Pickups for a direct mount Washburn Steve Stevens ?

[Coverdale]

Hello guys!

I have a Washburn Steve Stevens SS80, that came to me with Bill Lawrence pickups.
This is a poplar bodied guitar, with Floyd Rose , Maple neck and fretboard, with direct mounted slanted pickups.

Even though the BLs sound suprisingly good playing clean on the middle position, they distort in an unpleasant, harsh way, at least to my hears. I do like their articulation, if that makes any sense


I already mailed Tim about this, and he already told me the Rebel Yells would be suited for this guitar.

What I'd like is other opinions, and alternatives, besides the Rebel Yells.

I've seen a few Bare Knuckles for sale that seem interesting, but I don't know if they would work. The Black Dog, and the VHII, for example

My main amp is Marshall JMP 2203, but I also have an Engl Blackmore, and a few older Fender combos.

My favourite tones go from Page, to Blackmore, to Kossoff, Doug Aldrich, Richie Kotzen (the bluesier part)

Besides what pickup would suit it, do I have to watch out for short or long legs? I've never mounted a pickup like this before.

Thanks a lot!

[Coverdale]

Any help? Mainly on the direct mount/leg size.

Thanks!

[dheim]

why do you exclude rebel yells? they're extremely versatile, tight but very expressive and dynamic...

[ericsabbath]

it surely deserves a rebel yell, unless you want something fatter/darker, or maybe something more vintage sounding

the crawler, holy diver and black dog could be cool choices as well

if you wanted to keep the lawrences bright and somewhat scooped edge, the cold sweat would be a huge improvement over the BL

short legs would be safer for a super strat
but I think it originally came with duncans, so I guess long legs would be fine too
sometimes the problem is actually with the long height tuning screws

[Coverdale]

Thanks for your replies!
I'm not excluding Rebel Yells, just want some other options.

[kevinr]

I would recommend Crawlers or Holydivers, both these are not over bright so should suit this guitar well.

[Telerocker]

If you play mostly classic rock, I would look at Mules, VHII's or Black Dogs (the middiest of the three).