What pickups...

[Crazy_Joe]

Ok i think i've changed my mind again, and i think i will listen to you guys lol I'm thinking about a Mircale Man in the bridge, and if i wasn't going to get a calibrated set of anything then i was always going to go with a Cold Sweat in the neck. Also it's much cheaper and i think it will suit my playing style a lot better. (cheaper depends on what covers i go for)

[Crazy_Joe]

Yes, I listened to Kalmah, hence my comments. They're speed metal rather than thrash, and they're not really that heavy. Certainly more at the Megadeth and Anthrax end of the scale rather than the Slayer and Metallica end. The sound actually has quite a lot of mid in it (to me the tone screams George Lynch), and there's not that much saturated distortion. I'd say Holydivers would do this with ease. If your amp isn't up to it there are numerous inexpensive pedals that will take you into this realm with ease (again, you don't even need it to be that powerful, something like a Digitech Grunge would probably do the job, but their Distortion Factory will do this and Metallica as well).
 You seem to have a strange view of the effect of pickups in terms of heaviness. I'm sure no-one has ever said "lack of power" and "nailbomb" in the same sentence before. Many, many players get fantastic distorted tones from relatively low powered pickups.

Thanks Mr. Ben, you have educated me a lot in pickups and tone!

[fps_dean]

Hhmm, some quite different sounds really. I'd imagine Miracle Mans would give you the sort of Metallica and Slayer sounds (as both use EMGs, and prior to that Metallica used extra hot ceramic PUPs). Mustaine has a much less saturated sound, and a Holydiver or Rebel Yell would probably be better.

I'd think Holydivers, Crawlers or Nailbombs for a Megadeth like tone.  A louder Alnico V for the bridge (remember, Mustaine used the JB for many years).  A Riff Raff or VHII would be a good neck choice.

[fps_dean]

Forget that list for a second, if some people could listen to a Melodic-Death band called Kalmah and listen to songs off the album 'They Will Return' thats the kind of bridge and neck tone i would like, on that album they used standard Jackson pickups in their jackson soloist guitars i beleive.

I'd definitely go with an Alnico V for more mids if that's the tone you like.  I agree with Sifu ben that they are more speed metal - like Megadeth style and sound in many ways and you can tell their guitarist is influenced by Marty Friedman's work with Megadeth.

Like I said, Holydivers or Nailbombs if you require something louder.  With today's high gain amps though, you can get killer heavy sounds with almost any pickup too, so you should look more on the overall tone of the pickup as opposed to its output.

[Crazy_Joe]

Are there any sound clips of people doing metal with Holydivers??

[Ced777]

I would say Rebell Yell for copying that Mustaine tone.

[fps_dean]

I would say Rebell Yell for copying that Mustaine tone.

Mustaine used the JB though.  It's one of the loudest A5 magnet pups and definitely the muddiest and dullest sounding I've ever heard until you turn your gain up to 20.

[Ced777]

I know. I owned both a JB and a Rebell Yell.

[fps_dean]

I know. I owned both a JB and a Rebell Yell.

I'm still waiting for mine...  but how does the Rebel Yell compare with Crawlers?  The sound clips for the Crawlers sound great, I assume they were in a strat.  Possible future upgrade for my Carvin ;)