what Pickup for my 1987 Jackson Strat

[fredberu]

Hi everybody!!!

i own a (fast playing) Jackson Strat with particular spec. :

poplar body
maple fretboard/maple neck
five way blade
and kahler trem bridge

few pics for an idea :







i would like to change those 2 jackson Humbucker for Bare Knuckle pickup, but i never did have occasion to play bare knuckle pick up..

According to the spec. of this strat (poplar/maple fretboard and neck) what BK humbucker would you recommend me for a heavier sound than those Jackson pickup (how are low and less powerful)?
i don't want a too modern sound like aftermath..i'd rather have something strong but no to mechanical for bridge,and something good for solo/shred in neck position..and..of course, with good clean sound!!
the nailbomb, painkiller , miracle man and holy diver are the humbucker i've heard..but maybe there are others one or other combination according the strat spec.

thanks a lot for reading!
fred

[Madsakre]

HOLEH DAIVAH!

[itamar101]

HOLEH DAIVAH!

:D
This or the miracle man.
Not the painkiller. Itll be far to bright for a maple neck bolt-on.

[Madsakre]

Unless you play grindcore ^^

[fredberu]

Unless you play grindcore ^^

thanks for all your answers guys

@madsakre : i like few grindcore bands (haemorrage , brutal truth etc. ) but i don't play grind
i got a Kelly Custom Shop with Sh6/'59  for play old school death metal

with the strat i'ld like to have something for metal/heavy metal (maiden, metallica etc.)

what about a set : nailbomb (bridge)/holy diver (neck) ?
does the holdy diver , in bridge position, would fit for what i want to play with the strat ?

[FELINEGUITARS]

Rebel Yells will work well , or Miracle Man
Poplar is often a tricky body wood to get a good match with
I actually think that the Painkiller might work well - but it will be bright

I would look at swapping the cap on the tone pot for an paper in oil variety like a Jensen 0.022uF
Or swap out the whole wiring harness for CTS pots and a Jensen (if the pots are not CTS ones)

[itamar101]

Unless you play grindcore ^^

thanks for all your answers guys

@madsakre : i like few grindcore bands (haemorrage , brutal truth etc. ) but i don't play grind
i got a Kelly Custom Shop with Sh6/'59  for play old school death metal

with the strat i'ld like to have something for metal/heavy metal (maiden, metallica etc.)

what about a set : nailbomb (bridge)/holy diver (neck) ?
does the holdy diver , in bridge position, would fit for what i want to play with the strat ?

I wouldn't get a nailbomb for those bands or a holy diver neck.
I'd actually get a cold sweat neck and a holy diver bridge (perfect maiden tone) or a miracle man in the bridge if you want slightly more aggressiveness and a slightly more scooped sound.

[Telerocker]

Another vote for the HD/CS-combo. Should serve all your needs.

[Slartibartfarst42]

I wouldn't get a nailbomb for those bands or a holy diver neck.
I'd actually get a cold sweat neck and a holy diver bridge (perfect maiden tone) or a miracle man in the bridge if you want slightly more aggressiveness and a slightly more scooped sound.

+1

From what you've said the Nailbomb would be too much as it's modern, very tight and very aggressive. The Holydiver in the bridge will give you a very smooth 80's Metal tone with a nice touch of aggression to it. I think you'd actually like a touch more aggression so I'd make the Miracle Man my first choice as it's in the same tonal ballpark but with a bit more tightness and aggression but still thick and smooth. For the neck, you can't do better than either a Cold Sweat or Emerald.

[fredberu]

thank you all! 

i think i'll go for a Miracle Man (bridge) / cold sweat neck

I guess i might choose short leg/4 conductor/ and 53 bridge spacing (for the Kahler bridge?? or i might choose 50'?)

[darkbluemurder]

Miracle Man bridge/Cold Sweat neck will definitely work well, even if the Miracle Man has quite a bit more output.

I definitely would not pair the Alnico Nailbomb with the Holydiver neck - the NB being a hot, dark and sizzling pickup and the HD-n being a low output and clean sounding pickup it would not be a good match - neither from an output nor from a tonal perspective. The VHII neck would be a better match for the A-Bomb bridge IMHO if you don't want the calibrated set.

Cheers Stephan