I talked to Tim from Bareknuckles and one of the dealers.

[SG-DAWG]

Originally Posted by superflyinmonke

I think the other person you're speaking of that hated it, was me.

Again, misread, because I said that I hated it in the guitar I put it in; Jackson KV2. The guitar is very resonant on the bass scale and it sounded really flubby.

On the other hand, I got sick of the EMGs in my SG because the 3 other guitars in my basement with passive pickups were kicking it's ass. I have since put a Painkiller in the bridge and a JB in the neck and it's very close to what I'm after with this guitar. The JB has a little too much crunch for me, so I may be looking into something like a Cold Sweat, but who knows.

It's a passive pickup, which will reflect the natural tones of the wood in the guitar. When people ask for advice on a pickup for their guitar, they rarely mention what wood species and guitar they're playing, let alone the frequency range their guitar produces the strongest. These all play factors.

Lastly, put spaces after your periods, dude. I know some people would be reluctant to even read your posts because they are annoying to read.

First it wasnt you and second im not here for a fucking grammar lesson so please by all means dont read my posts.

[superflyinmonke]

Right, you're here for advice. You could take the advice given in the other 90% of the post, rather than looking like a twit.

[SG-DAWG]

Originally Posted by superflyinmonke

Right, you're here for advice. You could take the advice given in the other 90% of the post, rather than looking like a twit.

I plan on taking all the advice given from everyone, because they all have direct experience with these pups which is something i dont. The reason i ask questions is because there are conflicting reviews. Seriously though making comments about how someone types or doesnt put spaces after a period is a bit much.This is a forum, im not gonna waste time making sure everything is just perfect,so it doesnt "annoy" you too much. That is being a twit if you ask me.

[Cookie Monster]

EMG X-Series FTW!

[SpiritCrusher86]

how would a suhr aldrich compare to a painkiller

[mhenson42]

Originally Posted by SG-DAWG

I plan on taking all the advice given from everyone, because they all have direct experience with these pups which is something i dont. The reason i ask questions is because there are conflicting reviews. Seriously though making comments about how someone types or doesnt put spaces after a period is a bit much.This is a forum, im not gonna waste time making sure everything is just perfect,so it doesnt "annoy" you too much. That is being a twit if you ask me.

I did notice, however, that you put spaces after your periods in this post.

[mhenson42]

Originally Posted by SpiritCrusher86

how would a suhr aldrich compare to a painkiller

This I'd like to know.

[SG-DAWG]

Originally Posted by mhenson42

I did notice, however, that you put spaces after your periods in this post.

Well when im in a hurry you may or may not see spaces.

[pink freud]

Originally Posted by SG-DAWG

First, it wasnt you, and second, I'm not here for a fucking grammar lesson, so please, by all means, don't read my posts.

[JamesPeters]

Originally Posted by SG-DAWG

Sorry if i mis quoted you,but never the less you still like the mm better for lp style guitars.

What? Dude, stop reading things into what I say! I didn't say that at all. Matter of fact I had good results with the Painkiller in a LP style guitar, two now that I think of it.

It's about how the pickup works with the SPECIFIC CUTS OF WOOD IN THE GUITAR, not the guitar type/name brand/type of wood in general. There are far too many variables to say "it's better for a LP style guitar" unless you could presume the person had a LP style guitar that sounds the way you prefer (if you picked one from a bunch in a store for the sound you like).

Originally Posted by DVaz

People make that mistake a lot. I've spoken with Tim about this stuff at reasonable length - the MM is NOT supposed to mimick either the EMG81 or the sound on miracle man. None of the pickups are supposed to replicate the sound of the music that they're named for. The names are inspired by the vibe of the music and of the pickup. Huge difference, I'm sure you realise.

In my experience, which includes all of the contemporary BKs save the holy diver, variations of them, EMGs and all of the above swapped between many guitars, I think the painkiller is the most 81-like pickup that BK make, in general, on average. It will respond very much more strongly to the sound of the guitar you put them in (far, far more strongly than EMGs will), but overall its tightness, its extreme attack, its prominent high mids all leave it sounding a little bit 81-y. That doesnt mean to say its the same or anything, its a very different pickup, but its the most similar of the range. Including the MM. In my experience.

There is no replicating the sound of the EMG 81 in a passive pickup that I've heard, but the Miracle Man does a better job getting close than the Painkiller does (from what I've heard, when I've used it in my guitars). The Painkiller is very punchy and "clangy" whereas the 81 is more smooth with a crunch to the attack. The Miracle Man sounds a lot more like that to me.

[SG-DAWG]

Originally Posted by JamesPeters

What? Dude, stop reading things into what I say! I didn't say that at all. Matter of fact I had good results with the Painkiller in a LP style guitar, two now that I think of it.

