ESP Viper pickup recommendations

[MontyW]

I've had a Standard Viper on loan to me over the break with a view to me buying it off a pal.  I love everything about the guitar apart from the EMG 81/85 active combo.  Nice and tight, but just too 'clinical' and not enough rich harmonics.

So, the Viper has a mahogany body and a set through neck construction.  Which BKPs would you recommend for what is a 'dark' guitar... I'll mostly play dropped tight heavy rhythm on this guitar... but would still like to hear each note on chords, have great sustain and nice rich harmonics.  I don't want sterile generic tones  :lol:

 

[psalterium]

First pickups that I can think of:

- Aftermath
- C-Bomb
- Cold Sweat

Personally, I have experience with both the Aftermath and the Cold Sweat, both great pickups. The cold sweat works great in dark sounding guitars, and especially as a calibrated set it can give you lots of versality too. I find it very tight, aggressive but not over the top, it actually lets your guitar breath. GREAT lead tone too, very rich harmonics.

On the other hand, the Aftermath is very very tight and dry, but still very musical - I can't say enough good things about it. If  tightness and supreme clarity are what you're after, you should at least consider it as a possible choice.

Anyway, there is plenty of much more experienced people around here, this is just my personal first hand experience. ;)

[Telerocker]

The C-Bomb looks adequate in this case.

[explorer76]

Rebel Yell, kicks serious ass in my Viper!

[ericsabbath]

cold sweat for clarity and tight punch
definitely not a generic tone
this is one of the most strong character pickups I had without stealing the guitars own tone

[wolfenstein]

I have MM in my Viper...Previously I had there EMG´s as well along with 500T,JB,Distortion,Full Shred,Custom Custom,Superdistortion,Black outs but MM is another level...It has that 81´s chunk and bark but with nice harmonics and feel of pasive pickup...What amp you use?What style you play?