PU suggestions for a Jackson KE 1

[jjcharvel]

Hello,

I need some help for this guitar.The KE 1 has a Seymour Duncan TB-4 stock PU.I want to try something new on that guitar.
Here are the guitar specs:

Body: Alder
Neck Material:    Neck-Thru-Body Quartersawn Maple
Fretboard:    Ebony
Fretboard Radius:    12” to 16” Compound Radius
Number of Frets:    24
Bridge:    JT390 Adjustable Bridge with Strings-Through-Body
Strings: 010-060 GHS (somestimes tuned down to Drop C)
Controls:    Master Volume

I use the KE 1 mostly for rhythm playing (old school Metal a la Savatage, Accept, Megadeth...).
Sometimes I tune down to Drop C when I play "Power of the night" by Savatage.So I need a tight rhythm sound on the low strings and a nice top end on the high strings.Which kind of BK can you recommand me ?
Which BK model works best with this kind of guitar ? I prefer low output pickups.
Best regards

[Valisch]

I would say the Holy diver would cover that sound pretty well.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uRaoBDi1Hgc
even though this is an amp demo it shows the HD sound pretty well

[Slartibartfarst42]

I obviously love the Holydiver but if you want lower output, you might try a Black Dog. I haven't used one myself but it seems to be the kind of thing you're after.

[Telerocker]

You might even want to consider the alnico Nailbomb, since you play drop C. I think it will balance the tone a bit better then the Holy Diver, but I don't have experience with both, just based on what I read and listen on the forum.

[jjcharvel]

Thanks for the answers.I think I try the Black Dog
It says:

"The Black Dog humbuckers are also particularly good at providing extra definition and punch to extended scale guitars. Seven string and baritone guitars benefit from better control of the highs and increased definition in the bass."

because I use 010-060 strings and sometimes down to Drop C this seems to work well.Let´s see

[DoomBuggi]

The Black Dogs, and you may want to check out the Rebel Yell.  I was using for extreme metal tuned to drop C, and it handled that with now problem.

[Cboysen]

The Black Dogs, and you may want to check out the Rebel Yell.  I was using for extreme metal tuned to drop C, and it handled that with now problem.

Neglecting the output thing (if it's only a question about dynamics and articulation.. ) I'd say Holy Diver or Miracle Man.. I don't know much about the Black dogs..

HD being a great, fat, warm alnico lead-pickup, and those megadeth riffs are going to shine.. Rebel Yell might be a tad too bright for a Maple Neck through guitar.. but then again, some might find the HD might be a bit too dark for that guitar / woodcombo

For rhythm playing and punchy palm-muted stuff, a Miracle Man might be better suited depending on tastes. It will be more bright, with less mids, but more low-mid, which might compensate for the accentuated mids of the maple. Also, it will stay super defined in drop C (due to the ceramic magnet).

Christian

[Slartibartfarst42]

My guitar is very similar to yours (Jackson SL3) though the lack of a Floyd trem should make yours a little less bright than mine. The Holydiver is fantastic in mine and very versatile, however, I stick to standard tuning. I may be wrong but I think you may want something a bit tighter if you're dropping that far, otherwise I'd agree with the Holydiver. I also think that the Rebel Yell will be too bright and I can't bring myself to suggest the A-Bomb as I really didn't like it in mine unless you're after a very aggressive and edgy sound that is very 90's Metal. Miracle Man is a good call though if you want to try a higher output pickup and is one that is often suggested for maple neck-thru guitars. It's tight, as you might expect from a pickup with that name but nothing like as soulless as an EMG. I don't think it is as likely to be as versatile as the Black Dog though so if you want low output, I'll stick with that as a suggestion. Don't worry about the EQ as my Holydiver also shows a mid spike that concerned me when I bought it but it's honestly never been an issue. I like it that way as in a band situation I usually have to boost the mids anyway to cut through the mix.

[Alex]

Because of the bands you play I would rather recommend the Black Dog, plus the quality of that guitar should be quite high so that the lower output pickup can really let the instrument shine in all settings. Savatage should be very much Black Dog territory with its fat, clear and fluid single note lines.
The Miracle Man is more the Sledge Hammer variant; I'd favor it for Slayer, Machine Head, Carcass and the likes.

[ericsabbath]

black dog sounds nothing like those bands at all

I'd pick a holy diver or a rebel yell
painkiller if you really wanna go heavy

[Slartibartfarst42]

Various contemporary pickups crossed my mind including Holydiver, Painkiller, Nailbomb and Aftermath but he was specific about lower output and the Black Dog seemed to be the most likely candidate. The Abraxas would be too smooth while the VHII and Emerald would be too bright but the Black Dog seemed to have the right combination of aggression, tightness and PAF characteristics. However, with no direct experience of the Black Dog I'd be happy to admit I'm wrong. Perhaps Tim would be the best person to ask on this one  :D

[Alex]

black dog sounds nothing like those bands at all

I'd pick a holy diver or a rebel yell
painkiller if you really wanna go heavy

Excuse me, I might not own the entire Savatage back catalogue, but the songs I have sound very much in the vein of the Black Dog! Edge of Thorns, when the crowds are gone, etc...

[ericsabbath]

recorded mid gain tones do not mean lower output pickups

also, output is often confused with saturation, specially coming from other brands
my late 70's 7.5k dimarzio paf feels "hotter" than a lot of higher dc pickups I had, as it's a much louder pickup
a rebel yell is cleaner and less loud than a lot of other brand pickups that are labeled as low/mid output pickups
if he really wants something vintage hot, I'd say emerald or vhII
the black dog is a pretty soft sounding pickup, unlike those bands tones