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parntz145
Active member
I have a 1991 Les paul custom. I want to change the pickups out and am debating over the nailbomb set. Just wondering what you guys that have tried them think about them?
Ventura
Well-known member
Why NB's?
For that ax, I'd go with RR's, Emeralds, or Rebel Yells for hot. But the first choice would be RR's (Riff Raff's).
Just IMHO,
V.
For that ax, I'd go with RR's, Emeralds, or Rebel Yells for hot. But the first choice would be RR's (Riff Raff's).
Just IMHO,
V.
ericsabbath
Active member
depends on what you wanna play, what's your main amp, how do you like your mids...
killertone
Well-known member
I had a Nailbomb in my LPC for a long time and loved it. I am using Warpigs and Painkillers now but I am gonna get another NB for my fourth LPC. I say go for it. You'll dig it.
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parntz145
Active member
As far as amps I play Fortin (Cali mod Bones and a custom 1 off mod), Cameron CCV and I have a 2010 Wizard MC. I play 80's metal and thrash. Im alos into newer metal but not death. I love the Suhr aldrich to give you guys an idea of my ideal tone. I want to change to a different pickup for variety. I want a articulate tight crunchy tone. I love that nice chunky bottom end with nice mids and fluid top end tone.
JakeAC5253
New member
parntz145":29mooey9 said:
BUMS?
killertone
Well-known member
parntz145":337x5x98 said:
From your description you might like a Painkiller even more. Tighter than a Nailbomb with fuller mids.
the4thlast1
Well-known member
You mentioned tight and crunchy ...... Thats the painkiller man. Something to keep in mind though when I first tried a painkiller I was surprised, I liked the tightness but I wanted more smoothness for lead stuff. The PK is an awesome rhythm pickup but IMO not so good for lead and higher note stuff. The Nailbomb is smoother, still pretty mean but not crunchy like the PK. Its a more versatile pickup which may not be as super tight as the PK but with a high gain amp and a boost it is more than tight enough.
Ventura
Well-known member
Apologies, before I started spouting about what pups you SHOULD buy I really shoulda asked what kinda music and amp you were all about. Sorry man... I just automatically "assume" a LP when going for a pup swap is going for a LP tone on steroids...hence the RYs, RRs or Emeralds.
If you're into the heavy Fortin 80's thrash and metal groove - man, you'd LOVE the PK's - I've got a calibrated set on my metal ax and they are WICKEDLY heavy - searing hot - cut like razors - and sound sooooooooooooooooooooo aggressive.
Peace,
V.
If you're into the heavy Fortin 80's thrash and metal groove - man, you'd LOVE the PK's - I've got a calibrated set on my metal ax and they are WICKEDLY heavy - searing hot - cut like razors - and sound sooooooooooooooooooooo aggressive.
Peace,
V.
JonVengeance
New member
I play thrash and melodic death metal and have a set of painkillers in my LP Custom and a nailbomb in my LP standard.
I like the nailbomb better. In fact, I'm thinking about getting rid of the painkillers and replacing them with something lower gain. To me they are a little overbearing. Runs on the higher strings can sound too harsh to me. I also disagree with whoever said the nailbomb wasn't crunchy. It definitely is. I also find it to be chunkier and to sound better on palm mutes than the Painkiller.
Right now I'm think about taking the painkillers out of MY LPC and replacing them with some medium output BG pickups. I'm also going to take the Aldrich out of my LP Standard and put the nailbomb back in. The nailbomb destroys the aldrich for what I want and need.
Here's a not that great quality video of my band live:
I have the Les Paul with the nailbomb and am going directly into my Marshall JVM. My brother is running his custom guitar with a BKP warpig into my Peavey XXX because his VHT UL was in the shop.
I like the nailbomb better. In fact, I'm thinking about getting rid of the painkillers and replacing them with something lower gain. To me they are a little overbearing. Runs on the higher strings can sound too harsh to me. I also disagree with whoever said the nailbomb wasn't crunchy. It definitely is. I also find it to be chunkier and to sound better on palm mutes than the Painkiller.
Right now I'm think about taking the painkillers out of MY LPC and replacing them with some medium output BG pickups. I'm also going to take the Aldrich out of my LP Standard and put the nailbomb back in. The nailbomb destroys the aldrich for what I want and need.
Here's a not that great quality video of my band live:
I have the Les Paul with the nailbomb and am going directly into my Marshall JVM. My brother is running his custom guitar with a BKP warpig into my Peavey XXX because his VHT UL was in the shop.
TeleBlaster
New member
Absolutely love my older Nailbombs.
New BK pups have been a disappointment. Something's different to my ear. I've swapped new and old ones in and out of different guitars and the new ones just don't have the clarity or the muscle. Same overall tone and frequency response just no magic, they sound quite ordinary. Whatever made them so special is gone.
Your mileage may differ.
New BK pups have been a disappointment. Something's different to my ear. I've swapped new and old ones in and out of different guitars and the new ones just don't have the clarity or the muscle. Same overall tone and frequency response just no magic, they sound quite ordinary. Whatever made them so special is gone.
Your mileage may differ.
nbarts
New member
go for a ceramic nailbomb
JakeAC5253
New member
the4thlast1":2be6b3ks said:
Based on this it sounds like the PK is pretty similar to the Duncan Distortion, no?
ericsabbath
Active member
TeleBlaster":1de8zgdl said:
different guitars...
ericsabbath
Active member
JakeAC5253":3b3v3h8u said:
in voicing terms only
it's no near as grainy and dirty as the distortion
the painkiller is very clean
a ceramic nailbomb (equivalent to an overwound cold sweat) would probably do the job better
TeleBlaster
New member
ericsabbath":2y7dzr30 said:TeleBlaster":2y7dzr30 said:
different guitars...
You misunderstand.
Three different guitars, three different Nailbombs, all possible combinations.
So I could say, SAME guitar, THREE DIFFERENT Nailbombs, old one is magic, two newer ones suck....tried this in THREE GUITARS, SAME RESULT!!!!
L
luxxtone
Member
Painkillers would be the tightest of all the BKPs mentioned. Very articulate and tight bass, ceramic magnet. The Nailbombs have more mids and are more raw and organic, a big part of that is an AlnicoV magnet vs. ceramic magnet. A Cold Sweat may be a good choice, as they are a good middle ground between the two pickups. A little less hot, ceramic magnet that stays tight and has a percussive bottom end...but a little more natural sounding than the Painkillers and tighter than the Nailbombs. Also, your guitar will always make a huge difference in the tone, and you never really know until you get that pickup in there and hear it.
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luxxtone
Member
TeleBlaster":v3jjzjcp said:ericsabbath":v3jjzjcp said:TeleBlaster":v3jjzjcp said:
different guitars...
You misunderstand.
Three different guitars, three different Nailbombs, all possible combinations.
So I could say, SAME guitar, THREE DIFFERENT Nailbombs, old one is magic, two newer ones suck....tried this in THREE GUITARS, SAME RESULT!!!!
You might want to take a meter and see how hot the old one was wound compared to your new ones. Being handwound, there's differences in each one. I know Tim sorta changes his winds over time on some models, maybe the old one was wound different? Worth a shot. If you see a difference between them, you can always let Tim know if you want another one to wind it the same as the one you like?