Pickup for thick distortion

[Chromobear]

Hey guys, I've been frequenting these forums for a while but I just got around to making an account. I have a question for you: I'm looking at replacing my set of EMGs (81 bridge, 60 neck) in my LTD FX-400. The EMGs have a bit too harsh a sound for the kind of tone I'm looking to get, which tends towards the warm and sludgy side rather than sharp and ultra-high-gain. I'm looking for some pickups that will work well for a sound like bands such as Black Sabbath, Sleep, Baroness, Mastodon, and The Sword. In other words, nice and thick-sounding with a fat bottom end.

Examples:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xe7OQpUlanE
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tzVcC0TAN8k
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6P9lBsib0qc
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SChhLWp40Qk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H3YtvuZ2-I0

Many thanks for any help you can give me.

[Doadman]

I can't say I'm sure but my initial guess would be a Warpig.

[dheim]

i knew before reading what your influences are, and now i can write it with a knife in my very flesh ( :P)...

WARPIG!! and nothing else.

ah, i suggest the Alnico one, ceramic is more suited for sludgy death metal tones, but here's a work for the A5.

[Nolly]

Yes, definitely alnico Warpig for you!

[ericsabbath]

well... Iommi, The Sword, Baroness and Mastodon use ceramic pickups, so I wouldn't discard the c-pig

[FELINEGUITARS]

+1 on the warpig just from listening to The Sword

[MDV]

Warpig, no question.

[Madsakre]

WARPIG!

[HTH AMPS]

Manhattan.





















Not really, Warpig all the way.

[dheim]

well... Iommi, The Sword, Baroness and Mastodon use ceramic pickups, so I wouldn't discard the c-pig

yeah, mastodon's tone makes me think of c-pigs, but i'd play safer with the alnico model, the ceramic pig's high end could be too buzzy for chromo's needs.

[Chromobear]

Wow, I didn't expect such a clear consensus. Thanks to everybody for your advice, I'll definitely be picking up a pair of pigs very soon!

[dheim]

Wow, I didn't expect such a clear consensus. Thanks to everybody for your advice, I'll definitely be picking up a pair of pigs very soon!

at this point i expected something like "i asked Tim and he advised me a pair of Stormy Mondays"... it's how it goes usually, and the man is ALWAYS right! :)

no, i think you can't go wrong with the pigs! if you prefer a definite and bluesy neck pickup instead of the quite dark neck pig you can buy a mixed set, bridge pig and neck mississippi queen, i've got two similar mixes and they're great for everything!
mind that you can have them exactly matched in look and tone.