Suggestions for pickups for a PRS CU 22 Artist?

[Jones8893]

I am quite happy with the Dragons but would like to try something new in the bridge. I am looking for a pickup that can provide a good distortion for metal. However, as I use a lot of chords with several tones it is very important that the pickup is able to deliver big chords clearly even at full distortion. Should of course also be nice for leads, overtones, etc. The sound I am looking for would be something similar to Opeth. If it is also possible to get a decent clean tone of out it that would be a bonus. I tune in D standard.

People have suggested MM, Crawler, Aftermath and Warpig.

What would you suggest?

[darkbluemurder]

Not the Crawler - too dark, middy and loose for the heavier stuff.

I would add the Holydiver and Nailbomb to that list.

Cheers Stephan

[Telerocker]

Nah, the Crawler has too much PAF-dna for that style. It's more a heavy rockpickup.
I'm with Stephan: Nailbombs and Holy Divers.

[Mr. Air]

Nah, the Crawler has too much PAF-dna for that style. It's more a heavy rockpickup.
I'm with Stephan: Nailbombs and Holy Divers.

Likewise

[Jones8893]

Thanks. I contacted Bare Knuckle and they suggested ceramic Nailbombs. What will be the main differences from these and Holy Divers, etc?

On other forums I have been suggested Warpig, Aftermath, etc.

I am not into 80s metal or anything. The most important for the bridge pickup is that it can handle heavy distortion and still keep very good string separation and big chords.

[Telerocker]

They will do. The C-Bomb has more cut and is tighter then the alnico version, though will not have totally the organic cleans of the A-Bomb. This one will certainly not sound as smooth and round as the HD, but it's voicing/balance sits beween the Cold Sweat and the Miracle Man. Perhaps it has a tad more midrange, but I never had one Maybe others can comment on it. If you like ceramics, could be a good one for you.

[Jones8893]

Well, I have never tried ceramic. Frankly I have never switched pickups on any guitar.. But I heard ceramics sounds more "modern" than alnico, so I guess that would fit better in the band I will use this guitar..

For old rock, blues, etc perhaps alnico would be better..

Btw, do they only sell these in pairs? Or can I have Nailbomb-C in the bridge and something else in the neck?

[Telerocker]

You can order calibrated sets or mix bridge and neck. A classic combo is Nailbomb/Cold Sweat-neck. The CS is praised for the fluid tones. Great for soloing. Delivers nice cleans too.

[OddFutureWolfGang]

I'd definitely go with the Aftermath for complex chord clarity with lots of distortion..

[ericsabbath]

my bandmate uses a bridge cold sweat in a mccarty custom
chords sound quite open under high gain and his tone is very cutting with any good tube amp
he doesn't sound 80ish at all
the c-bomb is an overwound version of the cold sweat, so it's a bit hotter and darker, but not as clear and open
I'm not too familiar with Opeth's tones, but I remember the cold sweat used to be recommended everytime someone mentioned Opeth

[ericsabbath]

https://bareknucklepickups.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=19137.0

[Jones8893]

I'd definitely go with the Aftermath for complex chord clarity with lots of distortion..

Did you try both the Aftermath and the Nailbomb?

[Jones8893]

my bandmate uses a bridge cold sweat in a mccarty custom
chords sound quite open under high gain and his tone is very cutting with any good tube amp
he doesn't sound 80ish at all
the c-bomb is an overwound version of the cold sweat, so it's a bit hotter and darker, but not as clear and open
I'm not too familiar with Opeth's tones, but I remember the cold sweat used to be recommended everytime someone mentioned Opeth

So Cold sweat is popular for both neck and bridge?

[Mr. Air]

my bandmate uses a bridge cold sweat in a mccarty custom
chords sound quite open under high gain and his tone is very cutting with any good tube amp
he doesn't sound 80ish at all
the c-bomb is an overwound version of the cold sweat, so it's a bit hotter and darker, but not as clear and open
I'm not too familiar with Opeth's tones, but I remember the cold sweat used to be recommended everytime someone mentioned Opeth

So Cold sweat is popular for both neck and bridge?

It is and I actually think that the Cold Sweat neck is one of the most talked about BKP neck pickups.

[ericsabbath]

I remember they used to have duncan full shred and screamin demon models
those are medium high output, bright and slightly midscooped pickups, like the bridge cold sweat, but with alnico 5 magnets