Pickups For Suhr Modern (Nailbombs?)

[reilly]

I am looking for new pickups for my Suhr Modern (Mahogany body and neck, bolt on with a Maple top 24 fret)
I would classify my band as a Modern Rock with some influences of Metal. I play both lead and rhythm in Drop C.
The Suhr pickups do not seem to do well with the lower tunings, clarity is important to me and retaining the tightness for palm putting etc. Looking for something that does both clean and gain well so versatility is important.

Amps I use: Bogner Uberschall, Peters Halo/Hydra and Mesa Mark Five 25. Boogie Recto 2x12 cab and Bogner Ubercab.

Looking at maybe the Bare Knuckle Alnico Nailbombs?

I do play some stuff more aggressive, see the links below for some of my music. Thanks for the help!

My Current Band: https://soundcloud.com/michaelreilly/fight-instrumental 
My Last Band: https://lastdayleft.bandcamp.com

[ericsabbath]

a-bombs should work pretty well

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0cW-A-vCQWM

[Yellowjacket]

Is this a bright or a dark instrument? 

For a bright instrument, I always recommend the Juggernauts for heavy tones, particularly for drop tuning, cleans, tight rhythms, and phat leads. 

But the A-Bomb is pretty awesome for a raw and pissed off tone.  I have some samples that I scratched together quickly.  I can send them to you VIA PM if you would like. 

Granted, the amp I was using is no where near as modern sounding as a Bogner Ubershall but the character of the pickups comes through nonetheless. 

For pickups, I bet you'd like Juggernauts with the Mark V 25.  that brighter and more mid focused amp likes being bludgeoned with a low mid focused pickup.

The A-Bomb would likely work really well with the Uberschall.  Probably would get along with a Mark V 25 but I plugged my A-Bomb equipped Les Paul into a Mark V and I prefer my juggernaut equipped super strat.  That being said, the A-Bomb sounds great into a modern voiced high gain head like a Recto or even something more current.  (In this case, ReVv Generator 120 or 7 - 40) 

[reilly]

Thanks for the feedback! I'm going to look into the A Bombs. I would say my guitar is on the darker side since both the neck and body are mahogany. I have a lead on a set of the Nailbombs locally for a good price so I think I may grab them as well (worst case they end up in another guitar).

Am I right to assume when you say A-Bomb you are referring to the Alnico Nailbombs?

And Im happy to check out any clips you may have

[Yellowjacket]

Yes.  A-Bombs is the Alnico Nailbomb bridge pickup.  I hope the clips are helpful!  Keep in mind that they really aren't a 100% scientific comparison because of variations in amp EQ, Mic Placement, and the fact that the pickups are loaded in different guitars.  That being said, you can still hear the individual character of each.

[reilly]

Quick update on the pickups, I got the Alnico Nailbombs and had them installed in my guitar today.

Surprisingly my guitar does not sound that much different to me then the Suhr stock pickups (which is not necessarily a bad thing because I did like the overal sound and tone of the guitar). I do notice a difference in the clarity for the lower tuning and overall the guitar is more beefier sounding which I was hoping for. The suhr pickups (ssh+ and ssv) were also Alnico.

The biggest difference that I've found so far is the neck pick up definitely has more output to it  which I do you like better.

I'll try to record some clips at my studio in the near future

[Kiichi]

Also donīt forget to toy with the pickup height. BKPs are especially sensitive to that.

[Yellowjacket]

Quick update on the pickups, I got the Alnico Nailbombs and had them installed in my guitar today.

Surprisingly my guitar does not sound that much different to me then the Suhr stock pickups (which is not necessarily a bad thing because I did like the overal sound and tone of the guitar). I do notice a difference in the clarity for the lower tuning and overall the guitar is more beefier sounding which I was hoping for. The suhr pickups (ssh+ and ssv) were also Alnico.

The biggest difference that I've found so far is the neck pick up definitely has more output to it  which I do you like better.

