Is this guitar warm enough for the Painkillers?

[one]

In a scale from max warmth 1 to max brightness 10, how would you define this 7 strings guitar?

Body: Mahogany with walnut top
Neck: Pau ferro/maple/ovangkol
Fingerboard: Maple

I love tech death metal and progressive metal. What do you think of the Painkiller/ColdSweat combo here?

[JimmyMoorby]

Standard tuning?  I appreciate you've said the genres but any bands in particular?

I believe Mohammed Sucimez dabbled with BKP's for a time and he used the painkiller/cold sweat combo.  For say Necrophagist type stuff i'd say the painkiller is perfect.  Not being pedantic but for progressive stuff like Opeth, Mastodon, Dream Theater. Symphony X (Which comes to my mind when I think of prog metal) there might be more suitable choices and the ceramic nailbomb would cover all basses.

C-bomb or painkiller for me based on what youve said so far.  The cold sweat neck would work well with either.

EDIT - Also consider the Juggeranut set for a very 'modern' feel.

[Dave Sloven]

Hard to say.

How bright does it sound to you, unplugged?  Is it very middy?

I agree that they are excellent pickups for the genre, I'm just not sure how they will interact with your guitar's woods

[one]

Standard tuning?  I appreciate you've said the genres but any bands in particular?

I believe Mohammed Sucimez dabbled with BKP's for a time and he used the painkiller/cold sweat combo.  For say Necrophagist type stuff i'd say the painkiller is perfect.  Not being pedantic but for progressive stuff like Opeth, Mastodon, Dream Theater. Symphony X (Which comes to my mind when I think of prog metal) there might be more suitable choices and the ceramic nailbomb would cover all basses.

C-bomb or painkiller for me based on what youve said so far.  The cold sweat neck would work well with either.

EDIT - Also consider the Juggeranut set for a very 'modern' feel.

Thanks for you answer. You've described bands I love and nailed what I wanted, I love Obscura and Necrophagist mainly in tech death and Opeth, Mastodon and Dream Theater in a more mellow side. I was told the nailbomb is even more treble oriented than the PK, that's why I'm asking. Btw, I already have a pair of Juggs and I like'em but would like to try something else

[one]

Hard to say.

How bright does it sound to you, unplugged?  Is it very middy?

I agree that they are excellent pickups for the genre, I'm just not sure how they will interact with your guitar's woods

Thanks for your reply. The problem is that I don't have the guitar at home yet, a few months are left until that. That's why I wanted to know, in case anyone have an axe with similar specs. I think it could be something in the middle but I'm not sure and I'd like to know your opinion about it.

[Dave Sloven]

I would wait until you have it in your hands before buying any upgrades!

[one]

I would wait until you have it in your hands before buying any upgrades!

Thanks, Agent Orange, but it won't be an upgrade. The guitar is a RAN it will be the stock pickups I have to choose before it's built.

[Dave Sloven]

In that case I would contact BKP via email and ask them what they think might work.  They have received a lot of feedback on guitars that they have provided pickups for and are familiar with the kinds of tones that you are looking for.  They should be able to give you some good advice regarding how your woods and construction might influence the sound.  As I stated above all things being equal the Painkiller is an excellent choice for that sound as long as the woods don't clash with the EQ of the pickup. You should be pretty safe with the neck pickup; bridge tends to be a bit more picky most times.

[one]

In that case I would contact BKP via email and ask them what they think might work.  They have received a lot of feedback on guitars that they have provided pickups for and are familiar with the kinds of tones that you are looking for.  They should be able to give you some good advice regarding how your woods and construction might influence the sound.  As I stated above all things being equal the Painkiller is an excellent choice for that sound as long as the woods don't clash with the EQ of the pickup. You should be pretty safe with the neck pickup; bridge tends to be a bit more picky most times.

Thanks, mate. I already asked them. They suggested Aftermaths or C-pigs. I don't like the Aftermaths very much, I find the a bit sterile for my likes. I think C-pigs on the other hand should be great, but in more treblish guitar than mine. I think mahogany and C-pigs is going to be too bassy. So far, PK are the winners here, I think.

[JimmyMoorby]

The painkiller has more treble than the nailbomb for sure.

I think the painkiller would nail necrophagist etc but but the nailbomb better suited to Opeth, DT etc and beyond to be fair.

