Pickups for ESP STEF 6-STRING

[rtf417]

What's up everyone. I have an ESP STEF CARPENTER 6-String guitar and want to change all three pickups to Bare Knuckles. However I'm not to sure what pickups would suite the guitar very well. The guitar is made of Alder Wings, Maple Neck, and Ebony Fingerboard. It is an overall bright guitar. The stock pickups are a Seymour Duncan TB-4 (I think a JB-4) humbucker in the bridge, ESP LH-200 humbucker in the middle, and an ESP SS-120 single-coil in the neck. Overall the sound is ok but I know it could sound way better. I know I want the Trilogy Suite single-coil in the neck so i'm mostly focusing on the middle and bridge humbuckers. I'm not looking for an overly high-output pickup in the bridge but something more in the lines of the stock JB in the bridge but with more clarity and bite, with a punchy tight bass response and an awesome lead tone. I ruled out the Warpig as I think it would have to much bass. In the middle position, I'm looking for a nice rounded out sound, full, rich, and clear, something that would compliment the bridge and single-coil neck position very well. I emailed Bare Knuckle and they gave me two choices they think would be a good fit...one being the Aftermath calibrated set and the Nailbomb Alnico calibrated set. I think i'm leaning towards the Nailbomb Alnico calibrated set. My main amp is an Orange Rockerverb MKII 100 Watt Head with matching Orange 4x12 Cab with V30's. Anyone with there own opinions and thoughts I would greatly appreciate it...thanks...

[rtf417]

ANYONE??? BUELLER???

[Kiichi]

Well, I canŽt really say much, but the Holydiver has often been cited to somewhat satisfy the needs of JB players and the Crawler is the certainly rounded rich full and clear.
I have no freaking clue if they could work for you or how they would sound combined though, so take this bag of salt, youŽll need it with my advice.

[ericsabbath]

what are you playing? my first thought was the miracle man

[rtf417]

I'll be playing mostly Rock to Metal styles, ranging from old skool rock to full out metal, Tool, Meshuggah, Of Mice and Men, Deftones, Glassjaw, Hopesfall, etc, just to name a few...I'm just not sure which BKP would compliment the guitar good. I want nothing vintage sounding and looking more for a modern sound with this guitar. I don't need anything to aggressive, something with a nice smooth punchy bottom end (not overbearing), some good mids, and not too shrilly highs since the guitar is already bright. I don't mind the sound of the SD JB in the bridge but I know there's a BKP that would bring out more clarity and balls to the guitar. Any suggestions??

[ericsabbath]

I imagined so, considering the guitar and amp
still leaning towards the miracle man

what about the tuning?

[rtf417]

Mostly standard and drop D and 1/2 step down...nothing lower with this guitar...

[ericsabbath]

hmm...
the my bandmate has great tones with the miracle man in Eb and drop C#
but he has it in a PRS
maybe you should indeed go with the alnico nailbomb, maybe the holy diver

[Telerocker]

Holvy Diver fits the description, not totally the mentioned styles.

[rtf417]

I believe the miracle man might have to much high end and may not compliment the guitar that well since its already a bright guitar. I've narrowed it down to 3 choices: Aftermath set, Nailbomb Alnico set, or Holy Diver set. Hopefully either of these choices will be a good one. Im still open for more suggestions and thank you all for your help...

[Slartibartfarst42]

They're very different pickups. The Aftermath is very tight and dry whereas the Holydiver is warm, thick and organic. By the same token, the Nailbomb is extremely tight and aggressive in a very 90's Metal way and I can't see basswood taming that whereas the Holydiver is smooth and fluid while still being very articulate in a very 80's Metal way. I find the Holydiver a LOT more versatile than the Nailbomb. As for the Miracle Man, it's honestly not that bright. It's surprisingly close to the Holydiver in that it's thick, organic but is a bit more aggressive. Not insanely aggressive like the Nailbomb but certainly more bite than the Holydiver. I've tried the Miracle Man and Holydiver in the same guitar and they're more closely related than you'd think. To me, the Miracle Man is a Holydiver with a bit more aggression, a bit more tightness in the bottom end and a bit more screaming highs but still reminds me strongly of a Holydiver.

[rtf417]

Awesome description and advise, thank you. I have 2 ESP SRC 6-Strings, a Green and Sonic Blue one. I just recently changed the pickups in my Green SRC with a Trilogy Suite Single Coil in the Neck, Holy Diver Alnico in the Middle, and a Ceramic Warpig in the Bridge. Huge improvement in sound, more clear, loud, and present sounding compared to the stock pickups, however the Ceramic Warpig Bridge has just way to much Bass. Great pickup but not my cup of tea in this guitar. Gonna either swap it out with an Alnico Holy Diver Bridge, Miracle Man, or Nailbomb. My Sonic Blue ESP is stock as of now and eventually gonna get around in changing those pickups as well. Thanks for the info guys and more suggestions are welcome...