Please give me some advice/shove in the right direction!

[JimmyMoorby]

Hi i'm new to the forum and would really appreciate some advice.  I'm an obsessive guitarist/hobbyist and I am looking into getting a new set of pick ups.  There's no doubt in my mind that i'm going to get some BNP's, i'm not interested in any other manufacturers as i'd rather stick with my EMG 81's than swap to Duncans, Di Marzio etc etc. I realise advice is just that and I really would take any ones comments on board to help me make my mind up.

Any way hard to pin down my 'style' as a guitarist.  Definitely have a lot of roots in metal but I love plenty of other genres too.  I've played in a thrash band for years but now im joining a 'prog metal' band (More traditional as in Dream Theater, Tool etc).  I do have a hi-gain sound with plenty of mids.

I'm a sucker for soloing with my neck pickup.  I love that 'creamy' hi gain sound.  I realise in some ways theyre all massively different tones but think Dave Murray, Malmsteen (Ok single coils....) and Petrucci.   I think i've decided the cold sweat would be ideal for this although i'm open to suggestions.  Just to be clear I definitely want a humbucker.

Now for the bridge!?!  I want to a have a really good clean sound that is bright but far from harsh.  I also play all of my rythm/riffs with the bridge and play in E flat.  I like guitar tones from Killswitch Engage, Metallica the Black Album and Pantera in general.  Like I say heavy tones and nice clean are vital, dynamics would be a plus.

I've decided I dont like the Miracle Man so thats ruled out........ just not my cup of tea from what ive heard.

-I really like the sound/idea of the Aftermath and id be inclined to buy it but it appears to be aimed at drop tunings and 8 string stuff.  Any play one of these in Eb, or use for more 'traditional metal' and can tell me what theyre like? I'm worried about the 'bottom end' because I play in Eb and not in a 'djent' style.  Im also worried wehther or not it will be too punchy and trebley if that makes sense.
- Black Hawk sounds like my second fave to my ears so far.  Obviously might share some similaraties with my EMG 81 but be more versatile.
- Cold Sweat.  Will match the neck obviously but not sure if I want a scooped sound in the bridge as my amp has TONS on middle so they just counter act each other.
- Alcino Warpig.  As I say my amp has tons of middle and the guitar is quite bright so this might be cool to add some more tone and bottom end thump although I feel as if I cant pin this pickup down and dunno if itll be suited to what I want.

[GuitarIv]

First question I have: what guitar will you be using it in? Woods are pretty much half the deal to know which Pickup would counter/balance the frequencies your setup provides.

The Aftermath Neck provides the early Petrucci tones, at least if you give Misha Mansoors opinion any credit, however I heard the same thing from other people beforehand.
Blackhawks are said to be ideal for varying styles from metal to fusion, unfortunately I don't have any experience with them.
I must say I'm pretty satisfied with my Holydiver Bridge, but it's an Alnico 5 Magnet and more organic sounding, but perfect for Thrash and the 80s Metal tone. Splits pretty well too for nice clean sounds.
If you're going for the Tool sound, you could get the Nailbomb Pickup, not sure if Alnico or Ceramic though. It's said to be very versatile, it can be quite aggressive put with the volume rolled tone it provides good clean tones.

Hope I could help you a bit, cheers

[JimmyMoorby]

Firstly thanks for your reply. I thought after I should add in what gear I use but then I wondered if id written too much !

I use an ESP LTD M1000.  It's got an Alder Body with a flamed maple top. I've tried plenty of guitars and ive just settled with this one I love the feel of it.  Hard to pin down the sound, I guess its down to me too but the EMG 81's although theyre great really take over. Theyre limited, compressed and really dont give out THAT much extra output to my ears!  I kinda want my guitar sound beefier but I dont like scooped mids and I like a sound with plenty of treble and presence........ to be fair ive never got close to the rythm sound I want in my head!

My amp is an orange rockerverb.  It's got lots and lots of mids and the gain sounds very fluid.  To me perfect for soloing.

Your comments have helped although what youve said about the aftermath in the neck might have given me more to think about!  

The Holy Diver looks cool to be fair but im wondering if its aggressive enough for what I want.......... if that makes sense.

[GuitarIv]

Well, after reading your reply I see you want something aggressive and the Ceramic Nailbomb is indeed aggressive. It's said to be a very versatile pickup, and there's an interesting demo Nolly did for Bareknuckle:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X2kvQkpz5sM

I'm not sure if this is the sound you're aiming for, but that's of course up to you to decide. Another thing that comes to my mind are Painkillers. Your guitar has an Alder Body, a maple cap (which brightens things up and gives bite), a maple neck and a rosewood fingerboard (warm sound). Painkillers are quite middy and cut through the heaviest mixes, but I'm not sure if that suits your guitar and your amp as the Orange is already really middy. The wood combination of the guitar is kinda "weird", however this may help: http://www.seymourduncan.com/blog/the-tone-garage/different-woods-different-tones/

And here's the demo with Mishas Aftermaths, where he states that the neck has the Petrucci tone:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=izVxaVVZrd0

I must unfortunately say I'm not the best person to help, since I have only tried out the Holydiver and the Slowhands so far and I'm still saving up for my next pickup set. You might wanna wait untill someone else pops in or you shall mail BKP directly and ask for advice. Tim knows best what you may need. And don't shy away from writing too long questions, the forum is here to help :)

Cheers

[ericsabbath]

alnico nailbomb

[JimmyMoorby]

Thanks again.

In response to the above 2 posts.

- I think youve picked up on what I have, the Painkiller will have 'too much mids'.

- I can see youve both recommended the nailbomb which is cool.  Ill have to try and look into this more.

- I still like the thought of Aftermaths but im worried about how theyll sound in E Flat.  Nice quicky thrashy stuff ive no doubt will sound wicked, clean, distorted chords, leads....... but will there be any beef?!?

- No one has said any thing about the war pig.  Is it bass heavy, like in a more doomy or even a death metal type pickup?  Want some thing heavy but defintitely not muddy/compressed otherwise id just stick with the EMG's.