CS in the Tanglewood - I know its quite bright so should work well in mahogany. Anyone know what it would cost to get a Nailbomb rewound as a Painkiller (or anything really)?

[Roobubba]

Not sure about the cost for rewinds (ask Tim for this, and his pickup recommendations), but the Cort looks like it needs a miracle man in (or possibly a C-bomb, but this latter suggestion is only based on my listening to MDV's clips and reading these forums).

Got pics of those axes? :)

Roo

[lyonk55]

Aye, I've got pics Roo:

Cort after Bare Knucklififcation:

http://bareknucklepickups.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=21309.0

And the Tanglewood:

http://bareknucklepickups.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=22025.0

The SG in the group shot is the one I'm going to sell.

And yeah, I've not spoken to Tim yet, though I've been thinking the C-bomb (figured it might be cheaper to just swamp the magnet than change the whole thing, plus MDV and Nolly's clips sound great). Tim and you guys will know better than me though.

[Transcend]

i vote for miracle man for both to be honest with you more so the les paul type as it nails the kinda stuff your wanting to do with it easily.

If i remember rightly when i was going to be my NB magnet changed to ceramic tim said £10-15 i arent sure though.

He also said it would tighten up the low end a lot raise the output a tad and also increase the high end too

[MDV]

The c-bomb would be a good compromise.

My reasoning being that you want some pretty sharp, sizzly very ceramic tones as well as more open warmer sounds  there. The c-bomb definitely leans toward aggressive and precise, but its more organic and smoother/sweeter sounding, a little blunter in the top end, than the other ceramics. As such it should walk an average line between all those sounds you want pretty well, especially in a les paul (closest reference I have is the C-Bomb in my SLSMG, which is all mahogany + ebony board). In a conventional superstrat (like the DX1 that I have my other C-Bomb in) you'd likely find the brighter woods allow a little too much of the top end and high mid crunch come out to get the smoother sounds like tool, but you should be fine with your guitar.

Thanks for the kind comment on my clips too :)

[lyonk55]

Not a problem MDV.

I forgot to mention that I'm using an Engl Screamer combo with a MXR Zack Wylde OD as a boost, incase that changes any opinions.

And thanks for the advice so far guys.

[Alex]

I would vote for a Miracle Man for the Tanglewood LesPaul.

[lyonk55]

So I've got word back from Tim. His suggestion for the Cort is to swap the magnet in the Nailbomb for a ceramic, which I'm pretty shure I'm going for.

For the Tanglewood he suggested the Holydiver set, but the general thoughts here have been the Miracle Man (or another ceramic). Anyone have any thoughts about Holydivers for the Tanglewood?

[brian_ward]

i think holy divers sound great for tool type tones, personally.

[ericsabbath]

So I've got word back from Tim. His suggestion for the Cort is to swap the magnet in the Nailbomb for a ceramic, which I'm pretty shure I'm going for.

For the Tanglewood he suggested the Holydiver set, but the general thoughts here have been the Miracle Man (or another ceramic). Anyone have any thoughts about Holydivers for the Tanglewood?

the Nailbomb I had in my '73 LP Custom sounded GODLY through my friends 100w ENGL based amp, but if Tim suggested the Diver over the Nailbomb (which is rare, since the NB is one of his favorite children), go for it
the Diver was my favorite bridge BKP in a Les Paul, along with the Cold Sweat and the Riff Raff (this one is actually in a PRS, but I'll move it into the '73 Custom)
the Diver is surely great for Tool also the Arch Enemy/Soilwork thing
not my favorite for old Metallica, but it did it pretty well with the Wylde Overdrive I had (great pedal)

[Mr. Air]

Why not try out the Nailbomb in the Tanglewood LP and see if you like it there? If you do you can get a new pickup for the Cort and save a bit of money.

[lyonk55]

I did think of that, but I don't think it will look good. The Nailbomb is black covered with black allen bolts. I'm probably looking more to open zebra in the Tanglewood.

Although, I could try it to at least get an idea for sound, then wory about new pickups then I suppose...I might give that a try.

[ratspeak]

Why not try out the Nailbomb in the Tanglewood LP and see if you like it there? If you do you can get a new pickup for the Cort and save a bit of money.

My thoughts exactly. Nailbomb would definitely hit the stuff OP wants to do with the LP. I'd leave the CS in the Cort, and throw in a C-Bomb or a C-Pig.