Replacement for JB Sh-4 and '59 Sh-1N

[WeAreNotGentlemen]

I currently have a JB Sh-4 in the bridge and a '59 Sh-1N in the bridge of my Schecter C-1 Artist III. I love the clarity of the pickups when I coil-tap them. I can get huge chords to come through like they're clean with my Blackstar Ht-20 and Avatar 2x12. The problem is the when I play with the pups humbucking, they just aren't tight enough, mid-focused enough, and they don't have enough output to me. (Not to mention switching pickups generally causes them to cut out slightly and the Sh-4 isn't bassy enough.) I've been looking into the Aftermath for the bridge and I'm pretty set on that, but the neck is a mystery to me. I need something with equal or better clarity, more attack for rhythms, and a really good clean, because the '59 clean I love. I don't play with the gain ever more than half so mud isn't an issue because of that. I've been trying to decide between any of them. Even the Aftermath neck might be ok. If you have any input please provide.

Edit: I forgot to say that whenever I pick with any kind of force there's a sort of pickup feedback. I don't know what it's called but even playing not plugged in you can hear a high pitched ringing that comes through the pickup. It's very annoying through my recordings.
-Can be heard here. http://soundcloud.com/wearenotgentlemen/seven (Forgive my bad mix, tone, and accuracy. I'm rather new to recording.)

For those who didn't read.
I need a progressive metal (djent if you must, but I wouldn't) set with great cleans, clarity and tightness.

[chopeth]

if the jb doesn't enough pickup to you its hard to say which bk is good for you because the jb has more output than cbombs and a quite more than the aftermath ( i have both ). Maybe de miracle man that i have in my dean has aproximately the same output than the jb. The only bk that, for sure, has more output is the cpig but is only recommended for bright guitars...For the neck, i replaced de 59 for a cold sweat and it's super for clean an fluid stuff

[WeAreNotGentlemen]

Ok sorry I wasn't clear I said it wrong I don't really want output just attack and the tightness aspect. I find the JB is very loose.

['Ash' J. Williams]

The Holy Diver bridge is what the JB would like to be, AWESOME pickup.
Closest neck humbucker to the SD 59' would be the Riff Raff neck i believe, Coldsweat neck would be fine also.

[Attica!]

Yeah the Holy Diver/Riff Raff combo is the BKPs JB/59 combo

[Telerocker]

Yeah the Holy Diver/Riff Raff combo is the BKPs JB/59 combo

+1. Beefy mids and great round lead tone on the bridge, classic PAF chimey neckpickup. Nothing left to be desired...

[WeAreNotGentlemen]

Ok thanks guys. I'm not worried about my bridge sounding like the Duncan though, and I love the dryness of the Aftermath so I think I'll stick with that, but i'll definitely look into the other suggestions to see if I like them.

[Alex]

You have to make a priority, what you need the most.

Is it output and tightness - Miracle Man

Is it tightness and mid-range focus - Nailbomb

Is it the general rock flavor, juicy leads, fat sound and mid-range - Holy Diver

All the pickups are IMO better than the JB, but they are not all "hotter, more mid-range focused and tighter". The HD, while maybe closest to the JB in general tone, is fatter, but not hotter and not tighter. The NB is my fave - very tight, very focused, but, again, not hotter. The Miracle Man more or less equals the JB in output (depending on the guitar, really) and is very tight, but also quite more "metal" in character.

Most BKPs are not that hot, because they are clearer and cleaner, but they take very well to more gain on the amp or booster pedals.

[TheyCallMeVolume]

I'd say HD

[Attica!]

I'd say get a HD/Riff Raff combo, and if you use valve amps, get yaself a tube screamer to tighten up the low end (not that the HD aint tight neways), and add a noise gate to give you that nice cutoff.

[darkbluemurder]

You have to make a priority, what you need the most.

I agree.

Is it output and tightness - Miracle Man

Is it tightness and mid-range focus - Nailbomb

Is it the general rock flavor, juicy leads, fat sound and mid-range - Holy Diver

I agree except that I don't find a particular midrange focus in the Nailbomb. I guess you are speaking of the A-Bomb.

All the pickups are IMO better than the JB, but they are not all "hotter, more mid-range focused and tighter". The HD, while maybe closest to the JB in general tone, is fatter, but not hotter and not tighter. The NB is my fave - very tight, very focused, but, again, not hotter. The Miracle Man more or less equals the JB in output (depending on the guitar, really) and is very tight, but also quite more "metal" in character.

To my ears the JB is not tight at all - having virtually no bass does not mean it's tight.

Most BKPs are not that hot, because they are clearer and cleaner, but they take very well to more gain on the amp or booster pedals.

I agree - BKPs are inherently clear - that's why I like them. Leave the dirt to the amps and pedals.

To the OP: if you want more output, attack and punch than the JB, the Painkiller should do it easily. However the Painkiller neck is not known for having clean tones as its forte. There are a few threads on what pickup to combine with the Painkiller bridge - I think I have seen VHII, Cold Sweat and Abraxas neck pickups being combined with it.

Cheers Stephan

[TheyCallMeVolume]

I would think VHII's would have the cleans you're looking for, while still having a touch of hair. Would be a good fit with Painkiller if you go that route.

[Slartibartfarst42]

I have a Holydiver in my Jackson that replaced a JB and the Holydiver is better in every respect. I've recently been experimenting with an Overdrive pedal working in conjunction with the Holydiver and you can turn it into a real monster if you want to but the pickup's inherent characteristics are still there. It really is the most versatile pickup I've ever used.

[explorer76]

I have a Holydiver in my Jackson that replaced a JB and the Holydiver is better in every respect. I've recently been experimenting with an Overdrive pedal working in conjunction with the Holydiver and you can turn it into a real monster if you want to but the pickup's inherent characteristics are still there. It really is the most versatile pickup I've ever used.

+1 absolutely!

[Alex]

You have to make a priority, what you need the most.

I agree.

Is it output and tightness - Miracle Man

Is it tightness and mid-range focus - Nailbomb

Is it the general rock flavor, juicy leads, fat sound and mid-range - Holy Diver

I agree except that I don't find a particular midrange focus in the Nailbomb. I guess you are speaking of the A-Bomb.

All the pickups are IMO better than the JB, but they are not all "hotter, more mid-range focused and tighter". The HD, while maybe closest to the JB in general tone, is fatter, but not hotter and not tighter. The NB is my fave - very tight, very focused, but, again, not hotter. The Miracle Man more or less equals the JB in output (depending on the guitar, really) and is very tight, but also quite more "metal" in character.

To my ears the JB is not tight at all - having virtually no bass does not mean it's tight.

Most BKPs are not that hot, because they are clearer and cleaner, but they take very well to more gain on the amp or booster pedals.

I agree - BKPs are inherently clear - that's why I like them. Leave the dirt to the amps and pedals.

To the OP: if you want more output, attack and punch than the JB, the Painkiller should do it easily. However the Painkiller neck is not known for having clean tones as its forte. There are a few threads on what pickup to combine with the Painkiller bridge - I think I have seen VHII, Cold Sweat and Abraxas neck pickups being combined with it.

Cheers Stephan

Indeed I have the Alnico Nailbomb. :-)

"No bass" might be Seymour Duncan's approach to tightness. I think the Miracle Man has very nicely shown that a pickup can have lots of low end and still be tight.