This is driving me nuts. I'm trying to decide on a set for an LP Custom, to replace JB/Jazz, which are OK, just a little bland. I'm undecided between something pretty like the Mules and something nasty like the Nailbomb. They all sound so similar.
Some tips: what type of music you're playing is a major deciding factor. Alternative rock for example benefits from a bit less density (lower DC resistance). See each set's description, do any fit your style? Mules are cool for something like David Gilmour / Eric Clapton. Notice how these dudes have a highly dynamic style, with both quieter and louder playing. Higher DC resistance makes (besides higher output) for a more compressed/dense sound in the specific range. Now the problem with all this theory is no festival crowd will ever notice or care about your stupid pickups. But they WILL remember what emotions they felt when they heard you play. As a professional, you will need to take control of the type of emotions you express through the instrument. And good pickup set that compliments that will definitely help.
This helps to settle out the unique nuances of these two pickups that belong in the same discussion. Seems to come down to HD for a brighter and snappier guitar or tighter amp that could use some compression and fluidity and Nailbomb for something that could use a tighter, in your face attack and aggressive focus.
Absolutely mate, those are my exact same thoughts on these 2 pickups and how they could benefit different guitars. Thank you for checking the video out 🍻
@Gabriel Moreira Of course! Will always be checking out all of your videos. The best in the business and very relevant for me on top of that. My trend now myself is towards figuring out the right middle ground, utility setup for my needs in the alt rock range which is looking like a set of Black Dogs and Tru Gruts in my main axes that I grab basically 90% of the time, and then have a set of Nailbomb and Holy Divers along with the Fishman Greg Koch P90s loaded in my lesser used but still nice to have niche options.
@@Tiger1016. thank you so much my friend, that's awesome of you! I'm dying to try out the Greg Koch P90s, recently managed to acquire a Reverend Gristlemaster with his Tele set, by far the the most versatile tele pickups I've played to date, really cool for high gain besides excelling at the normal tele tones.
Nice review. I enjoyed watching your videos man! I am planning to replacing the stock pups of my Les Paul studio. What do uou recommend to compensate the mid rangey all mahogany body. My music is metalcore to some djenty progressive stuffs. Thanks!
Thank you Aaron, appreciate it. To make a Les Paul Studio sound more suited for metalcore/djent I’d go with the Aftermath as a first option and the Nailbomb as a close 2nd. Hope that helps mate 🤘🏻
@@gabriel_guitar Its good to hear that the Aftermath will do the trick. After all the reviews that i watched, i think the AM will tame that mid rangey honk while retaining that distinct LP bite. I always wanted it to try on a Les Paul.
Great demos man! I have an SG standard which needs a new bridge pickup. Would you recommend ceramic aftermath or holydiver? I have an extra aftermath ready and a good deal for a holydiver 🤔🤔. I’m talking all rounder which does higher gain drop C# well too.
Hi mate, thank you! I'd stick with the Aftermath if metal is what you want and if you're planning on tuning lower than drop C#, for versatility and a pickup truer to the sound of a Gibson and leaning more towards Hard Rock tones, the Holydiver is hard to beat (it'll also handle drop c# like a champ).
Thank you mate, really appreciate it! Yeah, It does sound a bit more open here too, with a tighter bottom end and a bit more high end. The Holydiver on the other hand has all of the mids, which is cool for more classic styles and for soloing. Cheers for checking the video out 🤘
Yeah mate, I can see that, specially if you have a neckthrough Solar, they can lack a bit of attack and the Nailbombs/Aftermaths would definitely help in that regard.
@@gabriel_guitarit seems they are like a ceramic Holy Diver, but tighter and more aggressive. I'm thinking change my HBs (Emerald N and Rebel Yell B) for one of these sets.
@@algarridm oh cool, I knew they're ceramics but didn't realise they're voiced like the Holydivers. I've been very interested in the Rebel Yell bridge pickup, what makes you want to change to the Painkillers? A tighter sound?
Great Job Gabriel! I was looking for something like this when purchasing BK pickups for my guitars. What guitar tuning did you use and speaker IR choice? Always interesting variables that could be considered in future videos? Thanks for the postings!
