New Guitar builds...need a pickup recommendation

[savage8190]

So I just built two warmoth guitars...both nearly identical specs. Solid one piece ash bodies, one with flame maple cap, the other with quilt maple cap. Both maple necks with rosewood boards, one is satin nitro, the other roasted.

I currently have Phat Cats in one, and Bare Knuckle Nailbombs in the other. I really dig the Phat Cats; there is a twanginess from this wood combo, and it mixes well with the fat single coil tone. It reminds me very much of a Tele (which I don't have at the moment so that works for me).

I don't love the Nailbombs in the other guitar. In a Les Paul they sound like a slightly hotter Custombucker, which is cool. Though they have never been my favorite as they are pretty noisy when you open up the volume all the way. In this guitar with that twang they sound off... they are kind of nasally and thin; kind of sterile... its just not what I'm after. I want this guitar to be hot, but need something else from the pickups. Any recommendations?

Pic for fun

 

[beaubrummels]

From the Duncan line, I might recommend Custom Custom bridge, Alnico 2 Pro neck first. Slightly hotter Custombucker is in the hot PAF territory, which a Custom Custom is. If the guitar itself is twangy, then the A2 roundness of both these pickups will mix with the guitar and make an even sound that shouldn't sound thin and still has some 'vocal' mids to solo with and give chords and playing some character.

 

[savage8190]

From the Duncan line, I might recommend Custom Custom bridge, Alnico 2 Pro neck first. Slightly hotter Custombucker is in the hot PAF territory, which a Custom Custom is. If the guitar itself is twangy, then the A2 roundness of both these pickups will mix with the guitar and make an even sound that shouldn't sound thin and still has some 'vocal' mids to solo with and give chords and playing some character.

This actually sounds like a good way to go. I do have a Custom Custom kicking around. The A2P is pretty fat...it would probably work well (I've got one in the bridge of my strat and it sounds perfect there).

 

[savage8190]

I say send the Nailbombs back and get the Peacemaker set. I have them in my LP and they do exactly what you're describing. Plus, they look amazing!

I've had the Nailbombs for quite a while now...can't exchange them. Just haven't found a permanent home for them.

 

[Mincer]

From the Duncan line, I might recommend Custom Custom bridge, Alnico 2 Pro neck first.

This is what I was going to say.

 

[Seashore]

Nailbombs will be much better in a thicker-sounding guitar. I tried them in an ash body/maple neck 25.5" guitar and they weren't the right fit at all. Invaders wound up being a good solution in that one.

 

[Aceman]

From the Duncan line, I might recommend Custom Custom bridge, Alnico 2 Pro neck first. Slightly hotter Custombucker is in the hot PAF territory, which a Custom Custom is. If the guitar itself is twangy, then the A2 roundness of both these pickups will mix with the guitar and make an even sound that shouldn't sound thin and still has some 'vocal' mids to solo with and give chords and playing some character.

I support this recommendation too!

 

[savage8190]

So I gave these some more time to adjust to them. The Nailbombs are still in one...and I still hate them. But the Phat Cats were actually driving me more crazy in the other one. I thought it was kind of cool having a tele'ish kind of sound at first, but this guitar is also just so damn bright like the other one. I can't seem to tame it.

I pulled the Phat Cats (I think they would sound redonkulous in a Les Paul BTW), and I installed a Custom Custom in that one with a 59 neck that I had kicking around. I honestly just really don't know what to think of it now. It's still pretty bright, but more manageable. The 59 stays REALLY clean. I remember hating it way back because it was very percussive and ice picky...I think I still feel the same.

The Custom Custom is a strange pickup. For how hot it is, it certainly doesn't play like a typical high output pickup. I don't know that I love it...I use a Helix and it's just not that great with most of the patches I use. Though I will say, it sounds really good with the Peavey patch I use to get a really thick metal chug with my Les Paul. This guitar/pickup combo evens it out and it just has a cool rock tone.

I honestly am just hating these guitars and feel like they're gonna be a money pit. Not sure where I go with them from here. The one with the Custom Custom might get converted to a baritone...would probably keep some good note definition on those low tunings.

 

[Mincer]

I built a few Warmoths, and I love them, but they took some tweaking to get right. I went the Warmoth route because no one makes a stock guitar with all the specs I like (smaller, thinner neck with scalloped frets in the colors I want).

 

[savage8190]

I built a few Warmoths, and I love them, but they took some tweaking to get right. I went the Warmoth route because no one makes a stock guitar with all the specs I like (smaller, thinner neck with scalloped frets in the colors I want).

Yeah I struggle to find exactly what I like. I have an MJT strat build that was perfect right off the bat...love that guitar...these are a struggle. Could be I just hate ash...I've only ever had one ash guitar (a tele). I bought it on ebay WAY back and sold it immediately because it was like 13 pounds lol. Also not a fan of the Wolfgang neck profiles I got.

Won't go into it, but I've had a lot of issues with these guitars and I can't even stand looking at them at this point lol.

 

[Mincer]

It is probably worth dumping them for something with no baggage attached.

 

[savage8190]

It is probably worth dumping them for something with no baggage attached.

Problem is both the bodies have some damage (some from shipping, some from a ridiculous mishap). I can fix them, but I dunno...hurts the value for sure. They might be better with different necks...I wonder if a warmer tone wood in the neck would help at all.

Was doing some reading and the Invaders seem pretty widely regarded as a very thick/warm pickup. Maybe I give those a shot...or maybe grab another Pegasus/Sentient set...those were pretty thick sounding. Could give a Slash neck a whirl with the Custom Custom as well...it's very warm (my favorite neck PUP).