Author Topic: Differences between nailbomb & warpig + advice for my ch (Read 6971 times)

hetfield · « **on:** August 01, 2005, 02:08:50 AM »

hi everybody

My guitar is a lag rx200 (mahogany body if it is usefull to mention) and its pickups are becoming limited, that's why i would like some information. I'm seeking powerfull bridge humbuckers designed for heavy distortion, from punk rock to heavy metal.

I heard about the warpig and the nailbomb models as bridge pickups, but as i couldn't test them i would like to know what are their differences, for example which one is warmer than the other, which one provides more precision, etc.

What models are recommanded to put up as neck pickup with the nailbomb or warpig at the bridge ?

Are the bare knuckle pickups splitable ?

Thanks

Bird · « **Reply #1 on:** August 01, 2005, 04:25:21 AM »

You can get both as a calibrated set, and you can split them. There are a ton of clips in the 'Players' section, and if you do a search of the the 'Pickup' forum for Nailbomb vs Warpig you'll end up with a lot of reading material. Here's a description from Tim on the Warpig I lifted from another post.

"The Warpig is quite a versatile beast. Not only does it produce a seriuos high gain tone, easily the match of an '81 for saturated gain-it's got a fantastic tone too. Also, with both coils being in the region of DC11.25K each, it splits down really well and the parallel tones are brilliant. For rock and metal it's a serious silly grin humbucker as it almost plays itself-the twin screw coil design ensures a great bottom end, the mids are strong without being spikey and there's clarity in the highs with no fizz. The biggest surpirse for such a high gainer is that clean tones are very useable too-the neck pickup in parallel just has to be heard to be believed."

And here's Tim on the Nailbomb
"....Nailbomb, it'll really add some meat to your bright guitar without compromising clarity. I wind them with plain enamel wire and power it with a vintage cut(longer)unpolished Alnico V magnet. The tone is organic and very punchy-if you want to get heard this is the one.

And welcome to the forum
:twisted:

HJM · « **Reply #2 on:** August 01, 2005, 07:30:33 AM »

The most precise one is the Miracle Man, tight bass, lots of low mid and generally huge sounding. :twisted:

Tim · « **Reply #3 on:** August 01, 2005, 08:52:41 AM »

The Custom Shop in Paris stock both Warpig and Nailbomb models...........with a little luck they'll have something on demo you can try!!

Ratrod · « **Reply #4 on:** August 01, 2005, 05:39:02 PM »

If you're a Jaymz fan, you'll love the Warpig. :guitar4:

hetfield · « **Reply #5 on:** August 02, 2005, 02:23:14 AM »

yeah, i love the sound of metallica :D !

What would you choose as neck pickup with a warpig at the bridge (even if i rarely use this pickup) ?

Thanks a lot for helping me

Bird · « **Reply #6 on:** August 02, 2005, 02:25:17 AM »

A calibrated set would fit the bill. :twisted:

carlaz · « **Reply #7 on:** August 02, 2005, 10:32:48 AM »

I recall several people on the forum saying they were suddenly finding themselves using the neck pickup more after they made it a BKP!

The easy answer to matching a bridge Warpig is a neck Warpig for a calibrated set. For metal or even just heavy rock, that's a powerful combo! I don't think I've seen any clips of a neck Warpig posted, but it may feel not a million miles away from the neck Miracle Man (which is pretty cool sounding).

Besides that road, I've seen Harmony Central reviews of people being happy with the verstility of something like a bridge Warpig and a Mule neck (even though the Mule is much lower output). I guess if you want to mix and match, it kind of depends on the vibe you are looking for. I'm still waiting to see how the Abraxas sounds, but I've already been thinking about a Warpig bridge with an Abraxas neck: Sábado negro! :D

PhilKing · « **Reply #8 on:** August 02, 2005, 12:18:59 PM »

I'm putting a Mississippi Queen with a brdge Warpig. The original Black Sabbath stuff was played on P-90's and I still love the sound of them. The MQ is a lot quieter than the normal P-90, but still has that great driving tone.

Another great matching is the Miracle Man calibrated set, this puts the alnico V magnet in the neck and gives some great classic tones, while the bridge is really powerful but clear.

hetfield · « **Reply #9 on:** August 03, 2005, 12:18:54 AM »

I have phoned custom shop in paris, they said putting a Mule to the neck would be a good thing to balance with the power of the bridge warpig, what do you think about that ?

I don't really understand what a "calibrated set" is, and what it coud provide.

thanks again

HJM · « **Reply #10 on:** August 03, 2005, 08:02:03 AM »

Calibrated set = neck pickup to compliment the bridge retaining a balanced tone. Some bridge pickups can sound muddy if you use them in the neck position

carlaz · « **Reply #11 on:** August 03, 2005, 10:34:03 AM »

Quote from: hetfield

I have phoned custom shop in paris, they said putting a Mule to the neck would be a good thing to balance with the power of the bridge warpig, what do you think about that ?

The Mule has less output than the Warpig, so you may need to check the height of the Mule to compensate, but people report good results from the MuleNeck/PigBridge combination. Different outputs is not necessarily a problem -- HJM has a guitar with a Miracle Man bridge and a Stormy Monday neck (if I remember correctly), where the difference between the pickups' outputs must be about the same as with a Warpig bridge and Mule neck.

carlaz · « **Reply #12 on:** August 03, 2005, 10:43:16 AM »

Quote from: PhilKing

I'm putting a Mississippi Queen with a brdge Warpig. The original Black Sabbath stuff was played on P-90's and I still love the sound of them. The MQ is a lot quieter than the normal P-90, but still has that great driving tone.

Indeed! And besides Leslie West, Tull's Martin Barre used a LP Jr with P-90s in the early 70s, I think, and I've always dug Barre's playing. (Though I think he decided to get the Jr after meeting West :).)

Actually, now I'm fantasizing about a MQ/Mule combo .... 8) But that will have to be for some future guitar, I think. The current LP wants new humbuckers for sure.

Quote from: PhilKing

Another great matching is the Miracle Man calibrated set, this puts the alnico V magnet in the neck and gives some great classic tones, while the bridge is really powerful but clear.

Yeah, I'd be tempted by that if I had the technique to be more of a shredder! I like the tight low end I hear from the MM bridge, but also think the Warpig cleans up better (and the "silly grin" playability of the 'Pig is probabably good for me ;)). Meanwhile, I'm wafting prayers for technical sucess to the gods watching over your Abraxas recording efforts :)

PhilKing · « **Reply #13 on:** August 03, 2005, 12:10:03 PM »

I am hopeful that I will be able to get something soon. I have a little wife factor involved now I am back here, but I have a desktop PC with a good soundcard on it. I need to put it in the living room with the amp and see how it all works - perhaps when I get home tonight I will be able to get the stuff together.

I am missing all my BK P-90's, as they are still coming over form London. I did a stupid trick and put the Pig-90 in the shipping! I keep looking at my LP jnr and wanting to hear it on there. Even my Mississippi Queen is in transit