Crunch Lab/Liquifire Upgrade?

[Cammi]

Now I know the default upgrade for this combo is the C-Bomb/Coldsweat combo. I just wondered if there's anything else out there that has a bit more mid range than the Nailbomb, as well as the highs cut back a tad bit? That's the qualities I like about the Crunch Lab, although I want something with that Bare Knuckle signiture clarity and tightness.

I still want to regain a very high organic quality though, as well as possibly keeping the Ceramic magnet. Alnico wise, the choice would be a lot simpilar seeing as there's plenty of them. I just kind of want a Ceramic model, since I'm quite fond of them, just with a bit more midrange, and a little less treble, as I love that Petrucci type tone. But I don't want to go with anything like the Aftermath or Painkiller as I found them a little too Metal for the style of Prog Metal I play.

I'm always open to new suggestions though. Oh, and my guitar is a Basswood Body, Maple Neck & Ebony Fretboard. Also got the same guitar with Mahogony for the body, so would be cool to hear opinions on a pickup choice for that too.

Thanks

[Cammi]

I'm only going to do one of these guitars at the moment, so I thought I'd add that the band has just me as a single guitarist, so I'd like some pickups that really stand out. Also what are your opinions on Basswood or Mahogany for a solo guitarist in a band?

[Philly Q]

I'm no expert on the heavier end of the BKP range, but if you want a ceramic bridge pickup and you're ruling out the Aftermath and Painkiller, that only leaves the Cold Sweat, Miracle Man and C-Pig.

I think the CS and MM both have less mids and more treble than the C-Bomb.  And the C-Pig is, I would imagine, too Metal.

So maybe you shouldn't totally rule out alnico?  In which case I guess the obvious substitute for the C-Bomb would be the A-Bomb.

[Cammi]

What is the Alnico Nailbomb like? For Dream Theater style music that is? I'm not a cover band, it's just the best example I can find as Petrucci plays a lot of Rhthym, as well as Lead. I was just thinking a Ceramic might give me that added tightness for a Basswood body, as I hear in kind of dampens the treble, which can make the lows a little less pronounced. I still want to have a great rhythm tone for riffing, but also have a very nice solo tone that doesn't get lost in the mix

[Kiichi]

Yeah, I have been thinking about this as well. I got a mahagony body Dean Vendatte 7 string with CL/LF combo and while it is missing the clarity and livelyness I love about BKPs it still is somewhat of my favorite PU combo. I guess the guitar and PUs work very well together, but I also just love the gain structure and EQ of this combo. There is such a greatly EQd mid focus just in the right place.
Also it does my sound very well, which is very much Petrucci, so fluid clear driven leads and (heavy) crunch rythm.
The CL and LF just do those so very well...

Still I feel like there is more room to the top, so I really want a BKP (scatter)wound version of them. If Tim could basecally do a rewind in his technique I would be sooooooo very happy.

Like I want the CL and LF Petrucci himself has (we all know those are not the shelf ones.).
I just want those so very, very much.

[Philly Q]

What is the Alnico Nailbomb like? For Dream Theater style music that is? I'm not a cover band, it's just the best example I can find as Petrucci plays a lot of Rhthym, as well as Lead. I was just thinking a Ceramic might give me that added tightness for a Basswood body, as I hear in kind of dampens the treble, which can make the lows a little less pronounced. I still want to have a great rhythm tone for riffing, but also have a very nice solo tone that doesn't get lost in the mix

Can't really comment directly on that - not my kind of guitars or music I'm afraid!  :)

But I believe the (alnico) Nailbomb is a very popular choice for basswood superstrats like Ibanez RGs.

I'm sure someone else will chip in in due course.

[Cammi]

Yeah, I have been thinking about this as well. I got a mahagony body Dean Vendatte 7 string with CL/LF combo and while it is missing the clarity and livelyness I love about BKPs it still is somewhat of my favorite PU combo. I guess the guitar and PUs work very well together, but I also just love the gain structure and EQ of this combo. There is such a greatly EQd mid focus just in the right place.
Also it does my sound very well, which is very much Petrucci, so fluid clear driven leads and (heavy) crunch rythm.
The CL and LF just do those so very well...

Still I feel like there is more room to the top, so I really want a BKP (scatter)wound version of them. If Tim could basecally do a rewind in his technique I would be sooooooo very happy.

Like I want the CL and LF Petrucci himself has (we all know those are not the shelf ones.).
I just want those so very, very much.

Yh I'd really like that too. I've even been thinking of going to Bulldog Pickups, just especially for this set, as Hayden there will create anything you want :)

[Telerocker]

EQ-wise the Holy Diver delivers these tones, but it's alnico.

[Cammi]

EQ-wise the Holy Diver delivers these tones, but it's alnico.

How would they sound in basswood though? And do they have a tight enough bottom end to improve the Basswoods stripped back lows/highs?

[Philly Q]

Like I want the CL and LF Petrucci himself has (we all know those are not the shelf ones.).
I just want those so very, very much.

But weren't both those models designed specifically for Petrucci?

OK, maybe he has the prototypes in his own guitars - perhaps made by Steve Blucher himself, which might impart a little bit of "fairy dust" - but why would they make the production models any differently?  There's no point, except cost-cutting, and I think it would be unfair to brand DiMarzio as cheapskates.  They make good stuff, on the whole.

[Telerocker]

EQ-wise the Holy Diver delivers these tones, but it's alnico.

How would they sound in basswood though? And do they have a tight enough bottom end to improve the Basswoods stripped back lows/highs?

They're tight enough for metal. Plus, the HD has one of the best solotones - especially for Dream Theater-stuff - in the BKP-range.

[Cammi]

EQ-wise the Holy Diver delivers these tones, but it's alnico.

How would they sound in basswood though? And do they have a tight enough bottom end to improve the Basswoods stripped back lows/highs?

They're tight enough for metal. Plus, the HD has one of the best solotones - especially for Dream Theater-stuff - in the BKP-range.

I'm actually really considering this now. I'm just unsure as to them in basswood? Also what neck pickups? HD or Cold Sweat?

[Telerocker]

You can always ask the BKP-team for a recommendation, but I think these work fine in basswood too. Personally I would go for a calibrated set, however the HD/CS-combo is very popular on this forum. CS-neck does nice cleans and fluids leads, is quite articulate and is therefore the first choiche for a lot of prog-metalplayers. Handles sweeps very good. The HD does this well too. It's just a matter of taste.

[Kiichi]

Like I want the CL and LF Petrucci himself has (we all know those are not the shelf ones.).
I just want those so very, very much.

But weren't both those models designed specifically for Petrucci?

OK, maybe he has the prototypes in his own guitars - perhaps made by Steve Blucher himself, which might impart a little bit of "fairy dust" - but why would they make the production models any differently?  There's no point, except cost-cutting, and I think it would be unfair to brand DiMarzio as cheapskates.  They make good stuff, on the whole.

They are indeed the Petrucci signature pickups, but I have heard many times (and many times even on this forum) that the shelf versions differ a bit from the ones the artist uses.
The Duncan custom shop is always quoted as an example for the difference.

That is not to say that the shelf ones are shitee though.

[witeter]

Yes its the same with Tremonti-the pickups he has on his siganture PRS are the same type of pickups you or me would get with the guitar if we bought it-  but wound to his specification. So he gets the standard pups for that guitar and then has the factory adjust it to what he wants. What we'd get to buy it we would be close but not quite there. Thats how i understand it anyways.