New guitar, new pickups?

[ztevie]

So I got myself a custom guitar from Padalka.
It's a great player, with these specs:
Superstrat style. Mahogany body with 16mm maple top. Set neck. Maple neck and board. 24 stainless frets, 24.75" scale.
Musical preferences: Progressive instrumental metal/rock. Sfogli, Petrucci, Gilbert, Timmons kind of tone.

Bridge pickup: Must be tight with attack and fast response. Palm muting tight riffing, but should have some singing/creamy quality to it when soloing high up on the thinner strings. Not muddy, not shrill.
Been thinking about Juggernaut or Holy Diver. I have a Nailbomb Alnico in another guitar, and it's really nice for this but want something else for variety. I'm afraid juggernaut will be to loose even though it should fit the soloing part well?
Painkiller might fit the rhythm thing but is totally off for the lead sound I'm after?

Neck pickup: Almost exclusively used for soloing. Sustainrich, soaring creamy stuff mixed with fast runs. The problem I always have with neck pickups is that when playing faster stuff on the wound strings, notes mush together. So it needs to be tight aswell. I tend to lean towards brighter neck pups because of this, but I'm aware that some of that sustainy/creamy qualities will suffer then.
I have a Cold Sweat in another guitar and its pretty good for this kind of music, but as with the bridge, hopefully I can find something else for variety.
Which is the brightest BK contemporary neck pup? Some seem to claim it's Holy Diver and then someone else says they are not especially bright. Rebel Yell? Nailbomb neck? How's the painkiller neck, don't hear much about that one? Emerald, but here were going into lower output territory? Juggernaut neck is probably too bassy from what I've read?

I appreciate any opinion, I've read heaps of reviews, but it's hard to form an opinion since reviews contradict eachother in some aspects.
The guitar is fairly bright in tonality but not over the top. Oh, should mention, I like a decent amount of mids in my pickups.

[Dave Sloven]

Sounds like you might want a Holy Diver set

[Slartibartfarst42]

The Holydiver is a great bridge pickup and certainly does both rhythm and lead superbly well so could well be what you're after. My only slight concern would be that if you might find the Juggernaut a bit loose in the bottom end, you might feel the same is an issue with the Holydiver. A good alternative would be the Miracle Man as it shares a lot of the qualities of the Holydiver but the ceramic magnet makes it a bit tighter while being surprisingly organic sounding. This might be a really good fit for you.

For the neck pickup, the Holydiver is certainly bright and is an incredible lead pickup while sounding surprisingly PAF-ish for something from the contemporary section. Don't be put off the Emerald just because it's in the Vintage Hot section as the neck pickup is certainly hot. It actually sounds more modern than the Holydiver neck pickup. It is slightly darker sounding because of the hotter wind but 43AWG wire keeps things tight so you get the cream with the articulation. I'd say the Emerald neck is as hot as your Coldsweat neck pickup.

[Lucas]

I would say Miracle Man for the bridge too.
 I have one in slightly different guitar, but think it would be best for you even that I never used Holydiver though.
For neck, maybe Riff Raff neck, apparently it`s the brightest neck model. But it`s more vintage one,

[ztevie]

Thanks for some great answers!

I had a MM set in a guitar a few years back. It's tight alright and was perfect for palm muting riffing, however I felt it didn't quite hold up when soloing with the bridge pup? Maybe there was some lack of mids or something? But that was a couple of years ago and in a different guitar.
Holy Diver seems interesting though, I'm trying to find a middle road between tightness on one hand and still some creaminess for solos.
How would the Diver compare to juggernaut in the bridge just regarding tight rhythm riffing? I've read some reviews where juggernaut is really tight for that and others mention it feels a little loose? I think the Diver would definitely do plain raw rock riffing a'la Gilbert better?
 I like that everyone seem to mention the Juggernaut bridge has really nice characteristics for soloing though, but the same seems to be said about the Diver...