I'll try to record some clips at my studio in the near future

BKP tend to be fairly transparent which is really nice.   I heard Nolly's Blackmachine with the Nailbombs and that convinced me that a brighter guitar can work with the A-Bomb as can a darker instrument like my LP Standard.  Have fun and I'm looking forward to the clips!

Also donīt forget to toy with the pickup height. BKPs are especially sensitive to that.

This.  If the neck pickup is TOO hot, play with the height.  I personally set my neck pickups lower than my bridge pickups so I can get more phatness and push with the bridge but have a more open and airy neck pickup tone. 

[reilly]

Transparent is a good description for the pickups. I went to the studio to crank my amp and it was glorious and my tone had a lot of balls!

[Yellowjacket]

Yup, the A-Bomb is one pissed off pickup.  The Sepultura namesake is definitely spot on. 

[pcarrion]

Yup, the A-Bomb is one pissed off pickup.  The Sepultura namesake is definitely spot on. 

It seems that A-bomb is quite versatile. I was considering the A-bomb for a Tom Anderson Cobra (mahogany body and neck, maple top, rosewood fretboard, 24'75 scale, T-shaped body) after reading it was the bkp pickup to get close to Guthrie Govan tone and palette of sounds.

[Yellowjacket]

Rebel Yell is more versatile yet again, but the A-Bomb can do a lot with a modern, pissed off edge.  I like it because it takes my polite, 70s / 80s inspired amp and makes it get angry.  I need to experiment more with it going into the Recto but my friend currently has that amp.  lol. 

A-Bomb is far from a classic Les Paul voice but I think so many things have been shoved in LPs and somehow they still have that unmistakenable voice.  I think the Rebel Yell set really is a more true to vintage LP voice and it does have a contemporary edge.  That being said, I had to swap the bridge pickup to get the phatter tone with the extra push.   

[pcarrion]

Rebel Yell is more versatile yet again, but the A-Bomb can do a lot with a modern, pissed off edge.

How would you compare the A-bomb with Holydiver and Rebel Yell? In my experience, i found more versatile the Holydiver than the Rebel Yell (I'm talking about bridge pickup not the set bridge&neck). The Rebel Yell has a pissed-off edge more pronounced than the HD, more difficult to tame for fat blues that the HD can do perfectly well. So, the A-bomb could be considered a HD with more pissed-off edge, more cut (less mids/low mids)... kind of a mix of HD and RY; modern sounding, thick and aggresive?

[reilly]

Yup, the A-Bomb is one pissed off pickup.  The Sepultura namesake is definitely spot on. 

It seems that A-bomb is quite versatile. I was considering the A-bomb for a Tom Anderson Cobra (mahogany body and neck, maple top, rosewood fretboard, 24'75 scale, T-shaped body) after reading it was the bkp pickup to get close to Guthrie Govan tone and palette of sounds.

I spent more time last night with Nailbomb pickups, I really like them. Defiantly fatter sounding, very versatile, I have a 5 way switch in my guitar so I have a lot of options and they all sound great.  My Suhr is Guthrie Govan spec same wood combo as your Anderson. I think you would like them. The pickups in my suhr were the same as the Guthrie Sig Suhr. FWIW

[pcarrion]

Oh, I know you!! You are the serpent in the Eden garden showing me the apple of temptation!! LOL

I've just ordered today a Miracle Man for an Ibanez. When the GAS strikes back... if I look into my crystal ball, I can see a Tom Anderson with a Nailbomb in the bridge!!

I was thinking about buying another Holydiver for this Tom Anderson. Now it has an HO1+, a vintage Alnico II pickup. It sounds fine, actually really fine but it's not my cup of tea. I'm sure a Holydiver would be great but a Nailbomb will add some new flavour instead of my fourth HD. And I am curious to close the circle... or better said triangle, Holydiver-Rebel Yell- Nailbomb.

Paco