When a Nailbomb doesn't cut it...

[Fole 666]

Hi. Months ago I decided to put a BKP set in my LP Custom and after a discussion here on the forum and with Ben I went with a Nailbomb set. Now after playing with them for some time, i think that maybe they're not 100% right for what I play.

I'm not saying the're not great, because they are, just maybe not the best fit for my guitar and my playing style. As I said I use a Gibson LP Custom (maple cap) and play basically a mix of stoner/doom, psychedelic rock and early hardcore punk tuned in D standard.

While I like the overall tone, i noticed a little bit of flubbiness and confusion in the bass, while i really like the bite in the mids. The highs are rightly present but i just cut them a lot from the amp, so it's good. And another thing that bugs me it's that they doesn't clean up with the volume pot as well as i'd like too, while I absolutely love the clarity and definition they have even when playing full chords under lots of gain.


What do you think? Changin them or trying a little more to know them better, maybe trying other amp settings? And if changin them, with what? Maybe something less hot?

[ericsabbath]

what are the amps/pedals and settings?
did you try using a little less gain and more master volume (instead of channel volume) from the amp?

[Fole 666]

what are the amps/pedals and settings?
did you try using a little less gain and more master volume (instead of channel volume) from the amp?

No pedals for gain whatsoever. The amp is a heavily modded Marshall JCM2000 DSL, presence pretty up, treble almost cut, mid a little less than half, bass a little more than half. I already don't use that much pre-amp gain, just the strict necessary...

[Fole 666]

And why can't I send an email to BKP anymore?! They're always rejected!

[darkbluemurder]

While I like the overall tone, i noticed a little bit of flubbiness and confusion in the bass, while i really like the bite in the mids. The highs are rightly present but i just cut them a lot from the amp, so it's good. And another thing that bugs me it's that they doesn't clean up with the volume pot as well as i'd like too, while I absolutely love the clarity and definition they have even when playing full chords under lots of gain.

What do you think? Changin them or trying a little more to know them better, maybe trying other amp settings? And if changin them, with what? Maybe something less hot?

All in all it sounds like you are not far away from what you seek. I would try to use a bit less gain and bass. This would help you with both the bass muddiness and the clean up problem.

Of course you could change to less hot pickups but then you may miss the gain you had with the set you have now. No pickup can do anything - that's why many forum members have several guitars with several BKPs.

Cheers Stephan

[Fole 666]

While I like the overall tone, i noticed a little bit of flubbiness and confusion in the bass, while i really like the bite in the mids. The highs are rightly present but i just cut them a lot from the amp, so it's good. And another thing that bugs me it's that they doesn't clean up with the volume pot as well as i'd like too, while I absolutely love the clarity and definition they have even when playing full chords under lots of gain.

What do you think? Changin them or trying a little more to know them better, maybe trying other amp settings? And if changin them, with what? Maybe something less hot?

All in all it sounds like you are not far away from what you seek. I would try to use a bit less gain and bass. This would help you with both the bass muddiness and the clean up problem.

Of course you could change to less hot pickups but then you may miss the gain you had with the set you have now. No pickup can do anything - that's why many forum members have several guitars with several BKPs.

Cheers Stephan

In fact today at reharsal I moved them further from the strings and re-EQd the amp....They sounded AWESOME...

[ericsabbath]

glad you worked it out  :D

the nailbomb was one of the few models I liked better not close to the strings
sounds like it's hotter than a damn warpig (which works well somewhat close)

[Fole 666]

glad you worked it out  :D

the nailbomb was one of the few models I liked better not close to the strings
sounds like it's hotter than a damn warpig (which works well somewhat close)

Yeah, I'm gonna keep em for a while longer to know them better... :lol:

Moving them away from the strings put under control the bass and tamed a little the output, giving me better dynamics and more curve rolling off the volume pot. The definition that I love of this PU is still there, obviously.
I then added some bass form the amp to give some body, cut a lot on the treble (it's a Marshall after all) and opened up the presence to better cut the mix.

Now the sound of the guitar really comes out, but with enough balls to do the heavier stuff.