Ideal pickup for late 80's - early 90's hard rock/metal

[Alex]

Thank you for the replies. From what I've read in the forums so far though, it is not recommended in dark guitars. Forgive me for not having these things clear in my mind but a mahogany guitar with rosewood fretboard is a "dark" one, right?

Yes, that is kind of the deal breaker for NB and HD.

Most recommendations then go towards Rebel Yell, Cold Sweat or Miracle Man - those three can all to 80s/90s sounds and work better in darker guitars.

[Dave Sloven]

I'm not convinced that Nailbombs don't like darker guitars.

I have an A-Bomb in my every dark and bassy Explorer and it works a treat, much better than a Warpig.  People also warned me off a Miracle Man for it as they thought the combination might be too dark.

What A-Bombs don't suit are overly middy guitars, like SGs.

I think they can suit either bright or dark guitars as long as the mid-mids aren't too prominent in the acoustic tone of the guitar.  I guess they sound different in a dark guitar compared to a bright guitar, but in the case of my Explorer they still sound good.

The A-Bomb is a late '80s early '90s sound, but a quite specific one: the aggressive middy sound of Sepultura, Possessed, Ratos de Porao, and, surprise surprise, Nailbomb.  It's predominant tone is the hardcore/metal crossover sound of the late '80s, which became the '90s metal sound

[Wayne_S]

From my experience the Rebel Yell would work. I'm sure to be biased here cause I have no other BKP's. The RY has been a game changer here in my camp. From what samples I've heard and things I've read the Holydiver would be a very good pick too !!