BKP Aftermath vs the Sh6 Duncan Distortion

[Slartibartfarst42]

And that's exactly my point. I suspect that like many others who visit this forum (the OP sounds like one too) I assumed that I would need a ceramic set to keep the articulation in the bass, especially if using a lot of gain. This is why my first set was Cold Sweats and it was a real push when I made my first switch to Alnico V. That first attempt was my ill-fated dalliance with Nailbombs and I was really surprised to find that they were a hell of a lot tighter than the vast majority of ceramic pickups from other manufacturers. Even as Alnico V, they were far tighter and more aggressive than I wanted but I said at the time and maintain now that they would be great in a mahogany guitar doing the kind of music favoured by the OP. The same thing is happening in that video. It's so articulate that you naturally assume it's ceramic when in fact it's not. If I were to go back to DiMarzio or Seymour Duncan I'd return to ceramic but while I use BKP, I doubt I'll ever use ceramic again. Why would I want to? Alnico V Bare Knuckles offer at least as much articulation and tightness as other peoples ceramics but you gain great cleans and a really sweet lead tone.

I stress this is MY experience and I am in no way suggesting that all those using ceramic Bare Knuckles are wrong. I am merely suggesting that there are probably a number of people who may not consider an alnico pickup because based on their experience with other manufacturers, they can't believe what an alnico Bare Knuckle can do.

[dark order flying V]

And that's exactly my point. I suspect that like many others who visit this forum (the OP sounds like one too) I assumed that I would need a ceramic set to keep the articulation in the bass, especially if using a lot of gain. This is why my first set was Cold Sweats and it was a real push when I made my first switch to Alnico V. That first attempt was my ill-fated dalliance with Nailbombs and I was really surprised to find that they were a hell of a lot tighter than the vast majority of ceramic pickups from other manufacturers. Even as Alnico V, they were far tighter and more aggressive than I wanted but I said at the time and maintain now that they would be great in a mahogany guitar doing the kind of music favoured by the OP. The same thing is happening in that video. It's so articulate that you naturally assume it's ceramic when in fact it's not. If I were to go back to DiMarzio or Seymour Duncan I'd return to ceramic but while I use BKP, I doubt I'll ever use ceramic again. Why would I want to? Alnico V Bare Knuckles offer at least as much articulation and tightness as other peoples ceramics but you gain great cleans and a really sweet lead tone.

I stress this is MY experience and I am in no way suggesting that all those using ceramic Bare Knuckles are wrong. I am merely suggesting that there are probably a number of people who may not consider an alnico pickup because based on their experience with other manufacturers, they can't believe what an alnico Bare Knuckle can do.

Far out, I'll have to go and listen to that video heaps more....
I also notice that everyone here has said the Nailbomb is perfect for Thrash Metal, and NOT the Painkiller. I have one question though, does the Nailbomb with its EQ curve sound anything like a Duncan Custom???? I hope not, all I really need is a Duncan Disotion sound with more growl and Mids clarity, which is why I think the Painkiller would be the way to go.....I'm soooo confused :(

[DoomBuggi]

I thrash out with the Painkiller in a Les Paul. Though, I switched all the pots out for the 550k pots, and added the PIO caps, with the vintage wiring specs.  Honestly, I believe almost any pickup can do it.  Its all about what you got, and how you use it I suppose.  I really dig the PK.  I am interested in WarPig, as well as the Aftermath.  It would be awesome if there was some way to make a pickup combination of the Painkiller and Warpig, I think someone coined the word; PigKiller

[Madsakre]

Why dont you just keep the distortions? I Love my x2n, and no BKP can replace that in that guitar. Why fix something's theres not broken?

[DoomBuggi]

Why dont you just keep the distortions? I Love my x2n, and no BKP can replace that in that guitar. Why fix something's theres not broken?

I also agree with this statement.  If you like the Distortion, keep using it.

[dark order flying V]

Why don't you just keep the distortions? I Love my x2n, and no BKP can replace that in that guitar. Why fix something's theres not broken?

It's just that I have tried every Duncan, and few Dimarzios and the PK and the Aftermath, and I keep coming back to the Duncan distortion, BUT it lacks that extra clarity in the mids and my frustration is like getting close to the finish line but just doesn't quite make it.

It actually has a little bit more output than an Invader, but is little fuzzy in the tracking, and its that which I hate about it. I think I'm just gonna bite the bullet and get a Ceramic Nailbomb as according to that video has amazing clarity in the mids tracking....

Maybe its my Tubes in my amp too, I currently run Mullard reissue EL34's, which are very reliable, but I remember using the Svetlana EL34's which have a stronger mid range and that might do the trick as well.l....

This never ends......

