Pickup Suggestions for High Gain (progressive/doom metal)

[Spiral_Out_Keep_Going]

Hey guys,  Just upgraded my guitar with a guitarfetish preamp (part #F29 for those interested) and already have some decent [insert other brand pickups here]'s in the guitar, but now I want to really upgrade the pups to some Bare Knuckles because I've been eyeing these things for a while.  The question now is which ones.

Going for a very high gain "amp worship" kind of sound.  Good example would be the song "Dead Inside (I&II)" by a Polish band called Dopelord:

https://youtu.be/xkjZRawfL0s

I had in mind Stockholm HSP90 or Warpig HB...  I feel like the Stockholm is good for the neck for "verse" style riffage and a Warpig in the bridge might make the solo melodies sing pretty well, but maybe the opposite would be better (Stockholm bridge/Warpig neck)?  Is 2 different kinds a bad plan; should I match the pups?  Any other suggestions?

Thanks all.

[darkandrew]

The only doom metal that I've really listened to is Anathema (not that you could call them doom anymore) and Paradise Lost - I do know that Paradise Lost have been known to use Aftermaths.

[Dave Sloven]

I have both the Stockholm and the Warpig in SGs and have experience in a high-gain doom metal context

I've always found that the Stockholm tends to feedback more ... with long droning basslines etc you might find it is overly sensitive toward where your guitar is pointing, even more so that most contexts using a P-90.

Listening to that clip it is difficult to say what kind of pickups they are using because they are using a fuzz, but it sounds like they might be using something with less output than a Warpig.  Especially given that you have installed an active preamp the Warpig could be overkill.  I would look at something like a VHII set and run that through a good fuzz like an EQD Cloven Hoof

[Spiral_Out_Keep_Going]

Oh I'm sure the fuzz, in addition to the overdrive from their amps makes it tough to make out the pickups their using, I was just using that tune as a reference for the tone.  In my heart of hearts I know that the amount of overdrive and gain I'm adding to the signal, deciding on pick ups is like deciding what oars to bring on the speed boat, but I definitely want to avoid that overkill you mentioned.

The VHIIs do mention preamp compatibility, but they seem to favor a lighter, less-gain style and lean towards the treble side, according to the "specs" on the BK website.  I'm kind of looking to have my amp double as a defibrillator (metaphor) on the bass side of things, but I do have a lot of push in my signal already...  You think with all the push I'm adding to my signal, those would be the best bet to retain note clarity?

For reference, I generally use the high-gain channel on my Mesa Dual Rec or push the signal through a Swollen Pickle with the clean channel.

[Dave Sloven]

From what I can tell the VHII is kind of like a more vintage, alnico version of the Cold Sweat.  I haven't used the VHII but I have used the Cold Sweat and I would be wary of going any further in terms of output and bass than that, given all of the other stuff you are throwing into the signal.  Another possibility would be the Black Dog but the VHII seems more likely to give a smoother sound and to be better suited to the kinds of lead playing I hear on that clip.  If you are tuning down that changes the ball game a bit with regard to EQ.  There are other people here who have more experience with the VHII, hopefully they can weigh in.  Also have a chat to the BKP people through email or chat, they generally have a pretty good idea regarding what might work

Here's a video of the VHII that gives some idea of its characteristics.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ok3TyV-Lbq8