New guy, want a BKP

[MentalTan]

What's up guys!
I've heard alot about BK pickups, and I just got a new guitar with EMG 81 & 85s in it. I like the quality of the sound I get from the EMGs, but the sound is too sterile, and there is too little bass. The guitar is maple neck(through body), with an ebony board, dunno what the body is(poplar, alder?), but it sounds pretty balanced for such bright woods.
OK, uhh stuff I want
-High quality!!!
-I play metal, I like a punchy, tight rhythm sound. I can kinda get that from the 81, but I need a little more "boom" :lol:  And the 85 doesn't have enough cut, and isn't tight enough. I usually play with as much gain as I can get from my amp. My EQ is at Bass: 4.5 Mid: 5.5 Treb: 6
-I do play alot of lead. I like a very articulate sound on single note runs, all over the fretboard, I don't like the notes to mush together when playing quickly on the low strings. I like the highs to really stand out.
-Clean...um yeah, the clean on all the pickups I've played has sounded pretty similar, I'm not very picky on this one. I just need a neck pickup that cleans up well.
I've read all the descriptions, and I've read some of the posts here. I liked the sound of the Nailbomb, sounded like it has good cutting highs, punchy mids, and a booming but tight bass, and lots of output. It sounded perfect but alot of people sell their NBs, is there something wrong with it?
Rebel Yells sound good too, but can they do high-gain metal?
Warpigs look cool, but it sounds like they may not be tight or articulate enough for my needs.
Hope this is enough info for you guys. Recommendations are greatly appreciated.

[Muzzzz]

Firstly, hi, and welcome to the boards!

Sounds like a Miracle Man job to me, but that's just off clips and decriptions (EDIT: Descriptions! :oops:  I'm sure they don't need decoding) I've heard, let's see what the other guys think...

[Antag]

Miracle Man bridge with a Cold Sweat neck IMO...

[Antag]

Or perhaps Painkiller & Cold Sweat?

[MentalTan]

Cold Sweat neck position right?  I've heard alot of good things about the CS neck, and the MM bridge. Is that a real versitile combo or something?
Would the Nailbomb do the job for me? Is there something wrong with it? Because alot of people sell thiers. :?

[Antag]

I liked the sound of the Nailbomb, sounded like it has good cutting highs, punchy mids, and a booming but tight bass, and lots of output. It sounded perfect but alot of people sell their NBs, is there something wrong with it?

Interesting comment - where have you seen all these Nailbombs for sale?

There's nothing "wrong" with it, but if there are lots of people selling them on, the I guess it could have something to do with expectations:

The Nailbomb isn't massively high output.  Sure, it's hot, but not mega hot - the MM & PK have a lot more output.

It's dynamic, punchy, percussive & versatile with a lot of upper mids & highs - gives the sound a lot of "cut" - but I don't think it has massive low end.

[MentalTan]

I liked the sound of the Nailbomb, sounded like it has good cutting highs, punchy mids, and a booming but tight bass, and lots of output. It sounded perfect but alot of people sell their NBs, is there something wrong with it?

Interesting comment - where have you seen all these Nailbombs for sale?

There's nothing "wrong" with it, but if there are lots of people selling them on, the I guess it could have something to do with expectations:

The Nailbomb isn't massively high output.  Sure, it's hot, but not mega hot - the MM & PK have a lot more output.

It's dynamic, punchy, percussive & versatile with a lot of upper mids & highs - gives the sound a lot of "cut" - but I don't think it has massive low end.

I kinda glanced through this forum's trading/selling section and noticed like 4 or NBs for sale. I just kinda saw that and assumed that people were buying them and getting dissapointed. So I apologise for not thinking it through :?
I thought they were mega hot like a MM or a PK. It was kinda misleading "chaos in a pickup". But it's good to know that they aren't super hot like I thought, thanks. :D

[MDV]

If youre used to the gain level of an 81 then the MMs going to seem a little tame. It did to me, anyway. Great character, but I had to get one overwound for my tonal happiness.

Ceramic warpig bridge.

Any number of neck pickups, but I have the Cold Sweat and can tell you that it balances against the cWP very well (confirmed by tim that it needs no adjustment to do so) and is a godly shred pickup.

[MentalTan]

If youre used to the gain level of an 81 then the MMs going to seem a little tame. It did to me, anyway. Great character, but I had to get one overwound for my tonal happiness.

Ceramic warpig bridge.

Any number of neck pickups, but I have the Cold Sweat and can tell you that it balances against the cWP very well (confirmed by tim that it needs no adjustment to do so) and is a godly shred pickup.

I need a good amount of cut, and definition, would the warpig be bright enough for that?
I saw a good deal on a A5 warpig set, how do those sound?

[MDV]

All BKs give cut and definition, in my experience. Its a defining part of the BK sound.

The CWPs are excelent at this. Just because the MM has a reputation for being the 'defined sounding metal' pickup doesnt mean the others are in any way lacking in that.

