Warpig for Downtuned Guitars

[BigB]

I've been checking out the soundclips and I really like the sound of the Nailbomb - it's got like a nice middley punky hardcore sound to it even though it's still a metal pickup. I also like Rebel Yell it's very distinct. I might go for the Nailbomb instead here.

What do you guys think would be better Ceramic/Alnico and open/covered for my set up.

I would not describe the Nailbomb (well, the ABomb at least) as a "metal pickup", but as "a pickup that can do metal". It has very tight yet deep lows so I imagine it should work fine for downtuning (never tried), and is indeed growly, grinding, tight, raw, and agressive.  Don't fear the alnico, it doesn't mud out (at least not in my rather dark SG), and manages to stay tight and surprisingly detailed under hi gain while retaining this more organic character and pronounced mid-range.

My 2 cents...

[Dr.Pain]

I got a C-pig in my 7 string (BC Rich Jr. V 7).  At first it sounds like there's way too much bass but after a tweak or two it sounds a lot better.  There's a lot of output and it just thunders away and I find the clarity to be good.  I had to really change my sound settings a lot.  At the moment I only have MT-2, GE-7 or an ME-50 into a 30 watt Marshall to play with.  I can make it sound great but amp gets overwhelmed fast so have a Vypyr tube 60 coming next week.

So far I'm happy but I'll have a better idea when I get my new amp.  There's a lot of bottom end and the cleans could be better but so far that small amp metal sound of the early 1990's, even though I don't have a HM-2, it's great.

[Chargrilled]

Bear in mind that with regard to the output, its going into a DI and ampsim. The benefit you get from hitting a preamp harder is nullified by

A: lack of actual preamp clipping. No valves to hit harder, emulation only.

B: gainstaging - input, if the OP knows what hes doing (I'll give him the benefit of the doubt) is going to be to a mic pre with the gain set such that the DAW will show -18dbfs regardless (0VU, +4db, 1.24V, nomnial optimal level for all audio gear, including the mic pre). Less that that and your SNR is less than optimal, more than that and youre just getting distortion from the mic pre.

Unless hes using US hardware in which case its -12dbfs. The voicing of the pickup is all that matters, not its output. It would be better to have a lower output pickup with a clear character, lots of mids and top end, than a hot and heavy pickup that would hit a guitar amp pre harder.

Great post here thanks, I'll be going into a Radial J48 (Active D.I.) which will then go into an RME Babyface. Shall I go for a Alnico Nailbomb here do you think? What would you recommend.

Cheers for all the replies, I am definitely nearing making a decision here! By the way what will a guitar shop charge to stick the pickup in my guitar?

[Dr.Pain]

It's easy to do it yourself.  I did mine and although my solders look like welds it's done the job.  I haven't soldered in 23 years, since school days, and even then I was hopeless at it.  BC Rich had wiring diagrams in their site and you get a wiring diagram with your pick up's.  I figured I can fix it or f@#K.  It works so all is good  :)

[Chargrilled]

I'm going to put an order in but need a couple more answers!

Firsty open/ covered does it make any difference and the conductor : 4 or braided 2 does that make any difference? Many thanks for all the info it's been really useful.

It's really down to the Nailbomb or Painkiller as the description says it's great for downtuning. Is the Painkiller's output going to cause problems with recording direct to PC? I don't imagine it would with the gear I'm using. I remember my old BC Rich used to clip like crazy going into my Boss GX-700 guitar processor but I'm assuming the D.I. box will provide enough of a buffer for any hot output insanity.

[Transcend]

Tim compensates the wind of the pickup if you are getting it covered to prevent any changes in tone.

2/4 conductor.

get 4 conductor it gives you the option of just humbucking wiring (2 conductor only gives this one option)

but also lets you go ahead with stuff such as splits/parrallel and out of phase wiring.

Plus if later on you decide the pickup isnt for you its far easier to sell on a 4 conductor pickup in my experience

[Chargrilled]

Ok thanks - looks like it's going to be an uncovered RED Painkiller! What are the delivery timescales, can I order by registered to arrive by Friday??

[Chargrilled]

Charlie Chandler's in Hampton Wick are gonna order me one in so that will save me the postage. Once again many thanks for the great information, I shall return a couple of weeks with some Painkiller riffage!

[Grim]

In my experience, the Aftermath is beefier than the painkiller.

[DvE]

In my experience, the Aftermath is beefier than the painkiller.

I second on this!

[Chargrilled]

In the end I done a total U-turn and went for the Nailbomb in green  :shock:

I kept listening to the various soundclips and there's a dirtiness in the Nailbomb that really attracted me so it's gonna be that one. I've handed my guitar over to the shop, they are ordering in the Pickup and hopefully I can get it will be ready to rock next Saturday.