Thinking of swapping out my Painkiller 7

[Chargrilled]

I've been recording with this pickup with my guitar tuned down a whole step but it's always sounded slightly harsh to me - it doesn't give me that kind of 'liquid' distortion sound I want. I use a Blackstar HT5 with a few pedals and while it's a tight pickup I'm never happy with the recorded sound compared to the cleans with the Holydiver in the neck. My guitar is an Ibanez Apex II with a Mahogany body.

I'm thinking of swapping it out but really want to get it right this time as this is clearly costing me double now  :D

The kinds of bands I like: Limp Bizkit, Korn, Smashing Pumpkins, Evanescene, Linkin Park - I really need a bit of rock/ heavy rock all rounder that can handle downtuning. I kinda fancy jumping on the Periphery/ Aftermath bandwagon though :plasma:

By the way is there any way of trading in my PK7 for a discount on the replacement - or anyone want to buy it for 50 quid!

[ericsabbath]

maybe you need a bigger amp

you'll probably enjoy the alnico nailbomb for smashing pumpkins and the new metal stuff
it's quite aggressive, but fat and fluid
and known as the best all rounder in the contemporary line

[Slartibartfarst42]

Alnico Nailbomb was my first thought too. It has a very aggressive sound so I didn't find it that versatile but it's easily tight enough for drop tunings and certainly won't be as harsh as the Painkiller. It is quite a fat tone, though fluid isn't a word that leaps to mind. I think it's your best fit.

[Chargrilled]

Cheers guys - you lot know your shite coz the Nailbomb is what BK have recommended as well! On the note of a bigger amp - that is 100% true but sadly as a bedroom recordist even a 5W Blackstar is bloody loud!!!

[TheyCallMeVolume]

Definitely ABombs. As far as the amp, you can definitely do better. Amps like a Tiny Terror or maybe a DSL 201 would work much better.

[ericsabbath]

it's not about the volume
a 100w amp at 0.3 in bedroom volume is still much thicker sounding than a 5w amp played loud
power tube types and speakers matter as well
try a proper high gain 50w 1x12 combo and you'll be fine at any situation

[Chargrilled]

Cheers for that info! I'm not going to swap the PK because it looks like it's the amp, I can still get a half decent sound out of it though :

http://profile.ultimate-guitar.com/Chargrill3d/music/all/play1108389