What I'm looking for in a perfect Metal pickup. Recommendations?

[Chuck_Norris]

I've been playing guitar for quite some time now and I had the chance to try out some pickups over the past few years. I've also tried many guitars, some amps and hundreds of amp settings. I've always been looking for the perfect bridge metal pickup to suit my needs but only recently I managed to define the chracteristics I need for my style so here they are:

Output:
I like high output because it pushes my amp's tubes harder giving me a more "evil" sound which I like for heavy riffing.

Compression:
I found that I like some compression for fast and tight riffing where I can't hit every note hard. Dynamics ain't what I need to play metal. Seriously.

Tightness:
Tight pickups are great for my playing style but they don't have to be uber-tight like the Full Shred.

Rhythm tone:
Tight, aggressive, heavy, fat, warm, pushing, evil, in yo face!
No mid-scooped diarrhoea.

Lead tone:
PAF into a high-gain amp. Warm, musical, powerful, singing (with some decent screams in the bridge position). No piercing treble! No weak-sounding sh*t that gets lost in the mix.

Magnets:
I prefer the power of ceramic mags for rhythms but the warmth of alnico 2 for leads.

EQ:
Bass is really important. I need that fat, chest-hitting "oomph" while I'm chugging.
Low mids are also very important to me since they make the palm-muted stuff even thicker and fuller.
High mids are very important too for tight rhythm work, nice leads and cutting through the mix in general.
Treble needs to be there but not too much of it. I don't like piercing highs (think of the Full Shred).

By the way, my main axe is an Ibanez S5470 tuned to D standard. (Very thin) Mahogany body, Maple/Walnut 5pc bolt-on neck, Rosewood fretboard, ZR 2 trem.

So here's my question:
Is there any pickup out there that could suit my needs?


I'm looking forward to an interesting discussion!

[Sodom616]

Try the PATB-2, its basically a thicker, more compressed DD with a better lead sound. I prefer DD for fast rhythms though.

[lazyfinger]

I'm sure someone would recommend the Custom 8, I just wanna beat them to it! Really, this pickup gets recommended a lot for just that sort of application.

[eschoendorff]

DMZ D-Sonic

[misterwhizzy]

Unfortunately, I don't have any experience with it, but it sounds like the Invader might be the ticket. I'd suggest the Distortion, but I feel like the upper end is too present for what you describe, and I don't find it warm. Maybe a JB8, now that I think about it. In fact, yes, I'm pretty sure you need a JB8.

[SrDeMaFp]

DMZ D-Sonic

I'm gonna agree with this. Otherwise I say BKP Warpig.

[youngthrasher9]

Custom8 or JB8 for this guy. Atleast something with an A8 mag, because the magnet preference description was spot on for A8.

[Chuck_Norris]

So alnico 8 is what I need? Before submitting this thread I thought about the following pickups as possible candidates:

TB-15 Alternative 8
PATB-2
TB-5 Custom (or Custom8)
Scott Ian El Diablo (mainly because of the high output and alnico 2 mag)

Unfortunately, I'm a bit short on cash so I can't try out all of them at the same time. Another problem is that I'm unexperienced in mag swapping and have no idea where to buy pickup magnets.

[dazzlindino]

metal pickups dont sound so good....eddie tried this back in 76 before hitting the lotto
with his vh1 combo.. three single coils in a les paul.....

[LatsMcGee]

I would try the Invader or Alt8, maybe try switching to the neck for the lead work, I think a pearly gates plus would make an awesome neck pup for metal leads.....

[grumptruck]

I was thinking you'd want an Invader. You could always put in a series/parallel switch if you need it brighter for cleans.

The guys from Nile seem to get bright sounds from that dark pickup for what its worth and they tune down to Drop A with 70 on the A

I always go to neck pups for leads anyways. If I was in a Cookie monster metal band that would be my pup before going the active route (which I recommend since you talked about not caring about dynamics)

Invader with a liquifire neck may be up ur alley.

Maybe even a crunch lab in the bridge... Dream theater's newest was mostly in D. They got some killer metal tone on the new album. If you want a bit more versatility in ur sound. He want straight Crunch lab into a Mark V for most of the album for the CHUG CHUG stuff. Liquifire for above the 12th fret leads.

[Rand-O-Monium]

Try the PATB-2, its basically a thicker, more compressed DD with a better lead sound. I prefer DD for fast rhythms though.

Good to know,I've got one in the drawer!

[King IzzO)))]

I would try the Invader or Alt8, maybe try switching to the neck for the lead work, I think a pearly gates plus would make an awesome neck pup for metal leads.....

This, except the PG+ part, done it, meh.

The El Diablo will sound like you want for leads, as will the PATB-2, but neither have the mass of the Invader on rhythms.

As a side note, I have an Invader coming in the mail today that I'm putting an A8 in without the spacer mags. Basically a legit Duncan version of my Detonator A8, which was exactly what you are describing. I will update later.

[youngthrasher9]

Alnico 8 fits your description quite well, check out these demos SurfaceX did: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZE7Wm..._order&list=UL
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=57Go2...der&playnext=1

[Chuck_Norris]

C8 sounds awesome! What concerns me about the Invader is that lots of people seem to find it muddy and don't really like it for leads but I love lead work on the bridge pickup. I wish I knew more about the Alt 8 though... It's pretty hard to find good sound clips on the web...

[youngthrasher9]

From what I hear, the words tight and invader shouldn't go in the same sentence.

[gvis]

What concerns me about the Invader is that lots of people seem to find it muddy ...

It can be muddy if you don't find the right guitar and setup. 500k pots open them up fine. Still thick mids and heavy bass, but not muddy, and great for chugging metal, as well as leads IMO.

For leads, extra gain will help get pinch harmonics easier, because in general you gotta work a little harder for those with the invader. And you requested no piercing treble, which is not an issue with the bridge invader (it is with the neck version).

But I find the compression and sustain great for the leads I like; you may want a more open sound for leads, and alt 8 may be better for that.

And I find it musical enough, more so under higher gain than lower gain or clean, where the ceramic starts to show itself. It's metal, right? Now, singing? I wouldn't go that far. Powerful...yes.

You mentioned both tight and fat/heavy for rhythm. Not sure you can have both...lol, but the invader will get you fat/heavy. But pull bass with an eq pedal whenevr you want tight...best of both worlds.

Overall, the invader takes some work to get what you want out of it, but it can be done, and results are great.

[Chuck_Norris]

How would you describe the Alt 8? I keep hearing good things about it. How's it doing on rhythms? What would you compare it to? Does it have the heaviness I'm looking for? What does it sound like on leads?

The Invader seems to be a possible option. I'll keep that in mind.

[ItsaBass]

Are you locked in to the idea of using a humbucking pickup? Because to me, cranked, screaming single coils really bring the "EVIL" out of a guitar more than anything.

[MikeM]

JB8 would be great for what you're looking for.