Neck single to complement a Nailbomb or Painkiller in a Strat

[Steinmetzify]

Hey guys,

Back to the experts.....I have a poplar strat coming in and I've been examining my tone wants/needs lately....I've figured out that what I mostly like to play is metal/brootz on the bridge and some clean solo stuff on the neck and that's pretty much it.

I'm gonna go humbucker bridge/single coil neck and that's it.

I'd like to outfit this strat with something mean and brutal for some fast palm muted chugging ala Pantera, and something liquidy and sustaining in the neck ala David Gilmour.

My question for the experts is which single coil is going to match up volume/output wise with either the Nailbomb or the Painkiller so it's not a huge volume difference when switching?

For what it's worth, I have a LP with a calibrated HD set, and I love them.....I play thru a 6505+ and a 2x12 Orange cab atm, with a Bogner Red pedal in front for some different flavors...I'd like to keep the same EQ if at all possible when switching between guitars...can't stand when someone brings over an EMG equipped guitar and I have to completely re-EQ my amps for it.

Ideally I'd like to do a ceramic for the bridge for the fast attack/bass response and an alnico for the single for that woody Slashtone, but I bow to your guys' wisdom.

Help?

Thanks guys...

Scott

[JimmyMoorby]

I think a lot of the single coils would do the job but if youre going to have a powerful bridge humbucker though you could consider the sinner.  Due to its high output it will sustain very well and is very fluid.... not sure if its 'Gilmourish' though but it does cleans very very nicely and responds well to different levels of gain and playing with the volume.
I have the alnico Sinner neck pickup and can only compare it to the Di Marzio HS4 (Yngwie neck) or a Fender Texas Special neck and say its easily on par with them but its warmer and hotter.  BKP have said its 'jazzy' im not sure I agree witht that personally though.

I cant recommend any of the others as I havent tried them.

[Sarkasis]

I can't help but think that a Strat with a Painkiller would be uncomfortably bright. It depends on where you tune I guess. Everyone says they sound best in dark guitars tuned at least to B.

You don't have to worry about whether a neck pickup is going to be alnico or not - they're all alnico (except the Painkiller neck).

[Steinmetzify]

Thanks guys.....I talked to Ben French yesterday, and he recommended the Sinner and the Painkiller for what I want to do....far as tuning goes, I usually don't ever go lower than drop D or drop C.

See what happens as far as it being too bright.

This is why I keep coming back here for pup advice...you guys know your stuff as well or better than the guys that make em!

Much appreciated!