Could the Nailbomb do the Tom Delonge tone?

[CommonCourtesy]

So I'm doing a lesson tutorial on Blink 182's "All The Small Things". I know Tom Delonge used a strat with a SD invader or some kind of humbucker in it. I have a strat with a JB jnr in the bridge, and was originally going to go for that. I have a Les Paul loaded with a ceramic nailbomb in the bridge, and tempted to use this for it, but will it be too throaty and bassy?

I'm trying to get that American pop punk distortion without being too fuzzy.

So should I go with the strat or the les paul?

[littleredguitars2]

okay i GUESS i'll throw in my two cents since i pretty much major in delonge. its definitely capable to get the blink tone with a nailbomb but i wouldnt call it ideal. the nailbomb always seemed too fuzzy compared to the invader. the c-pig is supposedly the bk equivalent of the invader but better.  i'd go with the strat.

[CommonCourtesy]

Was hoping you'd chime in man cos I notice you do a lot of Blink/Green Day stuff in your YouTube covers!

Yeah Nailbomb might be a bit too much, I know Tom doesn't use a JB but its more resemblant to an Invader than a BKP.

[littleredguitars2]

yeah pretty much how i feel as well.

[darrenw5094]

Strat all the way

[CommonCourtesy]

Used the strat, sounded alright though I felt it lacked a bit of low end, possibly cos of the EQ, or light strings (10's) I don't know.

Doing Basket Case next so I assume its same again for the guitar!

[littleredguitars2]

BJ armstrong used a JB a lot. the invader has a lot more low end than the JB. i think it read low 8 mid 7 and treble 4.

[CommonCourtesy]

Yes and he still does today I think, but the humbucker sized version which goes into a standard pickup slot. He also slants his pickup to an angle, dunno how much difference this does to the sound but his guitar tech said he likes it like that.

I always saw Green Day and Blink as high trebley EQ'd tones but maybe I'll increase the bass and mids a bit, doesn't seem to sound fat enough on mine. Also Basket Case is originally in Eb so maybe that might give it a thicker sound.

[Yellowjacket]

Eb standard is thicker, especially when you move up one guage of strings to maintain adequate string tension. 

[littleredguitars2]

You really can't go wrong with Eb

[CommonCourtesy]

Hmm yeah Dookie is pretty much all in Eb, I love the sound he gets from his strat with the JB in that bridge, nice and chunky, somehow, lol.

[littleredguitars2]

yeah as much as i love BK i've been really wanting to try a jb. i've never used one. so many of my favorite players use a JB. Bayside, Four Year Strong, among others.

[Yellowjacket]

I have a friend who uses a JB in the bridge of all his LP Studios.  He swears by the combination and I tried the guitar when demoing and amp I later bought from him.  I totally agree, the JB really rocks.  Pickups are all about what you are going for with a guitar / pickup / amp combination. 

The Alnico II Pro / Custom Custom combination in my Godin LG was great for lower gain settings on the amp.  When I wanted a dynamic tone with an absolutely gorgeous transition into clip, the darker and more powerful Seymour Duncans were perfect.  The Rebel Yell, by comparision, is bright and sounds very thin in that same scenario.  The trade off is how complex, crunchy, and articulate it sounds under higher gain settings.  There's a reason people who like modern tones really dig BKP. 

Additionally, for the same effect with the beautiful softer clip, the solution with the Rebel Yell is to turn down the volume pot.  The results are surprisingly comparable. 

[littleredguitars2]

yeah i feel like the JB has "that tone" that i always seem to look for. a very in between tone. something that could work for any situation.

[CommonCourtesy]

Originally I was going to put a JB in my LP studio for the band guitar, but the other guitarist has one in his bridge so I wanted something different to cover the lower frequencies. We have different guitars though so that'd be different to start with.

I feel a JB has more of the American sound whereas BKP a British sound, I like the American pop punk guitar tone though I am happy with my Aftermath.