Your opinions about Painkiller pickups?

[Studiostriver]

First of all thank you GuitarIv for trying to help me to get a better clue what PK should sound.I`m greatful for your clips,I must be honest completely,yes you played a little slopy,but heard how clear tone they have,so that was very helpful. :) Tone is very saturated and gainish.

As these djent clips concern,i do not know what to say,these guy makes that every guitar and pickups sound the same with this playing style and adjusting gear.Personally I find djent music little annoying.I like more true metal music and riffs. This is ti alternative and urban to me. Metal should never be urban,but always to have a street rock attitude..Like all rock music genres,where they belong.IMHO.

I know this youtube clip i will post is very bad,but this is the sound I trying to achieve and direction where i wanted to go.This is one of my favorite artist who is by the way born on the same date as I. :)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eUdGTBVzk6c

[MDV]

Hi to all! I need sincere opinion of guitar players who use this pickups.Bridge and neck also...

Unfortunetaly I have to wait 4 months to order my Nailbomb/Cold Sweat Bare Knuckles(when I `ll be in financial more situated postion)..But in meantime my plans ruins a Paiin.paiiiiin killleeeer,kiiiiiiiileeeeeeeeeeeer!  Hope you do not mind with my Judas Priest connotations with these pickups?  :)


I came from EMG type metal machinery guitarist,and played 81/85 707 and TW707...The reason I deciede to leave EMG`s is they always have something fuzzy/digital in their sound when you wanna play anything a little subtle stuff it pops up...


To shorten the story...
I feel like that Painkiller is next level EMG modern metal sound with that big bottom end(I think they`re passive pickups with biggest meaty tone I ever listen to be honest),but also very clear agressive tone and liquid alike when soloing,BUT with more organic feeling.

With what you are agree or disagree with me with me?And what is in your opinion reason why you chose Painkiller?

Best regards,
Studiostriver.

Since you asked for someone thats used both. Ive had a lot of time with PKs and EMGs.

You will find the PK cleans up better than the EMGs. If I understand what you mean by 'fuzzy/digital' then you may find that its two steps forward one back depending what guitar and amp it all ends up working with. The PK doesnt have as much high end extension (narrower frequency response), and you may find that cleaner, for want of a better word, but its got a spiky, kind of clicky high mid that can also be a bit grating. Matter of taste and circumstance imo. But, the aftermath is quite similar, with more even mids.

The PK will not be as tight by quite a ways, for 'metal machinery' guitar playing (now that term, I understand :D), but you may get were you want to go with it with a pretty significant re-dialing in on your amp. Its quite a lot cooler as well.

Better cleans than an 81.

Given what you describe being after (which is largely due to EMGs preamp clipping) I'd recommend trying the 18V mod before spending real money. More low mids and headroom, somewhat 'meatier' sound and it, counter-intuitively, makes the pickup sound and feel lower gain (as quite a lot of the EMG ALWAYS FULL ALL THE TIME feel and sound is from the clipping and the fact that you have to play quite gently to avoid it). I like it, and dont like 18V, but its easy and worth a try.

Otherwise, I'd recommend the miracle man based on what you seem to be looking for.

[GuitarIv]

MDV is the man you can trust mate. ;)

[Studiostriver]

Since you asked for someone thats used both. Ive had a lot of time with PKs and EMGs.

You will find the PK cleans up better than the EMGs. If I understand what you mean by 'fuzzy/digital' then you may find that its two steps forward one back depending what guitar and amp it all ends up working with. The PK doesnt have as much high end extension (narrower frequency response), and you may find that cleaner, for want of a better word, but its got a spiky, kind of clicky high mid that can also be a bit grating. Matter of taste and circumstance imo. But, the aftermath is quite similar, with more even mids.

The PK will not be as tight by quite a ways, for 'metal machinery' guitar playing (now that term, I understand :D), but you may get were you want to go with it with a pretty significant re-dialing in on your amp. Its quite a lot cooler as well.

Better cleans than an 81.

Given what you describe being after (which is largely due to EMGs preamp clipping) I'd recommend trying the 18V mod before spending real money. More low mids and headroom, somewhat 'meatier' sound and it, counter-intuitively, makes the pickup sound and feel lower gain (as quite a lot of the EMG ALWAYS FULL ALL THE TIME feel and sound is from the clipping and the fact that you have to play quite gently to avoid it). I like it, and dont like 18V, but its easy and worth a try.

Otherwise, I'd recommend the miracle man based on what you seem to be looking for.

