Ibanez RG321MH - Mahogany body. To Nailbomb or Blackhawk?

[CallumTiller]

Hello, I have recently decided to upgrade all the hardware and electronics on my Ibanez RG321 and am torn on what pickups to install. The guitar in question has an all mahogany body with a 3-piece maple wizard II neck with a rosewood fretboard.

I'm looking for this to be my main recording guitar as I don't own a lot of decent instruments and I really love the way this guitar feels so upgrading it's overall sound would be my best option. I am really into the Opeth sound, something with lovely cleans but can also handle high gain/overdrive well. But also something with a tight low end as I may eventually like to put thicker strings on and try my hand at some progressive metal.

That being said I think the best pickup for me might be the Nailbomb, judging from other posts. But I've also looked at the Black Hawk and maybe pairing a Nailbomb bridge with a Coldsweat neck. Any help would be fantastic!

Thanks, Callum

[TheyCallMeVolume]

I think I would say Nailbomb, but the curiosity in me says try the Blackhawk! I've yet to hear from someone about them

[mniel8195]

if its a lighter body that is a brighter sounding mahogany i would put holy divers in forsure...the nailbombs are not as tight forsure.

[CallumTiller]

It's a pretty heavy guitar, I'd say it has a dark sound. I'm looking for something that can do everything really, so logic would dictate that I should go for the Nailbomb.

I am curious about the Black Hawk myself, after listening to the clips on the product page it also seems like it has a lot of applications.

[itamar101]

To my ears the Blackhawk seems like the more eraatole picking of the two. In fact, I seems like the most versatile pickup in the range. The Nailbomb is hailed by bare knuckle as one of their most versatile pickups but in fact they seem to have many more versatile pickups.

That said, the nailbomb would work great for opeth sorta tones.
I haven't heard much of the Blackhawks but I would be ever so greatful if you could give it a try and tell us. Haha.

Also, I have no idea what "Mr Forsure" was talking about when he said that nailbombs aren't as tight as holy divers. They are much tighter and more aggressive. The Holy Divers would also be an excellent choice for opeth tones but they might not suit a dark guitar so well.

[northlane.josh]

I thought the blackhawks were kind of dark, they have a very deep low end to them and single notes are really thick and saturated like what you get with an active pickup. They clean up very well but i didn't find them to be as tight as some of the other contemporary pickups.
They would definitely get you where you want to go though.
If the guitar is really dark, i would consider emeralds. they are a hugely under rated pickup IMO and I love the one I have in the bridge of my universe

[CallumTiller]

I think judging from what I've heard and read I might settle on a Nailbomb in the bridge position. Does anyone have any thoughts on what neck pickup to pair with it; would a Nailbomb in the neck be able to pull off bluesy/clean/crunchy solos and more high gain lead tones? Coldsweat?

[ericsabbath]

I like the neck cs much better than the neck nb
the nailbomb is louder, but cleaner, lot brighter and more scooped
very singlecoilish, but quite high output for a neck pickup
like a heavily scooped out version of the bridge nailbomb
cold sweat has a more balanced voicing and it's quite articulate like the nailbomb, but a bit more fluid and friendly

[CallumTiller]

Excellent, thanks a lot for the advice guys. Looks like come next payday I might treat myself to a Nailbomb bridge and Coldsweat neck!