Pickup suggestions - Tradition S20 LP

[nomadx]

That may well be so but I think we all get a little OCD about pickups. Firstly, I'd have to say that there is simply no way that I can see anyone finding even the alnico Nailbomb in any way even vaguely loose in the bottom end and I imagine the ceramic version is even tighter. It's not just that it's 'tight', you need to remember that the articulation you get with BKP is so phenomenal that pretty much every BKP has an element of tightness compared to other pickups. The BKP I've tried that is probably the most loose in the bass is the Holydiver and even that's tighter than something like a ceramic JB and a HELL of a lot more articulate, staying well defined long after my old JB turned to mush. The Nailbomb's on a whole new level beyond that to the point that when I tried it, I had the amp and overdrives all maxed out for gain and it was still as tight as a duck's arse! Both Nailbombs will be VERY tight, VERY articulate and VERY aggressive. I've not tried a Painkiller myself so I can't really comment on that one. Many people seem to like it though I have read from time to time about it being a bit ice-picky, but that may be due to the guitar it's in. The Nailbomb, certainly in the alnico form I tried, is quite a big, thick sound with plenty bottom end and couldn't be described as 'loose' in any shape or form.

Thanks, Slartibartfarst42.  I truly appreciate your insight.  I wouldn't call myself a "shredder".  Lead playing is not my strongest suit and I see that a lot of folks love the nailbombs for the non-blurry characteristic during fast picking leads.  These strengths carry into complex, heavy rhythms as well, correct?  The C-bomb is said to have less bass, so I think the A-bomb may be better for me.  Unless the bass in the A-bomb is too prominent or boomy in an all mahagany guitar.

[nomadx]

In an all mahogany guitar I wouldn't go with anything too mid biased as its already quite a mid focused wood. If anything I would say that something slightly mid scooped (or possibly more high mid focused) would be a better bet as you wont lose the high end and you'll get away from being too warm. It'll also mean that your clean sounds wont sound mushy or muffled.
I don't have any experience of high gain pickups, so I'm not even going to start recommending anything, but I'd probably drop an email to the BKP boys and ask them what they think will work in that guitar for the sounds you're after, as all mahogany construction guitars can be a bit more sensitive to pickup choice sometimes.

Thanks, Gary_goo.  The painkiller mids are spiked quite a bit.  The "ice picky" description of the painkiller does shy me away from that.  I believe that can lead to fizz in situations where I might be using amp sims for recording.

[Slartibartfarst42]

I'd say the bass on an A-Bomb was 'big' rather than 'boomy'. I tried it briefly in my PRS and it was better in that (mahogany body, maple neck) than in my Jackson (maple neck-thru) so I've always felt that it needed mahogany to tame the hairy edge it has in its very tight and aggressive tone. Chords don't blur together with a Nailbomb; it's too tight and articulate for that.

[nomadx]

I appreciate all of the input.  I'm still left quite confused.  The guys at BKP recommend the painkiller for the bridge.  Looking at Bare Knuckle's official video demonstation material, I don't really even see painkiller mentioned. I guess it's a "close your eyes and shoot" situation.  What's the return policy if I don't like my first choice?  I'll try to narrow things down by reading and listening more.  If I were in the UK it would be a lot easier to choose by simply going around the corner and placing my ears directly on the sound.

I suppose a good way to ask is which band are people trying to sound like with the nailbomb and which bands with the painkiller?

[ericsabbath]

ok, now I gotta post this again 

here's an amazing c-bomb/cold sweat demo  PDT_003

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-t8dVF4lOrs

[nomadx]

BKP officially recommended the painkiller for a bridge.  After a lot of google searching, it seems the painkiller is not as popular as their other offerings.  Is it because the painkiller may be a little to over the top for any of the woods except for dark?  I've only found one or two low quality clips of the painkiller bridge in an LP guitar.  Just about everyone speculates the painkiller will sound awesome in an LP (all mahogany), mainly because they think it's too bright in lighter woods.  I'm leaning towards agreeing with them.  I'm sure the guys at BKP know what they're talking about.

The cold sweat neck seems to be the choice in most situations.  Just looking at the specs, the miracle man neck looks to have similar freq response to the CS, but an output that matches the painkiller bridge a lot closer.  Would the miracle man neck be a good combo for the painkiller bridge?

Thanks, everyone for your input. 

[GuitarIv]

Hey man, just read through everything that's been written here and owning the Painkiller I'll tell you, don't dismiss it, especially not if you're considering it for a Mahogany guitar!

