Author Topic: Crawler or Nailbomb or... (Read 10018 times)

Peterku · « **on:** June 12, 2005, 12:07:52 AM »

Hi there,

I'm moving my Mule set to my Artist. I think they'll reach their full potential when combined with the warmth and big bass response of a LP-type instrument. And I've also become a big Robben Ford fan lately. :D

Now my Strat has two Dimarzios I modded just for fun. They're nice but I'm sure a BK model would sound better. Unfortunately I've realized that I won't be satisfied unless I have Bare Knuckles in both of my guitars... 8)

What I'm thinking is that I only need a hot bridge humbucker to cover heavy styles like hard rock and metal (trying to be progressive, LOL). BTW, the Mules were great for that thing but they lost some definition under high gain, and the split sounds were a little bit thin thanks to the low output. It was worth to pay that price for their open sound, but now I think I need something else.

So basicly I'm looking for a covered bridge humbucker that's
- hot enough to remain very defined and smooth,
- has a nice and full split sound (alnico?),
- has warmth and plenty of bass to fill up the bridge position of a hard ash body with a stainless steel bridge (the fretboard's rosewood, though)
- doesn't sound overly aggressive (either brutally heavy or scooped) -- my guitar has already a lot of high-end bite, and I'm not that type of person anyway
- can provide a smooth lead sound with the proper settings
- responds well to tone control adjustments, I mean not just have a certain character like the JB, and turning back the tone knob only results in a muddy sounding JB...

- isn't a one-trick pony (my Artist will cover less gainy styles, though)

I thought the Crawler or the Nailbomb could be my ticket, or maybe the model that Tim wound for Organic Guitars. I definitely need more bass and mids than the bridge position Mule provided (allen caphead screws? or maybe reversing the humbucker? different magnet?).

Any ideas and comments are welcome.

Peter

Tim · « **Reply #1 on:** June 12, 2005, 10:28:51 AM »

I think the Nailbomb would sound great in your Strat Peterku especially after hearing Steve's clip on his Strat. The mids wouldn't be as pronounced as a LP but I don't think they'd be scooped either with the hard ash body just nice and punchy.
I've been using Nailbombs in a solid mahogany Vee and have been blown away with the results-with overdrive I can achieve all of the classic rock and metal tones right up to numetal(although the Warpig does do this better IMHO).The clean tones are also surprisingly good for such a powerful pickup-the neck is nice and woody, bridge is fat, splits down well, and the in between tone is pure quack.

As always Peterku, if it's not right I'll exchange it for you if it's not right in your guitar so long as it's in original condition.

I offer this to all our customers simply because you never really know with pickups until you fit them into YOUR guitar and play them YOURSELF. Sound clips can only tell you so much...........your own fingers and ears are the real judge :)
As I said, we offer a 14 day swap over period(or refund if you're really not happy)as long as you look after the pickup...........by this I mean don't cut the hook up right down, just solder into place as we prepare them ready to go.
One guy returned a pickup after a year to me, covered in gunk,had done loads of gigs with it and said...........he wasn't sure about it. Well you can imagine my response :rock: :wallbash: :wallbash: ............that's not 14 days and not good condition :lol: !!

Anyways Peterku, I'm sure the vintage materials of the Nailbomb(plain enamel wire, unpolished ALnicoV)along with it's hot offset coil wind will deliver the tone you're after. :guitar4:

Ced777 · « **Reply #2 on:** June 12, 2005, 10:34:17 AM »

+1 for NB.
I have one in my mahogany Ibanez S, and it's a delight. Split very well.
For versatility, you can't be wrong.

Peterku · « **Reply #3 on:** June 12, 2005, 12:17:16 PM »

Thank you very much! It'll be a Nailbomb then, probably. I shall keep listening to the clips till I gather enough money for the order. Thanks once again! :)

Ratrod · « **Reply #4 on:** June 12, 2005, 01:28:45 PM »

Nailbomb +1. The Crawlers are good but they're too blues rock for what you want.

HJM · « **Reply #5 on:** June 12, 2005, 02:10:28 PM »

Can't see your strat sounding any brighter than my RG, it has a maple board.

The two BKs that remind me a bit of a JB are the Crawlers (warmer JB) and the Nailbomb (rude JB). But, Ratrod hit the nail on the head - the Crawlers are a bit more blues/rock. The extra mid is nice in the crawlers, but they're perhaps a bit too polite for th sort of sounds you're talking about.

