Suggestions to new pickups on a Gibson Explorer.. Noob here..

[Ju5t1n20]

I recently scored a Bill Kelliher Golden Axe Explorer last month and it came stock with the Lace Nitro Hemi pickups. Now I am not a metal player, and these have proven to be just too darn hot for personal tastes.

Now the question. With a solid mahogany body and rosewood neck, my personal taste of playing is along the lines of tones from Andy Timmons, 80's rock, lined up with some Skynrd influences to some Brad Paisley style tones. Not I am not aiming for the BP tones, but I do want the buckers to split well.

My gear involves a Mesa Stiletto and a few pedals(TS9, Rook OD, and Paisley).

so what do you folks have in mind for me? Thanks in advance!! :D

[Slartibartfarst42]

I'm guessing that with that much mahogany, the guitar is naturally quite dark. I also assume from what you've said that you'd like a more open sounding pup. Based on that, two possibilities leap to mind:

Cold Sweat - It may be in the contemporary section and it may be ceramic but it's a lot more open sounding than you'd expect. It's great for 80s Rock/Metal and is also more versatile than most ceramics

Emerald - In the vintage hot section but not that far off the power of the Cold Sweat. It's brighter than the Cold Sweat and more open sounding. It's a beautiful tone and the alnico V magnet gives it a good degree of versatility. It's tight enough to take loads of gain but will also do more Blues based material.

Work out what you'd prefer in the bridge and then we can worry about what you can use in the neck position.

[darrenw5094]

I was going to say the Holy Diver for the 80's rock think. The mahogany would balance it out the HD nicely.
I read a review on the review thread with someone using the Rebel Yell in an Explorer also.
The Abraxas would work for the classic rock, it sounds amazing in my Gibson Les Paul Standard.

[Slartibartfarst42]

That sounds like a hell of a lot of mahogany for a Holydiver, though I know it can work well in a Les Paul. It's certainly 80s Metal and I did consider it but I'm not as sure about the other styles mentioned. The Rebel Yell could certainly be an option. That one's more about aggressive upper mids so is great for Rock. In some respects it sits between the Emerald and Cold Sweat but I find it more obviously aggressive than both.

[Telerocker]

RiffRaffs + booster
Emeralds
Cold Sweats
Rebel Yells

[ericsabbath]

I'd say emeralds, maybe rebel yells
cold sweat sounds a bit bassy and scooped on explorers
could use more upper mids

[Dave Sloven]

I'd say emeralds, maybe rebel yells
cold sweat sounds a bit bassy and scooped on explorers
could use more upper mids

Good call.  I like the alnico Nailbomb in my epi explorer, mainly because the mids - which are overbearing in an SG - balance out the dark bottom end of the guitar.  I suspect the Emeralds and Rebel Yell will work well, especially for your tastes.  I suspect the A-Bomb would be too hot/metal for you.  I like it for my UKHC stuff. The Rebel Yell or Emerald will give you the mid boost without the hairiness of the A-Bomb.

[AndyR]

Well, my Explorer has had Riff Raffs, then MQs, and now the Riff Raffs are back in it... It does blues rock, Lynyrd Skynyrd, that kinda thing...

[Dave Sloven]

Riff Raffs. Emeralds, and Rebel Yells all make sense to me

[darkbluemurder]

That Andy Timmons tone is rather dark, so I would have said Holydiver over the Rebel Yell or Cold Sweat (can't comment on the Emerald or Riff Raff).

Which Skynyrd tone are you after - Rossington (LP), Collins (Firebird), King or Gaines (Strat), Medlocke (Explorer) or Hall (Strat)? Except for Rossington's tone, all the other players used a rather bright tone with Medlocke using the highest gain. For Medlocke Rebel Yell could indeed work.

Cheers Stephan

[Dave Sloven]

Personally, having installed Emeralds in a friend's Les Paul and having an Explorer myself I would recommend the Emeralds.  I think they will do pretty much everything on that list with '50s wiring and nice caps and pots.

[Adog2202]

I second Agent Orange's suggestion...I've got an Emerald set in my Explorer Pro and they work really well. I play the same type stuff you mentioned. These pickups sound great when they're split too. I used to have them in the PRS that's in the picture with my Explorer. When I'd split them in that guitar I'd get some really cool strat/tele sounds...then combine the coils and just blast off!

I don't have them set up to split in the explorer right now because the push/pull pot I had went with the PRS. When I get around to buying another...it'll get done for sure.