Thanks for your reply bro.So let me get this straight.None of BK pickups can`t sound tight with high bottom end like EMG`s?
I tried 18v mode,it works good,but only for solos and clean parts,but for riffs i didn`t like it.
And I play very light,clipping is not a problem...
It`s just have something like I hear sound of preamp voltage in a certain frquency when playing subtle,i really can`t explain it well.English is far from my native language.
And from time to time i getting passive pickups nostalgic cause i played Strat before 5 years and i know that when actives are in game you loose that organic feel.
And second reason I have other influences in my music as I described on other thread,from very melodic prog rock vibe into neoclassical solos to most agressive modern riffs.

[MDV]

BKs tend to be bassier than EMGs by default, but you cant get the same ultra-tight 'thunk' out of the low end with them, no. You may get a tight *enough* low end for you taste, and 'tight' in the grand scheme of things, but its far easier in my experience with EMGs, and all things being equal the EMGs will always be tighter.

If you didnt like 18V for riffing...well, that means that you basically shaved a little off the outright aggression of the EMG and found it lacking. BKs are all less aggressive than that still. If you play lightly youre going to have to dig in a lot more by comparison to get them to attack at much as EMGs (especially at 9V).

I cant say I know what you mean by hearing anything 'in preamp voltage'. I can say that though I cant swear that it is EMGs, youre gonna get closer to the sound in that track you posted with EMGs than any BK. It would be easier. On the other hand, if you want one piclup (or pair) that covers all the tonal territory you want there, I'm not sure such a pickup exists at all, but EMGs wouldnt be my first choice. I love them and they are in my opinion unrivalled in modern metal tones. And a lot of less modern metal. And they most certainly can do other things (dave gilmour and mark knopfler, anyone??), but for me they wouldnt be a go to. I have guitars with passives in, still, for that reason.

Within EMG land, I would recommend an 85-60 combo. Youre gonna get a beefier, smoother high gain sound thats no less tight or aggressive from the 85 and outstanding cleans, lower gain and fluid as $%&# lead sounds out of th 60.

In BKs I'm sticking with miracle man bridge and would say cold sweat neck. They would be the closest analogues to the 85-60 pair, but will be less capable between them of ultra-tight mechanical aggression or facemelting shred, but will give very good cleans (in the CS; I actually prefer the 60s cleans myself, but the CS cleans are excellent), and will both respond to a volume knob and lower gain settings more naturally than the EMGs.

Your call. I dont think you can have it all here, I'm afraid. Theres gonna be a compromise.

[charles55]

Im considering a BKP Painkiller for the bridge of my Ibanez RGD7421 (Basswood Body, Maple neck, 26.5" scale).

Any of you guys have any experience with PKs in Basswood? Seeing the EQ of the PK, the mids are quite high.
Will it be too middy or bright in basswood?

Thanks

[MDV]

I've had PKs in basswood, alder, mahogany, dark red meranti and swamp ash.

In basswood I found the top and bottom both quite tailed off and very grindy mids left over. More or less turned the guitar into a JCM800. Same story in both an RG (2570 I think) and jackson DX1.

[GuitarIv]

I guess Basswood is pretty middy then?

[MDV]

I guess Basswood is pretty middy then?

No Hence all the other pickups I've had in basswood guitars I've owned (though I've not had PKs in all the basswood guitars) being much more balanced than the PK

The opposite if anything. I've heard it said that basswood is quite 'transparent', insofar as it lets the pickup you put in the guitar sound like it sounds like, dominate the tone, rather than impose a lot of its own sound. I tend to agree. That would be quite consistent with my experience.

[MerlinTKD]

I've got PK's (not calibrated) in a basswood 7-string, and I have to echo MDV here. I *love* the sound, but I can see where the PK's would sound even better in different wood - I'd even say the darker the better. On the other hand, as I said, I do love my PK's!

I'm tuned to drop-G with 11-49+68 Elixir's, playing through a Mustang Floor into studio monitors, and I'm really happy with the distorted tone, especially the high-gain amp models. Tuned that low, even the ultra-tight PK's get a bit boomy on that bottom string on the lower gain models (60's and 70's type amps). The cleans are really nice, if you like a very bright, chimey, tone; they don't really do that 'sweet' clean (through the Mustang clean models, anyway). With the output as high as it is, I really have to roll the gain DOWN to keep it clean.

Now that's my experience, YMMV. PK's are great in basswood, but aren't terribly versatile: you're going to have a clear, crisp, edgy sound, plenty of note definition, and grind that will cut through anything!

[Studiostriver]

Your call. I dont think you can have it all here, I'm afraid. Theres gonna be a compromise.