I have a PK Bridge and CS Neck combo in my 93 Jackson Fusion ("Fusion" describing the mix between a Jackson and a Gibson, it has a Mahogany Body and the shorter 24.75 inch scale) and those pickups sound fantastic in it. It's not all Mahogany, the Neck is made out of Maple with a Rosewood fretboard, still the guitar sounds naturally very full with lots of depth and body to the sound. The Painkiller just evens out the frequencies perfectly, having a big but tight and defined bottom end, punchy, clear and articulate mids with the right amount of highs, never sounding "ice picky" as some people judge it to be. I think it really depends on the scale and the wood, and for the Gibson Scale and Mahogany I'm pretty sure you will love it. I even could have put an Emerald or Rebel Yell into the guitar (which are said to be the brightest BKPs) and it still wouldn't be over the top, you could consider those pickups as well (as long as you have enough gain from your amp to fully saturate them). Regarding the sound, it always very responsive to your playing, clear as a tear, defined and translates the character of the guitar. The Coldsweat stays on pair with the Painkiller amazingly well and gives you great cleans with amazing fluid leads especially well suited to sweep picking. Hope that helps.

Cheers!

[nomadx]

Hey man, just read through everything that's been written here and owning the Painkiller I'll tell you, don't dismiss it, especially not if you're considering it for a Mahogany guitar!

I have a PK Bridge and CS Neck combo in my 93 Jackson Fusion ("Fusion" describing the mix between a Jackson and a Gibson, it has a Mahogany Body and the shorter 24.75 inch scale) and those pickups sound fantastic in it. It's not all Mahogany, the Neck is made out of Maple with a Rosewood fretboard, still the guitar sounds naturally very full with lots of depth and body to the sound. The Painkiller just evens out the frequencies perfectly, having a big but tight and defined bottom end, punchy, clear and articulate mids with the right amount of highs, never sounding "ice picky" as some people judge it to be. I think it really depends on the scale and the wood, and for the Gibson Scale and Mahogany I'm pretty sure you will love it. I even could have put an Emerald or Rebel Yell into the guitar (which are said to be the brightest BKPs) and it still wouldn't be over the top, you could consider those pickups as well (as long as you have enough gain from your amp to fully saturate them). Regarding the sound, it always very responsive to your playing, clear as a tear, defined and translates the character of the guitar. The Coldsweat stays on pair with the Painkiller amazingly well and gives you great cleans with amazing fluid leads especially well suited to sweep picking. Hope that helps.

Cheers!

Thanks, GuitarIv.  You helped me commit!  I just pulled the trigger and ordered a painkiller bridge and coldsweat neck (burnt chrome).  I can't wait to get those installed! I think they'll step up my recordings a notch.  Thanks, everyone.

If you care to give a listen to what I'm working on, check it out.

www.soundcloud.com/x-nomad-x

[GuitarIv]

You're welcome, I'm sure you will like them :)
And if not, there's still an exchange policy ^^

[nomadx]

I'm probably going to change out all of the guts on my guitar.  I'm going to put 500k CTS pots and I'm trying to determine which capacitors to use.  Vitamin Q or orange drops? .022 or .047 rating for my setup; painkiller bridge and coldsweat neck?

[Slartibartfarst42]

BKP 550k pots and BKP Jenson caps are superb.

[nomadx]

Thanks, Slartibartfarst42.

...and now back to our regularly scheduled programming. :)

I suppose I'll make it simpler; would you all use .022 or .047 rated caps for this setup?

[Kiichi]

Nothing wrong with those values. Tried and tested. Other values work great too (personally always like smaller ones a tad more, but not by a lot) but that is all a matter of taste. Try those as you can hardly go very wrong with it and if you should end up feeling you need more or less you can do it.
In the end those values are pretty much standard for a good reason: They work great!

[nomadx]

Hello, knucklers!  Well, I finally received my pups.  They are a beautiful pair! Painkiller bridge and CS neck; both in burnt chrome.  I dropped it off to my tech last night to install the pups, 500k CTS pots (push/pull for the tone knobs because I got the 4-conductor pups) and two tone factory .022 PIO caps.  Can't wait to get my hands on the strings!!

Thanks, everyone for putting up with us noobs!! :)

[Kiichi]

Thanks, everyone for putting up with us noobs!! :)

Ah come on, we knuckleheads like doing that. We were all there once. My first thread here...oh man. Plus we learn something new with almost all recommendation threads too!

Really looking forward to your thoughts on the PUs.