Les Paul Custom bridge?

[goldenchild]

Hi all.

I'm the proud owner of a mid 80's Burny LP Custom. (A white one... :P )

At the moment, it's loaded with SD Aph2 Slash sig set... A good set of pickups, but a little too loose for my tastes. I add that my amp is a Marshall AFD 100, through a Marshall 1960A (WGS: 2 Vet30 2 ET65 in an X pattern).

I'm not exactly into Slash tones (though he's one of my influences... Not to say the main one...).

What I'm looking for is something in between Slash, EVH, Angus and Doug Aldrich with a touch of a "southern rock Hi end sizzle"

I want tightness in the bass, but not too much,  fatness in the mids (think Angus in Black Ice's "Smash and Grab") and sweetness in the highs as my amp and guitar are a touch on the brite side.


In the first place, I thought about a set of mules, but I fear it sounds a little too vintage in "my band's context".

I then tried to choose from the Sound clips on the BKP site, and, from there, I've confirmed my choice of a neck pickup:
It'll be a Mule...

For the bridge, I'd like something with a touch more output than my Alnico II Pro Slash Pickups, so I decided to go the Hot Vintage route.

And, in that category, I hesitate between VHII and Abraxas, but I fear the Abraxas is a little too loose for what I'm looking for.

So, is there someone here, with a Les Paul Custom equiped with a VHII/Mule combination? Pro and Cons?

I also looked at the contemporary league, and there seems to be 2 of them that could fit the bill: Rebel Yell (Treetopper's Youtube Videos helped a lot to make me like these) and Holy Diver (The Doug Aldrich factor...)

Feel free to give me your opinions.

Thanx in advance.

See Ya.

Fab.

[bandmaster188]

how about a crawler for the bridge!

[ericsabbath]

the black dog sounds absolutely killer in my '78 greco lp standard

[TheyCallMeVolume]

Yeah I think I like the BD for this also. But it's hard to go wrong with the VHII as well.

[Mr. Air]

I think you should go with an anbraxas set or an abraxas/mule combo. I think the neck of the abraxas and the mule are very similar, but I might be wrong. Some time ago there was a clip of Chris George playing a LP with abraxas. I'm not 100% possitive that this is the right clip, but I think so. Someone correct me if I'm wrong.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8P2OmLNUAvE

[gwEm]

I have a Rebel Yell bridge in my Les Paul. Its a big stadium rock tone. I think you might prefer something more vintagey?

[darrenw5094]

I think you should go with an anbraxas set or an abraxas/mule combo. I think the neck of the abraxas and the mule are very similar, but I might be wrong. Some time ago there was a clip of Chris George playing a LP with abraxas. I'm not 100% possitive that this is the right clip, but I think so. Someone correct me if I'm wrong.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8P2OmLNUAvE

He admits Abraxas BKP in the LP alright. 8)

[TheyCallMeVolume]

I have a Rebel Yell bridge in my Les Paul. Its a big stadium rock tone. I think you might prefer something more vintagey?

I love my Rebel Yell as well, but I'm not too sure they would be good for this. Not the best choices for an already bright guitar and amp like the OP said.

[darkbluemurder]

What I'm looking for is something in between Slash, EVH, Angus and Doug Aldrich with a touch of a "southern rock Hi end sizzle"

That's a real challenge. Slash = Mule or Emerald, EVH = VHII, Angus = Riff Raff, Doug Aldrich = Holydiver.

I want tightness in the bass, but not too much,  fatness in the mids (think Angus in Black Ice's "Smash and Grab") and sweetness in the highs as my amp and guitar are a touch on the brite side.

In the first place, I thought about a set of mules, but I fear it sounds a little too vintage in "my band's context".

I then tried to choose from the Sound clips on the BKP site, and, from there, I've confirmed my choice of a neck pickup:
It'll be a Mule...

For the bridge, I'd like something with a touch more output than my Alnico II Pro Slash Pickups, so I decided to go the Hot Vintage route.

Agree to the hot vintage route. My first thought was Abraxas, and you should not rule it out. I have had the Holydiver and the Abraxas in the same guitar, and I found it tight enough. However, that particular guitar is unforgivingly tight acoustically. Never played a Black Dog so I cannot comment here.

On the contemporary side I would only recommend the Holydiver given your tone wish list. The Crawler would probably not be tight enough. I would not recommend the Rebel Yell bridge if you want sweet highs and have a bright guitar. I have one in a bright Les Paul Custom but I did not want sweet highs in this guitar, and sweet highs it does not really have ... it's my "Ozzy Sykes" guitar. The Cold Sweat would probably not be sweet enough either, and everything else too hot. Well, Blackhawks maybe.

Hope that helps.
Cheers, Stephan

[goldenchild]

Hi all.

Back from work and a hell of a weekend.

French metal and rock festival... The biggest one in France and one of the biggests in Europe... I name it: THE HELLFEST.

Sunday's Headliners Only: Lamb Of God, Ozzy and Friends (Ozzy, Slash, Zakk, Geezer Buttler, Gus G, John De Servio...), Slash, Motley Crue, Trivium, Blue Oyster Cult, Children Of Bodom, Dimmu Borgir, Biohazard, Sunn O... More info HERE

3 Days, 6 Stages, Food, Beer, Red Bull, Monster, Friendzzzz... I've met people from Poland, Italy, England, Australia, Peru, France (of course... ).

