1980 Les Paul Custom - Pickup suggestions.

[Ravenscryer]

Hi, I bought a 1980 Les Paul Custom last december and recently had it setup by a Luthier. He gave me a pickup suggestion of a set of Rebel Yells. I've been all over BKP's website trying to make a decision. Since I don't have access to BKP's options I thought I would ask you guys. I have learned that I should replace my old 100k pots right away.

At this point I'm really thinking the Rebel Yell set or Nailbomb set. I'm not a fast technical player. I really want my tone to breath and hear the vibrations of the strings. I get that with the 1980 PAFs but the neck pickup is really muddy. I have to back off on the neck pickup volume whenever I have both pickups on. I'm going for the tones of post metal bands like ISIS and Neurosis also bands like AHAB and Enslaved.

I included two songs that my band Fallen Empire just recorded. I didn't have the Les Paul and used my 61' reissue Gibson SG on the record. I will also be putting a set of BKPs in the SG once I've decided on a set for the Les Paul.

In studio I used a Sovtek MIG 100 (Avatar 4x12 cab with Celestion V30s and G12H30s) and a 90's VOX AC30 TB/6 2x12 Greenbacks. The settings don't change on the amps. They are both on for these two songs. Pedals include: MXR Carbon Copy, Electro Harmonics Deluxe Memory Man, and ZVEX Box of rock.

I welcome any pickup suggestions at this point from those of you who are experienced with Bare Knuckle's vast selection. And thank you to anyone willing to take a few minutes to help me.

~Joshua   

[Ravenscryer]

Here's the first song

[Ravenscryer]

And the second song.

[ericsabbath]

how about alnico warpigs with 550k pots?

[Ravenscryer]

That's probably twice the output I need.

[ericsabbath]

That's probably twice the output I need.

the a-pig is no hotter than a nailbomb

[Ravenscryer]

I don't think I should go to far from what I know.

Warpig Output                                  Nailbomb Output

Bridge DC:  21.5KΩ *                        Bridge DC:  15.7KΩ *
Magnet:      Alnico V                          Magnet:      Alnico V
                 (Ceramic option)                               (Ceramic option)
               
Neck DC:    17.4KΩ *                         Neck DC:    9.8KΩ *
Magnet:      Alnico V                          Magnet:      Alnico V

[James C]

The DC resistances are a bit misleading when thinking in term's of output. The NB neck is 9.8K and has a higher output (IMO) that the Miracle Man, which weighs in at 17.4k

The warpig has been shown to be an extremely versatile PU, search the players clips for the user "fourth feline" who has done some clips of it in a Vintage hollowbody jazz box.

[darkbluemurder]

Indeed the DC resistance is misleading in this case since the Warpig has a thinner wire than the Nailbomb. A thinner wire has more DC resistance by meter (or ft) so the same number of turns with a thinner wire will have a higher resistance coil than if it was wound with a thicker wire.

As regards the pickups: I have not played a Warpig yet but I have a RY set in my LP Custom which is a great combination.

Cheers Stephan

[Ravenscryer]

I see. Thanks for the info. I'm having a hard time finding clips that dont have a ton of compression. The Warpig sounds pretty hallow in the clips I've heard so far. I'm leaning heavily in the direction of the RY.