Opinions on pickups for metal/rock

[Jrjr4545]

I've been reading this board forever and grabbing great opinions on the best way of achieving different tones that I've been after, thank you everyone for that. I've been looking to upgrade my stock hfs/vb pickups in my prs se custom 24-mahogany body. Pick ups are nice but feel like they're missing a little something- have a lil bite to em but are a lil loose in the bottom for my liking. I run everything through a 6505+ with a east river drive clean boost to tighten everything up. Play everything from pantera,slayer,haunted,feared,Metallica, then all my 80's metal and classic rock stuff. This guitar is pretty much going to be my mostly standard tuning/drop d flat as the lowest tuning..... Although would like the versatility to sound decent rolling back volumes and getting a semi decent rock tone. I've used Duncan distortions in the past and love those but sometimes they get a lil shrill at the top which I hate... But will trade off for the kick u in the balls thickness it brings. I have emgs81/85 in another prs which is my drop b rig, so I'm not interested in those. Have an invader with 59 in neck in a gibby Flying V which is my go to wall of thick sound, a deactivatorx neck with a x2n in a hamer v, which is the only dimarzio experience I've had. Also love the 59 neck, but am extremely open to try new necks.... Love shredding off the neck pick up, especially if it's got a sick creamy tone.
Pickups I'm interested in:
Black winters neck and bridge, heard they are mostly like the sh6 without the shrill but wonder how it sounds in reg tuning
Illuminators very interested in these, curious how it'll react with mahogany
Titans, heard good things but heard its thin tuned standard
Love the reviews of bkp but I'm sure other avenues can come close to the sounds/tones they get
Open to all options and reccomendations such as the jb/jazz... Is it really that good? Or the custom/jazz.....
Other thoughts on a sh6/pearly gates? Crunch lab/liquifire?

 

[Thundermtn]

Re: Opinions on pickups for metal/rock

I've run my PG's through a boosted triple rec. Not bad but not tight enough for speed riding that low E on the bridge. For what you are talking about I would maybe consider a Custom Custom or a JB bridge paired with a WLH or a pot waxed Seth Lover neck.

The JBb/59n is classic rock sounding but can be pushed well. The guitar in my avatar if you recognize the player, used this combo for on stage and the Devil Music Vol.1 album.

 

[Jrjr4545]

Re: Opinions on pickups for metal/rock

Nice to know j used that combo, had a sick grindy tone on that album. I've always been interested in the jb but was worried it would be a tad bit thin and not as tight. I know the 59 would be great in the neck but am always open to other avenues. Where does the custom custom fall in line with the custom 5 jb and reg dd? I know with the 6505 I can pretty much get a balls to the wall distortion with any pick up, just really curious how the jb would sound in a mahogany body. Also been intrigued with the jb/jazz combo since I found out mustaine used that early on, just am worried the 24 inch neck would make the Jazz too thin. What kinda tone is the Seth lover and wlh sound like? Thanks again!!!

 

[Thundermtn]

Re: Opinions on pickups for metal/rock

I dont have much experience with any of those other than the JB. For the neck pups a sparkly PAF with the Seth, lots of complexity and shimmery highs. The WLH seems a little more quack or honk to it with more power than the SL https://youtu.be/cb2X0GB6Cog

 

[Mincer]

Re: Opinions on pickups for metal/rock

The Black Winters certainly don't sound as shrill as the Distortions, and sound great in standard tuning. In fact, they are a lot more versatile than their name leads you to believe. You can also check out a Pegasus/Sentient set, which are a little more open sounding, and sound wonderful with tons of gain.