What Bareknuckle Pickup to put in my PRS?

[Veritas0Aequitas]

Hey anyone that knows anything about Bareknuckle pickups, I need your help! For starters let me list my rig, influences, the sound I'm looking for and what has been recommended to be so far:

1. Here's my rig: PRS SC250 Single Cut Guitar (Mahogony body & neck, set neck, maple top) + Diezel VH4S Amp (EL34BSTR Tubes) + Diezel Rear Loaded 4x12 Cab with Vintage 30's + TC Electronic G-System

It should be noted I am more of a "double cut player" and I really like the McCarty 58's (Mahogony body & neck, set neck, maple top). I am seriously about to pull the trigger and buy one and replace the pickups in this guitar as well. Would this be a good guitar for modern rock if I throw some BKPs in there?

2. Influences/Sound: Hard Rock, Modern Rock, Ethereal Rock, Progressive Rock: Tool, A Perfect Circle, 30 Seconds To Mars, Circa Survive, Fair To Midland, Acceptance, Thrice, Breaking Benjamin, etc. Plenty of tight low end response but a great clear mid range and highs that cut through. I always have a tough time describing sound

I'm looking for a sound close to a mixture of the bands above. The distortion like Tool or 30STM, Acceptance, Breaking Benjamin. Cleans most like A Perfect Circle, maybe some Circa Survive. Thick and shimmering is probably the best way to describe it. Maybe more on the dark side?

3. Since I play such a high gain amp in the VH4S, I have been recommended by Ventura to go for a low output/vintage pup... 7k to 9k output. Nothing over 10k or 12k depending on the pup. Like I said, I want tight low end response but still BIG clear, thick sound! The pickup that was highly recommended to me was the "Riff Raff" with "Emeralds" or "Black Dogs" being seconds.

So what do you guys think? Go with the Riff Raff or do you have other ideas? I have emailed Tim but I want everyone's opinion!

Thanks!
Andrew

 

[PosterBoy]

I've got Emeralds in my Burny LP clone.
I was looking for a lot of the things you were Tight bottom end, clear and defined, nice highs not muddy, clean up well an not too compressed. For music like Rise Against and Story of the year.

These ticked the boxes for me, they could clean up a little better in the treble but that might be more to do with the height I have them at.

 

[spirit7]

Riff Raff or Ceramic Nailbomb. C-Bomb is high output but sounded amazing in my Custom 24 through my old VH4.

-C

 

[reverymike]

I'm close to pulling the trigger on an alnico Nailbomb for my Les Paul. From what I've heard, they're amazing.

 

[spirit7]

I'm close to pulling the trigger on an alnico Nailbomb for my Les Paul. From what I've heard, they're amazing.

I have one in my Les Paul Custom. It's pretty warm and "huge" sounding but I prefer the tightness and crunch of the ceramic version. For what I use the Les Paul for though (classic rock) it's perfect!

-C

 

[reverymike]

I'm close to pulling the trigger on an alnico Nailbomb for my Les Paul. From what I've heard, they're amazing.

I have one in my Les Paul Custom. It's pretty warm and "huge" sounding but I prefer the tightness and crunch of the ceramic version. For what I use the Les Paul for though (classic rock) it's perfect!

-C

Would the alnico version of the Nailbomb be good for stuff like Whitesnake, Van Halen, Foo Fighters, Cult, Steve Stevens, etc? Hard Rock, not metal, but good fat, huge & juicy sounding rock guitar?

 

[snakeman1986]

The alnico nailbomb is awesome in my PRS singlecut. Never tried the ceramic nailbomb. Would kind of like to put one in my PRS tremonti tho.

 

[FourT6and2]

I'm in the same boat as you, OP. But I play a Les Paul. Diezel VH4 with a Bogner 4x12 with Greenbacks and G12-65's. Going for the same type of sound (Tool, 30STM, APC, Karnivool, etc.).

I went with the Holy Divers. Haven't received 'em yet. But I'll post back with thoughts.

I kinda wanted to go with a lower output pickup (like 7-9k). But The clips I heard of the Holy Diver and Nailbomb were pretty good. And They guys at BKP recommended the Holy Diver set.

