best passives for shred

[Turumbar82]

Well, you named Coheed and Atreyu and both of them use EMG pickups. Claudio has EMG's installed in most of his explorers and some of the others are just stock. Atreyu has EMG's in their signature ESP and LTD guitars. None of those bands I would consider shred though. Vai, Satriani, Gilbert, Malmsteen. They are shred and they all use passive pickups. If you are looking for a great chunky metal sound EMG's are what most people use. I personally feel like my chunky metal sound isn't lacking at all and I use a Seymour Duncan Custom pickup. It's like a '59 but with more output. Your strings (heavier gauge) and equalization will really help with a good heavy rhythm sound like you are describing. Of course there are some pickups that just turn muddy not matter how much your equalize.

 

[themisfit138]

seymour duncan JB- dave mustaine has used them a long time

Dave also used a Jackson Gain booster

 

[Friedmett]

The only Strat pickups I can recommend is the Fender ´69 which are passive but with the right amp shred tones are possible.