Schecter Blackjack SLS 6 String

[mctorfstecher]

Hi,

I'm currently looking for pickups to try in my trusty Schecter Blackjack SLS 6 String. It came stock with Seymour Duncans Full Shred/Jazz (SH-10b/SH-2n), which I like. I just want to try something new, to see if I can find something that suits me better. I'm using an ENGL Powerball II (2), mostly on both of its high gain channels, but I also use the clean and crunch channels. I usually boost the crunch channel to make it tight and somewhat searing.

I mostly play lots of chugging, big chords (4+ strings involved) and the occasional fast lead.
While the full shred can do the latter two (big chords and fast lead), chugging seems kinda bland using the bridge humbucker, even though it is defined and tight (which I like).
The jazz is nice for cleans and high gain lead, but doesn't really excel at the latter, for me.

I was looking at the Painkiller and the Aftermath Set and I think they might just fit the bill. Do you have some other recommendations or experiences with the aforementioned sets?

Looking forward to your answers!

[Dave Sloven]

Painkiller set could be very good.  Not sure about the Aftermath, depends on how 'dry' you want to go on the bridge pickup.  The Aftermath neck might be what you are looking for though

[Slartibartfarst42]

I can see both working for you to be honest. The Cold Sweat also works as an excellent neck pickup for what you're after and would be my first choice in this instance. For the bridge, I'd probably be looking at the Nailbomb or Miracle Man primarily, with the Juggernaut as a possibility if I wanted it drier and more modern.

[Yellowjacket]

Dark guitar?  Painkillers are great in a dark guitar.

If it is very bright, juggernauts are awesome but I personally would not use them in a dark guitar with a dark amp.

[mctorfstecher]

Thank you guys very much for your answers!

I should've mentioned that I already tried the ceramic Nailbomb Set. I didn't really fall in love with it, as the bridge version wasn't really all that tight (compared to the SD Full Shred). Both bridge and neck felt somewhat mid scooped to me (which was further accentuated by the scooped nature of my ENGL amp).

As my amp is fairly bright and I'm planning on buying a very bright guitar soon (maple thru-neck, ash wings and ebony fingerboard), I think I should give the Aftermath set a try. It sounds like the Painkiller set might be overly bright, considering my whole setup. If I don't like the Aftermath neck, it seems trying the cold sweat neck is a good idea. Does this sound like a decent plan?

[Slartibartfarst42]

When you get your maple neck-thru guitar, THAT is when you should certainly try a Miracle Man in the bridge and Cold Sweat in the neck because it's a combination absolutely made for that guitar.

[Yellowjacket]

Thank you guys very much for your answers!

I should've mentioned that I already tried the ceramic Nailbomb Set. I didn't really fall in love with it, as the bridge version wasn't really all that tight (compared to the SD Full Shred). Both bridge and neck felt somewhat mid scooped to me (which was further accentuated by the scooped nature of my ENGL amp).

As my amp is fairly bright and I'm planning on buying a very bright guitar soon (maple thru-neck, ash wings and ebony fingerboard), I think I should give the Aftermath set a try. It sounds like the Painkiller set might be overly bright, considering my whole setup. If I don't like the Aftermath neck, it seems trying the cold sweat neck is a good idea. Does this sound like a decent plan?

My buddy has a schecter 7 string mahogany body maple   bolt on neck with a rosewood board.  His painkiller bridge pup sounds awesome in there, even with a bright and more mid focused amp.  (ReVv Generator 120)  sounds good with a mb dual rec and Electra Dyne too.  Painkiller has lots of high mids.

[Nolly]

I'd say you're absolutely on the right lines with the Painkiller and Aftermath sets - the Painkiller is "drier" feeling and more in danger of being too bright, though I don't think it would be a bad call in that guitar at all. It's worth mentioning the Painkiller neck is quite unique in the range in that it is voiced bright and woody, with a very percussive low end but enough output to still feel fluid.
To me the Juggernaut is an equal contender - very tight, with a more balanced EQ than the other two. I'm yet to find a guitar they don't sound good in, whether bright or dark.

[mctorfstecher]

To me the Juggernaut is an equal contender - very tight, with a more balanced EQ than the other two. I'm yet to find a guitar they don't sound good in, whether bright or dark.

How would you compare the Juggernaut to the Painkiller and Aftermath eq wise? I read somewhere that the Painkiller is supposed to have a little more low and top end than the aftermath. Where would you place the Juggernaut in that order? At the moment I am playing mostly in Drop C and I already cut the low end quite a bit on my amp and in-loop eq (using the SD Full Shred).

[Nolly]

To me the Juggernaut is an equal contender - very tight, with a more balanced EQ than the other two. I'm yet to find a guitar they don't sound good in, whether bright or dark.

How would you compare the Juggernaut to the Painkiller and Aftermath eq wise? I read somewhere that the Painkiller is supposed to have a little more low and top end than the aftermath. Where would you place the Juggernaut in that order? At the moment I am playing mostly in Drop C and I already cut the low end quite a bit on my amp and in-loop eq (using the SD Full Shred).

The Juggernaut is definitely has a lot more fullness in the low mids and less top but I'd have to compare directly between a Painkiller and Juggernaut to recall how the actual low end extension compares. It sounds like you like quite bass-light tones so it's worth mentioning that higher output pickups tend to reproduce more bass than low output ones, but the contemporary BKP models are designed to still have really tight low end tracking so they don't sound flubby. I should ask if you're cutting low end to achieve tightness or because you don't like bass - if it's the former you will probably find that any of the pickups you're looking will be a low tighter than your current set.

[Yellowjacket]

To me the Juggernaut is an equal contender - very tight, with a more balanced EQ than the other two. I'm yet to find a guitar they don't sound good in, whether bright or dark.

WOW!  I find the Godin Redline III -which is a balanced but darker strat tone significantly brighter than a LP Standard- to be quite dark with juggernauts but still awesome.  I have a Godin LG, a mahogany bolt on neck with rosewood board, and a Solid Mahogany body.  The guitar is basically all low mids and to quote my wife upon hearing a rebel yell bridge in it:  That thing sounds HUGE! 
I think Juggernauts wouldn't work well in it.  It's literally perfect for a Rebel Yell.  ANd now I want to experiment to see if this is the case...