Hope they fit the bill!

TwilightOdyssey · « **Reply #6 on:** June 12, 2005, 02:23:39 PM »

tsk, tsk, Peter ... I thought you weren't going to spend more money on expensive pickups!! For shame!! :D :D :D :D :D

Peterku · « **Reply #7 on:** June 12, 2005, 02:34:38 PM »

Haha, I do love blues-rock. Yes, that's my problem. In all the dirty clips the Nailbomb has a certain modern and cutting edge to the sound I don't know whether I like or not. It's a more focused sound than the Crawler has with a raw and a little bit dry quality to my ears. The Crawler clips sound more 'wet' but that's maybe a little bit too much for my application.

BTW, are the Crawler and the Nailbomb similar in their construction as well? I mean, they both have a similar resistance and are wound with the same wire, I don't know much about the size of their magnet, though. I know the Nailbomb has a coil offset. Should that be the only significant difference, I wonder if I could have a Nailbomb that's wound with a smaller offset than the stock model. It could be a pickup somewhere halfway between the Crawler and the stock Nailbomb, let's say at 15.5K. :)

Peterku · « **Reply #8 on:** June 12, 2005, 02:36:29 PM »

Quote from: TwilightOdyssey

tsk, tsk, Peter ... I thought you weren't going to spend more money on expensive pickups!! For shame!! :D :D :D :D :D

Yeah, but then I solved the dilemma by thinking of BKP as a long-term investment for my playing... :lol: :lol: :lol:

Tim · « **Reply #9 on:** June 12, 2005, 02:47:56 PM »

The Crawler and Nailbomb are both wound with 43 AWG plain enamel but to different spec................the Nailbomb does indeed have a small offset and hotter wind.

Keep in mind Peterku that you'll need a 52mm spacing for your Strat so don't get too hung up on DC res..........a 50mm Crawler is DC14.9K whereas a 52mm Crawler is DC15.8K.

The essential difference is the Crawler is a touch less powerful(it's still a pokey p/up though)with a fatter tone whereas the Nailbomb is hotter with slightly more presence in the top end.

A good person to speak to is Steve as he's fitted both to a Strat-PM him and see what he says if he doesn't come in on this one.

steve · « **Reply #10 on:** June 12, 2005, 03:47:24 PM »

Im Here.
Any questions fire away.

Peterku · « **Reply #11 on:** June 12, 2005, 04:43:41 PM »

Quote from: steve

Im Here.
Any questions fire away.

Thanks.

Could you please list the two pickup's tonal qualities that are the most significant to you -- in a Strat, of course, with low or high gain, rythm or lead work. :)

steve · « **Reply #12 on:** June 12, 2005, 05:29:07 PM »

Hi,

I would say the nailbomb is the most versatile of the two, it handles modern high gain with ease but will less gain will do the classic rock crunch we all love. I know the Nailbomb tracks i have posted have been modern high gain tones but that is just what has suited the feel of the track. I record all the time and use the Nailbomb for many different styles.

The Crawler has a awesome tone as well but i found the Nailbomb to be much fatter and wider.And it gave the strat with a floyd rose real depth and single notes sounded rounder.
The Crawler is superb at blues/rock but i was looking for more versatility
and Tim recommended the Nailbomb.It worked for me.

If you want i can post a old clip of the crawler in my strat so you can compare the different tones.Let me know.
Hope this helps,
Steve.

Tim · « **Reply #13 on:** June 12, 2005, 05:30:59 PM »

Post the clip anyway Steve, it'd be a good comparison for us all.

Peterku · « **Reply #14 on:** June 12, 2005, 05:53:06 PM »

Quote from: steve

Hi,

I would say the nailbomb is the most versatile of the two, it handles modern high gain with ease but will less gain will do the classic rock crunch we all love. I know the Nailbomb tracks i have posted have been modern high gain tones but that is just what has suited the feel of the track. I record all the time and use the Nailbomb for many different styles.

The Crawler has a awesome tone as well but i found the Nailbomb to be much fatter and wider.And it gave the strat with a floyd rose real depth and single notes sounded rounder.
The Crawler is superb at blues/rock but i was looking for more versatility
and Tim recommended the Nailbomb.It worked for me.

If you want i can post a old clip of the crawler in my strat so you can compare the different tones.Let me know.
Hope this helps,
Steve.

Thanks Steve! Yes, the clip would be welcome. :)