PUPS for Prog Metal in a LP

[TranscendingMaya]

Hello everyone,
Brand new to BKP. Been lurking around reading for a few weeks. I'm trying to figure out "the" BKP's i need. And i believe I've narrowed the bridge down to the Painkiller, or the Nailbomb, but am still open to other suggestions if you feel that's not what im looking for. As for the neck pup, ive only just begun starting to figure that one out. i know i want an Alanco IV or V (i think). Anyway, on to specs: They're going to be going into a 2003 Les Paul Standard. im also going to put a Ghoast Piezo pickup along with the Acousti-phonic Modular Pre-amp into it, so i can get some great acoustic like sounds from it as well. The amp im playing through is a Mesa Roadking 2, through a Mills Acoustics 412B cab(amazing cabs). We play in drop D alot, but we are starting to move down into drop C, and more tight chugging odd riffs. So clarity/tightness in the lows will be a big plus. The kind of music we are playing is a kind of progressive rock/metal. So good portions of super sweet cleans with load of effects(and sometimes not loads of effects), and then varying degrees of distortions ranging from lighter crunch's down to as heavy metal as we can possibly get. When i say Metal, im leaning to modern-ish more then 80's hair. I love lows, but not woofing or mud. I need to be heard in the mix (we have 2 guitars,bass,2vocs,hand drums, regular drums, effects, on and on and on... ) so mids are good, but im not big into overly middy. And highs are what give that sharp metal attack, but im not into shrilling, "ah, turn the highs down". I want the bridge to have good tone on palm mute chugging, but not be too much highs with not palm muting. Anyway, sorry if this is too much info. it just seems people always get better answers/suggestions when they are more specific in describing what that have, and what they want to get out of it. I think versatility is a big key word for me, as far as the relationship between the bridge and neck pups. Anyway, let me know if you need any more info. And thanks VERY much in advance, for all your help. I really appreciate it.
-Bowie
-TranscendingMaya

[ericsabbath]

you want something ceramic

[Nolly]

Welcome! I'd recommend a Cold Sweat set for you.

[TranscendingMaya]

Thanks for the reply's so far. I contacted Tim, and he recommended the Painkillers. I also contacted Nick at the Axe Palace, and his recommendation was the Miracle Man. Now Nolly you say the Cold Sweat. So if there's anything in common here its all are Ceramic, being what Eric said, so that's a good start. Anyway, Eric have you a recommendation for me? Only because he is "the" guy, im still leaning towards Tim's thoughts on the Painkillers. But thats the only reason. I have never heard any of them in person, and its so hard to get a good idea of what they will sound like in MY setup, that listoning to sound clips seem almost pointless. Anyway, can anyone tell me why there opinion/recommendation is the way it is? Thanks very much in advance, again.
-Transcending Maya

[ericsabbath]

Thanks for the reply's so far. I contacted Tim, and he recommended the Painkillers. I also contacted Nick at the Axe Palace, and his recommendation was the Miracle Man. Now Nolly you say the Cold Sweat. So if there's anything in common here its all are Ceramic, being what Eric said, so that's a good start. Anyway, Eric have you a recommendation for me? Only because he is "the" guy, im still leaning towards Tim's thoughts on the Painkillers. But thats the only reason. I have never heard any of them in person, and its so hard to get a good idea of what they will sound like in MY setup, that listoning to sound clips seem almost pointless. Anyway, can anyone tell me why there opinion/recommendation is the way it is? Thanks very much in advance, again.
-Transcending Maya

I was going to recommend exactly those 3 models, that's why I didn't specify  :lol:
really depends on how you like your mids and low end
the painkiller is the middiest, loudest and tightest
the miracle man is the most modern and punchy, which less upper mids and a sharper top, but quite smooth for leads
the cold sweat is more old school sounding, with less low mids the others, crunchy midrange, bright top and a nice sparkly clean tone for a ceramic
all 3 are pretty tight

all of them worked pretty well with the Single, Dual Recto and also with the Framus Cobra I had (which is also Recto based)
I'm an alnico fan, but those amps sounded better with ceramic pickups, imo
my Marshall style amps sounded better with alnico nailbomb and holy diver

based on your first post and in my own experience, I'd probably pick the miracle man, but you should consider the ceramic nailbomb
I had a regular nailbomb and a cold sweat, but didn't try the c-bomb, which is an overwound cold sweat
I guess that should be punchier and less 80's sounding than the cold sweat, but probably more balanced than the miracle man and painkiller