Pickup choice so overwhelming :/ Help me please????

[Eyes Wide Shut]

This is getting into a real choice maker now haha. I currently now have a Miracle Man in my Les Paul, so thats why I'm wondering whether an A-Bomb would be an advantage over a C-Bomb, just to give me a tad more versatility?

[Kiichi]

I know that I will get a CS C-bomb combo for my dean which currently has Cl LF in it as when I have the money. Too bad that will not be soon enough for you I recon xD

[Eyes Wide Shut]

I know that I will get a CS C-bomb combo for my dean which currently has Cl LF in it as when I have the money. Too bad that will not be soon enough for you I recon xD

Yh, I'm overwhelmed by choice. And i've only got until Friday to choose haha

[BigB]

This is getting into a real choice maker now haha. I currently now have a Miracle Man in my Les Paul, so thats why I'm wondering whether an A-Bomb would be an advantage over a C-Bomb, just to give me a tad more versatility?

Never played the CBomb, but from soundclips, forum's knowledge etc, I'd say the ABomb is less scooped and more organic.

[ericsabbath]

Holy Diver-Alnico Nailbomb: there's not a lot of difference between them.

Nailbomb: tighter, Holy Diver: fatter

actually, they sounded quite different in my les paul
nailbomb was punchier, bassier, louder, darker, edgier and didn't have no near as much center and upper mids
the diver was quite bitey too, but smoother, less bassy and a hella lot middier
and also sounded overall brighter, despite of having a slightly tamed top
and I wouldn't say one sounded fatter than the other for rhythms

[Eyes Wide Shut]

Which one would you say for Progressive/Power Metal though? I'll be definitely having a CS in the neck, so that's my shredding box ticked lol. I'll obviously be playing leads on the pickup, but probably just as much power chords, and sixteenth-note picking - the usual power metal style. The progressive stuff will be very Dream Theater, which I know he uses Ceramic pickups, but he has a very fat tone. It's almost like the sound of a Holy Diver with the added bonus of a Ceramic magnet to tighten it up. Thats why I was thinking the A-Bomb - Same mids as Holy Diver, but tighter and a higher cut in the top end. And it might have that organic edge for playing songs by Power Metal bands like Stratovarius, Edguy, Hamerfall, Avantasia, etc. I'm thinking a Ceramic Magnet may sacrifice mids for extra tightness and cut in the high which isn't really needed. Any ideas on this, anyone?

[ericsabbath]

Which one would you say for Progressive/Power Metal though? I'll be definitely having a CS in the neck, so that's my shredding box ticked lol. I'll obviously be playing leads on the pickup, but probably just as much power chords, and sixteenth-note picking - the usual power metal style. The progressive stuff will be very Dream Theater, which I know he uses Ceramic pickups, but he has a very fat tone. It's almost like the sound of a Holy Diver with the added bonus of a Ceramic magnet to tighten it up. Thats why I was thinking the A-Bomb - Same mids as Holy Diver, but tighter and a higher cut in the top end. And it might have that organic edge for playing songs by Power Metal bands like Stratovarius, Edguy, Hamerfall, Avantasia, etc. I'm thinking a Ceramic Magnet may sacrifice mids for extra tightness and cut in the high which isn't really needed. Any ideas on this, anyone?

it doesn't have the "same mids" of a holy diver at all
the voicings and textures are different
mids are more open, kinda paf-like, despite of being very focused and metal sounding
the diver mids are dense and intense, more hard rock-like
you'll probably be happier with a nailbomb for those styles
and sounds like you'll prefer the alnico version

[Eyes Wide Shut]

Oh! I was just going of the EQ charts on the BKP site. The Nailbomb and Holy Diver show the exact same mids. I'm confused now :S But yh, I think the A-Bomb is sold.

Thankyou to everyone who took the time to reply (and put up with my millions of questions lol).

Also I had a random question which I can't seem to find on the forum (well I don't know what to look for), but are the neck pickups voiced differently to the bridge EQ wise? Reason I ask is that I've heard people call the Cold Sweat neck what the Liquifire should have been. Thing is, the charts show a very scooped EQ. If in fact the EQ is different, what would people say the EQ of the Cold Sweat neck is?

[Kiichi]

As far as I recall the EQ charts are not really good for putting PUs side by side. They describe the feel of the PU, but are not anything objective that is comparable.
I do not quite know how to describe that, maybe someone else can pitch in.

[ericsabbath]

are the neck pickups voiced differently to the bridge EQ wise? Reason I ask is that I've heard people call the Cold Sweat neck what the Liquifire should have been. Thing is, the charts show a very scooped EQ. If in fact the EQ is different, what would people say the EQ of the Cold Sweat neck is?

yes, they are quite different in most cases
the cold sweat neck is nothing like the bridge model
it should be somewhere between a mule and a black dog

[Eyes Wide Shut]

God I'm such a tool, I've just realised my guitar is Limba (Black Korina) not mahogany - if that changes anything?

[Eyes Wide Shut]

Just found this vid of the Alnico Nailbomb, sounds freakin' brutal as hell. God knows why people would want the Ceramic to make it tighter haha. It sounds bloody great.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bVDLXQ60_oI
Also how would having a gold cover on the pickup effect the tone? I hear mixed comments on how it effects the tone so now I'm confused lol

[darkbluemurder]

Also how would having a gold cover on the pickup effect the tone? I hear mixed comments on how it effects the tone so now I'm confused lol

Covers do affect the tone depending on the material and thickness. It is common understanding that Tim compensates the winding if a cover is used so it is (almost) purely cosmetic.

Cheers Stephan

[ericsabbath]

didn't play an uncovered nailbomb
mine was plenty of bite with the camo cover
I'm not sure how Tim 'compensates', but I suppose he offsets the coils just a bit more to extend the high end

[BigB]

God I'm such a tool, I've just realised my guitar is Limba (Black Korina) not mahogany - if that changes anything?

Possibly a touch brighter and tigther, and the ABomb should not complain about it.

Just found this vid of the Alnico Nailbomb, sounds freakin' brutal as hell. God knows why people would want the Ceramic to make it tighter haha. It sounds bloody great.

Guess why I love this beast ? :twisted:

Tried a couple hi-gain amps lately with the ABomb and yes, it does deliver that kind of tight, rather abrasive, yet still very organic and harmonically rich tones. But there's even more to it - you'd be surprised with the jangly clean / organic bluesy crunch tones you can get from it on a more vintagey amp and with the volume pot rolled downed a bit.

BKPs (well, the one I tried at least) tend to clean pretty well, specially when you get rid of that cr@ppy ceramic tone cap and put something decent instead, but the ABomb bridge still manages to surprise me (and most people that try this SG) with how it can go from br00talz to crystal clear with the same amp / pedals settings.  Ok, obviously doesn't work as well on a really hi-gain amp but then it mostly has to do with the four gain stages - and even then it still does clean up better than you'd expect.

And yes, it does manage to retain an incredible definition even under very hi gain, to the point you first wonder if it's really a "hot" pup - then you try it on the clean chanel and notice how it pushes your preamp.

Mmm... Did I say how much I love this pickup ? :lol:

Also how would having a gold cover on the pickup effect the tone? I hear mixed comments on how it effects the tone so now I'm confused lol

Can't tell, mine's uncovered. But I tried both the uncovered and nickel covered versions of the RR bridge (on different guitars but well) and I can tell you Tim does some mojo thing here to keep the voicing as consistent as possible.