Pickups for a Dean V? (Prog/Symphonic Metal)

[Tibernius]

Hi folks,

I'm looking at replacing the pickups in my Dean Inferno V. I'm trying to think of a good side to them but I can't, they're that bad. Muddy under gain and Ice-picky clean, just plain awful.

Important spec stuff:
The V's Mahogany body, Mahogany neck, Rosewood fretboard, 24 & 3/4" scale, tuneomatic bridge. Tuned to D-Standard/Drop-C with 11-48 Rotosounds.
I'm using an Ashdown Fallen Angel 60 through a 2x12 cab with Celestion V30s. Sort of hot-rodded Marshall.

My amp's quite dark, but I've got decent tones out of a Duncan Designed JB/SH2 set in my Schecter Tempest so I'm after something with a similar overall tone, ideally with a bit more clarity and slightly higher output.

A couple of examples of the kind of end-tone I'm after, in case it helps:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bwZ7JzK3Jnk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eALDD5XaQuw (guitar comes in at 3:15)

So far I'm thinking a Painkiller for the bridge, but I'm not certain. Haven't got a clue about the neck pickup either. Any advice?

[Telerocker]

The Painkiller has a lot of bite. Could work. Take a look at Rebel Yell's too. They have quite some treble, which is good for droptunings, but also loads of mids, but enormous clarity.

[Tibernius]

Thanks Telerocker. :)

I hadn't considered the Rebel Yells for some reason. From the clips they definitely have enough clarity but they don't seem to have the attack I'm looking for...they seem too "polite" if that makes sense?
I'll definitely keep them in mind though; if BKPs work in the Dean I have a feeling I'll end up having to put them in my other guitars too... :lol: They sound like the perfect replacement for the p'ups in my Tempest.

I've been digging through the forum and, from the clips, I've got it down to either a matched set of Painkillers or a Nailbomb set with a Ceramic bridge. I'm actually leaning slightly towards the C-Bomb at the moment...

[Telerocker]

The C-bomb could do the trick too, I think, but I'm no expert when it comes to metal.

[mbchepburn]

Sorry this isn't a pickup suggestion but I have got some advice. If you play in D Standard, use a min. of guage 50 and a minimum of guage 56 for Drop C :) A lot of people fall into the trap of because it's thinner, they find they can pick faster but along the way, they are developing a bad technique. Get ya bottom string a dif guage, give it a few weeks, and you'll see how much better it actually is :)