Best Passive for metal?

[themisfit138]

I am not enjoying the active pickups so much any more. I like the gain but I want the tone of a passive. What would be a good passive to give me a heavy tone but not muddy? And I have Duncan JB's in my KV2 and hate them, they have no gain and too much highs.

[jtr]

X2n

[straycat]

Wow that is a loaded question!So much depends on the amp,effects etc.
WCR ironmans are pretty brutal.WCR RS shredder is a killer 16k pickup a little bright but I just adj the tone depending on which 1/2 stack or rack stuff I am using at the time.
Get quality electronics in the guitar first then find a pickup tha suits your style.

[necrotechno]

Neck/Bridge:

APC Persuader/Persuader Lead

Lace Drop & Gain set

DiMarzio Super-2/X2N

Rio Grande Punchbox/Crunchbox

[Cygnus X1]

J90c?

[DonP]

No mud = Full Shred?

+1 to what straycat said. I have no issues with my JB, but then again I have everything else to support it.

[Spivonious]

Every Duncan except the JB sounds muddy to my ears. With gain comes muddiness, at least with the pickups I've used.

[zeegler]

DUNCAN CUSTOM.

The End.

[Partial @ Marshall]

Just dumped my JB for a custom 5...much tighter with great punch. Not a super high gain pickup but the tightness is making me work to play better.

[themisfit138]

My amp setup is a Mesa Mark IV ran through a Mesa 2x12 with EV12L speakers, I use no effects. I thought the JBs had way too many highs.

[XxKilgannonxX]

Lace D&G or Duncan Custom

[evilfrenchy]

Bare Knuckle Warpig.....

[guitarsjb]

X2n

[toejam]

DiMarzio X2N or Duncan PATB-2 (Parallel Axis Distortion Trembucker).

[Hellraiser6502]

My amp setup is a Mesa Mark IV ran through a Mesa 2x12 with EV12L speakers, I use no effects. I thought the JBs had way too many highs.

I have the same amp (but I use older Mesa 4x12 half back cabs) and use very little effects....the Duncan Custom Custom or a Tom Anderson H-2+ or H3 sound crushingly perfect to my ears for the heavy stuff.