It's about how the pickup works with the SPECIFIC CUTS OF WOOD IN THE GUITAR, not the guitar type/name brand/type of wood in general. There are far too many variables to say "it's better for a LP style guitar" unless you could presume the person had a LP style guitar that sounds the way you prefer (if you picked one from a bunch in a store for the sound you like).



There is no replicating the sound of the EMG 81 in a passive pickup that I've heard, but the Miracle Man does a better job getting close than the Painkiller does (from what I've heard, when I've used it in my guitars). The Painkiller is very punchy and "clangy" whereas the 81 is more smooth with a crunch to the attack. The Miracle Man sounds a lot more like that to me.

Ok,it must not have been you im thinking of.Maybe i read it wrong i dont know either way sorry and i wont quote you again. I thought for sure it was you but i guess im wrong.The post im thinking of someone was saying something about thier guitar and thier roomates guitars. Either way i dont want to rehash it or anything. I think im just done with this subject.

[Eric Hellstyle]

AIC and Tool = Holy Diver

I liked the MM better than the PK for BLS
it's not "rounded" at all
the Cold Sweat is better for Zakk on Ozzy, though

[SpiritCrusher86]

Originally Posted by SpiritCrusher86

how would a suhr aldrich compare to a painkiller

[JamesPeters]

Originally Posted by SG-DAWG

Ok,it must not have been you im thinking of.Maybe i read it wrong i dont know either way sorry and i wont quote you again. I thought for sure it was you but i guess im wrong.The post im thinking of someone was saying something about thier guitar and thier roomates guitars. Either way i dont want to rehash it or anything. I think im just done with this subject.

I'm guessing you read a bunch of people's posts, filtered out what you didn't want to see or think about, and the result is what you posted on this thread with my name attached to it.

[Oblivion DC]

Originally Posted by JamesPeters

I'm guessing you read a bunch of people's posts, filtered out what you didn't want to see or think about, and the result is what you posted on this thread with my name attached to it.

I used to have a girlfriend that did shit like that...

[Cookie Monster]

James, have you had a chance to try the new EMG X-Series pickups?

I'd love to hear your opinion on them.

[SG-DAWG]

Originally Posted by JamesPeters

I'm guessing you read a bunch of people's posts, filtered out what you didn't want to see or think about, and the result is what you posted on this thread with my name attached to it.

Ok i found the post
copied and pasted:
Is anyone reading what the OP said? I totally understand what he means in terms of it sounding "too rounded" and "not crunchy", if it's in a darker/bassier guitar. It's going to still be high in output, but it doesn't give an aggressive edge in those cases. More like "blub blub blub" instead of "chunk chunk chunk". It DOES happen with this pickup in some guitars.

I guess i just thought of a les paul as a darker/bassier guitar,and thats why i thought you were saying something else.So you dont think a lp is dark sounding?This post alone was what was steering me away from the PK.

[Eric Hellstyle]

Originally Posted by SG-DAWG

Ok i found the post
copied and pasted:
Is anyone reading what the OP said? I totally understand what he means in terms of it sounding "too rounded" and "not crunchy", if it's in a darker/bassier guitar. It's going to still be high in output, but it doesn't give an aggressive edge in those cases. More like "blub blub blub" instead of "chunk chunk chunk". It DOES happen with this pickup in some guitars.

I guess i just thought of a les paul as a darker/bassier guitar,and thats why i thought you were saying something else.So you dont think a lp is dark sounding?This post alone was what was steering me away from the PK.

my les pauls aren't dark sounding
all my ex-SG's were

[firejack018]

Passives that sound closest to actives to my ears were the Lace Drop N Gains.
Sharp and HiFi type tones.
Sort of a flat EQ curve.
Have you looked into these?
IIRC the maker actually touts them as the passive actives.

[JamesPeters]

Originally Posted by SG-DAWG

I guess i just thought of a les paul as a darker/bassier guitar,and thats why i thought you were saying something else.So you dont think a lp is dark sounding?This post alone was what was steering me away from the PK.

Some LPs are darker/bassier sounding, but then again some aren't. A friend of mine owns a very balanced sounding LP, with lots of mids and not an overabundance of lows. I have an Ibanez SZ which is all mahogany, and it's anything but dark (although all the other SZs in the store were darker sounding). It's true a lot of LPs nowadays can be darker or have "loose lows", but then again it'll depend on what wood was used and how much "weight relief" was done.

If your guitar has a ton of lows and is dark sounding--irrespective of what brand/model it is--then I would imagine the Painkiller might not be a good match for the guitar.

Originally Posted by Cookie Monster

James, have you had a chance to try the new EMG X-Series pickups?

I'd love to hear your opinion on them.

I have some on order but haven't received them yet. I'll post about them after I've given them a fair trial, and/or after the honeymoon period has worn off (for me, that's a couple days).