Pickups for a Gibson Explorer!

[Explorerdude]

Hello!

Iīm looking for a new pair of pickups for my Gibson Explorer. Right now itīs equipped with EMGs 81/85 but  now itīs time for some change. I have other Explorers with Emgs to stratch my active itch.

My explorer has an ebony figerboard. Donīt know is itīs important to consider it tonewise. Iīm looking for a pickup that can do something like Jerry Cantrellīs tone and still able to do some Metallica with tight low end and a percussive sound. Iīm considering a Cold Sweat or Holy Diver for the bridge. Maybe a Alnico Nailbomb. But I need some good advices here.

For the neck pickup, I really donīt know which one. I need a nice clean tone. Not fat and not too bright.

Hope you guys can help me with this! Thank you!

[Dave Sloven]

I have an alnico Nailbomb set in my Explorer. It sounds great.  Not sure how it would sound doing Cantrell through.

The Cold Sweat, Rebel Yell, or Emerald are all great choices for Explorers.  They are dark guitars generally

[capac]

Cantrell tone = holy diver. I'm sure it would do the job for metallica too.

[Explorerdude]

Iīve heard the Holy Diver sounds a bit too fat. Is that true?

What about the CS? Can it do both Cantrell and Metallica?

What do you guys recommend for the neck?

[capac]

I mean... It does sound pretty fat, especially in that explorer I guess. People tend to put a bombs in those guitars... Cold sweat will be too scooped for spot on Cantrell tone, but hey, it could work in that explorer.

[Explorerdude]

Do you think a-nailbomb can do both jobs Cantrellīs and Metallica?

The Holy Diver can sound just too bassy for my ears, but maybe iīm wrong.

[capac]

A-bomb is pretty versatile, so it probably does both, but there could be even better options (of which I'm not aware of).

[Dave Sloven]

I would tend to go Rebel Yell.

It won't sound as bright in an Explorer and the Explorer will provide the bottom end the RY needs.  The Nailbomb might be a little dark for your needs.  The RY is a very tight pickup and in an Explorer should sound killer for Metallica.

[Explorerdude]

I will take a look on RY!

Do you think its going to sound good for Cantrellīs tone?

I was thinking and I have 2 Explorers one with EMGs 81/60 and another with EMG JH set. So maybe I will focus on Cantrellīs tone for this one.

Judging by the sound clips I think a CS can be a good choice. What do you guys think?

[Dave Sloven]

The CS is pretty scooped and tends to sound more balanced in a middy guitar.  Explorers aren't very middy in my experience.  They are more dark and bassy.  I think this needs to be taken into account.  A Cold Sweat will sound good in an Explorer, but it will be more Schenkeresque.  I tend to think the RY will get you closer to Alice in Chains than a Cold Sweat or a Nailbomb in an Explorer.  It's possible that a Holy Diver could get you there, but in your guitar I'm not sure.  The RY is a better lead pickup than a NB.  The RY is basically an underwound NB so they aren't a million miles apart in terms of tone but the RY is more refined and much better lead pickup

[Explorerdude]

I think you have a point.

My only concern about the Rebel Yell is that it can sound too screamy highy oriented to my ears. I havenīt heard at all about the RY.  Have you tried it before?

I think youīre right the CS may sound a little scooped for what iīm after.

iīm going for a coverd pickup. But I think this doensīt matter much tonewise.

[Dave Sloven]

I haven't, but I have an alnico NB in an Explorer and I have felt that if I was to go for a different pickup with a more rock sound it would be a RY or an Emerald.

Here's a RY in an Explorer

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S7mAGqMmjcY

[capac]

If you want that smooth creamier tone, holy diver is exactly what you want.

Covers don't make big difference.

[Explorerdude]

Thanks for the video Dave!

RY sounded a little thin to me on that video.I think Its not what um after.

Holy Diver can sound a little dark on my guitar, maybe not. Have you guys heard how the Diver sounds in a Explorer?

[capac]

Some people really like HDs in les pauls, which to be honest don't sound that different to explorers, so I think it could work. Not that many people actually play explorers, hence you'll have a hard time finding a person that has an explorer with a specific pickup in it. I'd just order the diver if you don't like rebel yell