Thank you Daniel, really appreciate that! It’s Drop C# on this one as well, V30 IRs from the GGD Cali oversized, it pairs nicely with the Soldano SLO-100 Plugin from Neural. For sure, should have featured those specs in the video :). Cheers for checking the video out mate
Thank you so much mate, that’s awesome of you! Yeah, I play in a band called The Mariana Hollow, it’s a bit different stylistically, and there’s also another band I was in called Kingbreaker, for both projects you’re able to find our music here on YT 🍻
Hi,Gabriel,another great comparison video! I have a question about all of those bare knuckle pickups,which one do you think “feels” better,I mean feel on the hand.. 😂I don’t know how to describe it,some pickups sound good but not feel good.. I just installed a silo set, it sounds and feels great, just wanna try some others from bkp, but didn’t decide it…sorry for my poor language 😅hope you get it😅
Thank you so much mate! Appreciate you checking the video out :). For me the Warpig is my favourite in terms of feel (at least on my Solar), it has this really cool compression to it, a bit like the Silo but more accentuated. Hope this helps my friend 🤘
@@gabriel_guitar isto no telemóvel n dá pra perceber bem, mas no Riff 4, por ex., percebe-se com o Nailbomb um som mais claro, como se tivesse mais tremble. Leigo speaking. Grande malha! Tens alguma banda?
Ya, é basicamente isso, o Nailbomb tem mais ataque e claridade (fixe para metal mais pesado), o Holydiver tem mais médios e é mais equilibrado (bom para solos e rock mais anos 80). De momento só tenho uma banda, chama-se The Mariana Hollow, podes checar uns temas no RUclips ou no Bandcamp. Entretanto também tive outra banda mas não está activa, chamavam-se Kingbreaker também há uns vídeos por aqui :)
Damn, it's very hard to settle on those two. Holydiver has a piercing sound that is just stupid good on leads... And on the other side the Nailbomb is a tidy bit "fatter"....
Isolated tones 👉 3:36
In a mix
0:00 - Intro
0:06 - Metal Riff 1 (BKP Holydiver)
0:15 - Metal Riff 1 (BKP Nailbomb)
0:24 - Metal Riff Isolated (BKP Holydiver)
0:32 - Metal Riff 2 (BKP Holydiver)
0:41 - Metal Riff 2 (BKP Nailbomb)
0:50 - Metal Riff 3 (BKP Holydiver)
0:59 - Metal Riff 3 (BKP Nailbomb)
1:08 - Metal Riff 4 (BKP Holydiver)
1:16 - Metal Riff 4 (BKP Nailbomb)
1:25 - Clean Coil Split (BKP Holydiver)
1:34 - Clean Coil Split (BKP Nailbomb)
1:42 - Metal Riff 4 Coil Split (BKP Holydiver)
1:51 - Metal Riff 4 Coil Split (BKP Nailbomb)
2:00 - Prog Riff 1 Coil Split (BKP Holydiver)
2:09 - Prog Riff 1 Coil Split (BKP Nailbomb)
2:17 - Prog Riff 2 Coil Split (BKP Holydiver)
2:26 - Prog Riff 2 Coil Split (BKP Nailbomb)
2:35 - Rock Riff (BKP Holydiver)
2:44 - Rock Riff (BKP Nailbomb)
2:52 - Solo (BKP Holydiver)
3:10 - Solo (BKP Nailbomb)
Isolated guitars
3:36 - Metal Riff 1 (BKP Holydiver)
3:45 - Metal Riff 1 (BKP Nailbomb)
3:53 - Metal Riff Isolated (BKP Holydiver)
4:02 - Metal Riff 2 (BKP Holydiver)
4:11 - Metal Riff 2 (BKP Nailbomb)
4:20 - Metal Riff 3 (BKP Holydiver)
4:28 - Metal Riff 3 (BKP Nailbomb)
4:37 - Metal Riff 4 (BKP Holydiver)
4:46 - Metal Riff 4 (BKP Nailbomb)
4:55 - Clean Coil Split (BKP Holydiver)
5:03 - Clean Coil Split (BKP Nailbomb)
5:12 - Metal Riff 4 Coil Split (BKP Holydiver)
5:21 - Metal Riff 4 Coil Split (BKP Nailbomb)
5:29 - Prog Riff 1 Coil Split (BKP Holydiver)
5:38 - Prog Riff 1 Coil Split (BKP Nailbomb)
5:47 - Prog Riff 2 Coil Split (BKP Holydiver)
5:56 - Prog Riff 2 Coil Split (BKP Nailbomb)
6:04 - Rock Riff (BKP Holydiver)
6:13 - Rock Riff (BKP Nailbomb)
6:22 - Solo (BKP Holydiver)
6:39 - Solo (BKP Nailbomb)
This is driving me nuts. I'm trying to decide on a set for an LP Custom, to replace JB/Jazz, which are OK, just a little bland. I'm undecided between something pretty like the Mules and something nasty like the Nailbomb. They all sound so similar.
