My #1 needs a new set of magnets

[Neemo]

Okay,

Here's the axe:


That there is a ceramic warpig, which is now sold and gone. I need a new pickup and am having a hard time deciding.
The warpig was a wonderful pickup and it had a lot of push, maybe a bit too much. So I'd like to get something that has 1. Great articulation of chords 2. At least somewhat tight bass 3. Maybe a hint of a vintagey vibe

The guitar's body is made of alder, neck is maple and the fretboard is ebony. I'd like to do some opeth-style stuff with weird chords and great lead tone. My initial thought was Cold Sweat, something not too common as a bridge pickup but would it be overly harsh and trebly?

I also have a nailbomb in my other guitar with similiar style and construction so that's out. Maybe a bit too much output there as well.

Any suggestions?

Thanks.

[Alex]

Black Dog! The midrange is perfect for rock and harder tones, but the pickup has a much more detailed touch than most high-output models. I love mine, I was playing Alice Cooper, Testament, Iron Maiden and Megadeth today on mine and just felt it's one of the most versatile pickups out there.

[impossible]

When you mentioned Opeth's lead tones (Damnation is awesome!) I thought of the Abraxas as it has that lovely creaminess. It's hotter than vintage but not quite into modern overwound territory.

[Nolly]

I'd highly recommend an Holy Diver. It's fat and rich, but also clear, articulate and tight. The voicing is definitely on the vintage side of modern, but it's one of the most versatile pickups I've come across. I had one with a maple-necked alder guitar and it was the perfect match.

[MDV]

Sorry for the threadjack, but Nolly, how would you guess a ceramic holy diver would compare to a ceramic nailbomb?

The HD bridge is the only contemporary I havent tried, but I've heard nice clips (even though Im allergic to alnico bridges).

[ericsabbath]

weird chords and great lead tone.

I'd highly recommend an Holy Diver. It's fat and rich, but also clear, articulate and tight. The voicing is definitely on the vintage side of modern, but it's one of the most versatile pickups I've come across. I had one with a maple-necked alder guitar and it was the perfect match.

thou shall listen to Nolly, the great one  :D

[Neemo]

Oh boy this is going to be a tough decision...

I wish I had gone with mahogany in the guitar build, then cold sweat would be a no brainer. I really liked the amount of bass on c-warpig but the output overall was too much, I wish they had it with the same bass/mid/treble but with a bit less gain (underwound maybe? :D). How tight is the bass on holy diver? I play through a Mesa Mark IIC so it can get plenty tight but I want the pickup to have a tight tone.

It's so difficult to have best of both worlds. Though at the moment I still play mostly heavy stuff.

Here's some reference on what I'm after:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vm3XZeRyTHg

Especially the lead tone in the intro, a singing lead with a vintage vibe that's still heavy.

Maybe I'll have the courage to put in a order soon 8)

[ericsabbath]

in eq terms, I'd say it is close to the alnico warpig, but less bassy and a bit more middy
it's a very open and clean sounding pickup
imagine the nailbomb having a fuller sound, with more center mids, less high end edge and less output
it's not among the tightest models, but it is tight enough even in mahogany
it's the most "singing" bridge pickup for leads I've played and definitely closer to that tone than a cold sweat (had both in the same guitar)
a tighter (and thinner) holy diver would be the rebel yell

[Ribboz]

Maybe a c-diver? :)

[ericsabbath]

I think a ceramic new diver would sound somewhat close to the painkiller
I'd pick a regular alnico one

[Antag]

I'd highly recommend an Holy Diver. It's fat and rich, but also clear, articulate and tight. The voicing is definitely on the vintage side of modern, but it's one of the most versatile pickups I've come across. I had one with a maple-necked alder guitar and it was the perfect match.

+1 to all of this.  The HD sounds fantastic in alder/maple guitars.

If it's any help, here are some clips of the HD in my alder/maple neck-thru Jackson RR1T: clean (it's the whole set but there are parts of just the bridge in there), riff, riff+lead, solo over clean

[Ribboz]

I think a ceramic new diver would sound somewhat close to the painkiller
I'd pick a regular alnico one

Yeah, thats what Tim said. I just didnt like that lag in response in the alnico HD. Also the cDiver is quite a bit smoother than the painkiller :]

[DimeZakk]

AFAIK Opeth play Seymour Duncan Sh-10 Full shred humbuckers which are Alnico V humbuckers and they are not as tight as a Holy Diver! The Diver will work great in your guitar!

[Ribboz]

AFAIK Opeth play Seymour Duncan Sh-10 Full shred humbuckers which are Alnico V humbuckers and they are not as tight as a Holy Diver! The Diver will work great in your guitar!

That would be unbearable. :\ The more people talk about full shred, the more they seem like garbage. 

[Dr. Vic]

Sorry for the threadjack, but Nolly, how would you guess a ceramic holy diver would compare to a ceramic nailbomb?

Yep sorry fo the threadjack too but that's one good question !

oh, And Neemo, your guitar just kicks ass, nice one and the pig looks awesome in it  !