New Pickup Day: Bareknuckle Nailbomb

[GuitarGoat]

Got this a few days ago and installed it right when I got it. Now I've had a few days to mess around with it (not enough, but still), and I'm really digging this pickup. I ordered the ceramic one and an Alnico one showed up...I like it though so oh well I guess. Got the gold polepieces to match my guitar. The guitar is my custom made Strat I recently finished. I had an Alnico Warpig in it at first, but the thing was just way too undefined in this guitar. I wasn't a huge fan, so after talking with the guys at BKP, I settled on the Nailbomb. This thing has way more cut and just sounds balanced in this guitar. I'm definitely happy with it!

 

[sandman]

I have alnico Nailbombs in my ESP m-ii
amazing pickups !

 

[Tone Monster]

I have a ceramic Nailbomb in my LP. Has anyone owned both versions to compare?
Happy new pickup day.

 

[rokket2005]

I think a Nailbomb is the next bkp im interested in trying. I have a painkiller in one of my 7s and a cold sweat in my parker and I like the cold sweat a lot. Painkiller is ok, better than the stock carvin pup was anyway.

 

[Ventura]

Best all-rounder BKP makes IMHO.

Congrats on a wicked NPUD

Mo

 

[GuitarGoat]

Thanks! I still am a little curious how the Alnico compares to the ceramic. I'm assuming the ceramic will have a little more bite to it, but this one already has its fair share of that. I'm hoping the Alnico is the way to go in this guitar, and the ceramic would be over the top, because I really don't want to tear it apart again to replace a pickup...

 

[Ventura]

Seeing the amp you play? Alnico was a good choice.

 

[dawnofdreamx97]

nice

 

[GuitarGoat]

Seeing the amp you play? Alnico was a good choice.

Good. That is my main amp, but I'm sure it'll sound good with the 5150, VTM, Recto, and .50 Cal + I've also got. Ceramic might have been the way to go if I just had the Recto, but we'll see.

Thanks for all the discussion!

 

[chrisrocksusa]

What is the general difference between ceramic and alnjxo?

 

[jsp]

What is the general difference between ceramic and alnjxo?

Ceramic pickups tend to be brighter and tighter, Alnico 5 pickups tend to be warmer and thicker, Alnico 2 magnets tend to be even warmer and looser.

 

[LowDesertSludge]

What's the story on your custom Geetar there?

 

[mmolteratx]

I liked the Alnico Nailbomb bridge better than the ceramic, TBH. Though like you, I ordered ceramics and got Alnico. Twice. The Nailbomb neck is still one of my favorite neck pickup tones.

 

[Ventura]

Seeing the amp you play? Alnico was a good choice.

Good. That is my main amp, but I'm sure it'll sound good with the 5150, VTM, Recto, and .50 Cal + I've also got. Ceramic might have been the way to go if I just had the Recto, but we'll see.

Thanks for all the discussion!

Ceramics are good for, say, a lower gain amp needing some harder push and bite. But with most of today's higher gain heads? Unless it's bite and cut that's required due to the amp lacking in that department (mids not great on the amp, yada yada), than alnico will always offer a fuller, warmer, more rich tone. I also like the alnicos in a softer tone setting - it doesn't always have to be balls out high gain djenty settings, ya know what I mean?

I've got a couple ceramic sets - their applications are usually biting high gain, and that's it. Not to say that's all they're good for, but that's where I use 'em most. My alnico pups are way more versatile IMHO YMMV, and with the higher gain heads, just seem to sound more full.

 

[GuitarGoat]

What's the story on your custom Geetar there?

I found plans for a Strat and did some research on the different eras of Strats to make my ultimate one. I chose a piece of swamp ash for the body and had maple around from some previous builds for the neck. I wanted to kind of capture the look and feel of a 50s strat combined with modern touches and my preferences. So it's got a compound radius fretboard, jumbo frets, reverse headstock, 5-way switching, etc. It's very quickly become my favorite guitar.

 

[GuitarGoat]

Seeing the amp you play? Alnico was a good choice.

Good. That is my main amp, but I'm sure it'll sound good with the 5150, VTM, Recto, and .50 Cal + I've also got. Ceramic might have been the way to go if I just had the Recto, but we'll see.

Thanks for all the discussion!

Ceramics are good for, say, a lower gain amp needing some harder push and bite. But with most of today's higher gain heads? Unless it's bite and cut that's required due to the amp lacking in that department (mids not great on the amp, yada yada), than alnico will always offer a fuller, warmer, more rich tone. I also like the alnicos in a softer tone setting - it doesn't always have to be balls out high gain djenty settings, ya know what I mean?

I've got a couple ceramic sets - their applications are usually biting high gain, and that's it. Not to say that's all they're good for, but that's where I use 'em most. My alnico pups are way more versatile IMHO YMMV, and with the higher gain heads, just seem to sound more full.

That helps a bit with my thinking. Makes me feel better about this. I like the Alnico for low to mid gain so this works!

 

[Ventura]

That helps a bit with my thinking. Makes me feel better about this. I like the Alnico for low to mid gain so this works!

 

[C1-ocaster]

Got this a few days ago and installed it right when I got it. Now I've had a few days to mess around with it (not enough, but still), and I'm really digging this pickup. I ordered the ceramic one and an Alnico one showed up...I like it though so oh well I guess. Got the gold polepieces to match my guitar. The guitar is my custom made Strat I recently finished. I had an Alnico Warpig in it at first, but the thing was just way too undefined in this guitar. I wasn't a huge fan, so after talking with the guys at BKP, I settled on the Nailbomb. This thing has way more cut and just sounds balanced in this guitar. I'm definitely happy with it!

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Question for ya.

With a reverse neck, resulting in longer low strings and shorter high strings, do you find that the lower strings are "slinkier"?
And does it affect bending on the high strings? I'm wondering since the high strings are relatively shorter, does it make bending harder?

I'm really diggin that guitar, very nice!
Did you make the neck?
What material for the nut, looks different.
And what bridge is that? Looks nice.

 

[GuitarGoat]

Question for ya.

With a reverse neck, resulting in longer low strings and shorter high strings, do you find that the lower strings are "slinkier"?
And does it affect bending on the high strings? I'm wondering since the high strings are relatively shorter, does it make bending harder?

I'm really diggin that guitar, very nice!
Did you make the neck?
What material for the nut, looks different.
And what bridge is that? Looks nice.

Thank you! I personally don't really notice a difference, but it's kind of hard to tell since ive got EB Beefy Slinkys on this tuned standard. It's hard for me to really compare it with some of my other guitars in the slinkiness respect.

I did make the neck. The nut is graphtech I believe and the bridge is just a vintage style Fender tremolo. I like the 6-screw a little better than the 2-post bridges for some reason. Decked of course with 5 springs.