Looking to replace Crunchlab in my JP12 7 String (Petrucci)

[JustinG60]

i searched and came across this but this person and I want different sounds...
https://bareknucklepickups.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=30276.msg390830#msg390830

I like tight, i like punchy, I hate muddy and honestly I don't like basswood.

...i know the guitar has a basswood body but it also has a mohogany tone block and a maple top so i am trying to tighten the guitar up, trying to brighten the guitar up a bit.

as is the only amp i have that can clean this guitar up is a JCM800 Kerry King with the mids around 8. the guitar is too muddly for my JCM2000 TSL100 and my ENGL Steve Morse.

sadly i would like it to sound more like my Jackson SLAT3-7. i bought the guitar because it plays extremely well, or atleast exactly how i like a guitar to feel. so less mud, less bass, not too much treble and punchy...

been eyeing up a Holydiver and an Aftermath but i think the Aftermath might be too bassy for a basswood body? input would be greatly appreciated.

[Kiichi]

Hi and welcome!

For what you seem to want (less mud, less bass, punchy, not trebly, brighten things up a bit) my initial response is the Rebel Yell. Bass is very nice and punchy, tight and organic. It delivers all you need (it does not sound thin), but it is not the focus point of the PU. That is in the higher mids, where this one has an amazing rock scream. Go higher and you get a lot of harmonic overtones and cut, without being shrill or trebly. Harmonics all over the place let this breathe life in guitars, it really wakes em up. While it is a modern PU it is all the old goodness. I seem to have coined the description "modern take on a classic sound" and also described it as "All the modern advantages, all the old school heart. Classic sound, faithfully brought to modern times."

You get less bass, more cut, punchy bass, not thin or trebly, lots of nice harmonics and new life all in the form a very versatile PU. If you manage to have this mud up I dare say the problem really lies elsewhere.

[JustinG60]

Thanks for the response, seems pretty much dead on! ...before I put an order through any thoughts on the Painkiller as opposed to the Rebel Yell? The Rebel Yell seems about perfect but I guess I figured it wouldn't hurt to get an opinion on it!

I'm the rhythm player in the band so my lead work is pretty minimal,  mainly harmonizing leads, and our biggest influences are Nevermore and old Megadeth if you could imagine.

Again, thanks for the input and will probably be purchasing the Rebel Yell asap.

[Kiichi]

I am afraid I cannot say much about the Painkiller, no personal experience and such, but from what I know it should be more agressive, more bottom end, less organic (ceramic after all) and a certain attack which people have described as ice picky before in the more negative sense, and very present and cutting in the more positive sense.

However take these words with a good bit of salt and rather have someone else chime in too.

Nevermore and Megadeth (which I have neglected both myself) make me rather think of the Nailbomb in the ceramic version. However that would be not right for what you are asking. Since however the RY is somewhat of a downscaled NB I am still confident in that. NB is this steroid beast and the RY is just highly trained, less all out agression, me agility but just as hard hitting and hurtful if you need it to be. Different approach.

[witeter]

I would maybe consider a Ceramic magnet bridge for the bands you mentioned-it then comes down to what feel and eq you would like the pickup to achieve for you

[JustinG60]

well, i appreciate all the responses. I kind of had the feeling it wasn't just the pickup i didn't like. I went with the Painkiller because i dislike basswood so much i felt i had to go over the top with my pick up. i am quite glad i did, it's almost exactly what I wanted out of the guitar ...but it still has a little bit of spongy/sag that i only seem to ever get from basswood.

bottom line is the pick up still salvaged the guitar for me. much much tighter and more responsive. i don't have the icy pick attack sound that i have been advised of but i may attribute that to basswood.

...again thanks for the responses and will use them in future pick up decisions for my PRS!

[darrenw5094]

Looking forward to getting my mahogany Ibanez RG with newly installed Painkiller bridge and Riff Raff neck.
How powerfull are the mids in the Painkiller?

[JustinG60]

i can't say it's overly midsy. i used to have the mids on my TriAmp rolled up to about 6 just to clean the swamp up. now i can cut the mids a bit again.  I keep my TriAmp at Bass 6ish, mids 4ish, treble 7ish and presence at 6ish on CH3 gain 2

[blackstrat]

Have you tried adjusting the polepieces? It made a huge difference to my guitar.