New to forum, Painkiller/Holy Diver info!

[INTIMEOFTHEPLAGUE]

Hey guys, i'm new to the forum and heard great things about BKpu's I currently use EMG 81/85 (pretty standard... I have one guitar setup with 81 bridge 85 neck for more of a mellow and rounded sound, and another switched around with 85 in the bridge and 81 in the neck, which is much more abrasive and sharp sound).

 But I am sick of a few things: 1. replacing batteries; i have too many guitars to constantly be replacing batteries on them. 2. the massive feedback, 3. i get too much of a low end and while that can be good, i can't get it setup to be nice and chuggy for leads, but during solo/sweeping parts, the low end interferes with the high end... Despite my futzing with settings it seems to overwhelm.

I was looking at the pickups, and Holy Diver and Painkiller caught my eyes. Priest kicks ass, and they get wicked $%&#ing harmonics so i thought that would be a good bridge position choice, but does anyone have any suggestions for the neck? or any info on Holy Diver?

As far as style goes, i'm into Death and Black metal as well as Gothenburg influenced metal, so pretty much anything metal.

Any info would help greatly, i'm really excited to try out some Bare Knuckles, i've heard they're creme of the crop. :D

-Jared

[HTH AMPS]

Can't go wrong with that Painkiller if you like your metal with that Britsh midrange crunch rather than more of a sucked mids tone that the Miracle Man has (in comparison).

 :twisted:

[ericsabbath]

holy diver is the perfect pickup for me, but painkiller would be more appropriate for what you're looking for

[Doadman]

What guitar would the pups be going into? Wood; bridge; neck etc.

Initially I would say that if you want something similar to the EMGs then look at the Miracle Man. The Holy Diver is a very versatile pup while I think the Painkiller is a little more focussed with strong mids and bass. If you really like the bridge pup to do plenty of high gain chugging then look at the Warpig. As far as the neck is concerned, you simply can't go wrong with the Cold Sweat.

If you're new here I'd also e-mail Tim at BKP, tell hime exactly what your set up is and the sounds you're after and her will tell you what will work best. He really is a top bloke and certainly knows what he's talking about.

[INTIMEOFTHEPLAGUE]

well I have a Jackson DK-1, Jackson DKMGT and 3 BC Rich NJ series virgins. So... mostly rosewood fretboards, not positive on the bodies. However, the DK-1 has an ebony fretboard.
 I'll email him soon, I am gonna go jam with some old band mates, they want me back. hah. Thanks man.

-Jared

[maliciousteve]

From what you've got and the tone you seem to be after. I would recommend the Painkiller. You sound like you need something brighter to compensate for the bassy tone you have so the Painkiller will sort that out.

[Crazy_Joe]

Sounds like you need a calibrated set of Painkillers, i have calibrated sets of both the Painkiller and Holy Diver, sounds like you want the Painkiller more than Holy Diver though, especially if you're into Priest, though it wouldn't hurt to get both if you have the money :P

[INTIMEOFTHEPLAGUE]

definitely. it was my understanding that painkiller was more bass/mid oriented. i have plenty of bass with the EMGS, so i am not positive what i'm going to do. But a strong bass is good, i just wanted a very well rounded pickup, considering i can lower the bass considerably And by Calibrated you mean semi-customized?

Any recommendations on a neck PU? I really love sweeping, so i like strong sound/tone, not much feedback, and less bass, the bass will ring out during the sweep if you're not careful and that's just annoying.
How does holy diver sound? tone, bass,mid,treb etc.

I love Priest, but don't get me wrong... Dio kicks ass. Priest is just heavier. And I am playing death metal so... :).

-Jared

[ericsabbath]

painkiller is in duncan distortion/gibson 500t ballpark (very "ceramic" midrange, with tight bass and aggressive top end)
holy diver is in duncan jb ballpark (but fatter, clearer and a little darker and tighter)

i'd say that holy diver is the best all rounded pickup on BK contemporary line (like JB is to seymour duncan) and will do all rock and metal styles really well, but if you're just into death metal, a pickup with ceramic attack would help

[Crazy_Joe]

painkiller is in duncan distortion/gibson 500t ballpark (very "ceramic" midrange, with tight bass and aggressive top end)
holy diver is in duncan jb ballpark (but fatter, clearer and a little darker and tighter)

i'd say that holy diver is the best all rounded pickup on BK contemporary line (like JB is to seymour duncan) and will do all rock and metal styles really well, but if you're just into death metal, a pickup with ceramic attack would help

Eric Hellstyle has it right, I couldn't agree more at saying the Holy Diver is the best all round contemporary pickup, but for what you want it sounds like the Painkiller will give you that bit more edge. Lots of mids in this pickup by the way, and still tight and aggressive. Definatley go for a calibrated set (calibrated set means you get the bridge and the neck pickup in a set and they are made at the same time to work better with each other) of Painkillers couldn't think of anything that works better for the soloing you want.

Miracle Man will do this well too, think of the Painkiller but without the dominant midrange, more scooped in comparison with the Painkiller which is always good for death metal.