What to choose

[Arch_Angel]

Hey,

I'm new here, looking for the right pickups for my baby, and you guys probably know best.
I play heavy metal mostly, with all kinds of influences varrying from Opeth to Killswitch Engage and Soulfly, I also include clean riffs in our songs that have to sound real nice, so for the rhythm pickup I'm looking for something that doesn't distort too much.

Tim suggested I bought a pair of Coldsweat pickups or Nailbombs, I'm looking (esspecially for the bridge) for something with a lot of balls. I'm going to use it in combination with a Vox Valvestronix SE, so that's tube modeling. Any suggestions?

[MDV]

If I were going for those sounds from one guitar I'd get nailbombs. Especially opeth.

[_tom_]

Nailbombs seem good for anything as far as I can tell.

People like Warpigs for clean because of the Alnico magnets, I didnt really like Warpigs when I tried em at music live, then again that wasnt through a cranked amp so it wasnt the best judge..

[tewboss]

I'd say Miracle Mans.  KSE use EMG's so the closest match would be the Miracle Mans. Opeth don't have the usual EMG/Dual Rectifier setup so they would be different, but the Miracle Man's are more versatile than EMGs.

[hobleguitars]

+1 Nailbomb bridge, sir. MM wouldn't cut it clean from what I'm imagining you'll be playing, and the Nailbomb would more than cope with the other bands you've mentioned. Were you considering a neck pickup as well, then?

[Wolfie]

Go with the man

Cold Sweats, just dropped some into my LP Custom, through a Tonelab SE into a Fender Hotrod Deluxe.

Now I'm no player, just a noodler and these things rock

Phil

[The Emperor]

Hi !

What kind og guitar do you have?, wood? neckthru, bolt on?  pickups now? amp? tubes? cab? cabels? tell us everything and we'll help.  Tim gives some advise. I haven't ordered my MM yet but i will start with that pickup then go for NB

/T

[carlaz]

I play heavy metal mostly, with all kinds of influences varrying from Opeth to Killswitch Engage and Soulfly, I also include clean riffs in our songs that have to sound real nice, so for the rhythm pickup I'm looking for something that doesn't distort too much.

For that vibe with those kinds of bands, I'd say +1 for the Nailbomb.  (We're all assuming a guitar with at least one humbucker here, I think!)

[MDV]

The MM can also do those sounds, and I think its cleans are good, but not quite good enough for opeth (but opeth use some pretty great clean sounds).

The thing is the MM is too much more-81-than-81. Its got the tightest bass youve ever heard and a razor sharp treble. I dont really hear that much precision in soulflys tone, and KSE come closer, but I still think you can use an A5 BKP for those sounds.

I've never played it but theres some awsomely tight and clear clips of the nailbomb in players. Judging from that I'd say its the way to go.

For soulfy and KSE, actually I'd go for the warpig. *shrugs*. Its got that extra kick and a bit more compression thats remeniscent of the good bits of EMGs, while having more bite and snarl as opposed to 81 wall-of-treble. Too heavy for opeth, though.

[lepersmeesa]

Hey there,

I have got the Nailbomb and it does the Opeth tone very well. Check out some of my clips. I have done an opeth track and some Opeth style songs. Also make sure to check out everyone elses clips to give you the variation on the nailbomb.

[Ratrod]

Looks like you need a versitile metal pickup wich is the Nailbomb. What's the guitar in question? If it's a Les Paul, a Cold Sweat might be better.

[Arch_Angel]

Hey,

I use a sevenstring ESP LTD M207, looking up the specs now.......

Here it is:
The M207 features a bolt on on neck, basswood body, maple neck with a rosewood fretboard, arrowhead inlays, black hardware, a Floyd Rose licensed tremolo, no binding, 24 extra jumbo frets, and 2 humbucking Duncan Design pickups.

For my distorted parts I'm probably going for the opethy sound, if I want a more "living heavy sound" like soulfly, I'll use the modeling to get that.

For the clean parts however I'm looking for something both beautifull, near acoustic with a touch of darkness, but definetly a very clear ring on the high notes without any distortion on it, you dig?

[Ratrod]

Soulfly has Nailbomb written all over it. That pickup was designed after Max's sound. They also seem to couple well with basswood bodies. There are some fantastic clean clips of the Nailbomb in the players section, somewhere.

[tewboss]

I'd say Nailbombs now you've mentioned about a clean sound. Nailbombs aren't the cleanest BKP but they are probably the cleanest of the high-gain BKPs.  I've got a set in my guitar and they sound really nice with a good high gain sound.

[Tim]

Apologies, a little late in on this one! :oops:
Nailbombs-they do these tones so well and out of the higher gain humbuckers have the sweetest edge to them when run clean.