Heavy metal pickups

It's the same with any genre, it depends on what sound you're looking for.

 

Sounds more like you're looking for a distortion than new pickups. What gear are you currently using?

 

Like Essen said, it depends on the sound you're looking for. I've played metal my entire career (20+ years) and my tastes have changed over time and the type of metal bands I've been with (when I was in a Maiden tribute band, it was pretty essential to nail down the Harris P-bass tone).
Without any other info, I would say EMGs are a safe bet for getting into metal (I have them in my Spector Euro and that bass can get pretty aggressive and pretty easily cuts through the mix).
Jon

 

There are categories in your profile which allow you to list things such as your current set-up. Providing that information makes it easier for people to understand where you are coming from, so we don't have to ask a bunch of questions in order to answer yours.

 

I don't understand it when people ask these kinds of questions. This is a very vague question which, if properly clarified, is going to yield highly subjective answers. What does the genre of music have to do with anything? Surely you have noticed that tone can be all over the map within almost any genre of music, and especially when you're not specific about any sub-genre or examples of artists within genres. Also, what is "the EMG?" EMG is a company that offers an wide line of pickups. At this point, it's not even clear what kind of bass the pickups are going in.

 

EMG's would be my best guess... But as stated earlier, it sounds more like you need a good od/distortion with a clean blend.

 

That's good useful information and we all appreciate the effort you put into this direct response to the OPs question.

GTFO.

 

I'm curious as to what specific info you would recommend to answer the OP's question.

 

I agree with you. I pass over 99% of these threads rolling my eyes.

OP gives no bass for requested "best pickups" to be put in. No style of pickup given either (P-Bass, Jazz, MM, etc... )

Just... "whats the best?"

C'mon people....

OP - I suggest an all 100% stock Music Man Stingray bass. It has a ballsy tone that is well suited for metal. That - and try giving a bit more info when you ask questions so we can help. Oh yeah, and there is no "best". You'll get a million answers, and non of them are "best".

 

He's searching for answers on the best picksups for metal.

I actually use a bass that is popular among urban contemporary gospel players for modern metal/prog metal... there are no hard rules on this stuff and you need to look at the full picture of what makes your tone. The pickups in this bass are one tiny and not super critical part of my overall sound (5%). If you want the best tone for metal your rig will be more important than your pickups.

I'd save up for a solid bass instead of putting the best pickups for metal in a low end bass. It's not like with guitar where a certain pickup can overide an instruments tone.

 

It is ironic that you would criticize the usefulness of my response by contributing nothing useful, yourself. Did you have an answer to the OP's question?

 

1. Tell your guitarists to cut some bass from their tone - they're just making things muddy and the bass is your job. This is a common problem with metal bands (and guitarists in particular) in that they have no idea how to EQ for a band situation.
2. Try EQing again. Are your pickups still lacking something?
3. Tell us what bass you're playing, what you don't like about your pickups, and what you want out of a new set of pickups.

Hypocrisy, much?

 

As opposed to the plethora of information you provided?

 

I don't know man, but I sure as **** wouldn't jump on some dude for no good reason. Especially when it is pretty clear that the guy is a Talkbass newcomer, who hasn't had time to climatize himself to the standard talkbass hate that goes out to questions such as these.

The guy is looking for something "metal".

From that, i take that subtle dynamics are not a concern. he needs something hot and clear so he can exert as little energy necessary and still get a strong signal he can control.

There is a lot of information still needed, mainly are your an active pickup guy who doesn't mind a bunch of on board controls, or are you a passive pickup guy who want an on off swtich and that's it.

Even still, i would at least start my search with EMG pickups. Yes, EMG the company not specific pickups or electronics. If for no other reason than metal heads such as Zakk Wylde, James hetfield, Kerry King, and Alexi Laiho have signature sets with them. I know those guys aren't bass players, but you can't really get much more metal than that list.

If you have to have bass players who use EMG pickups then please reference the ESP website "SIGNATURE SERIES". There you will find artists such as Tom Araya, Frank Bello, Gabe Crisp, Danny kenny, and Pancho Tomaselli. That's a pretty metal line up as well.

And one last thing, if you don't like simply guiding a person in the direction of "check out EMG". Here is a personal note. My ESP bass sports EMG-HZ (passive) pickups with and active on board EQ. I like it. It can push out all the deep dark metal tones i want, the bright stand out sounds I need to cut through a mix, and anything I need in between

With all that said, I wouldn't just deride the guy simply for asking a broad question. Like many others, I will simply use the information presented to develop a reasonable response, or not respond at all.

 

So it is better to make assumptions than seek to clarify information, when suggesting pickups? The OP would get much more valuable suggestions if more information was provided. It is hardly "jumping on the dude for no good reason" to point this out.

 

I agree with most of what you said except for the GTFO part to line6man.

 

on topic. I don't think you can go wrong with EMGs because they are good pickups overall. However there is more to "metal music" than just pickups. The sound is a combination of play style, amps /speakers and effects pedal