What would suit an Explorer used for Downtunings?

[DimeZakk]

I asked myself: When your ordering one pair of pickups anyway; why not buy another one for you other guitar that is in need of a pickup change?
So I'll need a set of pickups for my Epiphone Explorer that I use only for downtunings. The sound I was looking for is all kinds of metal but I am not sure which bkp will get the job done best.

I'll be playing drop C metalcore stuff with it so I thought a Warpig might be a good choice, but I also play Old school death metal in d standard on this guitar and for this I would need a Painkiller for that style...
On the other hand I enjoy playing Machine Head in drop b tuning with their incredible harmonics so that would make me go for a miracle man; also playing extreme downtunings like drop a# for In Flames covers with their modern tone would make me go for a Nailbomb. Last but not least I like to play Arch Enemy and someone recommended me a Holy Diver for Michael ammots tone...

...So I am kinda stuck -.-  I'll need a pickup with A LOT of low end to compensate the cheap wood of the Epiphone Explorer (only few and muddy lows). It also has to have a very high output for harmonics and a lot of attack because it'll only be used. And the most important thing is that the pickup must have a clear sound as downtunings tend to get noisy. Is a ceramic Warpig set what I've been looking for?

[Roobubba]

Personally, I think either a PK or MM will give you the most versatility in that guitar, and both are super tight for the technical stuff in low tunings.

Roo

[ericsabbath]

the miracle man sounds more growly than the painkiller on downtuning
the painkiller is a bit more precise and "djenty", has a lot more midrange too, but doesn't have that snoring low mid grind
for machine head and in flames, the miracle man would definitely be my choice

[Stevepage]

Painkiller. Painkiller's work great in explorers.

[DimeZakk]

I am looking for a more modern tone so the Painkiller isn't quite working for me so it's between a set of Miracle man or a Warpig set...

[ericsabbath]

the painkiller does modern stuff very well too
but the miracle man has definitely a punchier and deeper low end (judging by a fair comparison in the same les paul copy)
both have similar output, tightness and clarity

I wouldn't go with a warpig for the bands you mentioned

[DimeZakk]

So it's settled, I am going for the Miracle man pups (judging from the soundclips on the forum). Thx everybody!

Just a quick question: Why not the Warpig for the bands I mentioned? What bands would be a warpig best for?

[ericsabbath]

Just a quick question: Why not the Warpig for the bands I mentioned? What bands would be a warpig best for?

cause it doesn't have a lot of picking clarity for thrash stuff
it's more compressed and smooth with a strong midrange growl

down, mastodon, crowbar
and sabbath, of course

[HTH AMPS]

Just a quick question: Why not the Warpig for the bands I mentioned? What bands would be a warpig best for?

cause it doesn't have a lot of picking clarity for thrash stuff
it's more compressed and smooth with a strong midrange growl

down, mastodon, crowbar
and sabbath, of course

^ +1 on all the above.

I had a Warpig and found it didn't have the clarity for thrash, but for doom/sludge/stoner stuff it was unbeatable.

The Miracle Man otoh was the perfect thrash pickup - it transforms you into the late 80s of Metallica, Slayer, Anthrax, Megadeth, Kreator etc...

[MDV]

The c-pig has the clarity in lowest of the low tunings, though.

But I vote painkiller. It could equally be called the Davidian. It nails that sound.

[TwilightOdyssey]

Painkiller. All that mass needs a Painkiller!!