Is the Juggernaut neck considerably darker/looser than the diver neck? I've heard many mention Emerald neck as an option aswell, so maybe worth a look. Riff Raff the brightest? I'll check that one too, but maybe I'd like a tad hotter output.

EDIT: Forgot to mention, a bridge pickup that made a huge success for me in yet another guitar was a less well known one: Tom Anderson HN3. In that guitar is glorious! Lots of mids, pretty hot but not in crazy way. It does tight riffing with a really crunchy character while it sings beautifully for lead work. It's got the right amount of everything and lacks nothing.
I think the amount of mids in that one makes it work with everything, still it's not so much that it's honky.
Only drawback is its ugly as hell!

[Lucas]

I don`t really think that you need a super hot output in the neck position.

There`re few nice Riff Raff neck videos:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MAy7BTTtjzg
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vkRmCmrT4J8

BTW he uses RR paired with Juggernaut bridge.

[ztevie]

I don`t really think that you need a super hot output in the neck position.

There`re few nice Riff Raff neck videos:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MAy7BTTtjzg
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vkRmCmrT4J8

BTW he uses RR paired with Juggernaut bridge.

Yeah that sounded great, especially the first one...  He's got serious skills too..
I'll listen to more clips of RR, I know super hot is not needed, and sometimes it's even better with lower output for string definition and clarity...

[Yellowjacket]

What sort of amp are you using?  This makes a big difference.

I haven't found the Juggernaut Bridge to be loose in the lows on a 6 string guitar.  It's actually pretty dry and tight, but it just screams for leads.  Definitely a lead player's pickup!  Also, beautiful cleans as well.

The Juggernaut neck and bridge pickups in combination produce some absolutely jaw dropping clean tones and the neck pickup doesn't seem to get overly bassy.

On a 7 string guitar, it does depend on the amplifier.  I have an RG7421 and I find it's best to use a boost pedal to tighten things up.  But I have an old 2 channel dual rectifier and those amps are known for being loose in the lows.  I can certainly get use-able tones out of it without a boost with rolling the bass way back and adjusting the treble to taste. 

As for the Juggernaut Neck under gain, it's very fluid and shreddy but it has some of that wooly 'PAF' character going on.  I'd describe it as being 'liquidy' but I don't really play quickly on it since I prefer the bridge for wailing solos.  It's just SO good and remains warm and thick all the way up the neck of the guitar. 

You might want to consider the VHII neck pickup.  It's a warm pickup but as the gain goes up, the top end becomes more pronounced.  Definitely has that articulate character that you are talking about. 



For a test:  Put your ear right against the body of the guitar and listen as you play.  Any sort of pronounced fundamental or low end will add girth and punch to the sound of the Juggernauts.  If it is a guitar which lives in the upper midrange, the Juggernauts will probably project mostly center mids.  If there is low end content, that will translate through the pickups.  (This is -of course- contingent on the amplifier (s) you are using)

Other comments:  Compared to the A-Bomb, the Juggernaut Bridge is thicker sounding, particularly up the neck.   It has this purring quality to the tone and while there is a bite in the highs, it's less aggressive in the upper mids and phatter in the low mids.  It's also noticeably higher in output.  The pickup is also exceptionally clear while using extended chord voicings. 

I can't comment on the Holy Diver  (I'd love to try one) but I certainly really like the Juggernaut set.  The bridge pickup -in particular- is phenomenal and definitely worth using if it is compatible with your rig. 

[ztevie]

Thanks Yellowjacket, very informative and interesting reply!
Nowadays I use a AxeFx II XL+. So there's really no limits in terms of tweaking tone, that's for sure.
But I still feel pickups are important, you can dial in or out wanted/unwanted characteristics but imo the less you need to tweak to adjust for your pickups, the better.
I think the Juggernaut bridge would be OK. I rarely have any problems with tightness in bridge pickups, they're almost always tight enough due to the position itself. But as I've read elsewhere and as you say, that it's an amazing lead pup makes it a very interesting alternative!
It's with the neck I always struggle, here also because of the position itself, where fast runs on wound strings tend to mush together. Cold Sweat does a decent job though, and Ben told me that Holy Diver neck is even brighter than the CS. So maybe Jugg bridge/HD neck would be a nice combo?

