High output metal pickup recommendations for Jackson DK2M

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Birdman642

New member
Hello everybody. I’m looking for some pickup recommendations for a Jackson DK2M I’m putting together. I tend to play Melodic Death Metal (Carcass, At the Gates, old In Flames) and heavier stuff in general. I’m looking for something that’s a little tighter sounding, high output and good midrange bump. I prefer passive to active pickups as well. My amp is a Jet City 20 watt combo, and I’m using an EHX metal muff to get the gain. I’m tending to lean towards a Super 3/Liquifire. My other DK2M has a Crunch lab/Liquifire set. I really like Crunch Lab and Liquifire. But I’m just looking for something a little different with the bridge pickup. What does everyone think?
 
How does the Super 3 compare to the Crunch lab and the Black winters? I’ve been interested in the Super 3 since I read about it
 
The Black Winter is a very cool pick up and quite versatile, I'd definitely recommend it. I always found the Distortion a bit too mid heavy. I really love the Duncan Custom too. Someday I've got to try a Nazgul/Sentient combo.

For non Duncan's you should consider a PRS Tremonti, BKP Juggernaut and a Motor City Afwayu.
 
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The Black Winter set and the Distortion set are very similar. The BW is really just a "modern" update to the Distortion wind, but I'd consider them interchangeable as far as what they can do.

That said, most of the bands you mentioned played with EMGs, typically an 81 in the bridge and an 85 in the neck, except for Bill Steer of Carcass, who used a Duncan '59 in many of his guitars, including his red Les Paul, for many years.

A lot will depend on your setup, what you like, and how you dial in your tone, but these styles tend to err on the side of brighter pickups. The Super 3 is mid-heavy and a lot smoother up top than the pickups any of the players you mentioned would use, but it's still a great metal pickup and you can dial in the presence/treble on a lot of amps to compensate.
 
Masta' C said:
The Black Winter set and the Distortion set are very similar. The BW is really just a "modern" update to the Distortion wind, but I'd consider them interchangeable as far as what they can do.

That said, most of the bands you mentioned played with EMGs, typically an 81 in the bridge and an 85 in the neck, except for Bill Steer of Carcass, who used a Duncan '59 in many of his guitars, including his red Les Paul, for many years.

A lot will depend on your setup, what you like, and how you dial in your tone, but these styles tend to err on the side of brighter pickups. The Super 3 is mid-heavy and a lot smoother up top than the pickups any of the players you mentioned would use, but it's still a great metal pickup and you can dial in the presence/treble on a lot of amps to compensate.
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Coming from the Crunch Lab, how would the Super 3 or Black Winter stack up? I’m guessing the Black winter has a lot more high end than either of those?
 
The Black Winter is marginally brighter, but has a low-mid tightness that you'll probably appreciate coming from the Crunch Lab.

The Super 3 is a thicker sounding pickup than both.

The one thing I can tell from your posts is that you won't be satisfied until you know how the Super 3 sounds, so I would start there. It's a great pickup for rock and metal, but is kind of its own thing.
 
Distortion for tight, classic clang and kerrang. Instantly sounds like a record. Black Winter for a Distortion with a touch of warmth and a little more versatility. (I've had both in my Jackson just this past week.)
 
The description solidly points to the Black Winter to me. Try that out before going anywhere else.
 
You can try the Super 3 just out of curiosity (I did), but I think you will find it too dull and flat on top. It just has no edge at all.
 
Dave Locher said:
You can try the Super 3 just out of curiosity (I did), but I think you will find it too dull and flat on top. It just has no edge at all.
Click to expand...

So the Super 3 doesn’t really have a lot of bite to it? That’s disappointing. This is really making me consider the Black Winter. The Keith Merrow riff video really got me interested
 
From your description, the Black Winter set meets all your criteria here. Both neck and bridge are very tight with a mid bump. It also sounds great at all kinds of gain ranges, if you wanted to use the guitar for other things.
 
IMO the super3 works best in bright guitars with maple/ebony/stainless/OFR ect.
I've found most of those dinkys with rosewood to be fairly balanced and somewhat warm in the highs. They have good bite but IMO are not the crisp "hi-fi" tone that calls for the super3.

Distortion or BW set are both good choices. The distortion has a more focused mid-spike and the BW has a broader mid-hump.

If it's a MIJ Dinky with ebony and floyd,,,,, well then it's case closed;
Invaders
 
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