One of the biggest Kickass Festival I've seen...

Went back at 5 am last night, went at work at 8 am this morning with nearly no voice...

Definitely loved my WE.

See Ya.

Fab.

[goldenchild]

Now that you know everything about my life for the last 60 hours, I think it's time, for me, to go back to the subject.

how about a crawler for the bridge!

From the clips only, I don't like how it sounds.

the black dog sounds absolutely killer in my '78 greco lp standard

Same as above.

Yeah I think I like the BD for this also. But it's hard to go wrong with the VHII as well.

Let's say I prefer the VHII... From the clips, but I'd like to know if it can sound good in a LP.

I think you should go with an anbraxas set or an abraxas/mule combo. I think the neck of the abraxas and the mule are very similar, but I might be wrong. Some time ago there was a clip of Chris George playing a LP with abraxas. I'm not 100% possitive that this is the right clip, but I think so. Someone correct me if I'm wrong.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8P2OmLNUAvE

Abraxas in the bridge is one of my options, and this vid confirms what I thought about it. Vintage feellin', sweet soundin', transparent, but... 14K, isn't it a little too much for a non contemporary soundin' pickup?
Nevermind, I have more than one guitar... In fact I have two...
One (the Burny) will be VHII/Mule, and the other (my next purchase) will be Abraxas/Mule... Then, I'll see later for an SG and a 335 copy, and I'll ask you again for the pickups... :mrgreen: :mrgreen: :mrgreen:

I have a Rebel Yell bridge in my Les Paul. Its a big stadium rock tone. I think you might prefer something more vintagey?

Well... Maybe one day... In another dark and dull sounding guitar.
Though...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zL7tUmYEjjM&feature=relmfu

I don't find it really bright.

I love my Rebel Yell as well, but I'm not too sure they would be good for this. Not the best choices for an already bright guitar and amp like the OP said.

Not that bright. Just a little... But this little bit does a lot in the difference between normally bright and overly bright.

That's a real challenge. Slash = Mule or Emerald, EVH = VHII, Angus = Riff Raff, Doug Aldrich = Holydiver.

Im not exactly looking for the same tones. Let's say something in that family... :oops: :oops: :oops: :oops: :oops: :oops:
If you look at it on another angle, except for the Mule, all of them are Alnico V.

Agree to the hot vintage route. My first thought was Abraxas, and you should not rule it out. I have had the Holydiver and the Abraxas in the same guitar, and I found it tight enough. However, that particular guitar is unforgivingly tight acoustically. Never played a Black Dog so I cannot comment here.

I don't know why, but the Black Dog doesn't attract me...Though Zeppelin is one my great gods.
Abraxas will find a place in one of my future guitars. For this one, this will be VHII/Mule... I think it'll sounds good... At least, that's what I imagine... from clips and desciptions.
After that, the burny will be the "heavy" guitar, and the other one, will be the "vintage" one.

On the contemporary side I would only recommend the Holydiver given your tone wish list. The Crawler would probably not be tight enough. I would not recommend the Rebel Yell bridge if you want sweet highs and have a bright guitar. I have one in a bright Les Paul Custom but I did not want sweet highs in this guitar, and sweet highs it does not really have ... it's my "Ozzy Sykes" guitar. The Cold Sweat would probably not be sweet enough either, and everything else too hot. Well, Blackhawks maybe.

Hope that helps.
Cheers, Stephan

For some Ozzy, I'd personally go for Miracle Mans... But thats totammy subjective.

Thanx a lot, guys, for having taken the time to guide me to the light.

See Ya.

Fab.

[HTH AMPS]

The Abraxas is a fantastic pickup, don't let the 14k DC resistance put you off - it's a very responsive pickup.

I'd also consider the Emerald too for what you describe.  It's tighter than the Abraxas, but thats not to say that the Abraxas isn't sufficiently tight.

[TheyCallMeVolume]

I'd say this is going to have to be some what of a compromise. What in the pickup you're gonna get is most I portent to you? I'd say start with that and narrow em down.

[goldenchild]

The Abraxas is a fantastic pickup, don't let the 14k DC resistance put you off - it's a very responsive pickup.

I'd also consider the Emerald too for what you describe.  It's tighter than the Abraxas, but thats not to say that the Abraxas isn't sufficiently tight.

Dunno why, but the Emerald doesn't appeal me that much... What I'd say is, from the clips, I prefer the Abraxas, Mule and VHII.

I'd say this is going to have to be some what of a compromise. What in the pickup you're gonna get is most I portent to you? I'd say start with that and narrow em down.

Let's say that the most important, for me, is:
 - In The Bridge: A tighter bass, sweeter highs, same fat mids compared to the Slash APH2. I'd like something that remains clear too.
 - In The Neck: The Mule... Or Abraxas neck.

For the Bridge, I hear what I'm looking for in the clips of the VHII and Abraxas... Especially the video of Chris George, concerning the Abraxas.

So now, I'm sticked on these 3 pickups and I think I'm gonna try the VHII/Mule combination for my Burny LPC. I thought of putting an Abraxas/Mule combination on my future SR Guitars SRLP Honey Burst, But I think I'm gonna go for either a set of Mules or a set of Abraxas.

Thanx guys.

See Ya.

Fab.