Some tips: what type of music you're playing is a major deciding factor. Alternative rock for example benefits from a bit less density (lower DC resistance). See each set's description, do any fit your style? Mules are cool for something like David Gilmour / Eric Clapton. Notice how these dudes have a highly dynamic style, with both quieter and louder playing. Higher DC resistance makes (besides higher output) for a more compressed/dense sound in the specific range.
Now the problem with all this theory is no festival crowd will ever notice or care about your stupid pickups. But they WILL remember what emotions they felt when they heard you play. As a professional, you will need to take control of the type of emotions you express through the instrument. And good pickup set that compliments that will definitely help.
Nailbomb sounds nasssttty. Love the mids, little more clarity and upper mid.
Yeah mate, awesome sounding pickup indeed 🤘🏻
This helps to settle out the unique nuances of these two pickups that belong in the same discussion. Seems to come down to HD for a brighter and snappier guitar or tighter amp that could use some compression and fluidity and Nailbomb for something that could use a tighter, in your face attack and aggressive focus.
Absolutely mate, those are my exact same thoughts on these 2 pickups and how they could benefit different guitars. Thank you for checking the video out 🍻
@Gabriel Moreira Of course! Will always be checking out all of your videos. The best in the business and very relevant for me on top of that. My trend now myself is towards figuring out the right middle ground, utility setup for my needs in the alt rock range which is looking like a set of Black Dogs and Tru Gruts in my main axes that I grab basically 90% of the time, and then have a set of Nailbomb and Holy Divers along with the Fishman Greg Koch P90s loaded in my lesser used but still nice to have niche options.
@@Tiger1016. thank you so much my friend, that's awesome of you! I'm dying to try out the Greg Koch P90s, recently managed to acquire a Reverend Gristlemaster with his Tele set, by far the the most versatile tele pickups I've played to date, really cool for high gain besides excelling at the normal tele tones.
Theres way too much high end happening with something in this mix. Not sure what it is, almost sounds like a bass track with too much clank on it.
Nice review. I enjoyed watching your videos man! I am planning to replacing the stock pups of my Les Paul studio. What do uou recommend to compensate the mid rangey all mahogany body. My music is metalcore to some djenty progressive stuffs. Thanks!
Thank you Aaron, appreciate it. To make a Les Paul Studio sound more suited for metalcore/djent I’d go with the Aftermath as a first option and the Nailbomb as a close 2nd. Hope that helps mate 🤘🏻
@@gabriel_guitar Its good to hear that the Aftermath will do the trick. After all the reviews that i watched, i think the AM will tame that mid rangey honk while retaining that distinct LP bite. I always wanted it to try on a Les Paul.
Great demos man! I have an SG standard which needs a new bridge pickup. Would you recommend ceramic aftermath or holydiver? I have an extra aftermath ready and a good deal for a holydiver 🤔🤔. I’m talking all rounder which does higher gain drop C# well too.
Hi mate, thank you! I'd stick with the Aftermath if metal is what you want and if you're planning on tuning lower than drop C#, for versatility and a pickup truer to the sound of a Gibson and leaning more towards Hard Rock tones, the Holydiver is hard to beat (it'll also handle drop c# like a champ).
Is it me or do these pickups sound reaaaaally similar
nice demo, man!