[ztevie]

Double post

[Yellowjacket]

Cool.  I think I'll try the Juggernaut Neck pickup tonight to see how articulate it is. 
I know the Rebel Yell neck is very articulate with a wide pick attack, but it's also quite a bright neck pickup.
The Holy Diver neck would probably work, especially if Ben recommends it.  Also the VHII is another great option. 

[ztevie]

Great, please report back if you have time! :)


Oh, and another thing I totally forgot, but is important!
I really like to mix in pinch harmonics here and there when soloing, so it's a big plus if it's rather effortless. Some pickups you have to really dig in to get those harmonics while others are the opposite. Maybe that's another reason i like brighter pups?
I had a Dimarzio Fred in the bridge once, and it was just insane... Harmonics flew all over the place, it was overwhelming. Slightest undeliberate touch on a string and bam! There's a harmonic flying off the fretboard. Strange thing is its not especially bright either.
It was just too much, like you were possessed by a Zakk Wylde  demon or something?

[Lucas]

I know the Rebel Yell neck is very articulate with a wide pick attack, but it's also quite a bright neck pickup.

Rebel Yell is very similar to Cold Sweat neck, you might end up with similar pickups as Ztevie already has Cold Sweat.

[Yellowjacket]

OK, report time Juggernaut Neck:  Like all BKP, it is articulate under gain, ESPECIALLY when you dig in.  It's a rather thick sound like hot chocolate with cream.  I'd say it has an 'OOOoooo' vowel sound and it is quite liquid / fluid, but you can hear the definition from the pick attack and it never 'blurs' out unless the right and left hand are no longer synchronized.  The timbre has that PAF-ish sort of a clarity.  Not really woolly but more of that BKP clarity.  But overall, it's quite dark and phat under gain. 

Compared to what you're after it's perhaps a bit bassy and maybe not as articulate.  I think a VHII N is brighter and more articulate under gain, maybe partially because of the lower output.  And the Rebel Yell N is VERY articulate particularly with a wide pick attack.  I personally LOVE the Juggernaut set as a whole, particularly the clean tones but if you want to get the set, I strongly advise getting a second opinion from Ben French about what you're after.  Maybe the Holy Diver, VHII, or even Rebel Yell would be better options for you.

RE: Harmonics.  Juggernaut Bridge does have mids and a bite in the highs.  It squeals like a pig but it's very controllable.  No accidental harmonics there.

I know the Rebel Yell neck is very articulate with a wide pick attack, but it's also quite a bright neck pickup.

Rebel Yell is very similar to Cold Sweat neck, you might end up with similar pickups as Ztevie already has Cold Sweat.

I have a Rebel Yell bridge PUP in one guitar and an A-Bomb bridge pickup in another.  They are certainly not the same, even if they are similar.  I'd defer to Ben French on this.  I mean I get that he wants a unique voice, but it's gotta work with his playing style too.  I think he should certainly bear this similarity in mind when making a decision but I do not believe it is wise to rule the Rebel Yell neck out entirely.

IMO, the VHII or Holy Diver neck would likely be very complementary to the Juggernaut bridge; moreso than the Rebel Yell neck.  **I** would get the Juggernaut set but the OP's concerns about it are valid IMO, at least enough to make me stop and think.

[ztevie]

Wow, I'm impressed! Really nice mini review. Thanks a lot!
I do think the Juggernaut would be great in the bridge. But regarding the neck it sounds from your description as if I should go with something else. Maybe HD is my best bet here...
Thanks again, really appreciate it!