BKP choice advice for a newb

[edonmelon]

So I've got this rather sh*tty Schecter strat-shaped guitar with mahogany body and maple neck w/ rosewood fretboard and stock pups (Korean SD Blackout copycats; they're active and I want to swap them for some passives).

I've got NO CLUE about how that Bass/Mid/Treble thing goes. I understand the concepts of output, clarity... and just about every other word whose meaning I've been able to work out all by myself  :D

So maybe someone can help me choosing a set of BKPs that suit my style, since I don't really understand what's going on in those Bass/Mid/Treble charts found in the pickup description pages...?

I'm looking for a progressive metal sound in the style of Cynic, Exivious and CHON, with a Keith Merrow-ish twist and a lot of huge distorted open chords in the riffs. The style I play isn't really inspired by these bands, but I like the "controlled" rythm tone I've found in their songs and I'm looking forward to applying a similar tone to my own playing style.

That's what I'd want from a bridge humbucker; I'm also looking for a neck humbucker that can handle both warm cleans and a fluid lead tone when driven, suitable for legato and tapping. Whoa I feel so stupid when talking like this  :P

The main problems I've found with the stock pickups when looking for "my" tone are:

1)Absurdly muddy tone coming from the neck pickup when playing lower strings, even in a clean setting(!).

2)Output is way too high, I mean, it sounds too "crunchy", too agressive. The tone Cynic used in their album Focus is what I'd consider perfect; the rythm tone is distorted but not crushing and certainly "mellow" somehow, while the lead tone is fluid and smooth. Can such a thing be achieved with mid-to-high output pickups as opposed to all-out metal pickups like the SD Blackout?

3)The tone isn't clear, like, at all. I could go 0-2-0-3-0-5-0 on the low E string with either pickup and it would sound like 0-0-0-0-0-0-0 all the time, and why it happens is just beyond my understanding ability.

I've been looking at the Nailbomb, the Aftermath and the Miracle Man calibrated sets, but I can't decide by reading reviews or info on the BKP page, so I thought I'd ask.

Thanks in advance!

EDIT: I just re-read what I've written and I feel like apologizing for my bad attempt at decent English, since I'm Spanish  :lol:

[Telerocker]

Hi and welcome!

You could either think of Nailbomb/Cold Sweat-neck (very fluid with gain) or Holy Diver/Cold Sweat. Holy Diver provides great leadtones and good mids. A good pickup for prog. metal. The Nailbomb has more agressiveness, especially in the uppermids, compared to the Diver. Both will clean up great and sound organic.

[darkbluemurder]

the rythm tone is distorted but not crushing and certainly "mellow" somehow, while the lead tone is fluid and smooth.

I've been looking at the Nailbomb, the Aftermath and the Miracle Man calibrated sets, but I can't decide by reading reviews or info on the BKP page, so I thought I'd ask.

Mellow, fluid and smooth lead to Holydiver for the bridge position but this pickup can cut with the right amp settings as well. Miracle Man would have a bit more output and a bit more highs. The Alnico Nailbomb has more bass and low mids and is not as fluid in the highs. Never played the Aftermath but based on the description that would not be the one I would have thought of first.

For the neck position you could use the matching Holydiver neck, which is very clear and almost glassy, the Cold Sweat neck which has more output than the Holydiver neck and more bass and mids, or the Emerald neck, which is highly regarded in more recent forum discussions (have not played one myself though). 

Cheers Stephan

[Alex]

I would recommend the Nailbomb over the Miracle Man, because it is just much more versatile and works great for progessive stuff. I also love its clarity, and you can even go for the ceramic version if you really need that extra metal edge (which I think is unnecessary for 90% of users).

[Slartibartfarst42]

'Fluid and smooth' screams out Holydiver for the bridge position and for the neck, I'd suggest either Cold Sweat or Emerald.

[TheyCallMeVolume]

Maybe an HD/Emerald?

[clivey]

Since you like Cynic, you should def check out the Miracle Man, pretty certain Paul Masvidal uses them, or at least did. Anyway, that set will absolutely do what you want - the Holy Diver would be a fine choice too and probably more versatile, if that's important to you. I think the Nailbomb would be a bit too agressive in the midrange for what you want - great tone, but not as smooth and fluid as the other two.

I'll qualify that by saying I have all three sets - I'd go with the Diver or Miracle Man for a Cynic-y sort of tone. To my ears, the Miracle Man is a bit tighter in the bass, emphasises the low-mids and is more cutting in the high end; the Holy Diver is warmer and thicker in the mid range. Both are high output, but not ridiculously compressed - they'll def give you the clarity and control you're looking for, I've yet to find a Bare Knuckle pickup that's either muddy or indistinct in any position.

Finally, your English is pretty damn good - no need to apologize!

[witeter]

Yeah Masvidal uses a miracle man in one of his guitars, i dont know if he recorded the album you mentioned with them or whether he used EMG's. I think the Nailbomb, Cold Sweat or Miracleman will give you what you want.

[edonmelon]

Thank you all! I've finally decided for a Miracle Man bridge/Cold Sweat neck. Just ordered them, I'm going to try and wire them the Petrucci Way, with the inner coil from each pickup in parallel in the middle position. Let's see how it works!

Also:

Finally, your English is pretty damn good - no need to apologize!

Wow, thanks! :P English teaching sucks hard down here in Spain!

[juansolo]

Bah! Wish I'd seen this thread earlier :(