Nailbomb sounds a bit cleaner and more open to me
Thank you mate, really appreciate it! Yeah, It does sound a bit more open here too, with a tighter bottom end and a bit more high end. The Holydiver on the other hand has all of the mids, which is cool for more classic styles and for soloing. Cheers for checking the video out 🤘
@@gabriel_guitar 🤘
sound identical to me
I too have a Solar guitar with a Holy Diver set, and while it’s great I wish I had gone with the Nailbombs or Aftermath set🤔
Yeah mate, I can see that, specially if you have a neckthrough Solar, they can lack a bit of attack and the Nailbombs/Aftermaths would definitely help in that regard.
Awesome, great playing- which do you prefer from the bare knuckle range?
Thank you Alec, really appreciate it mate. The Warpig and Holydiver are my favourites at the moment.
@@gabriel_guitar what about painkillers?
@@algarridm I'm yet to try them out, I really wanna get the Painkillers at some point, they sound awesome on all the demos I've heard.
@@gabriel_guitarit seems they are like a ceramic Holy Diver, but tighter and more aggressive. I'm thinking change my HBs (Emerald N and Rebel Yell B) for one of these sets.
@@algarridm oh cool, I knew they're ceramics but didn't realise they're voiced like the Holydivers. I've been very interested in the Rebel Yell bridge pickup, what makes you want to change to the Painkillers? A tighter sound?
Great Job Gabriel! I was looking for something like this when purchasing BK pickups for my guitars. What guitar tuning did you use and speaker IR choice? Always interesting variables that could be considered in future videos? Thanks for the postings!
Thank you Daniel, really appreciate that! It’s Drop C# on this one as well, V30 IRs from the GGD Cali oversized, it pairs nicely with the Soldano SLO-100 Plugin from Neural. For sure, should have featured those specs in the video :). Cheers for checking the video out mate
Do you have a band? Music we can listen to? These riffs are awesome
Thank you so much mate, that’s awesome of you! Yeah, I play in a band called The Mariana Hollow, it’s a bit different stylistically, and there’s also another band I was in called Kingbreaker, for both projects you’re able to find our music here on YT 🍻
Hi,Gabriel,another great comparison video!
I have a question about all of those bare knuckle pickups,which one do you think “feels” better,I mean feel on the hand.. 😂I don’t know how to describe it,some pickups sound good but not feel good.. I just installed a silo set, it sounds and feels great, just wanna try some others from bkp, but didn’t decide it…sorry for my poor language 😅hope you get it😅
Thank you so much mate! Appreciate you checking the video out :). For me the Warpig is my favourite in terms of feel (at least on my Solar), it has this really cool compression to it, a bit like the Silo but more accentuated. Hope this helps my friend 🤘
Is this the ceramic nailbomb ?
It's the alnico version.
Toca masé Spitout, Men :) Tás a tocar demasiado.. Grande! Muito bom, Abraço
Hehe, os bons velhos tempos de Spitout :D!! Obrigadão my friend, muito contente por curtires. Abraço! 🍻
@@gabriel_guitar Curtimos todos! E estamos orgulhosos. Quando vens tocar à Feira de S. Mateus? Kk
Opah opah, tocar na feira de S. Mateus é que era, ainda ia dar umas voltas pela sé depois do concerto :D.
@@gabriel_guitar isto no telemóvel n dá pra perceber bem, mas no Riff 4, por ex., percebe-se com o Nailbomb um som mais claro, como se tivesse mais tremble. Leigo speaking. Grande malha! Tens alguma banda?
Ya, é basicamente isso, o Nailbomb tem mais ataque e claridade (fixe para metal mais pesado), o Holydiver tem mais médios e é mais equilibrado (bom para solos e rock mais anos 80). De momento só tenho uma banda, chama-se The Mariana Hollow, podes checar uns temas no RUclips ou no Bandcamp. Entretanto também tive outra banda mas não está activa, chamavam-se Kingbreaker também há uns vídeos por aqui :)
Damn, it's very hard to settle on those two. Holydiver has a piercing sound that is just stupid good on leads... And on the other side the Nailbomb is a tidy bit "fatter"....
Nice one mate. Yeah, they're both great in different ways, I'm very partial to the Holydiver, but the Nailbomb is a fantastic pickup too.
@@gabriel_guitar so if you had to have one... HD?
@@brunoweber5107 Yeah mate, I think it covers a bit more ground.
Animal 😽☠️☠️😈 love you
Love you more 😘😘
Tiny difference…