Author Topic: What pick up for speed metal? (Read 9212 times)

Turbo Rico · « **on:** July 17, 2006, 11:20:01 PM »

Hi! I´m new here.
I just got a Miracle Man for a custom made KKV that should arrive in september. So I still don´t know how it sounds. Only heard good things about it and Tim´s sound clip is amazing! Like the playing, Tim.
Anyways... I´ll get unother custom made (KKV of course) guitar from Ran Guitars within 1-2 weeks (finally!). All maple, ebony fretboard, Kahler and EMG 81/81. I already got 3 guitars with EMG so I was thinking of replacing those with some BKP. Tim´s advice was Miracle Man, that´s why I ordered that one for my new guitar.
What other pick ups are good for speed/thrash metal like Slayer? Alot of speed picking and I need a lot of mid range. I´ll play modified Marshall SL-X, I´ll get it next week.
What´s Your suggestions? Warpig? Stick to the Miracle Man? Nailbomb?

JamesHealey · « **Reply #1 on:** July 17, 2006, 11:43:21 PM »

warpig is more for that kinda heavy de-tune metal

Hatebreed to me sums up the Warpig type tones.. or atleast thats the way it's heading.

If u want more 80's till mid 90's kinda thrash/speed, go for a Miracle Man or a Nailbomb.

The Miracle Man has a really tight huge bass responce, lots of lower mids, slightly scooped higher mids and a very smooth rounded yet cutting abrassive High.. Just like the EMG81's but with more lower mids but far more responsive dynamic.

The Nailbomb doesnt have that subsonic bass responce of the MM, the bass is much looser, the lower mids are more to do with the Low End tone, and are very clear, the higher mid range barks like a marshall amp does but with a seriously agressive bite like a bulldog chewing a wasp, and the high end detail is superb really clear and when ur doing fast picking runs it almost sounds like a c--ked wah and really sounds vocal.. compared to the MM which can sound a bit sterile/ceramic-y.. but thats what it's meant to do.

atleast they're my observations..

Turbo Rico · « **Reply #2 on:** July 17, 2006, 11:52:31 PM »

Ok, I really like Hatebreed but that´s not the sound I´m looking for.
Sound like I should stick to the MM? It´s important that You can here every single note when speed picking really fast. But that can be done with both the MM and the Nailbomb? Loose bass isn´t always good for this purpose?? Or is it..?
Sometimes I hate having more than one choice... :roll:

gingataff · « **Reply #3 on:** July 18, 2006, 03:35:51 AM »

If you're looking for midrange and crunch then the nailbomb will suit you, it should also be very tight in a maple/ebony guitar. I don't think Slayer used EMGs on their first album or so anyway (correct me if I'm wrong). Maybe a custom job like an alnico Miracle Man would be a good balance though?

deg0ey · « **Reply #4 on:** July 18, 2006, 08:09:53 AM »

The "Alnico Miracle Man" sounds like a good way to go to me - PM Tim and ask if he can make you one...I think Nick has some custom ceramic Warpigs - so Tim's definitely up for that kind of thing wherever it's possible

ztevie · « **Reply #5 on:** July 18, 2006, 09:23:35 AM »

Hey, Turbo! :)

So you're finally about to cross the line and enter the world of Bareknuckles...?

I'm not sure you would be happy with the standard Alnico magnet MiracleMan, that is really the neck MM... It's supposed to be very good clean, but maybe it's heavier when installed in the bridge..?
The standard bridge MM is ceramic which might be more suitable for your kind of music...
A custom wound might be the way to go? An Alnico wound a little hotter maybe?

Well, as you know I should have my custom this week, so then I can report about both the MM bridge and the MM neck with Alnico... :P

Turbo Rico · « **Reply #6 on:** July 18, 2006, 10:27:30 AM »

Quote from: gingataff

If you're looking for midrange and crunch then the nailbomb will suit you, it should also be very tight in a maple/ebony guitar. I don't think Slayer used EMGs on their first album or so anyway (correct me if I'm wrong). Maybe a custom job like an alnico Miracle Man would be a good balance though?

