Pickups for a dark sounding Explorer

[DimeZakk]

I have an early 90s Gibson explorer which is fairly heavy and dark sounding, good amount of low end...

I am looking for some tight metal riffing (thrash metal like) I don't want more low end than it already has (gibson 500t that is) but I want more definition and a cutting lead tone, it currently drowns a bit in the mix. Also the pickups should handle lower tunings but I guess all BKPs do that well...

No need to look for a specific neck pickup, the past showed me that going for a calibrated set is always a good decision!

[AndyR]

My Explorer is heavy and dark sounding, as well - but I'm going more for bluesy and rock type sounds myself.

It's had Riff Raffs in it, which were initially very nice in there, but the guitar made them a bit nondescript to me. I swapped my Mississippi Queens into her, and I'm a happy boy. I now love the "dark" part of the guitar now - she's a lovely rich, warm, and expressive beastie, but with plenty of bite when I want.

I think, for me anyway, the bottom end was a bit too much for the RRs, and was drowning out their mid characteristics. They sounded fine, but so-o much better in an SG I have now.

Now, for what you want... while I was wondering what to do with my Explorer, and even considering letting her be the metal-monster that the 500T etc was suggesting, I got some suggestions from folks on here, and Painkillers or Warpigs seemed to be popular for a dark/heavy explorer. Of course, nearly every other BKP hi-output humbucker was also mentioned :lol:, but Painkillers and Warpigs (A5) seemed to be the favourites at the time.

It will be interesting to see what gets suggested now :D

[Twinfan]

I would say Riff Raffs would suit you well.  I find them to be tight, clear and cutting and no overpowering in any particular frequency.

With a powerful guitar, they'd be a good match I thnk  :)

[gwEm]

dark pointy guitar made of mahogany? riff raffs

[Copperhead]

Cold Sweat is very bright.

[hunter]

All that's been said. RiffRaffs if you want them a bit more vintage flavoured, ColdSweats if you want real cutting chugga.

I would also add VHIIs as a good compromise in between and I can confirm that they hold up very well to metal.

[DimeZakk]

I am looking for a more modern tone and more output than a riff-raff, my Marshall JVM needs some output to get a metal sound going...

Cold Sweat might be a good choice!

[ericsabbath]

cold sweat for sure
I've been recommending this pickup for you for like a year  :lol:

[Twinfan]

Cold Sweats +1 then!

[MDV]

Whats with all the riff raffs for thrash? Are they the new flavour of the month

Get some cold sweats or for more grunt and low end painkillers in there

[Twinfan]

He doesn't want too fat a pickup, hence the RR suggestions.

[MDV]

Not unreasonable, I suppose.

I think the cold sweats the way to go then. Its not thin, but its not fat either. Very good cure for dark guitars.

[DimeZakk]

Cold Sweat or Painkiller. Does the Painkiller really have more low end than the cold sweat? I thought the Painkiller was the tight, midheavy pickup...

So Cold Sweat it is! I will go for a Nailbomb Neck with this one though, I once ordered a Nailbomb Bridge with a Cold Sweat Neck which are currently in a Les Paul...