Help choosing - pickup for oldschool rockin' metal in an RG550

[largactyl]

Hey all...

New here.  I have an Ibanez RG550 (H/s/H, basswood body, maple neck... I use light gauge (.009) strings, and generally plain E tuning).  The Ibanez V8 bridge pickup just doesn't cut it for me.  Been looking at some BKP models, and it seems I could use some advice, based on my guitar and the sound I'm trying to achieve.

I'm going for an old-style metal sound, maybe a bit of punk in it too - not into the "contemporary"/"modern" sound at all.  Think '70s / early '80s rhythm guitar, heavy but very organic, and with plenty of mids (I don't "scoop" unless it's poop). :lol:

Some reference points: MOTORHEAD ... Ozzy-erra SABBATH ... DISCHARGE (on 'Hear Nothing') ... ANGEL WITCH (first album) ... '70s JUDAS PRIEST ... PENTAGRAM ... MAIDEN (on 'Killers') ... maybe METALLICA's 'Kill Em All'... HOLOCAUST 'The Nightcomers' ... etc.

So, any bridge pickup by BKP that would be good for that type or sound in my guitar?
Also, I'm very much inexperienced when it comes to changing pickups etc.. so if there's anything I should pay special attention to, would be appreciated... thanks.

[DimeZakk]

HE'S THA PAINKILLER!!!!

[ericsabbath]

I'd pick a nailbomb, cold sweat or painkiller
just depends on the amount of output and tightness you want

[Spitfire]

you will need the 53mm spacing for the bridge (you always get 50mm for the neck no matter what bridge).. and for the RG wiring you will need 4 conductor wiring.

[largactyl]

I'd pick a nailbomb, cold sweat or painkiller
just depends on the amount of output and tightness you want

Thanks.. I guess tightness isn't that important to my style of playing, I like the loose/open/dirty/nasty tone that was used by a lot of NWOBHM, punk, doom bands of the era.  If I want a middy crunch with that, I guess the painkiller would be my choice? (or maybe the holydiver?)

Spitfire - I see, I knew about the spacing but not about the wiring.. thanks for that.  What about the mounting leg? for an RG type body should I get the short one? (1/4")

[HTH AMPS]

I really think the Emerald will really nail all those tones.  The bands you listed never really used 'hot' pickups, typically just the stock pickups or DiMarzio Super Distortions (around 11k). 

The Emeralds were a really nice pickup when I had them in my Explorer - a harder edge than Mules that responded well to lots of gain.  I had mine tuned to C and it was a great Doom tone suitable for anything like EyeHateGod, Electric Wizard, Down, Boris etc...

I've tried Nailbombs and would not recommend them for the tones you mention. 

I think the Cold Sweat might work of you want the tougher 'ceramic' tone with a tighter bass end and less organic mids.

As for the Painkiller, it's gotta be a bit OTT for your needs imo and certainly isn't doomy - way too focused for that sound.