Explorer pickups (last time!)

[Crazy_Joe]

Ok, i have tried Ceramic Warpig, Miracle Man and the Nailbomb in my all mahogany Explorer and they all don't sound what i want it to sound like.

My Ibanez with Holy Divers (old versions) played through the same settings on the Laney has a Godlike tone and i love it to bits!

I don't know what it is, i think it's too dark so i might need brighter pickups like the Rebel Yells?

Whatever it is i have decided to go lower output so no contemporary humbuckers.

It will be used for any kind of style but mostly focused on heavy/80's metal/rock, and that's the heaviest i want it, don't need no death metal tones from this as i don't play that.

Any suggestions?

[MDV]

cold sweat, maybe

[ericsabbath]

try your holy divers in your explorer :idea:

[Twinfan]

Riff Raffs

[Crazy_Joe]

Hahaha, that was helpful. Cold sweat, holy divers and riff raffs!

I don't want contemporary humbuckers so not the cold sweat or holy divers.
Riff raffs could work but tbh i don't know anything about them haha.

[CaffeineJunkie]

rebel yells are kind of a cross between vintage and contemporary (having a CS neck in the combo) so that's probably what i would go for, although i would probably try the Holy divers out of your other guitar first

[Crazy_Joe]

I would try the Holy Divers but i think someone said that they would be too dark in all mahogany and also i am lazy and can't be arsed :lol:

[LazyNinja]

Ok, i have tried Ceramic Warpig, Miracle Man and the Nailbomb in my all mahogany Explorer and they all don't sound what i want it to sound like.

My Ibanez with Holy Divers (old versions) played through the same settings on the Laney has a Godlike tone and i love it to bits!

I don't know what it is, i think it's too dark so i might need brighter pickups like the Rebel Yells?

You said the same settings so maybe it's just an EQ issue? Your RG is probably a brighter guitar than your explorer. If it sounds great and balanced with the RG, you'll have to adjust accordingly to compensate for the difference.

[Crazy_Joe]

I have tried that and i cannot get a tone that i am happy to keep with it. I'm forever changing it when i play my Explorer to find something i like.

[Doadman]

Easy, the answer is certainly Cold Sweat. When I was getting mine Tim warned me off all the pups you've tried except the Miracle Man. The MM cuts through the mahogany no problem but doesn't have the rich tone you're after. The Cold Sweat does both and although it is a contemporary pup it has a very vintage tone to it. Mine is a mahogany RG and I swear to you the Cold Sweat will do exactly what you want. It is absolutely perfect for the styles you're after but will clean up nicely if required and go heavier if ever needed. It is a very well named pup as the tone IS John Sykes on the song 'Cold Sweat'.

[Crazy_Joe]

I think i did like the Miracle Man but it wasn't very versatile and it had too much power.

[Johnny Mac]

I'd say a Cold Sweat too, there fantastic pickups in a mahogany guitar!

[gwEm]

vintage, bright and clear - riff raffs. i agree with twinfan. they sound more typically 70s than 80s though, so maybe cold sweat would be the thing (i wouldnt know about that though).

blatantly try the holy divers in the explorer anyway, its another point of reference.

[Doadman]

I think i did like the Miracle Man but it wasn't very versatile and it had too much power.

And that is exactly why the Cold Sweat is so perfect; it IS a versatile pickup. Clearly it is hot enough for Rock and Metal but not overly hot so that it precludes other applications and it has a beautifully rich and warm tone that I find reminds me of the classic Gibsons of that period.

maybe cold sweat would be the thing (i wouldnt know about that though).

I would    :D  I spent ages researching mine and exchanged loads of e-mails with Tim before buying the Cold Sweats and having tried them I am 150% sure that they are exactly what you are after.

[Crazy_Joe]

I was never a fan of Cold Sweats but i think i'll give them a go if it means that i won't have to sell my Explorer.