Guthrie Govan

[Doadman]

It could work, yes. It'll be an overall bright sound, but shouldn't be harsh or thin.
Honestly though, I still think the Nailbomb is the optimal choice for you - in a bright guitar it should be rather close in sound to a RY in a dark one.

I've emailed Tim but I've also trawled this forum and researched everything so I'm reasonably sure what he'll say. It helped a lot finding a clip of a Nailbomb in a Jackson Kelly which, although not thru-neck, is maple neck, alder body and OFR so very similar. My research suggests the following about the pickups:

Emerald - Great pup, probably underused and underrated on this forum but too bright for my guitar.

Holy Diver - Can't get away from the fact that the bass sounds too flubby for me, being used to ceramics.

Cold Sweat - Had them before and loved them but that was mahogany and they're too bright for this guitar.

Rebel Yell - One of the most awesome pups I've ever heard but too bright for an SL3.

Crawler - Great tone, great pup but maybe not quite 'Metal' enough for me.

Miracle Man - One of the best pups BKP do and ideal for my guitar but too much of a one trick pony.

Nailbomb - Seems to do everything well. It seems almost like a ceramic pup from other manufacturers yet retains the warmth of a more vintage pup. It seems to be a 'Jack of all trades, master of most of them' if I can paraphrase a well known saying. I think Tim will suggest this one.

I think the choice of neck and middle pickups will be determined by the choice of a Nailbomb for the bridge. I get the impression that the Slowhands are the best for the PAF-type sound I'm after (early Dave Murray) but probably not powerful enough to sit well with a Nailbomb so I think it will be Trilogy Suites. Now let's see if I'm right  :D

[ShredHeadJHJ]

Ceramic-NB Bridge
SH Middle
CS Neck

I would be interested to hear how they mesh together.

[Doadman]

Ceramic-NB Bridge
SH Middle
CS Neck

I would be interested to hear how they mesh together.

Sounds a good setup but for a couple of minor issues:

Surely a ceramic Nailbomb would would take away that vintage-type feel that I'm after with its warm and organic tone. Nolly assures me that an Alnico Nailbomb is just as tight, if not tighter, than most manufacturers ceramics. The neck pickup can't be a Cold Sweat as an SL3 uses an HSS configuration and the problem with the Slowhands is simply power. I read a thread where Antag said he had Slowhands paired with a Holy Diver and they didn't match well so I don't see it being any different with a Nailbomb. I think Trilogy Suites are the only viable option but fortunately thay're really good pickups anyway  :D

[Nolly]

Ceramic-NB Bridge
SH Middle
CS Neck

I would be interested to hear how they mesh together.

Sounds a good setup but for a couple of minor issues:

Surely a ceramic Nailbomb would would take away that vintage-type feel that I'm after with its warm and organic tone. Nolly assures me that an Alnico Nailbomb is just as tight, if not tighter, than most manufacturers ceramics. The neck pickup can't be a Cold Sweat as an SL3 uses an HSS configuration and the problem with the Slowhands is simply power. I read a thread where Antag said he had Slowhands paired with a Holy Diver and they didn't match well so I don't see it being any different with a Nailbomb. I think Trilogy Suites are the only viable option but fortunately thay're really good pickups anyway  :D

Agreed