Ceramic Nailbomb VS Painkiller - Bridge position

[Dionysis]

Being trying to make up my mind for 3 weeks now and I'm really stuck.

The guitar is a Gibson Explorer, all mahogany, ebony fretboard. A really dark sounding guitar.

The general conception is that the Painkiller has more output, more grindness, is sharper and more aggressive, however after listening to the clips on BKP, to my ears the C-Bomb due to the extra highs, sounds more aggressive and is sharper.

The tone I am after is a mix of Alter Bridge, Disturbed and Nickelback.  Tight, organic, razor sharp yet balanced and in your face sound, clear and with definition when using high gain but also capable for smooth cleans (as smooth a bridge pickup can be for cleans)

I have a C-Bomb in an ESP Eclipse and an A-Bomb in a Les Paul Custom. Love the Les Paul for leads and the ESP for rhythm.

The only reason I am thinking of the Painkiller for the Explorer is for the sake of variety. However that can be a bit of a gamble sometimes as my main concern with the Painkiller is whether it is overly aggressive and tight to the point where all bass is gone.

Also, this raises a question, regarding the Painkiller, whether single notes will be as full as with the Nailbomb.

I called BKP and their contribution to the matter is that the Ceramic Nailbomb is a round, organic, all-can-do pickup, while the Painkiller is more aggressive and has more output.

What say you?? Help me out please!

[Dave Sloven]

I don't think the Painkiller will cost you too much bottom end.

The main issue with Explorers is that they are dark with a lot of bottom end.  They also have great sustain.  The darkness of the Explorer should smooth out the Painkiller somewhat compared to other guitars.

[Dionysis]

How about the the difference in output and the single note fullness? Is it overall so different between the two?

[Dave Sloven]

I haven't used either pickup.

I've only used an A-Bomb and an A-Pig in my Explorer.  Others would be better placed than me to comment on the qualities of the PK

[one]

Nickelback? Really?? Anyway, go for the PK, the NB might look very versatile but in some guitars it's plainly weird.

[Dionysis]

I was waiting for someone to comment on that.... 

Yeah, have a listen to some of their early stuff, look beyond the music and just listen to the sound. You'll get it...

[one]

I think I'll pass, thanks :) My music interests go from jazz and flamenco to progressive, mainly black and death (especially technical) metal... I don't think Nickelback fits there, not bashing them just because everyone does, the cheesyness and predictability in music bores me and makes me cringe.

Anyway, tell us about your decision and impression once you finally get the Pup.

[Dave Sloven]

[darkandrew]

Being trying to make up my mind for 3 weeks now and I'm really stuck.

The guitar is a Gibson Explorer, all mahogany, ebony fretboard. A really dark sounding guitar.

The general conception is that the Painkiller has more output, more grindness, is sharper and more aggressive, however after listening to the clips on BKP, to my ears the C-Bomb due to the extra highs, sounds more aggressive and is sharper.

The tone I am after is a mix of Alter Bridge, Disturbed and Nickelback.  Tight, organic, razor sharp yet balanced and in your face sound, clear and with definition when using high gain but also capable for smooth cleans (as smooth a bridge pickup can be for cleans)

I have a C-Bomb in an ESP Eclipse and an A-Bomb in a Les Paul Custom. Love the Les Paul for leads and the ESP for rhythm.

The only reason I am thinking of the Painkiller for the Explorer is for the sake of variety. However that can be a bit of a gamble sometimes as my main concern with the Painkiller is whether it is overly aggressive and tight to the point where all bass is gone.

Also, this raises a question, regarding the Painkiller, whether single notes will be as full as with the Nailbomb.

I called BKP and their contribution to the matter is that the Ceramic Nailbomb is a round, organic, all-can-do pickup, while the Painkiller is more aggressive and has more output.

What say you?? Help me out please!

How do you find the C-bomb in your Eclipse? I've been using an A-bomb set in one of my Eclipses and am curious how the ceramic version would sound in there.

[MerlinTKD]

I have a Painkiller set, and while the high mid focus of the bridge is its defining characteristic, it has a surprisingly heavy low end! As tight as it is, there's a lot of bass in the tone, it's just harder to notice with the mid emphasis.

[Dionysis]

How do you find the C-bomb in your Eclipse? I've been using an A-bomb set in one of my Eclipses and am curious how the ceramic version would sound in there.

The Ceramic has less mids and is perfect for rhythm. Tighter than the Alnico and cuts an little bit better through the mix. 

The Alnico is fuller/rounder and perfect for lead works and solos.

An example is the following track. All rhythm guitars were recorded with the Eclipse and the solos with the Les Paul.

https://youtu.be/woPH328xpA8

[Dionysis]

So I went ahead and installed the Nailbomb in the Explorer. The guitar still retains its dark character without being muddy or anything.

One thing that stroke me was that the new C-Bomb that arrived had a tad more output than the one installed in the Eclipse.

I am still debating on the Painkiller due to that I could use some high end. The only thing that refrains me is the extra output that the Painkiller has over the Nailbomb.

The perfect pickup would be the Painkiller's EQ combined with the output and the fullness of the Nailbomb.

[Dave Sloven]

I don't think that the output figures should really concern you.

I have an A-Pig and a Miracle Man, both of which are supposed to be high output pickups, but I don't find them any more aggressive in practice than the Nailbomb, and in some ways they are smoother

[Dionysis]

I don't think that the output figures should really concern you.

I have an A-Pig and a Miracle Man, both of which are supposed to be high output pickups, but I don't find them any more aggressive in practice than the Nailbomb, and in some ways they are smoother

I see that you have or at least have tried both the Painkiller and the Nailbomb.

How would you compare the two? In what kind of a guitar were they installed, wood wise?

[Lucas]

I have an A-Pig and a Miracle Man, both of which are supposed to be high output pickups, but I don't find them any more aggressive in practice than the Nailbomb, and in some ways they are smoother

Totally agree, same here when I compare my CBomb with Miracle Man. I run them both through Orange Dual Terror and Miracle Man seems to be smoother in high end indeed, not as hairy and sizzly (especially on leads).
I wouldn`t call Ceramic Nailbomb typical metal pickup, it shines in rock, hard/rock giving extra aggressiveness and modern twist, but it`s not typical metal pickup even being ceramic.
Miracle Man is more into that direction without the doubt but still not super ultra modern type of sound either, both excel in rhythm playing but in two different ways. CBomb more towards rock, hard rock while MM towards heavier stuff.