Need new pickups for a HSS strat, need help deciding!xD

[Cingen]

Hey all:)

I've been looking around for pickups for quite a while now, and i decided it will be BKPs! One problem with BKP though... Too many good stuff to choose from!

A quick recap on the guitar, it's a MIA fender deluxe strat with the following specs:

• Alder body
• Rosewood Fretboard
• Maple neck
• HSS pickup configuration with S1 switching

I emailed Tim about it and I mentioned the Warpig as a bridge pickup, he said it was a great choice but that the Nailbomb would be a very good decision aswell.
Now my question is, what would you guys go for? And could you list me the benefits one has over the other?

The humbucker will mostly be used for Power Metal, you can find the type of tones I'd like to be able to achieve in this vid: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B6DHNZTmjnA
I'm not planning to copy their tone, i just want mine to be the same style:p (Epic sounding solos with heavy rhythm playing if you get what i mean)

For the neck and middle single coils I've been considering the trilogys since i got the feeling they match well with a high output bridge humbucker:p Are the trilogys capeable of getting a Claptonish sound? Or do you have any other sugestions?

All your opinions will be greatly appreciated!

[Antag]

Out of Nailbomb & Warpig, I think Nailbomb would be better for that music & those tones, however I have another suggestion:  Holy diver

It sounds wonderful in alder-bodied guitars, much thicker & warmer than nailbomb, about the same output, harmonics really jump out of it, great metal rhythm "chunk" but huge  "weight" on single note riffs, effortless harmonic feedback on long sustaining lead notes, wonderful bridge clean sound, very versatile etc, etc...

That track doesn't give a great idea of what you want from the neck, but assuming you want a pair of singles that balance with the bridge on the clean channel & perhaps offer a useable neck lead option, Trilogies are probably your best bet.

Slowhands give the best Clapton tone (duh :)) - or at least what I understand by the term, however (& I'm speaking from experience here), they don't balance particularly well with an HD & I imagine they'd get massacred by a WP.  They'd be an odd match with NB because they're so rounded & soulful yet the NB is a bit of a chainsaw :twisted:

I'd avoid Irish Tours, even though they balance great with NB & HD - they're very bright with a real "pop" & "snap" to them which may not be what you want.

Trilogies are the best bet because they have plenty of power to balance, not excessively bright but still sound like single coils.  So Holy Diver/Trilogy/Trilogy gets my vote :)

[Cingen]

Out of Nailbomb & Warpig, I think Nailbomb would be better for that music & those tones, however I have another suggestion:  Holy diver

It sounds wonderful in alder-bodied guitars, much thicker & warmer than nailbomb, about the same output, harmonics really jump out of it, great metal rhythm "chunk" but huge  "weight" on single note riffs, effortless harmonic feedback on long sustaining lead notes, wonderful bridge clean sound, very versatile etc, etc...

That track doesn't give a great idea of what you want from the neck, but assuming you want a pair of singles that balance with the bridge on the clean channel & perhaps offer a useable neck lead option, Trilogies are probably your best bet.

Slowhands give the best Clapton tone (duh :)) - or at least what I understand by the term, however (& I'm speaking from experience here), they don't balance particularly well with an HD & I imagine they'd get massacred by a WP.  They'd be an odd match with NB because they're so rounded & soulful yet the NB is a bit of a chainsaw :twisted:

I'd avoid Irish Tours, even though they balance great with NB & HD - they're very bright with a real "pop" & "snap" to them which may not be what you want.

Trilogies are the best bet because they have plenty of power to balance, not excessively bright but still sound like single coils.  So Holy Diver/Trilogy/Trilogy gets my vote :)

Thanks for the reply!:D I just checked a holy diver clip in a squier here on the site and i don't know what to think of it:p Atm i'm doubting between the holy diver and the nailbomb. They both sound equally good to my ears but they're just...different o.O They sound a bit less "raw" than the nailbomb in my ears.. Dunno if I like that or not for the moment:p

[Antag]

FWIW, we've had a few HD v NB threads - this & this for starters, IIRC there are a few more.

Basically, the HD is fatter & smoother, the NB rawer & more aggressive, both share a similar level of output, both are very versatile (though the HD's bridge clean sound is one of the best you'll ever hear IMHO).  I doubt anyone would be disappointed with either one for the music you're planning to play in an alder strat...

[Antag]

Also, I'd already voted for NB/Tr/Tr & it doesn't let me change my vote, so now you've added HD/Tr/TR, count one less for NB & one more for that :)

[MrPring]

My alder strat has a single Holydiver in the bridge and it is an absolute beast of a pickup.
Suits this guitar perfectly.
I second what has already been said, single note riffs and palm mutes sound huuuge. It is thick but has a great warmth and depth to the tone.
Hope it helps and good luck in your choice!