8 string alnico pickups, for metal

[Sarkasis]

I like my Aftermath in my 8 string, but was thinking about A5s for variety, for a more organic sound.

Black Dog, Emerald, Rebel Yell - these seem to be the pickups mentioned for ERG metal applications. How do they compare in terms of pick attack, texture, low or high mids, etc. Which one has the heaviest "chug"?

[Kiichi]

I only have the RY of those PUs and that as 6 string, but from what I all around know the BD is the loosest of the three, lots of (center)mids, therefore great for baritone instruments.

The Emerald bridge is very bright and therefore capable of handling extented range guitars and modern metal more than one would think right away. IŽd say this is an option for you.

The RY is a bright PU too, though I believe not as bright as the Emerald. The high mid spike in the RY definetly gives it a lot of cut, it generally is a very agressive and lively PU, breathing rock like nothing I have heard so far (the Crawler comes close, but in another way). Lots of overtones in there, generally a very organic sound. The general character is modern with a vintage throwback in there. The bottom end is very defined and tight, giving you not so much boom as punch. Also it is very suseptible to height changes so expecially the bottom end response can be fine tuned a great deal.

IŽd say you would fare best with the RY. I can imagine it to work very well in 8 strings and I know it can go from classic rock to absolutly modern metal (Red Seas Fire for example). Enough chug in there too imho.

[Mr. Air]

Maybe an alnico Nailbomb could work as well. It's a very aggresive pickup, but I have no experience with it in lower tunings than drop C.

[Kiichi]

Maybe an alnico Nailbomb could work as well. It's a very aggresive pickup, but I have no experience with it in lower tunings than drop C.

It would not be that far off the RY, as the RY is often said to be a underwound NB.

[Keven]

I had a Riff Raff in my 8 string, great pickup, but too bright for the particular plank of mahogany i had. so i switched to a black dog, it's perfect and growly!

i'd say the safer bet is to go with lower output rather than overwound, especially with alnico.

i also have the black dog in a 7 string of mine and it's perfect!

[Alex]

The Black Dog is recommended for extended scale instruments, at it doesn't overemphasize highs and lows as these instruments often do.

It is a killer pickup and does amazing metal tones.

[Sarkasis]

So from what I understand, it sounds like the Rebel Yell has an aggressive upper mid voice, the Black Dog has a grainy  midrange with center mid focus and the Emerald has a smoother texture than the others and is brighter.

The metal clip for the Emerald makes it sound like it has more of a low mid emphasis than the others, or are my ears tricking me?

[ericsabbath]

how about a VHII?
quite different from the black dog, but it's the tightest and punchiest model under 10k
lot like the nailbomb, but brighter and not compressed

[Alex]

The thing is that you need the pickup to sound good on "all ends" of the guitar, and that is why I'd recommend something that has mostly mids and doesn't overemphasize bass/treble.

[ericsabbath]

the neck cold sweat might work
same specs as the black dog, but not overwound, so it's mostly upper mids, brighter top and not as much bass

[Sarkasis]

I guess they're not making 8 string Blackhawks right now, but barring that, would the alnico Blackhawk be a good option for a "tight enough" sound on the low strings?

[GuitarIv]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P-ppjENE6J8&playnext=1&list=PL5507989AABA224B5&feature=results_video

Here's a little demonstration by PeteyG from Red Seas Fire comparing the Aftermath with the Rebell Yell and the VHII, maybe that helps out.

Cheers