BK Nailbomb VS Painkiller?

Bloodrock · Apr 29, 2012

Anybody here compare these two pickups? I recently got a ceramic nailbomb for my main metal guitar, and it sound pretty good, very unique voicing. I was just wondering if I was missing anything compared to the painkiller? I play mostly old school thrash through Pantera type metal. I never tune below D standard.

shred-o-holic · Apr 29, 2012

You might like the PK for Thrash........it's tighter and more high endy.....which might work for your style......for me I prefer the smoother top end of the nailbomb......I found the PK to be too twangy...a little harsh.....but I'm not into Thrash...

chumbucket · Apr 29, 2012

It's just two different flavors in a similar vein. You might find one works better for your guitar wood or amp sound better than the other. It can't hurt to try them both.
FWIW, I love the Nailbombs.

spirit7 · Apr 29, 2012

Ceramic Nailbombs for me: have a warmer tone than the PKs but still bags of clarity and attack. PKs are a bit too "spiky" .

-C

Deleted member 8761 · Apr 29, 2012

Both should work for thrash, but it really depends on your guitar. The PK has way more pronounced mids and high end. It should match the wood. The PK and the Seymour Duncan Distortion (also a great pickup for thrash) are similar in that respect.

ESPImperium · Apr 29, 2012

I have both. Abd tried both in the same guitar, my ESP LTD EC-1000VHB

The Painkiller has massive responce, however sounds like a weak fart when the tone is clean. With distortion its a great pickup, however i found that it was lacking clarity at lower tunings. However for classic metal and thrash, its perfect, anything down to D Standard it is great at. Drop that low D to a C and it goes wrong.

The Nailbomb however is my current personal favrouite thru my mesa, warm with a good responce. The Nailbiomb has alot more smoother high end without a too bold a low end for me. It is stronger on cleans, however isnt quite what i want but it is much more useable over what i have tried and for this im happy. The Nailbomb is great in Standard down to C Standard.