For me I think the ceramic nailbomb is the best bet here.  The nailbomb is a lot more versatile than the painkiller and is for recommended for prog metal to thrash.  If the tech death stuff takes primacy though then go for the painkiller......the painkiller sits some where between a duncan distortion and an emg 81 but with lots of 'grindy' character and much more clarity than duncan or emg.  The painkiller for me covers judas priest painkiller tone and beyond and is not suited to the mellower moments of say DT, Opeth etc.

[one]

The painkiller has more treble than the nailbomb for sure.

I think the painkiller would nail necrophagist etc but but the nailbomb better suited to Opeth, DT etc and beyond to be fair.

For me I think the ceramic nailbomb is the best bet here.  The nailbomb is a lot more versatile than the painkiller and is for recommended for prog metal to thrash.  If the tech death stuff takes primacy though then go for the painkiller......the painkiller sits some where between a duncan distortion and an emg 81 but with lots of 'grindy' character and much more clarity than duncan or emg.  The painkiller for me covers judas priest painkiller tone and beyond and is not suited to the mellower moments of say DT, Opeth etc.

Ok, Jimmy, thanks for your recommendation. Now I'm even more indecisive. I love the Necrophagist tone but If I had to choose between that one and something more versatile like DT, Opeth, and all that stuff, the decision is tougher. I bet someone told me the Nailbombs are even brighter than the Painkillers

[ericsabbath]

in my experience, the ceramic nailbomb sounds much warmer than the painkiller
the miracle man sounds quite focused on leads, but still warm

this demo is a great representation of the c-bomb character and versatility
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-t8dVF4lOrs

[JimmyMoorby]

The painkiller has more treble than the nailbomb for sure.

I think the painkiller would nail necrophagist etc but but the nailbomb better suited to Opeth, DT etc and beyond to be fair.

For me I think the ceramic nailbomb is the best bet here.  The nailbomb is a lot more versatile than the painkiller and is for recommended for prog metal to thrash.  If the tech death stuff takes primacy though then go for the painkiller......the painkiller sits some where between a duncan distortion and an emg 81 but with lots of 'grindy' character and much more clarity than duncan or emg.  The painkiller for me covers judas priest painkiller tone and beyond and is not suited to the mellower moments of say DT, Opeth etc.

Ok, Jimmy, thanks for your recommendation. Now I'm even more indecisive. I love the Necrophagist tone but If I had to choose between that one and something more versatile like DT, Opeth, and all that stuff, the decision is tougher. I bet someone told me the Nailbombs are even brighter than the Painkillers

Tone is subjective and I was being diplomatic but as a matter of fact the Painkiller is certainly brighter than the nailbomb and who ever told you otherwise is plain wrong!  As Eric rightly says the nailbomb is warmer.

Have a think about it but I think you'd be happy with either.  The nailbomb is often recommended for trash and progressive metal styles so logically if it can do progressive stuff and thrashy riffs it'll be fine with tech death!  For riffs and in the right guitar the nailbomb is my favourite rythm pickup of all.

The ceramic nailbomb and painkiller wont be worlds apart.  If you're really happy with the voicing of your amp in general i'd go for the ceramic nailbomb.  If your amp is severely lacking in terms of tightness/high mids/treble then i'd go painkiller.

Both will be awesome but I think the c-bomb is what youre after.  Thinking about it you have similar tastes to me and thats what id use!

[Dave Sloven]

There is a substantial difference between the ceramic and alnico versions of the Nailbomb.  I think the alnico NB might be too middy and have too much treble detail but the ceramic version is more toned-down in those respects with a tighter bottom end and more highs relative to the mids.  Out of the other BKPs I'd say that the NB is the closest to the PK tone wise

I wouldn't entirely discount the C-Pig.  The Aftermath though I can understand your reservations.  You really need to like that sound

[one]

Thanks, mates :)

A guy from a shop who sells a lot of BKPs said the Nailbomb is just as bright as the painkiller. Some forum friend who has tried dozens of them also told me that the lows sounds much better and are more tight in the PK. A matter of taste, I guess. Another friend of mine has established this rank from bright to bassy:

Aftermath->C-Nailbomb/Blackhawks->Miracle Man/Painkiller->C-pig-->Alnico Warpig

He said that the PK is somewhat similar to a EMG81 but with better sound and more body. He says the C-bomb has an 80's cool flavour like a JB that actually sounded good (I never tried a JB, so I don't know very well what he means)

I'm going to put a poll if I can just to get the opinion of those who read but don't want to write :)