Guitar Pickups

[Dolmen]

I've asked this before a while back, but my research on the matter has expanded a little bit. Currently I'm looking to replace my pickups on a Schecter C-1 Plus. Originally I was looking at an EMG 81/89 setup, but I've read a lot of reviews of other pickups with my guitar. Basically the sound I'm looking for is mainly metal oriented. The stock "Duncan Designed" humbuckers are a bit muddy, and have way too much buzz (even when moving the hum up and down, just too noisy). I'd like anything clean to have great tone and balance. As for the metal sound, something that allows for a more thrash-oriented sound in terms of having clarity with faster playing. Take something like the guitar sound on Solefald's songs "Mont Blanc Providence Crow" and "The USA Don't Exist."

Other options I've seen listed:
•Seymour Duncan Blackouts
•Duncan Distortion/'59 Model
•DiMarzio Evolution/PAF Pro
•EMG 85/81

Pickups right now are passive, and I love the sound of actives with my amp seeing as actives and tubes work so insanely well together. Any recommendations would be excellent.

[Girl]

The Schecter C-1 doesn't come with EMGs? My buddy has a Schecter Hellraiser and the EMGs on that thing sound pretty nice. They are essentially the 81/85 combo but with a coil tap on it as well.

EMGs are pretty much strictly metal. The clean sounds on those pickups will be lacking a bit if that's one of your worries.

As for the buzzing, maybe you should just get a noise suppressor/gate.

What kind of Amp do you have?

[Matricide]

I actually have a C1+. I put in a Seymour Duncan JB in the bridge and it sounds great. Get the nickel to match. It's really a solid sound for any style of music you're gonna play. I haven't replaced the neck but I was considering the '59 and a couple others as well. I'd also recommend against EMGs, I forget why, but I had a good reason 5 years ago.

[Dolmen]

The Schecter C-1 doesn't come with EMGs? My buddy has a Schecter Hellraiser and the EMGs on that thing sound pretty nice. They are essentially the 81/85 combo but with a coil tap on it as well.

EMGs are pretty much strictly metal. The clean sounds on those pickups will be lacking a bit if that's one of your worries.

As for the buzzing, maybe you should just get a noise suppressor/gate.

What kind of Amp do you have?

The Hellraiser C-1 comes with an EMG 81/89 setup on it, but the regular C-1 Plus comes with the Duncan Designed HB-102 setup.

As far as amps, I've been using a lolCrate BV120 halfstack. The clean channel on it is wonderful, so I've been running pedals through that. However after having people playing different guitars through it I've really realized just how much the pickups are lacking. I believe the HB-102 setup is more jazz oriented, at least from what numerous people have mentioned.

The buzzing I know is something that happens with the HB-102s, so it's just a matter of replacing them.

[OzzofAsura]

I have double EMG 81s in my ESP EC-1000 (Eclipse) and both are pretty good metal pickups. I had Duncan Designs in my Jackson KE3 (Kelly) and I replaced them with the Zack Wylde signature, 81 in the bridge and 85 in the neck. The bridge pickup has a nice sharp metal tone and the neck has a pretty fat tone. I don't get a lot of buzzing but that can have a lot to do with your amp. I have a Marshall AVT 50.. nothing flashy but it has a really nice sound. I play mainly metal, so I would safely recommend either of those combos. You also can't go wrong with a pair of Seymour Duncans, but I personally prefer EMGs. If you like the fat tone in the neck position go 81/85.. or if you prefer an overall sharper tone, go double 81s.