Surprising NGD Bkp/ltd content

[mchn13]

I bought an ltd ec256 on guitar center used online a s a backup to my main les Paul after selling my custom earlier this year. The finish and the fretboard looked awesome, but I bought it for a blank slate to put other pups etc.... On it.
Went to my local store and they didn't have a JB/'59 set in which is my goto, but they had a set of Bkp painkillers marked down super low as they had been there for a few years. I've never given the PK's much of a chance before when I tried them years ago as they didn't have the compression I was used to at the time when I was playing death metal.
Got to play them last night thru my 2204 after some adjustments and a good setup on the ltd, and am seriously impressed with them and this cheap ass guitar. The pups are hot as hell but super clear and tight, and the ltd plays as good as any of the guitars I've had. Setup like a les Paul but plays like a shredder. Any way not bad for $360 all in so far. Now I have Bkp gas and want to try more. Dammit.

 

[Deleted member 22177]

Nice score. I've been wanting to try some BKP's too, but I don't know a lot about the different models. From what I know the painkillers and aftermaths are great for metal.

 

[mchn13]

Nice score. I've been wanting to try some BKP's too, but I don't know a lot about the different models. From what I know the painkillers and aftermaths are great for metal.

I've tried a couple, and tried a set of these like seven years ago, butt was pretty set in my way then as far as my setup.. They are definitely aggressive and have a unique tone but I'm liking them so far. Something about the tightness and clarity is super addictive. It was a little odd cause the Jb's are like 16.7 k or something and this is like 14.5 or so and I felt like they were hotter.

 

[MetalHeadMike]

The Painkiller is Amazing

I have a PK bridge in my Carvin (Well there actually out at the moment as I was trying Rebel Yells in there but they're going back in very soon ) and they are by far my favorite bridge pup so far.

Relentless aggression, tightness, punch, clarity, saturation, and the most addictive crunchy upper mids

I've been raving about the PK all week. Posted a thread with a RY PK comparison on here the other day.

Welcome to camp Painkiller my friend

 

[RockyStar]

I have enjoyed all the various BKP's I have tried. Tim is a class act and makes an incredible product.

 

[MetalHeadMike]

^^^
Agreed.

I've loved the 3 I've owned>C-pig>Painkiller>Rebel Yell. I was on the fence for years considering price but gave em a shot and think they live up to the hype for sure. So much clarity and character.
Plan on trying more for sure.

Every time I've emailed Tim specifically or the BKP team in general they have responded wicked fast. They also helped me correct a major issue I had with a dealer here in the U.S. that screwed me when I ordered my C-pig. After 7-8 months of dicking around with that guy, I finally emailed BKP and they got the mess straightened out lightning fast. The guys across the pond there are a class act indeed!

 

[mchn13]

Still doing some adjusting. It came with the black covers and I unsoldered them cause I like open coils better, so Im still playing with the screw pole height. I've heard how sensitive they are to adjustments so trying to get it just right.

 

[MetalHeadMike]

^^ Right on. Yeah I just threw mine in right out of the box, dropped em down way low from the strings and whamo! instinct gratification. Got lucky I guess. Didn't mess with pole pieces at all.

 

[mchn13]

^^ Right on. Yeah I just threw mine in right out of the box, dropped em down way low from the strings and whamo! instinct gratification. Got lucky I guess. Didn't mess with pole pieces at all.

Well when I unsoldered the covers all the screws were at the cover height and not just a the coil height.
So, you run yours low away from the strings? I haven't tried that yet, I'm so used to running Jb's a couple mm away from the string.

 

[MetalHeadMike]

Yep. I run the PK low, maybe around 5-6mm. Running the RY not as low but still pretty low @ 4-4.5mm. I also ran the C-pig damn near flush with my mounting ring when I had it in this guitar which probably would have put it around 6-7mm. I like the tone much better this way. All of the former measurements are with the strings un-fretted.

 

[mchn13]

Gonna give it a go today and see how it feels.

 

[MetalHeadMike]

^^^
Kinda dries it up a bit in terms of compression, makes playing a little more stiff, but just adds to the clarity I feel. All IMHO of course.

 

[mchn13]

^^^
Kinda dries it up a bit in terms of compression, makes playing a little more stiff, but just adds to the clarity I feel. All IMHO of course.

I lowered them a bit before a show last weekend and played it for the whole set. The painkillers and that boosted Marshall were just clear and punchy as all hell. They're hotter than the 14.5k sounds. I turned the preamp down to 6-7 on the Marshall and I usually have it at 9 or so...