Pickups for Power Metal??

[she.cries.wolf]

Hello and good morning to the forum on this gorgeous day :)

I was a bit torn at first as to what to do with this guitar sound wise, but been thinking hard over the last few days.

I'd really like an HH configuration where the pickups are voiced towards Power Metal with a hint of 80s Metal in there.

Rather than having a typical generic high output humbucker, I was after something that whilst has them qualities, sort of has a very organic and expressive tone, as to just sounding sterile. The bridge pickup I'm after to cover a good range of techniques from huge power chords, to fast alternate picked runs and fast riffs. As well as having the organic & expressive tone to really sound very vocal when playing the more slow, ballady style solos. I'd really like the pickup to be very responsive to my picking style so I can get as much tone from the fingers as possible, without sacrificing the edge that high output humbuckers give. Of course medium output is also fine if it fits the bill.

For the neck, I'd really love everything I described for the bridge (minus the riffing, of course) that is very responsive to fast solos. Something that makes tapping and sweeping effortless, but regaining the ability to remain expressive. It would also be great for it to remain a very nice clean tone.

Thankyou :)

[gwEm]

It depends on the guitar itself of course, and your amp..

But anyways, this seems like a job for the Holy Diver. Its definitely the pickup I'd choose first for power metal - but it does depend. I'm thinking of a strat-type guitar here.

[she.cries.wolf]

Oh sorry completely forgot to mention equipment.

My guitar is USACG Dinky Mahogany Strat, Maple Neck and Rosewood Fretboard. Got a Floyd in there too.

Equipment is just Line 6 hardware routed to a PC. Only recording stuff at the moment unfortunately.

[itamar101]

Oh sorry completely forgot to mention equipment.

My guitar is USACG Dinky Mahogany Strat, Maple Neck and Rosewood Fretboard. Got a Floyd in there too.

Equipment is just Line 6 hardware routed to a PC. Only recording stuff at the moment unfortunately.

Cold sweat neck, holy diver bridge.

[she.cries.wolf]

Wouldn't the Holy Diver be a bit compressed though? I did some research on it and seem a few forum members describe it having a great lead tone, but they feel disconnected from the strings. I kind of really want to the pickup to feel expressive.

[gwEm]

Its definately got less dynamics than something like a Mule.

Nevertheless, its got *alot* more than an EMG. The pickup definitely makes it easy for you, but I don't feel disconnected from the strings. With power metal, its good to have a bit of that feel I think.

The alnico magnets give it a sweet sound, the rounded bass will be good with the Floyd.

I have a holy driver bridge in a V90 - mahogany body, maple neck, ebony board, fixed bridge. So its not too far away from yours.

The holy diver will also do good power metal clean tones.

If you aren't sure about it, by all means post some tone examples :) Theres lots of types of power metal, for a harder edged sound, you might think about a Miracle Man for example.

[she.cries.wolf]

Well I know the Miracle Man is focussed in the bass, lo-mids & highs; with the upper mids scooped. How is the Holy Diver in the mid department regard the lo-,med-,high-mids? I also hear the EQ chart is a bit misleading as I've seen people say it has a present top end. Not harsh, just present.

[Slartibartfarst42]

I would endorse what's been said so far. If you want a hard edge, go with the Miracle Man but for greater versatility and a slightly smoother delivery, you can't beat the Holydiver. It should nail what you're after but if you want something more vintage then I'd look at the Abraxas. For the neck, I think you'd really love the Emerald.

[she.cries.wolf]

Holy Diver sounds interesting then. I'd love something hard edged like the Miracle Man, but I don't want to be restricted by lack of versatility, plus Power Metal tends to have a lot of Lead Work so I'm guessing the Holy Diver would deliver the perfect lead tone?

Regarding the Emerald, I'm not familiar with this too much apart from what I've read. How does it compare to the Cold Sweat?

[Toe-Knee]

Im going to go a bit out and say Miracle Man Bridge and Mississippi Queen neck.

It's probably not the correct type of power metal but I did a hammerfall clip

The rhythms are all the MM and the leads are the MQ

http://soundcloud.com/boyes/in-memoriam

[she.cries.wolf]

Sounds good that clip. Although I'm looking for something a bit different in the neck. Definitely going to try P90s at some point. The Nantucket's sound very appealing :) But I do love In Memorium. Great song!

[CanadianMetalhead]

Personally I would go with the MM if i had to choose between the 2. I've had both in a basswood guitar so it'll be a little different. But I did have  the MM in a guitar of your wood combo and it just had that POW quality in both guitars that is so hard to resist. And the MM bridge loves being in a mahogany, maple/rosewood guitar because the low end of the MM in my opinion mixes well in how mahogany handles the low end. I HAD to sell it for $$$  :( . So that's pretty much the only I don't have it still. Only 2 downsides was it was compressed and VERY and i mean VERY tight pickup. It also sounds dead clean. It's not bad but if your gonna get a neck pickup get a great sounding clean pickup. I'd choose the emerald or the VHII neck. Don't know much about neck PU's so take that with a grain of salt.

Another 2 pickups that might suite your needs that haven't been mentioned would be the Nailbomb because in my opinion that pickup always sounds best in a guitar of your wood combo and is very very versatile. And the second would be the VHII as a darkhorse pick because I'm about to order it because of me wanting a change and me wanting a lot of what you are wanting out of a pickup. I'm however on purpose going for medium/low output and a little less low end. I'm hoping the VHII will be the lower output, organic sounding brother of the MM without the mid scoop. /fingers crossed lol.

But as for the holy diver it is not to be counted out at all. But keep in mind the HD has a rolled off top end and a thick mid range. If you like those qualities you will $%&#ing love it. If you like presence and treble emphasis I'd look elsewhere. Everything about it is still articulate of course and has a great mid range grind to it. Low end is tight as well and full without being too much of either.

My 2 cents :)

[darkbluemurder]

Oh sorry completely forgot to mention equipment.

My guitar is USACG Dinky Mahogany Strat, Maple Neck and Rosewood Fretboard. Got a Floyd in there too.

Equipment is just Line 6 hardware routed to a PC. Only recording stuff at the moment unfortunately.

Cold sweat neck, holy diver bridge.

Cold sweat neck, miracle man bridge. You will love the additional low end thump and cut in the highs for your FR equipped axe.

Cheers Stephan

[she.cries.wolf]

I was always aware that Floyds tend to brighten your tone, hense why a lot of 80s shredders loved basswood?

How does the Cold Sweat neck compare to the Miracle Man?

I'm sort of looking for this tone -

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7JDgNC8waQQ&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o70DTcfBV_A&feature=related

[she.cries.wolf]

How about the Nailbomb combo?