Passive Pickup Recommendations

[Smeghead]

Hi, I'm looking for a good set of pickups for Doom Metal, Stoner Rock, Desert Rock, Swedish Death Metal, Grindcore, and Powerviolence.

I need something with loads of low-end and midrange, doesn't flub out when using fuzz, distortion, overdrive, and other effects, is gritty and grimey in all sense of the words, and is tight when it needs to be.

Here's my signal chain, it's pretty simplistic: RGB Ravenaut (SG Shape guitar that's a quarter of an inch thicker than a les paul custom, loaded with Emerson Custom electronics) into a Hovercraft Falcon 100 (loaded with KT88's, Andromeda Voiced) with Matching 4x12 (Loaded with Eminence Wizards) and finally, to top it all off, a Black Arts Toneworks Pharaoh Supreme Fuzz.

Here are some examples of the tonal characteristics I'm looking for:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kw5ziKCw6os (Conan : UK Doom Metal)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cj7__qMdMJQ (Napalm Death : UK Grindcore)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WdtATSsw4HQ (Sleep : US Stoner Rock/Doom Metal)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ml_LyJ5FEnI (Slo Burn : US Desert Rock)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2gtUcFRGmWI (Dismember : SWE Death Metal)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q4wxeBjxqBw (Magrudergrind : US Powerviolence)

Thanks in advance!

Quick Edit: I linked Dragonaut by Sleep just as a song that wouldn't overlap with what was already linked, Even though it's not really the tone I'm looking for, I do like it.

 

[godgrinder]

Bareknuckle Pig90

 

[ewill52]

Check out Dominger. If you don't see exactly what your looking for, Joce can custom make anything you want. Richard here on the forum turned me on to his stuff and it's badass...and half the price of the BK's

 

[Mr. Willy]

I have no idea what some of the genres even are. But have you considered a lower output pickup? It would be clearer, deeper, and more open than a high output pup. Especially with fuzz. I'd go higher output if I were doing thrashy, heavily Palm muted stuff. I like BK pups a lot, but there are gonna be several recommendations probably. How about a BK Riff Raff? Clip from their site:

 

[Smeghead]

I've had bare knuckle pickups recommended to me before (Pig90, Riff Raff, Alnico Warpigs, Miracle Man, Juggernaut Neck) but I'm worried that they'll be too dark. I'm wondering about Motor City Pickups, are they any good? Or are they just cheapo BKP ripoffs?

 

[Mr. Willy]

I've had bare knuckle pickups recommended to me before (Pig90, Riff Raff, Alnico Warpigs, Miracle Man, Juggernaut Neck) but I'm worried that they'll be too dark. I'm wondering about Motor City Pickups, are they any good? Or are they just cheapo BKP ripoffs?

I've only got experience with the VHII, but it's my favorite pup ever. In general, the lower the output, the brighter the tone. My VHII is bright and clear. By comparison, pickups I have experience with that are dark (to me) are the Rio Grande BBQ (good pup) and Dimarzio Tone Zone (meh, bland and flubby). I stand by recommending a lower output pup though, especially if you're using fuzz or stacking gain with pedals. Good luck though. Finding the right pickup can be very frustrating. Also, no experience with Motor City, but they're not cheap knock offs at all. They get a lot of love around here. Especially the 2nd Degree Blackbelt and the Detroiter.

 

[godgrinder]

I've had bare knuckle pickups recommended to me before (Pig90, Riff Raff, Alnico Warpigs, Miracle Man, Juggernaut Neck) but I'm worried that they'll be too dark.

The humbuckers are usually a bit on the smooth side, but the P90's and single coils have plenty of bite.

 

[chumbucket]

Most of the doom / stoner tone comes from the amp as well as the result of being tuned down. I've found that the Duncan Distortion do just fine for this style in a mahogany guitar and they're easily less than half the price of BKP or MCP.
Pike and Wino both endorse Lace Sensors for whatever that's worth.

 

[Smeghead]

Thanks for the recommendations so far! The reason why I say I'm worried about the BKP's being too dark is because the dude who recommended the Alnico Warpigs said that they can be extremely dark and not versatile at all in certain guitars. And I know that doesn't go for all BKP pickups, but I'm just worried because of how thick my guitar is.

 

[Smeghead]

Most of the doom / stoner tone comes from the amp as well as the result of being tuned down. I've found that the Duncan Distortion do just fine for this style in a mahogany guitar and they're easily less than half the price of BKP or MCP.
Pike and Wino both endorse Lace Sensors for whatever that's worth.

As much as I love LACE and Seymour Duncan pickups, I try to stay away from anything mass-produced. (sorry to be "that guy")

 

[godgrinder]

As much as I love LACE and Seymour Duncan pickups, I try to stay away from anything mass-produced. (sorry to be "that guy")

FYI, your Hovercraft was just a modded cheap mass produced Chinese amp.

 

[Racerxrated]

I've had bare knuckle pickups recommended to me before (Pig90, Riff Raff, Alnico Warpigs, Miracle Man, Juggernaut Neck) but I'm worried that they'll be too dark. I'm wondering about Motor City Pickups, are they any good? Or are they just cheapo BKP ripoffs?

No. MCPs are great. I would try an afwayu, great low end and nice mids, smooth highs. That was in a Charvel Custom I had.

 

[Smeghead]

As much as I love LACE and Seymour Duncan pickups, I try to stay away from anything mass-produced. (sorry to be "that guy")

FYI, your Hovercraft was just a modded cheap mass produced Chinese amp.

well, nevermind then

 

[godgrinder]

well, nevermind then

I use both BKP and Lace, and I reckon Lace is every bit as good as BKP.

Duncan not so much maybe, but they are cheap and has right voicing. It probably doesn't matter that much if you gonna run it through a fuzz pedal and an el cheapo Chinese amp anyway.

 

[Smeghead]

well, nevermind then

It probably doesn't matter that much if you gonna run it through a fuzz pedal and an el cheapo Chinese amp anyway.

well, to me it does matter, mostly because i know you can dial out brightness and can't dial it back in. and in all honesty, i could care less if hovercraft amps are just recased modded jet-city heads.

 

[JTyson]

wait....
I'm confused..
Does that mean you are, or are not "that guy"??

 

[Mr. Willy]

There are a few things you might need to decide on to help narrow your focus. You want low, moderate, or high output? What kind of magnet, Alnico or ceramic? If you can decide on those two things, it'll help everyone narrow their recommendations. Otherwise, everyone is going to suggest their personal favorites.

 

[rsm]

No love for DiMarzio it seems. Tough to "test" pickups without trying them for yourself, but you should be able to get close...would be great if some of the pickup makers provided reference tones of their pickups, guess that could probably do them more harm then good, so many variables, but at least we could hear them and compare more easily...

Back on topic, kinda, I dig EMG 81/85, very clear, balanced and neutral sounding to my ears...use your gear to shape the tone anyway you want. My favorite passive pickup (for metal) is a DiMarzio X2N, which is stock in my BC Rich Schuldiner sig Stealth; cleans up enough with guitar volume control. Worth a look IMO.

 

[RJF]

I listened to a couple of those links. If that is what you are looking for I'd get a set of Duncan AHB2's on the high setting with a couple metal zones lined up in between with everything maxed out.

 

[The Traveller]

Avedissian Railsplitters

http://avedissianpickups.bigcartel.com/products