Yes, Slayer didn´t use EMG on their early albums. Don´t know what Jeff was playing in the early days but I know Kerry King had some kinda Dimarzios in his old BC Rich KKVs. He changed when he got his ESP sig in 1990. I think he recorded Seasons with DiMarzio and than on the Seasons In the Abyss tour he changed to EMG.
So Your weapon of choice would be Nailbomb? What´s the difference between alcino and ceramic? More output in the ceramic ones?

Turbo Rico · « **Reply #7 on:** July 18, 2006, 10:39:10 AM »

Quote from: ztevie

Hey, Turbo! :)

So you're finally about to cross the line and enter the world of Bareknuckles...?

I'm not sure you would be happy with the standard Alnico magnet MiracleMan, that is really the neck MM... It's supposed to be very good clean, but maybe it's heavier when installed in the bridge..?
The standard bridge MM is ceramic which might be more suitable for your kind of music...
A custom wound might be the way to go? An Alnico wound a little hotter maybe?

Well, as you know I should have my custom this week, so then I can report about both the MM bridge and the MM neck with Alnico... :P

Hi!
You´ll write a complete review of it on GMF and/or Nordpolenexpress??? Right..?
Anyways. I already got a ceramic MM that´s gonna end up in my Fagerlund KKV. But this is for my KKV from Ran Guitars. Don´t know if I want 2 guitars with MM, maybe I should try something else...? That´s why I asked. But if the ceramic MM sound good, why change?
Let me know what You think of it when You get Your guitar. It looks GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOD btw.

Crazy_Joe · « **Reply #8 on:** July 18, 2006, 12:21:38 PM »

You are looking for a Nailbomb my friend! Nailbomb and Miracle man do thrash/speed metal better than anything. Don't go for Warpig unless you want Death metal kind of stuff.

deg0ey · « **Reply #9 on:** July 18, 2006, 01:53:50 PM »

Quote from: ztevie

I'm not sure you would be happy with the standard Alnico magnet MiracleMan, that is really the neck MM... It's supposed to be very good clean, but maybe it's heavier when installed in the bridge..?

The magnet is not the only difference between the neck and bridge model, the bridge model of all pickups is wound hotter than the neck. This is because the strings vibrate less at the bridge and therefore the signal is generally weaker, and needs a hotter pickup to make it sound good. If you put a neck MM into the bridge position it would likely sound fairly weak. What we suggested was an Alnico pickup wound to the 17.5K of a bridge MM

However, on second thoughts a Nailbomb looks good for Mr Turbo :)

Turbo Rico · « **Reply #10 on:** July 18, 2006, 02:37:38 PM »

Ok, more and more say Nailbomb... Maybe I should go with that. Than I´ll have one guitar with MM and one with Nailbomb. 3 with EMG 81/81. That should do it!

ztevie · « **Reply #11 on:** July 18, 2006, 03:26:59 PM »

I wonder how the coming Painkiller will cope with this type of riffing?

downrodeo · « **Reply #12 on:** July 18, 2006, 03:28:28 PM »

Talk to Tim before pulling the trigger. He'll give you some good food for thought and some very interesting suggestions that may help more than the specualtions of us forumites. :lol:

chrisola · « **Reply #13 on:** July 18, 2006, 04:18:37 PM »

Nailbomb +1

I have one in my Legra guitar, i love thrash and black metal type stuff (amongst other things) and it works great for riffing and 'blast picking' black metal stuff 8)

Clean aint bad either, its a great all round metal pickup

Turbo Rico · « **Reply #14 on:** July 18, 2006, 04:55:45 PM »

Quote from: ztevie

I wonder how the coming Painkiller will cope with this type of riffing?

When will that pickup arrive?? Wasn´t there 2 new pickups that´s gonna be released soon?