Pickups for a Koa and Swamp ash guitar? (Pics inside)

[ElectricTurkey4369]

I just got my Carvin DC727 in the mail. It is a very beautiful guitar; however, the pickups must go. They are too hot and muddy for me!
I'm looking for a neck and bridge pickup. I have a holydiver in my mahogany les paul that I like very much. Would a holydiver suite this guitar?
I am open to all models of pickups, really. I seem to be interested in the Emerald for the bridge.

My style of plaing isn't too specific. On the neck i do a lot of finger-style jazz playing as well as fusion leads. The bridge is primarily distortion. Thick, heavy and tight is what i want!
Thank you! Here's a pic of the guitar

Also: should I get gold covers or zebra bobbins?  :D

[Alex]

Very nice guitar!

I use a Nailbomb in the bridge in my Swampash Voodoo LesPaul. It's probably not that different from your guitar tonally, and I feel the Nailbomb works nice with it, as it keeps things clear and tight without making the top end too harsh/thin. I wouldn't know what neck pickup to choose, other people can advise you on that.

[Slartibartfarst42]

Beautiful guitar!  8)

I have a few suggestions that I think might suit your guitar so, in no particular order:

1) Black Hawk set
Never played them but they seem to be a highly versatile set so should cover your different styles really well.

2) Miracle Man bridge/Emerald neck
Your description of 'thick, heavy and tight' makes me think of the Miracle Man as I recently asked about a pickup that was thick, fluid and smooth like the Holydiver but a bit tighter in the bass, a bit more screaming in the highs and a bit more aggressive. It had to be in the same kind of 80's Metal ballpark as the Holydiver and the overwhelming response was Miracle Man. It should arrive tomorrow  :D It seems to me that what you're describing isn't too different. I have no idea how the Emerald neck will do finger-style jazz particularly but it has a really sweet tone.

3) Emerald set
I've always loved the sound of Emeralds so I could never argue with you for liking those, although I've never really thought of them as being particularly 'thick', in the bridge at least.

[itamar101]

I'm gonna vote for BlackHawks set. They have been demostrated to be very versatile and surprisingly good at jazz fusion but is definately more than capable and at home playing metal because it is quite a tight thick pickup.
The emerald neck will also work very nicely with the blackhawk bridge IMO.

I wouldnt go for the emerald bridge because it isn't especially thick or tight. its much more of a 70s/80s rock n roll pickup.

Btw, beautiful guitar!

oh, and if you get blackhawks you dont have much of a choice it terms of covers but if you go for something else id love to see the results with burnt chrome covers or gold covers!

[ElectricTurkey4369]

I'm really tempted to just get another Holydiver and Coldsweat for the neck...

[itamar101]

Oh, I compete forgot to mention the holy diver bridge! And the cold sweat neck is very popular and I'm sure you'd like it.

[Slartibartfarst42]

Certainly an excellent combination and the Holydiver is my favourite pickup; I'd just assumed that as you already had one, you'd like to try something else to give you a slightly different flavour.

[darkbluemurder]

I just got my Carvin DC727 in the mail. It is a very beautiful guitar; however, the pickups must go. They are too hot and muddy for me!
I'm looking for a neck and bridge pickup. I have a holydiver in my mahogany les paul that I like very much. Would a holydiver suite this guitar?
I am open to all models of pickups, really. I seem to be interested in the Emerald for the bridge.

My style of plaing isn't too specific. On the neck i do a lot of finger-style jazz playing as well as fusion leads. The bridge is primarily distortion. Thick, heavy and tight is what i want!

Thick, heavy and tight = Holydiver bridge. I think it would work well with the Swamp ash/Koa combination in keeping the low end at bay and softening the koa attack.

As neck pickup I would consider the Cold Sweat or Emerald.

Cheers Stephan

[Alex]

I'm really tempted to just get another Holydiver and Coldsweat for the neck...

If you like it, that might be the best decision. Never change a winning team ;-)