I`m afraid that every pick up(s) that is great is only great in it`s own way.And versatile ones are not shining that you could say they are great for one thing VERY GOOD,but it can do a lot other things and manage to sound averagely good for everything...If you can catch my ooga booga English.  :?
So one that do specific thing will do it better that one that are versatile in few genres and styles...

Hm...I think I will have to stay in EMG territory cause my music is 80% metal and 20% of melting pot of genres...
It is my main music genre and really want to have thick modern and thight sound first of all.

I guess I will in future need to buy a one Stratocaster for other sounds..

MDV bro,thank you for your help...

Just another question,are you think that Nailbomb Ceramic for bridge can get very tight for this ordeal?

[MDV]

The C-Bomb is no tighter than a painkiller, less so if anything.

[Toe-Knee]

Hi to all! I need sincere opinion of guitar players who use this pickups.Bridge and neck also...

Unfortunetaly I have to wait 4 months to order my Nailbomb/Cold Sweat Bare Knuckles(when I `ll be in financial more situated postion)..But in meantime my plans ruins a Paiin.paiiiiin killleeeer,kiiiiiiiileeeeeeeeeeeer!  Hope you do not mind with my Judas Priest connotations with these pickups?  :)


I came from EMG type metal machinery guitarist,and played 81/85 707 and TW707...The reason I deciede to leave EMG`s is they always have something fuzzy/digital in their sound when you wanna play anything a little subtle stuff it pops up...


To shorten the story...
I feel like that Painkiller is next level EMG modern metal sound with that big bottom end(I think they`re passive pickups with biggest meaty tone I ever listen to be honest),but also very clear agressive tone and liquid alike when soloing,BUT with more organic feeling.

With what you are agree or disagree with me with me?And what is in your opinion reason why you chose Painkiller?

Best regards,
Studiostriver.

Since you asked for someone thats used both. Ive had a lot of time with PKs and EMGs.

You will find the PK cleans up better than the EMGs. If I understand what you mean by 'fuzzy/digital' then you may find that its two steps forward one back depending what guitar and amp it all ends up working with. The PK doesnt have as much high end extension (narrower frequency response), and you may find that cleaner, for want of a better word, but its got a spiky, kind of clicky high mid that can also be a bit grating. Matter of taste and circumstance imo. But, the aftermath is quite similar, with more even mids.

The PK will not be as tight by quite a ways, for 'metal machinery' guitar playing (now that term, I understand :D), but you may get were you want to go with it with a pretty significant re-dialing in on your amp. Its quite a lot cooler as well.

Better cleans than an 81.

Given what you describe being after (which is largely due to EMGs preamp clipping) I'd recommend trying the 18V mod before spending real money. More low mids and headroom, somewhat 'meatier' sound and it, counter-intuitively, makes the pickup sound and feel lower gain (as quite a lot of the EMG ALWAYS FULL ALL THE TIME feel and sound is from the clipping and the fact that you have to play quite gently to avoid it). I like it, and dont like 18V, but its easy and worth a try.

Otherwise, I'd recommend the miracle man based on what you seem to be looking for.

For the tones in that clip my go to would be the EMG JH set. They aren't quite like the 81 but retain the majority of the tightness and aggression but have a bit more midrange and the highs are tailed off a little. After that i would go to either the 81 or the Miracle man.

I think the PK will be far too middy for that.

My go to Basswood pickups are either the Miracle man or bulldog black label if you want to get inbetween the MM & EMG tightness.

[Studiostriver]

Thank you bros for your opinions,I need it very much...So i guess I need two guitars then,very painfull option to my wallet I must say. :D But if it is the only way,then so it`s need to be done.  :x

Thanks again to all for your comments. :P

[ventura]

I own a calibrated set of PKs in my ESP NT-II 6 string.

This guitar is typically tuned down 1 full step, Drop C.  Usually.  The other 10% of the time it's half step down.

I run this axe through:
- Diezel VH4
- Diezel Hagen
- TwinJet
- Axe-II

The clarity, punch, growl and articulation are all there with awesome tone.  I find I've been pulling back on the amp's gain and letting the pups do the talking more and more over the last 4 years.  The music that's played with this specific guitar runs the gamut of Deftones, AIC, and a lot of prog metal.  People have said the pups are too middy or too sterile or what not.  I say no way.  In this particular guitar, they're luscious.  And sure, they've got a real bite to them, they are still well suited to all types of music - simply adjust the EQ to taste.

Of all the heavier decked out guitars I own, I like the sounds of this guitar with these pups the best due to the cut they offer, and how well they play in high-gain environs without having to rely on the preamp gain of the amp.

Hope this assists.
V.