A-bomb bridge/CS neck in ESP Horizon NTII (Awesome)

[metalmaniac93]

Well, I finally got my ESP Horizon NT II from Japan and I had the store that I ordered it from who is a BKP dealer put an A-bomb in the bridge/CS in the neck.  All I can say is I really like this combination and they sound great.  I do not hear any Sepultura/Max type tones at all.  Almost a prefect pickup for this guitar.   Great harmonic response and the high end not being harsh at all and the low end is tight especially for an alnico.  The mids are there but they are more low mids., which I do like, but I do agree with Eric that a little bit more high mids would be nice like the RY, but these work for me in this guitar and I might put a A-bomb in the Kramer Baretta.   The CS neck is just plain awesome!! Great for soloing  (clear and smooth) and the cleans are sweet and no mud at all!!!  My amp is an Engl Savage 120 for now.

[visitorQ]

What tuning do you use? I have an LTD H-500, mahogany body, flamed maple top, and I hesitate betwin A-bomb, Cold Sweat... and Aftermath for bridge.
I play detuned in C and I like the round big sound of A-bomb, but I'm afraid that the lows are not sharp enough to play in C. The aftermath it feels too metal for my style, and I'm afraid of the too smooth mids of Could Sweat.
What do you think?

[metalmaniac93]

I tune to standard or E flat and sometimes to D.   I would recommend the C-bomb or PK for your style of playing/tuning.  The A-bomb is tight enough for my playing style/tunings, but may not be sharp enough for your C tuning since the A-bomb tunes have a rounded high end.  I would check the forum for the C-bomb or PK.   There are plenty more users who could help you and have more experience with the PK and C-bomb.  I am very interested in getting a C-bomb for my Ibanez RG3120 (Mahogany body/maple top/maple bolt neck.

[darkbluemurder]

Congrats and enjoy!

Cheers Stephan

[metalmaniac93]

Stephan,

Thanks!! I really like the A-bomb/CS combo.  Perfect for this guitar and my style.  My fav BKP combo so far!!!!!!!!   I would still like to try a C-bomb to what the differences are and would like to put on in an RG3120 (Mahogany Body/Maple Top/Maple Bolt).  I was originally thinking of putting the A-bomb in there since this guitar is kind of bright!!

[9X3]

I've got an A-Bomb bridge/CS neck in my Epi Les Paul Special II and I tune down to open B (B F# B F# B D#) and the A-Bomb retains a lot of the note definition.  I highly recommend this set!

[Eyes Wide Shut]

I find a lot of times with lower tunings, people complain about it being too muddy with Alnico pickups. But I have to say a lot of the time, people play with low guage strings. For example I've got a fair few Alnico pickups tuned to B Standard/Drop A, and I play with higher guage strings and i find them tight enough. I've actually had a few mates who have had guitars in Drop C/B and they use guages 52 and I've set up their guitars with higher guages like 56-60 and the difference are so noticeable when your string is really tight rather than flubby. You get a more defined attack. i actually had a mate once who was using Drop C tuning with a 48 top string, and it just sounded awful. Some people may not agree with me, but that's what I've found from personal experience

[Kiichi]

I find a lot of times with lower tunings, people complain about it being too muddy with Alnico pickups. But I have to say a lot of the time, people play with low guage strings. For example I've got a fair few Alnico pickups tuned to B Standard/Drop A, and I play with higher guage strings and i find them tight enough. I've actually had a few mates who have had guitars in Drop C/B and they use guages 52 and I've set up their guitars with higher guages like 56-60 and the difference are so noticeable when your string is really tight rather than flubby. You get a more defined attack. i actually had a mate once who was using Drop C tuning with a 48 top string, and it just sounded awful. Some people may not agree with me, but that's what I've found from personal experience

I find that to be very, very true.
Thin high strings I can understand (though I donīt really like it), but those flabby low strings...god knows what those guys are thinking (if they are at all). I find a 42 very flabby in E already and I have seen those be dropped to D or 46 to C....wtf. You cannot possibly play that.

I am currently zooming in on my favorite gauges. Looks like it will be 11s in standard with a low 56 for drop D and a 66 for my low b on the seven string (the wound strings with increased core wire strength). And then a 14-70 for drop Bb I guess (again with the core wire).
I currently have one step lighter, but this is what I now am aiming for.

[Eyes Wide Shut]

I find a lot of times with lower tunings, people complain about it being too muddy with Alnico pickups. But I have to say a lot of the time, people play with low guage strings. For example I've got a fair few Alnico pickups tuned to B Standard/Drop A, and I play with higher guage strings and i find them tight enough. I've actually had a few mates who have had guitars in Drop C/B and they use guages 52 and I've set up their guitars with higher guages like 56-60 and the difference are so noticeable when your string is really tight rather than flubby. You get a more defined attack. i actually had a mate once who was using Drop C tuning with a 48 top string, and it just sounded awful. Some people may not agree with me, but that's what I've found from personal experience

I find that to be very, very true.
Thin high strings I can understand (though I donīt really like it), but those flabby low strings...god knows what those guys are thinking (if they are at all). I find a 42 very flabby in E already and I have seen those be dropped to D or 46 to C....wtf. You cannot possibly play that.

I am currently zooming in on my favorite gauges. Looks like it will be 11s in standard with a low 56 for drop D and a 66 for my low b on the seven string (the wound strings with increased core wire strength). And then a 14-70 for drop Bb I guess (again with the core wire).
I currently have one step lighter, but this is what I now am aiming for.

I actually like 10-52 Ernie Ball Skinny Bottom Heavy Top. For me I find they're great in E Standard, and have the ability to go Drop D or maybe D Standard. But for Drop C, I find 56 is the perfect for me and 58/60 for Drop B. I actually find it hard playing fast on loose wound strings, which is strange as a lot of people opt for looser strings because they find it easier.

Another pet peeve is people shredding with Nylon picks lol. I like a stiff solid one ;) Means you can recover from your pick attack faster, rather than having it spring about everywhere

[Kiichi]

Again, very much what I think. For fast playing the string (and pick) need to return to about zero between strikes of the pick. With loose strings I can never play fast. I always miss notes cause it feels the string is like 1cm outa position after one strike (a bit exagerated of course). Canīt properly hit that.
But the described gauges and my trusty Dunlop Ultex Jazz 2mm (and several others for special aplications) allow for much more precise play.

When I see people trying to play fast with a 9 set and a 0.4mm pic I am baffled too.




Ahh derailing threads, the favorite past time on here^^

[Eyes Wide Shut]

Again, very much what I think. For fast playing the string (and pick) need to return to about zero between strikes of the pick. With loose strings I can never play fast. I always miss notes cause it feels the string is like 1cm outa position after one strike (a bit exagerated of course). Canīt properly hit that.
But the described gauges and my trusty Dunlop Ultex Jazz 2mm (and several others for special aplications) allow for much more precise play.

When I see people trying to play fast with a 9 set and a 0.4mm pic I am baffled too.




Ahh derailing threads, the favorite past time on here^^

Haha so true. I love my Jazz III picks :)