[witeter]

The Aftermath i find to have a smaller bass response than the other BKP pups i have-as in it gives the impression of being tighter because it doesnt accentuate that frequency as much (almost like when you put a TS in front of your amp). Hence i feel you are missing some of the bottom end chunk-the CBomb would deffinetely give you this, i love it and i think it does thrash with ease. The Warpig may also be worth a shot though it may not have enough of a mid spike? i dont know.  Good luck!

[Madsakre]

I will never like El34's. Im a 6L6 man. through and through.

[dark order flying V]

I will never like El34's. Im a 6L6 man. through and through.

6L6's great for Boogie type amps, not Marshalls.... :)

[dark order flying V]

The Aftermath i find to have a smaller bass response than the other BKP pups i have-as in it gives the impression of being tighter because it doesnt accentuate that frequency as much (almost like when you put a TS in front of your amp). Hence i feel you are missing some of the bottom end chunk-the CBomb would deffinetely give you this, i love it and i think it does thrash with ease. The Warpig may also be worth a shot though it may not have enough of a mid spike? i dont know.  Good luck!

THATS IT! You've convinced me... the CERAMIC NAILBOMB it is!!!! I'm ordering one dammit. I remember the PainKiller having hollow low mids and hating it as not my thing. I will do another sound comparison recording with the Sh6 and the Nailbomb

[witeter]

You mentioned that your V guitar is not as dark sounding as an LP-so has more mids less bass than an LP.  Is your guitar mahogany neck also? I will give you the lowdown of my guitars so you can see how different pickups react to them (all of them played in standard and drop D):

PRS SE Custom 24: Mahogany body, set in maple neck, rosewood fingerboard (Ceramic Nailbomb) - Plenty of chunk, mid/lowmid dark blend, good treble response but not overbearing.

PRS SE Tremonti:Mahogany body, set in mahogany neck, rosewood fingerboard (Cold Sweat)- Pleeenty of chunk (more so than the nailbomb, probably due to the mahogany neck), more clarity, more mid/treble bite

Schecter Omen Extreme 6: Mahogany Body, Bolt on maple neck, rosewood fingerboard (Aftermath)- The most 'Boxy' sounding, has emphasis on high mids/ treble but hasnt got as much chunk as the other two, clear and tight though but also has the most amount of compression (almost squishy).

So a combination of body wood, neck join and neck wood changes everything-what are the exact specs of your guitar? Also you already play with cranked mids and treble, do you want your guitar to emphasize these frequencies? tame them?

[HTH AMPS]

put some 6550s in your JCM900, trust me, that'll do it.  Svetlana ones are my faves.

also, if you have Chinese ECC83s (12AX7s) in the preamp, try messing around with some Mullard or Brimar ones, I promise you it'll sound clearer in the mids - not so fuzzy.

[dark order flying V]

You mentioned that your V guitar is not as dark sounding as an LP-so has more mids less bass than an LP.  Is your guitar mahogany neck also? I will give you the lowdown of my guitars so you can see how different pickups react to them (all of them played in standard and drop D):

PRS SE Custom 24: Mahogany body, set in maple neck, rosewood fingerboard (Ceramic Nailbomb) - Plenty of chunk, mid/lowmid dark blend, good treble response but not overbearing.

PRS SE Tremonti:Mahogany body, set in mahogany neck, rosewood fingerboard (Cold Sweat)- Pleeenty of chunk (more so than the nailbomb, probably due to the mahogany neck), more clarity, more mid/treble bite

Schecter Omen Extreme 6: Mahogany Body, Bolt on maple neck, rosewood fingerboard (Aftermath)- The most 'Boxy' sounding, has emphasis on high mids/ treble but hasnt got as much chunk as the other two, clear and tight though but also has the most amount of compression (almost squishy).

So a combination of body wood, neck join and neck wood changes everything-what are the exact specs of your guitar? Also you already play with cranked mids and treble, do you want your guitar to emphasize these frequencies? tame them?

Its a set neck all Brazillian Mahogany body and neck with Ebony frett board. Actually, in sound, its very much like a les paul custom, dark but has this very high end bite. String through the body too. Very fat sounding guitar

[dark order flying V]

put some 6550s in your JCM900, trust me, that'll do it.  Svetlana ones are my faves.

also, if you have Chinese ECC83s (12AX7s) in the preamp, try messing around with some Mullard or Brimar ones, I promise you it'll sound clearer in the mids - not so fuzzy.

I actually own a JCM2000 TSL100, totally different machine to the JCM900's, (which I used own the 4500 and the 4100 in the 90's). The tubes I use are Mullard EL34's and Tung-sol 12ax7, which have been rated and the best of the 12ax7s

[dark order flying V]

You know what? I think I'll quit guitar and learn drums ......  :P