Other than that, you may want to try some PAF clones from Lindy Fralin. Those have been the best sounding pickups I've tried.

 

[killertone]

I would go A5 Nailbomb for what you have mentioned. I had one in my LPC for a while and loved it. Bass was very tight through my rig, never had a problem with that. Also, look at the Rebel Yell, it is very much like a Nailbomb but with tighter bottom. Works great with the volume rolled back a bit for crunchy tones and slays full on for a mighty kick to the nuts. I have owned both and prefer the RY and have it in one of my LPCs currently.

 

[reverymike]

I was under the impression the Rebel Yell was a much crisper pickup, less bass more cutting hi mids. Is the RY still full and fat?

What made you switch from the Nailbomb to the RY? Was there anything you DIDN'T like about the Nailbomb?

 

[spirit7]

I'm close to pulling the trigger on an alnico Nailbomb for my Les Paul. From what I've heard, they're amazing.

I have one in my Les Paul Custom. It's pretty warm and "huge" sounding but I prefer the tightness and crunch of the ceramic version. For what I use the Les Paul for though (classic rock) it's perfect!

-C

Would the alnico version of the Nailbomb be good for stuff like Whitesnake, Van Halen, Foo Fighters, Cult, Steve Stevens, etc? Hard Rock, not metal, but good fat, huge & juicy sounding rock guitar?

Yes it's perfect for that style. For metal I'd go for the C-Bomb.

-C

 

[Ventura]

To the OP... For the music described, Emeralds. For the breadth to go wider on the spectrum, RiffRaffs.

Glad you enjoyed my last PM

Mo

 

[mniel8195]

i would say black dog. they guys at axe pallace advised me to use that or a holy diver in my bernie rico. they told me that black dogs are awesome in prs guitars. The rebel yell is a very lean pickup. Super tight and bright alot of upper mids. I would put them in a very warm guitar like a old les paul. Probably not my first choice for a prs

 

[spirit7]

i would say black dog. they guys at axe pallace advised me to use that or a holy diver in my bernie rico. they told me that black dogs are awesome in prs guitars. The rebel yell is a very lean pickup. Super tight and bright alot of upper mids. I would put them in a very warm guitar like a old les paul. Probably not my first choice for a prs

+1 on Black Dogs. Amazing pickups. Though I'd think they would work better in a Les Paul.

-C

 

[Ventura]

i would say black dog. they guys at axe pallace advised me to use that or a holy diver in my bernie rico. they told me that black dogs are awesome in prs guitars. The rebel yell is a very lean pickup. Super tight and bright alot of upper mids. I would put them in a very warm guitar like a old les paul. Probably not my first choice for a prs

+1 on Black Dogs. Amazing pickups. Though I'd think they would work better in a Les Paul.

-C

Yep. They've got a mid-growl like none other... I love 'em in my '68 Firemist. Gorgeous pups, but not as versatile as the Emeralds for the music described. Just sayin'...

 

[Veritas0Aequitas]

I just heard back from Tim and he recommended a calibrated set of Riff Raffs or a Riff Raff bridge/Mule neck. I think I'll go with the calibrated set of RR after listening to the clips on the site.

I might invest in a set of Emeralds for my McCarty when I get it. Maybe Black Dogs. Who knows how it will sound!

Are these the specs for a PRS SC250?

-Bridge Spacing - 50 mm
-Conductor - 4
-Leg - Long (1/2")
-Coil - Potted
-Cover - Nickel

BTW I have a set of Rebel Yells I am trying to unload if anyone's interested. I might post them in the classifieds before I throw em up on eBay.

Thanks again for everyone's thorough responses -- especially Ventura who wrote me a NOVEL on PM!

 

[Ventura]

Riff Raffs

Peace Braddah!!
Mojo

 

[PlayAndersons]

Well, definitely no shortage of choices. I recently put stainless steel frets on my Les Paul and am thinking of pulling out the EMGs and going this route...

 

[FourT6and2]

lol, so far almost every pickup they make has been recommended. Riff Raff, Emerald, Abraxis, Nailbomb, Rebel Yell, Mule, Black Dog...