Suhr aldrich BKP equivalent?

[blackstrat]

Hi. I’ve been looking for higher output replacement to BKP Mule bridge in my PRS Custom 22. Currently I’m using the Suhr Aldrich pickup. I quite like the sound, but curious how does the Nailbomb (or other models) compare to the Aldrich.

Basically I like how the Mule sounded for high-gain but want somethin with more output. The aldrich is high output, a bit warmer but otherwise the overall EQ balance is close to the mule. It combines really well with the Mule neck pickup too.
However I think the Aldrich can get a bit compressed, also it lacks a bit of thump during low E string palm mutes, probably because it is designed for les paul in standard D tuning.

[darrenw5094]

Not sure about the Aldrich, but the next Classic Rock up from the Mule, which is hotter and fuller in the mids is the Abraxas.
The Nailbomb is more Modern sounding and hotter again with a big spike in the upper mids.

[ericsabbath]

I believe the nailbomb has a drier character than the aldrich

I've seen the NECK miracle man (similar to the bridge model, but alnico 5) in the bridge position recommended as a suhr aldrich alternative

[blackstrat]

- Yeah I've been quite interested in the Abraxas, but I've read they're not generally recommended for metal, is it because they have loose bass/too warm sounding?
- So is the Nailbomb more open sounding/less compressed and brighter than the Aldrich? Is it as bright as the VH2? I tried VH2 in this particular guitar and I think they're too bright and single coil-ish.
- I've read also that Nailbomb bridge works well with a Mule neck in a set, is that true?

[Nolly]

The closest pickup to the Aldrich in the Bare Knuckle range would be the Miracle Man - wound with the same wire gauge to a similar resistance, though the Miracle Man bridge has a ceramic magnet and a different coil offset than the Aldrich, as well as being scatter wound and using BKP manufactured parts, which add up to a noticeably clearer and more open pickup.
I think by comparison you'd find the Nailbomb is darker with more overall thickness in the mids. Similarly hot but not as compressed as the MM. Personally I'd recommend the Rebel Yell over the Nailbomb in a PRS like yours, it's a similar pickup but not as overwound, which brightens it up and pairs up very well with the generally darker sound of PRS CU-series guitars. It's also got a bit more of a classic percussive low end and more open top end, which I think you'll like if you enjoy the Mule.

[ericsabbath]

1 - depends on how tight do you want to get

2 - I believe so. Wouldn't call it a bright pickup, though, and not as bright as a VHII.

3 - well, the neck mule goes well with anything, in my experience


Nolly made my answer obsolete, but I'd favor the Rebel Yell too (It IS bright, though)

[Nolly]

Hey Eric, would you really say the Rebel Yell is all that bright? I know that's its reputation but to my ears it's still substantially darker than a Mule, VHII or Riff Raff etc..

[ericsabbath]

Hey Eric, would you really say the Rebel Yell is all that bright? I know that's its reputation but to my ears it's still substantially darker than a Mule, VHII or Riff Raff etc..

Hey, Adam!

definitely pretty bright to my ears, and that's what I love the most about it
I used to prefer darker models when I first started with bkps, then went brighter and brighter
the rebel yell sounds a lot like my beloved riff raff with an extra upper mid boost
almost feels like a built-in tube screamer
not as bright as the riff raff in the same guitar, but close
considerably brighter than most of the others I had in the same 73 les paul custom (a-bomb, c-bomb, holy diver, black dog, c-pig, aftermath) and comparable to the riff raff and cold sweat also in the same guitar
not sure about the mule and vhii cause I only had their bridge versions in a different sounding les paul
I still gotta try the bridge emerald, though

[darkbluemurder]

I had the Suhr Aldrich bridge in the same guitar as a Crawler bridge (to be exact the Crawler followed the Aldrich), and the Crawler was brighter in that guitar. Overall I found the Aldrich to be tight in the bottom, strong in the mids but with very smooth highs - so smooth that the articulation suffered a bit. Sold it long ago.

Cheers Stephan

[Nolly]

Hey, Adam!

definitely pretty bright to my ears, and that's what I love the most about it
I used to prefer darker models when I first started with bkps, then went brighter and brighter
the rebel yell sounds a lot like my beloved riff raff with an extra upper mid boost
almost feels like a built-in tube screamer
not as bright as the riff raff in the same guitar, but close
considerably brighter than most of the others I had in the same 73 les paul custom (a-bomb, c-bomb, holy diver, black dog, c-pig, aftermath) and comparable to the riff raff and cold sweat also in the same guitar
not sure about the mule and vhii cause I only had their bridge versions in a different sounding les paul
I still gotta try the bridge emerald, though

Interesting stuff! It definitely makes sense you'd hear the resonant peak shift down to the upper mids when moving from the Riff Raff to the Rebel Yell. I think in terms of top end extension though, the Rebel Yell is more rounded off than the Black Dog or Cold Sweat. The Emerald is interesting, it's a significantly weaker wind but almost completely symmetrical so you get more mids and rolled off top end than you'd expect. Very cool pickups, and again I'd say it's unfairly been labelled as "very bright".

[ericsabbath]

Hey, Adam!

definitely pretty bright to my ears, and that's what I love the most about it
I used to prefer darker models when I first started with bkps, then went brighter and brighter
the rebel yell sounds a lot like my beloved riff raff with an extra upper mid boost
almost feels like a built-in tube screamer
not as bright as the riff raff in the same guitar, but close
considerably brighter than most of the others I had in the same 73 les paul custom (a-bomb, c-bomb, holy diver, black dog, c-pig, aftermath) and comparable to the riff raff and cold sweat also in the same guitar
not sure about the mule and vhii cause I only had their bridge versions in a different sounding les paul
I still gotta try the bridge emerald, though

Interesting stuff! It definitely makes sense you'd hear the resonant peak shift down to the upper mids when moving from the Riff Raff to the Rebel Yell. I think in terms of top end extension though, the Rebel Yell is more rounded off than the Black Dog or Cold Sweat. The Emerald is interesting, it's a significantly weaker wind but almost completely symmetrical so you get more mids and rolled off top end than you'd expect. Very cool pickups, and again I'd say it's unfairly been labelled as "very bright".

I remember the black dog being very mid centric, like the holy diver and aftermath, but quite uncompressed
my impression is that it has this sort of 70's dimarzio tonal concept, like a dimarzio super distortion x dimarzio paf crossover, but without the top end fizz of those
quite different from the mule, riff raff and vhII, that are more classic gibson voiced to my ears

the cold sweat was a bit hotter than the rebel yell, with a stronger bass response and more treble
I miss that set a lot!

I feel that the bridge emerald will blow me away when I get my hands on one (for my short hydra)

[blackstrat]

Hi. I’ve finally installed rebel yell in the guitar replacing the Aldrich. So far so good! it’s clearer, more emphasis on the hi mids but the high end is quite smooth. I’d say it’s more versatile and sounds great combined with stormy monday neck. Compared to the Aldrich It’s more polite but the bottom end is one of the tightest I’ve ever herd. Really great for drop tunings as well.

[ericsabbath]

Hi. I’ve finally installed rebel yell in the guitar replacing the Aldrich. So far so good! it’s clearer, more emphasis on the hi mids but the high end is quite smooth. I’d say it’s more versatile and sounds great combined with stormy monday neck. Compared to the Aldrich It’s more polite but the bottom end is one of the tightest I’ve ever herd. Really great for drop tunings as well.

glad you like it!

the rebel yell never ceases to amaze me
it surely makes me try to play better