Best high gain rhythm pickups - what do you look for?

[darkandrew]

I've been wondering just what it is that I'm looking for in a great high-gain rhythm pickup? I think the requirements for an ideal rhythm pickup are probably quite different from one that would possibly be considered the best for playing lead. For me, I think I want a "scratchy" or maybe "hairy" texture with plenty of clarity in the top end and balance across the frequency range without being too overbearing or too full - sort of three dimensional and shimmery. Of the BKPs I've tried, I think the A-bomb, Cold Sweat and Mule bridges best fit what I want from a rhythm pickup for high gain stuff, possibly also the Rebel Yell. What are everybody else's thoughts about what characteristics make a good rhythm pickup for high-gain applications and which BKPs have these?

[one]

I love my Jugs and Cpigs. Extreme output anyway, must be careful

[darkandrew]

I love my Jugs and Cpigs. Extreme output anyway, must be careful

What aspects of the jugs do you particularly like for rhythm playing?

[Yellowjacket]

I like clarity, articulation, complexity, and the right amount of tightness. 

Juggs:  I like how they have a nice bite in the harmonics.  I also like how they are clear and they have a great feel.  Tight but not dry.  They also have very muscular low mids and they just pound on palm mutes.  The cleans are also fantastic.
I prefer Ibanez style switching so I can use the neck pickup in Parallel.  This allows for many tones in addition to the blow torch that is the bridge pickup.  These are extremely high output pickups and they can clip the clean signal on many clean channels. 

A-Bomb:  The hair, gnarly mids, and ferocity is super fun.  I think I really like how it sounds with more vintage tones dialed in on an amp.  (Or a more vintage amp)  The pickup certainly sounds at home for blues with a plexi voiced amp but with a modern, high gain head, it is an unrepentant thrash / metal pickup. 

[one]

I love my Jugs and Cpigs. Extreme output anyway, must be careful

What aspects of the jugs do you particularly like for rhythm playing?

Juggs: versatily and everything Yellowjacket mentioned
Cpigs: biggest pickup I've ever tried. Just tried them downtuned and I like it, but I think I prefer it for standard. Perfect for light guitars because of it's dialed back trebble. Compressed in a beautiful way, not as the Cbomb, you still can do soloing with it and not cringe. A metal mass destruction weapon.

[mantrasky]

I just Love my Holy Diver (Calibrated Set) with the Trilogy Suite in the center for amazing tone.

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[ericsabbath]

I don't think I ever played a BKP that didn't sound amazing for rhythms in its own way

[Telerocker]

I don't think I ever played a BKP that didn't sound amazing for rhythms in its own way

I second that. By example, Mules do a great rhythmsound.

[darkandrew]

I just Love my Holy Diver (Calibrated Set) with the Trilogy Suite in the center for amazing tone.

\../

I seem to remember my HDs as being a bit too saturated, middle heavy and top light for great rhythm playing - maybe I should stick them back in and give them another chance.

[fps_dean]

I like clarity, articulation, complexity, and the right amount of tightness. 

Juggs:  I like how they have a nice bite in the harmonics.  I also like how they are clear and they have a great feel.  Tight but not dry.  They also have very muscular low mids and they just pound on palm mutes.  The cleans are also fantastic.
I prefer Ibanez style switching so I can use the neck pickup in Parallel.  This allows for many tones in addition to the blow torch that is the bridge pickup.  These are extremely high output pickups and they can clip the clean signal on many clean channels. 

A-Bomb:  The hair, gnarly mids, and ferocity is super fun.  I think I really like how it sounds with more vintage tones dialed in on an amp.  (Or a more vintage amp)  The pickup certainly sounds at home for blues with a plexi voiced amp but with a modern, high gain head, it is an unrepentant thrash / metal pickup.

I actually would recommend the A-Bombs more toward a lead player than a rhythm player. They are really voiced for screaming leads that cut through the mix, but I would go with something like Painkillers for rhythm.

The Rebel Yell is a little bit clean for a high gain rhythm, pickup -- not that it's not possible, but despite being higher output than say a Black Dog, they stay cleaner and are harder to get to breakup -- that said you might like the Black Dogs as an all around option.