Jackson SL2H, modern - progressive metal

[Mohi]

Hi!

I own a Jackson SL2H that currently has a calibrated set of Holydivers, I find them great for hard rock, classic metal stuff and do but over the time my style and playing is step by step turning to modern/progressive metal, and for that particular, I feel don't fit very well, mainly because of the lower mid emphasis, and being the SL2H a guitar very middy also.

My main amp is a Marshall JVM410, one of my other guitars is a LTD H-1007, the tone produced by the combination of the EMGs and the amp, I just love it for my goals, so I wonder what combination of BKP could fit for that purpose, perhaps Black Hawks? Nailbombs? the JVM is a bright amp so highs should be under control. Also, the fact that the bridge Black Hawk pup has low DC resistance, has any influence on volume or tube behaviour?

Any suggestion is welcome!

thanks

[Slartibartfarst42]

Ignore the DC resistance on the Black Hawk, it means nothing. It IS a hot pickup.

As for your specific question, look at a Miracle Man. I used to have a Holydiver in my Jackson SL3 and like you, I really loved it. It's still my favourite BKP to use for pretty much everything but the Holydiver is now in my PRS so I was looking for something that had a lot of the qualities I liked in the Holydiver (warm, smooth, organic, thick etc.) but with a bit more aggression, a bit more tightness, a slightly bigger bottom end and highs that were a bit more screaming. The Miracle Man is exactly that pickup and works really well in my Jackson, which is essentially the same construction as yours.

[ericsabbath]

ceramic nailbomb

[JimmyMoorby]

What sorta prog metal?

[Mohi]

Thanks for the replies!

MM wouldn't be too bright? I really hated the stock JB because of that reason and wouldn't like to fall onto the same mistake, same fear for any ceramic pickup in the bridge ...

Nailbombs are very different compared to Holydivers? to my ears the sound samples in the website are not very natural and cannot take a decision based on them.

About the style, hard to describe for mi, something like Periphery meets 80s hard Rock and the confusing result gets fascinated by Dream Theater and Porcupine Tree  :lol:

[JimmyMoorby]

I'm not sure what to advise you given the huge difference in sounds between those bands but of the four BKP's I have the alnico nailbomb I have is by far the best and so versatile it's unreal. 

[Mohi]

Yeah I know with that description must be fairly difficult to provide any advise.

Here's a demo, low quality recording of the kind of stuff we do, the name of the tune is something provisional, we don't know yet how will be called  :D

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/in7zncodrjmjnqq/qyxfTq7Im5

It's recorded with 7 strings, but for style demonstration could work, we have other tunes with 6 strings

To me it sounds to Black Hawks or Nailbombs, or EMGs? :(

[JimmyMoorby]

I've given that a listen, sounds cool.   For a bridge pickup the nailbomb would be spot on. I love the alnico nailbomb but I play a 6 sring tuned to e flat.  Maybe a ceramic magnet would be the best option for the seven string to keep it tight?

EMG's are really cool and I dont wanna take away from BKP but obviously Misha Mansoor and Petrucci use the Di Marzio Crunch Lab which ive never tried out.

The black hawk is wicked for full on metal but i cant see how people can think its particularly versatile its down to taste though.

I think if you want a pickup that can go from blues to rock to metal with no compromise the nailbomb is for you.

[Slartibartfarst42]

I hear this a lot about the Nailbomb and the A-Bomb in particular but in my SL3 it was anything but versatile. It was incredibly tight with a VERY aggressive 90s Metal feel to it that was always present. If I had an all mahogany guitar I'd try an A-Bomb again but certainly not in a maple neck-thru unless you're after a particularly hairy and aggressive sound.

The Miracle Man isn't too bright at all. It's noticeably darker than the JB I used to have in my Jackson and a good bit thicker too. In a Jackson like ours, it doesn't sound much like the EQ on the website.

[Mohi]

Thanks guys, after considering the different options I'm going towards the Black Hawks, have two weeks to decide whether to keep them or not so for me makes sense to give them a try