Warpig or silo for 2008 gibson explorer?

[MonsieurAbsurd]

Hey everyone!

So after a lot of research I think I've settled on either the warpig or silo to replace the stock bridge pickup in my gibson explorer. I do somewhat enjoy the 500t in the bridge but do find it congested and 1 dimensional. The 496r in the neck I do not like at all.

I sent an email to BKP, told them what I was looking for and he said the warpig would work in an explorer but I should get the ceramic version to avoid any mudd due to the large mahogany body. I want this to be an angry brutal metal/prog metal guitar but still want some variety and tonal options, which had me thinking about the Silos.

I'm not a fan at all of modern metal tones with upper mid range peak and presence and the almost "clean" distortion. I like something raw, dark, chewy, mean, and angry sounding. I just can't decide between the 2 pickups. I'm pretty sure the warpig will work but I'm very curious about the silo as I think that will give me more dynamics and tonal options.

As for the neck I either like a really liquid sound like John Petrucci or something that has a base liquidy sound but with a little bite. I was recommended the cold sweat.

I'd love any input from you guys.

Thanks!

[ericsabbath]

C-pig/polymath?

[Duck2587]

Warpig or Nailbomb for the bridge. They both have that angry and ballsy voicing you are looking for. What does your guitar sound like acoustically? If its brighter go with alnico, if its warmer/darker go with ceramic. Don't assume all mahogany is dark or soft attack. Alnico Nailbomb is one of my favorites of the line along with the warpig. For the neck, I'd go poly math or cold sweat. 

[Dave Sloven]

I agree with the comment regarding avoiding ceramic magnet in the bridge if it is a bright guitar.  Most Explorers are darker though,  I had the alnico WP in an Explorer and t was too dark.  I replaced it with an alnico Nailbomb which was a better match and quite chewy.  I always wanted to try an Impulse or Rebel Yell in it though, as t was very oriented toward the lower frequencies.

I think a Silo would be a bad choice in this guitar

Also I think the 500T might be the wider (53 mm) spacing.  Measure it before ordering

[MonsieurAbsurd]

I agree with the comment regarding avoiding ceramic magnet in the bridge if it is a bright guitar.  Most Explorers are darker though,  I had the alnico WP in an Explorer and t was too dark.  I replaced it with an alnico Nailbomb which was a better match and quite chewy.  I always wanted to try an Impulse or Rebel Yell in it though, as t was very oriented toward the lower frequencies.

I think a Silo would be a bad choice in this guitar

Also I think the 500T might be the wider (53 mm) spacing.  Measure it before ordering

It's definitely darker and very resonant acoustically. I'm going to double check the spacing on the 500t as well to make sure. Why don't you think the silos would be good? I could be wrong, but I thought I read they were based off of the warpigs so figured they might be similar. If you've used them, could you describe them?

[Dave Sloven]

The Silo is basically a toned-down alnico War Pig.

In my experience the alnico War Pig is too dark for a dark guitar.  That's why BKP recommended the ceramic magnet on the War Pig for you.

Pickups that are higher output that I think could feasibly work in a darker Explorer:

Ceramic ones:

Painkiller
Black Hawk (ceramic)
Miracle Man
Cold Sweat
Brute Force
Ragnarok
Nailbomb (ceramic)
War Pig (ceramic)

Alnico ones:
Nailbomb (alnico)
Rebel Yell
Impulse
Emerald (more vintage vibe)
True Grit (more vintage vibe)

The alnico Black Hawk could also be good but it will be darker than the ceramic.  If your guitar is very dark I would stick with a ceramic pickup, or an Impulse, a Rebel Yell, or an Emerald if you want the sweeter lead and clean capabilities of alnico.