Ceramic Nailbomb or Painkiller

[egRnR]

Hi folks, I'm going to change pickups of an Ibanez guitar (basswood body, maple neck and maple fingerboard).

I like Vai's tone, you know, DiMarzio Evolution pickups, but I'm looking for a higher quality, more detailed, a better version of DiMarzio Evolution.

I've been searching some information for a couple of weeks, now I wanna make a choice between ceramic Nailbomb or Painkiller.

Like I said, I notice that some people say Painkiller is more similar to DiMarzio Evolution, tight bass, more mid and treble, you can feel every single note jumps out.

The only reason I like painkiller is this, otherwise, I prefer ceramic Nailbomb more than Painkiller.

So does Nailbomb has the same characteristic? If it has, I'm not confused anymore.


Thanks

[Slartibartfarst42]

I've not played either of them myself but I wouldn't have characterised the Painkiller as similar to the C-Bomb. Having said that, I wouldn't have said either of them are obviously a Vai tone either so if you're only interested in those two, I'm not sure what to advise as I'd have been looking at something different.

[darrenw5094]

Probably the 3rd thread recently on the Evo's. BKP advise the Painkiller as a replacement for the Evo's, but the Miracle Man for Vai tones.

I am sure the Holy Diver would work in it. It has slightly less bass, slightly more mids and a lot more clarity than the Evo's when i A/B the Holy Diver Charvel with my Jem7VWH.

[Slartibartfarst42]

Yes, the Miracle Man was my first thought too and I can see the logic with the Holydiver.

I suppose that if you like the C-Bomb best, buy that one but it's not a Vai tone at all in my mind.

[egRnR]

Thanks for replying.

Can ceramic Nailbomb enable notes to jump out? Actually, I don't know what makes that feel. High mid? High treble? Or high presence?

I know the clean tone of Nailbomb is way better than Painkiller's, and it's more versatile, that's why I prefer it.

But I concern that it'd be kind of muddy.

[egRnR]

Appreciate for suggestions. I forgot to say, I prefer the ceramic pickups more than alnico pickups. Sorry about that.

Yup, I've heard the MM is the best choice if you want Vai's tone when I read some topics before. But I wanna choose one of these two for replacement.

Anyway, many thanks.

[darrenw5094]

Can't see the Nailbomb being muddy in a JEM really. Should be fairly hot output which should pop out  :P

[Slartibartfarst42]

I can't think of any BKP that would sound muddy in basswood off the top of my head!

The Nailbomb is very tight and very aggressive. I only tried the alnico version and even that was tighter and more aggressive than most ceramic pickups I've tried so the C-Bomb should be brutal. I can't quite understand why you're so keen on just choosing one of these two. If you're looking for a higher quality and more detailed version of the Evo, you probably need the Painkiller I suppose, though it doesn't like you're keen on going that route, it's not anything like an exact match for an Evo and nothing at all like Vai. The C-Bomb, which you seem determined to get, isn't really like an Evo either and is an awfully long way from Vai's tone. Given that you started out looking for a pup that was like a better Evo and gave you Vai's tone it seems odd that you seem determined to get a pickup that does neither. I can tell you that the notes will 'jump out' on the C-Bomb as they will with most BKP and as that seems to be all that's left, I say go for it :)

[darrenw5094]

I am about to get a Painkiller soldered into an Ibanez with mahogany body. I assume the mids will be full and huge, i hope they are not overpowering. I like mids, but not unbalanced pickups. Can't see yet why BKP suggest the Painkiller for replacements of Evo's.

[Dave Sloven]

I know the clean tone of Nailbomb is way better than Painkiller's, and it's more versatile, that's why I prefer it.

People claim that the *alnico* version of the Nailbomb has great clean tones.  To my recollection no-one has made that statement regarding the ceramic version.  No idea if the ceramic Nailbomb is better than the Painkiller in that respect.

If you want ceramic magnet with great clean tones the choice pickup is the Cold Sweat, but that's not the tone you are going for.

I would tend to agree with people here and BKP that the Painkiller is the best option.

[darrenw5094]

I know the clean tone of Nailbomb is way better than Painkiller's, and it's more versatile, that's why I prefer it.

People claim that the *alnico* version of the Nailbomb has great clean tones.  To my recollection no-one has made that statement regarding the ceramic version.  No idea if the ceramic Nailbomb is better than the Painkiller in that respect.

If you want ceramic magnet with great clean tones the choice pickup is the Cold Sweat, but that's not the tone you are going for.

I would tend to agree with people here and BKP that the Painkiller is the best option.

How much mids has the Painkiller got? Compared to other BKP too....

[Dave Sloven]

I don't have one, but from what I can tell from the clips (both on the BKP site and on youtube) it's definitely one of the pickups with the strongest mids in the BKP range, and very aggressive sounding.  Painkiller having more high mids, the A-Bomb more low mids, but both strong in the mids. The Painkiller always strikes me as more 'crunchy' than the A-Bomb.

I haven't seen a direct comparison of the A-Bomb and Painkiller, but here's one with the C-Bomb, Painkiller, and some others (high gain):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Te9XK8KN5zg

[Yellowjacket]

Painkiller is awesome for metal! 
The pickup differences are subtle, at least to my ear.  Although, all the other pickups sound muddy and lacking in articulation compared to the 'Knuckles.

[egRnR]

Why Can't I hear obvious difference on this video clip? Because of my laptop's speakers or my ears?

Thanks for everyone's help, maybe I'll buy Painkiller first and try it, I believe it won't let me down.

Do you guys know which one of high output Bare Knuckle pickups is best for solos? Nailbomb, Painkiller, Holydiver, Miracle Man or Warpig?

[Slartibartfarst42]

Holydiver if you're talking bridge pickups.