Just a bit of pickup consideration: lower output Nailbomb and neck pup questions

[Lilarcor]

As I like to experiment a bit with pickups in my guitars I recently came up with the idea that a Nailbomb in the bridge of my RG550 would be nice. But I'd like to go a bit lower in output, say vintage-hot, to add a bit more clarity and tightness. Is there any vintage-hot (or even vintage) pickup in the vein of the Nailbomb tonewise?

Then I was thinking a bit about what I'd like in the neck. I've got a Coldsweat 7 neck and it's great. However I would like a little more "single coil-snap" and chime. Maybe the VHII? Or even the Painkiller neck since it's supposed to have some kind of single-coilish snap to it with great clarity due to the ceramic magnet? But it might be overpower a less hot bridge pup, might it not?

And my last question concerns a different guitar. I'm still looking for a neck pup to pair with a Holydiver. The current neck pickup (Häussel Perl neck) is excellent and voiced like a PAF with a bit more midrange but it has that certain alnico II-vibe (like soft and creamy) that I'd like to get rid of. The obvious choice would be the Holydiver neck but I find little information about it. How does it compare to let's say the Coldsweat neck (which I already own)?
The guitar is a Framus Camarillo Custom with swamp ash body plus thick flamed maple cap and an ovangkol neck with ebony fingerboard. It's very big and heavy sounding but with excellent highs and clarity sonewhat Les Paul-like but with more treble and little less mid growl.

Btw, my music style is somewhere between prog rock over prog metal to even death metal with some bits of jazz and fusion.

Lot's of question. And I hope lot's of answers will follow :)

[Emperoff]

As I like to experiment a bit with pickups in my guitars I recently came up with the idea that a Nailbomb in the bridge of my RG550 would be nice. But I'd like to go a bit lower in output, say vintage-hot, to add a bit more clarity and tightness. Is there any vintage-hot (or even vintage) pickup in the vein of the Nailbomb tonewise?

You just described the Rebel Yell  8)

[Lilarcor]

From what I gathered on this forum and various other statements the Rebel Yell has more of an upper mids spike than the Nailbomb. This is something I don't particularly like. I like my mids a bit flatter or with a low mids emphasis.

[kevinr]

Have you had a listen to a Blackdog bridge?

[ericsabbath]

From what I gathered on this forum and various other statements the Rebel Yell has more of an upper mids spike than the Nailbomb. This is something I don't particularly like. I like my mids a bit flatter or with a low mids emphasis.

yeah, the rebel yell is middy as $%&#
maybe the middiest alnico model
the nailbomb, not so much

maybe the emerald or the VHII
the riff raff has a similar midrange voicing to the nailbomb, but it's no near as hot and aggressive, and has a much brighter top end
I still like it better for most heavy stuff than the nailbomb, anyway
the clarity is unreal  :D
people seem to recommend the VHII as a hotter Riff Raff

[Lilarcor]

Thanks for the answers so far. The Blackdog has caught my eye before as I reckon it should be able to deliver some rawness in the mids and a full yet clear sound.
As for the Riff Raff I'm afraid that it might not be aggressive enough in the mids. Correct me if I'm wrong.
I had almost ruled out the VHII bridge as it's said to have a single coil-vibe because of the large offset between the coils. But again, this may be horribly wrong.  :)

What I want to avoid is the typical high mid-"nose" of certain high output pickups. My RG is basswood body, maple neck, rosewood fingerboard and extremely middy with a lot of presence but with slightly rolled off "upper" highs. Typical shred guitar.
I've always liked pups best that balance that out a bit. Right now I'm using a pup in the bridge that is close to the Coldsweat bridge (Häussel Tozz in particular). Flat mids, tight bass, lots of highs. Mid to high output. I like it but at times it is just not full enough and the mids are too smooth, due to the ceramic magnet I think.

Any insights concerning on the other questions regarding neck pups?

[Jofipe]

ups..  didnt wanna post anyway here ;)