The A5 is more organinc, less tight than the MM and cWP, though still tighter, by far, than any stock pickup, duncan or dimarzio. Its a fat, grinding sound that is most comparable, though still quite different to, an 85 in the bridge.

The miracle man will suit you very well, IF you're prepared for the gain drop. It'll give a sharper sound than the 81, but very smooth, completely un-brittle highs, quite a bit more bass and low mid, less mids overall, similar highs, but the MMs highs are higher. Quite a lot less compressed.

The CWP will give a bit more gain than an 81, but not much and strongly dependant on pickup height, of course. Its less compressed, but more than the MM. EQ wise its flatter than the MM in the mids and highs, and has freight-train bass. Its is, however, crystal clear and surgically precise with plently of high end. You dont lose any highs or clarity for the sake of the lows with this pickup.

[MentalTan]

All BKs give cut and definition, in my experience. Its a defining part of the BK sound.

The CWPs are excelent at this. Just because the MM has a reputation for being the 'defined sounding metal' pickup doesnt mean the others are in any way lacking in that.

The A5 is more organinc, less tight than the MM and cWP, though still tighter, by far, than any stock pickup, duncan or dimarzio. Its a fat, grinding sound that is most comparable, though still quite different to, an 85 in the bridge.

The miracle man will suit you very well, IF you're prepared for the gain drop. It'll give a sharper sound than the 81, but very smooth, completely un-brittle highs, quite a bit more bass and low mid, less mids overall, similar highs, but the MMs highs are higher. Quite a lot less compressed.

The CWP will give a bit more gain than an 81, but not much and strongly dependant on pickup height, of course. Its less compressed, but more than the MM. EQ wise its flatter than the MM in the mids and highs, and has freight-train bass. Its is, however, crystal clear and surgically precise with plently of high end. You dont lose any highs or clarity for the sake of the lows with this pickup.

Thanks man! Good info in there!
I think I down to the MM, CWP, and the PK.

[TwilightOdyssey]

Welcome!

Every BK pup will 'do' high gain guitar. I've been able to get a screaming tone from Stormy Mondays in a 335!

Could you tell us more about what style you play? Influences? Any particular kind of tone you are going for? And what amp you are using?

It's very easy to recommend the Miracle Man cause it does most metal tones really well, but I'd rather proceed out of knowledge.

[BloodMountain]

Welcome!

Every BK pup will 'do' high gain guitar. I've been able to get a screaming tone from Stormy Mondays in a 335!

Could you tell us more about what style you play? Influences? Any particular kind of tone you are going for? And what amp you are using?
It's very easy to recommend the Miracle Man cause it does most metal tones really well, but I'd rather proceed out of knowledge.

that info is needed....  :)

i would say cWP bridge too, but i need to have a bit more info beforehand.

i will also post a review here when i install mine...  :twisted:

[Doadman]

Every BK pup will 'do' high gain guitar.

I certainly think that is true of all of the contemporary pups by BKP. My initial thoughts would be MM, PK or cWP but I think that all of the options in that section would do well. I like high gain stuff too yet I went for a CS in the bridge as Tim assured me that it could take masses of gain no problem. I'll be able to tell you more on Monday when I've got the guitar back from the tech and had a chance to play with it. I have, however, spoken to the tech on the phone and he tells me that they're superb; a very articulate sound but with plenty of growl. As for the neck pup, you obviously can't go wrong with a CS. So many people seem to love them on this board that I sometimes wonder why Tim makes anything else for the neck  :D

[MentalTan]

Welcome!

Every BK pup will 'do' high gain guitar. I've been able to get a screaming tone from Stormy Mondays in a 335!

Could you tell us more about what style you play? Influences? Any particular kind of tone you are going for? And what amp you are using?

It's very easy to recommend the Miracle Man cause it does most metal tones really well, but I'd rather proceed out of knowledge.

Thanks for the warm welcome guys :D
I get kinda lost with all the sub-generes of metal, but I'll try my best...
Main influences for guitar would be Dimebag Darrell, Chuck Schulinder, Marty Friedman, KK & Glenn from the Priest, Paul Gilbert, Joe Satriani, Dave Mustaine, and John Petrucci to name a few. They influence me but that doesn't mean I play thier songs or have a similar playing style. I guess the guitar sound I go for is a cross between Death, Judas Priest, and Pantera. Metal with some thrash, prog rock, death, and stoner/sludge metal(think Down and Corrosion of Conformity). So I need some real tight chunk, and grind; gotto be good for fast riffs, and slower, more melodic crunchy riffs. But I also need lots of clarity and articulation for some intricate chords, and lead playing. I am a pretty strict alternate picker, but I do some sweeping and legato(I'm no tapper). I have a solid state Randall combo, it's a high gain, and the sound can get very saturated a distorted. It's kinda got a scooped metal tone, but I tend to try to balance the EQ, then tighten the bass, and boost the highs a little bit for some cut and piercing lead.
If you guys need any more details feel free to ask.

EDIT: I am leaning to the PK, it sounds like it would be articulate and clear across the board, even in low tunings(I tune to D-standard and drop C).