Need advice on getting that "active" sound

[kengtin]

All right, don't mean to create yet another debate vs. actives but I need help and here's my scenario:

I've been able to get my sound usually from active pickups (EMG's, Carvin's, etc.). I recently got a nice Skervesen 8-string with Aftermaths and unfortunately they're not quite my sound. These BKP's are slanted and I want to explore other BKP options since I want a drop in replacement (and I support their philosophy). I already did some homework and narrowed down my options based on this, but need confirmation.

Facts:
- 8-string, multiscale (25.5"-27").
- Swamp ash body, bolt-on rosewood neck, ebony fretboard
- My tone can be thought of a mix of: Pantera + Devin Townsend + Periphery. In short thick chugging but well defined (not so much Djent tho)
- I recorded this vid of it and I don't quite dig the sound (https://youtu.be/OPz51G1MkXQ)
- These are 2 of my videos which I recorded with actives (https://youtu.be/IFdHEGRyPko, https://youtu.be/dZgeDN3dN7c), you may focus on the palm muted chord textures and you may ignore everything else (not trying to promote myself).
- Overall, the sound I've loved the most comes from the EMG-57-7 (haven't recorded it yet)

Options:
- Miracle Man: supposedly because they "replicate" the EMG-81/85 tone, although with a slightly lower output
- Juggernauts: they sound like the biggest thing for "depth and clarity"
- Warpig: nice hot output (perhaps too hot or too much lowend for what I want?)

Am I on the right track? Any other options? Remember, this is for an 8-string but not too Djent'ish (or Meshuggah'ish)

Thanks so much in advance everyone
Sergio

['Ash' J. Williams]

Watching your videos, I think what may throw you off balance here is the excessive dryness combined with the aggressive upper-mid hump of the Aftermath.
Obvious suggestion would be ceramic Black Hawks, they have that kind of resonance + compressed feel on the chugs that active EMGs have.
Juggernauts could also work as they feel (emphasis on 'feel') quite high output. They sound less compressed than the BH to me though.

[Slartibartfarst42]

I was put off the Miracle Man for ages because it suggested an active EMG tone, which I hate but they're actually surprisingly warm and organic as well as tight. Perhaps that means they're not your thing so I'd suggest looking at Black Hawks.

[Dave Sloven]

Miracle Man would probably be the closest to Pantera out of the three.

I would be really careful about the amount of bass that an eight-string can produce.  Some of the really bassy pickups like the Warpig might be too much.  You should chat with some of the BKP crew directly.  Maybe Chris Rowberry (who posts here)?  It could be that a brighter ceramic pickup like a Cold Sweat or Painkiller might be a better choice.

[gwEm]

I also ever found the Miracle Man pickups to sound particularly active. They do sound like Zakk Wylde, but I dont think he has a particularly active tone.

For me, I find the Painkiller to sound most EMG-esque.

[Kiichi]

Miracle Man would probably be the closest to Pantera out of the three.

I always heard that the Coldsweat does it better since it has that extra agression. Of course the MM is related to that and will get you in the ballpark, but that extra Dime grind sounds like the CS might deliver it more.

[ericsabbath]

Miracle Man would probably be the closest to Pantera out of the three.

I always heard that the Coldsweat does it better since it has that extra agression. Of course the MM is related to that and will get you in the ballpark, but that extra Dime grind sounds like the CS might deliver it more.

no extra aggression actually, but it does have a closer voicing to the classic dimebag sound, specially on the lead tones and harmonics (both pinch and natural)
king's x guitar tones on the Dogman album are also pretty cold sweatish

[Dave Sloven]

Miracle Man would probably be the closest to Pantera out of the three.

I always heard that the Coldsweat does it better since it has that extra agression. Of course the MM is related to that and will get you in the ballpark, but that extra Dime grind sounds like the CS might deliver it more.

That's why I said 'out of the three' ... the MM is closest out of the three to the CS!  I tend to agree with gWem that the Painkiller might be the pickup to look at here. The Painkiller reminds me of the late Death records.

[fdesalvo]

Two guitarists known for using Solid State amps, too.  Great tones from KX.

Miracle Man would probably be the closest to Pantera out of the three.

I always heard that the Coldsweat does it better since it has that extra agression. Of course the MM is related to that and will get you in the ballpark, but that extra Dime grind sounds like the CS might deliver it more.

no extra aggression actually, but it does have a closer voicing to the classic dimebag sound, specially on the lead tones and harmonics (both pinch and natural)
king's x guitar tones on the Dogman album are also pretty cold sweatish

[ericsabbath]

Two guitarists known for using Solid State amps, too.  Great tones from KX.

Miracle Man would probably be the closest to Pantera out of the three.

I always heard that the Coldsweat does it better since it has that extra agression. Of course the MM is related to that and will get you in the ballpark, but that extra Dime grind sounds like the CS might deliver it more.

no extra aggression actually, but it does have a closer voicing to the classic dimebag sound, specially on the lead tones and harmonics (both pinch and natural)
king's x guitar tones on the Dogman album are also pretty cold sweatish

well noted, sir

that KX album was tube driven, though
I think it was a Mesa Dual Rectifier and some Marshall head

[kengtin]

Thanks everyone for your input, it's gonna be a difficult one. No one has mentioned the Juggernauts, is that really out of this ballpark? I'm wondering because on paper they seem to have meaty mids (and I do boost my presets with a lot of mids), so would that be a contender?

[Dave Sloven]

Juggernauts are probably too warm sounding to be compared to EMGs