Set for Music Man JP6

[Muffler]

After the great result of loading my PRS with the Abraxas-The Mule set, I'm considering to get another set of BKP for my Music Man JP6 (basswood body, bolt-on birdseye maple neck, rosewood fingerboard, currently loaded with DiMarzio Custom Wound) instead of the Dimarzio Illuminator set that I firstly had in mind, looking for a thicker but focused, agressive but defined and organic sound. I use this guitar for my prog rock/metal band, and I need great versatility too

The guitar is well ballanced, maybe a bit focused in the mid range. I must say that I like the sound of the Dimarzios, but sometimes I feel like I miss a bit more lowend and articulation

Ben recommended me the Nailbombs, in fact an A-bomb set was my first thought, so that's the leading option now, but every suggestion will be appreciated. Juggernauts?? A-bomb bridge + VHII/Emerald/Black dog neck??

Thanks in advance

[Dave Sloven]

Did Ben recommend just 'Nailbombs' or did he specify the alnico version in particular?  I would be wary of it as your guitar has strong mids.  In basswood I would definitely tend toward the ceramic version of the Nailbomb as being the safer option.

[Archlute]

Honestly man, and this is likely an answer not a lot of folk on a BKP forum will want to hear, put a set of Crunchlab/Liquifires in, and call it good.

I have a couple of Ibanez RGs with similar specs to the JP6, and I'm glad that I put bareknuckles in one and kept the CL/LF in the other.  Two distinct voicrs that both are great.  When I need articulation and cut I go for my RG with the Holy Diver bridge and Emerald Neck.  When I need warmth and a little bit more saturation/hair than the BKPs give, I go for the Dimarzios. 

I feel that if I had Bareknuckles in both, I'd be missing a voice (especially as both the CL/LF and Illuminator Petrucci signature sets are geared toward prog metal).  I'll be picking up two more guitars this year, and will likely keep the Illuminators in one, and put a set of ceramic Painkillers or Blackhawks in the other. 

Just a suggestion, but don't rule out the Dimarzios if you already have BKPs in one of your axes.

[Muffler]

Did Ben recommend just 'Nailbombs' or did he specify the alnico version in particular?  I would be wary of it as your guitar has strong mids.  In basswood I would definitely tend toward the ceramic version of the Nailbomb as being the safer option.

He didn't specify, but I assumed he was talking about the alnicos as I'm looking for a more organic and not too modern sound. The tone of the alnico BKPs I already have is the main reason why I'm reconsidering these pickups instead of ceramic Dimarzios... Or at least the mixed way that Juggernauts offer...

I've already heard about the A-bomb being quite middy and fitting better in mahogany guitars or similar... I wouldn't say the guitar has "strong mids", I would say it's a quite well balanced guitar with a kind of tendency to emphasize mid freqs 

Honestly man, and this is likely an answer not a lot of folk on a BKP forum will want to hear, put a set of Crunchlab/Liquifires in, and call it good.

I have a couple of Ibanez RGs with similar specs to the JP6, and I'm glad that I put bareknuckles in one and kept the CL/LF in the other.  Two distinct voicrs that both are great.  When I need articulation and cut I go for my RG with the Holy Diver bridge and Emerald Neck.  When I need warmth and a little bit more saturation/hair than the BKPs give, I go for the Dimarzios. 

I feel that if I had Bareknuckles in both, I'd be missing a voice (especially as both the CL/LF and Illuminator Petrucci signature sets are geared toward prog metal).  I'll be picking up two more guitars this year, and will likely keep the Illuminators in one, and put a set of ceramic Painkillers or Blackhawks in the other. 

Just a suggestion, but don't rule out the Dimarzios if you already have BKPs in one of your axes.

I kinda like the Dimarzios, but there has always been something with those pickups that never left me fully satisfied, like they sound a little plain, artificial or whatever... I never tried Crunch Lab-Liquifire set, but I had a D-Sonic7-Air Norton7 in my old Ibanez RG1527 and it was mostly "meh"... Those Illuminators seems to be quite nice, but whether Illuminators or CL/LF, I don't know if the outlay would be worth comparing it with the current Dimarzios Custom Wound (basically a Steve's Special bridge and Air Norton neck).

[Dave Sloven]

Personally I don't think most of the BKP ceramics have a strongly ceramic character compared to the alnicos, at least not in terms of 'organic' versus 'sterile' ... I tend to think that has more to do with the winding anyway ... I have a Cold Sweat in my SG and that does not sound especially 'ceramic' compared  to the A-Bomb I had in it before ... the main difference between the ceramic and alnico versions of the Nailbomb is the EQ (more highs and lows, a bit less mids with the ceramic magnet) but the rest of it seems to be quite similar. If you have a middy guitar like my SG the natural mids of the guitar fill out the scoop anyway giving a nicely balanced guitar with a tight bottom end.

I made the mistake of being sucked in by the whole 'organic' thing (I personally don't see anything especially organic about nickel, alumininium, or cobalt!) and bought the alnico version when my guitar really needed the ceramic one.  I ended up putting the A-bomb in my Explorer but the C-Bomb could have been ideal for my SG

To me this C-bomb sounds pretty interesting, an certainly not plain, in a metal setting.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fp8bYUWMBSE

Also see this BKP video on the A-Bomb and C-Bomb.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X2kvQkpz5sM

[Yellowjacket]

When I hear words like Prog Rock, Super Strat, Metal, Organic, and Versatile, I immediately think 'juggerset'.  Tight, aggressive, percussive, fluid, clear, etc etc.  Basically everything the OP asks for in a pickup. 

My comparison, the A-Bomb is gnarly, ill tempered, and quite bright.  It excels as a rhythm pickup more than anything else and, in my opinion, works well in a darker and phatter guitar that needs to be brighter and tighter overall.  It's aggressive and does great thrash / 90s sort of tones, as well as more convincing blues type things.  It is a modern HMB with a sweet vintage edge to it but it is not versatile the way the Jugger-Bridge is. 

i.e.  A-Bomb can do blues, punk, rock, modern rock, and thrash or more vintage metal.   Best for rhythm.

Jugger-bridge can do rhythm, lead, and cleans all convincingly well.  But, really not a blues pickup AT ALL!  It will do low and mid gain but it does these sorts of tones on its own terms.  Not vintage whatsoever. 

Juggerneck is, well, amazing.  Very nice neck pickup.

I matched an A-Bomb with a Rebel Yell neck in my Les Paul so I can't really comment on a nailbomb neck at all.  Kinda sad.

[Duck2587]

Miracle man  perfect for basswood maple combo.