2002 LP Standard Pickups. (Rebel Yells currently)

[Yellowjacket]

My A-Bomb bridge is in.  My overall impression is that it is considerably different from the Rebel Yell.  The Rebel Yell is smoother and more open sounding with a really aggressive and chirpy pick attack.  It really has 'that' vintage rock Les Paul sound going on while simultaneously being higher output.  It's a fantastic pickup but definitely equally good to the Nailbomb which just does something different.

High gain / Metal tones are absolutely SICK with the A-Bomb bridge and even the Electra Dyne snarls up nicely now with a nice high end edge to the tone.  My pickup height is sensible again and I get a nice tonal balance with the neck pickup.  Maybe I've been playing too much high gain stuff lately but the lead feel was kind of like chewing on styrofoam.  This could be just because my fingers are confused....

Of course, I now have a new guitar that, for the first time ever, is a 25.5 scale instead of my other that are 24.3/4 scale.  To say it is an adjustment is an understatement.  I'm planning on getting the new axe all tricked out but during this time, I need to just use the A-Bomb for awhile and determine if I really take to it more than the Rebel Yell.  It's not better or worse, just different. 

I have a track I played with the Rebel Yell using vintage hi on the Electra Dyne.  When I have a moment I'll try re-track that part with the A-Bomb. 

So, the verdict so far is that the A-Bomb is better for crunchy and crushing rhythm tones while the Rebel Yell is more fun for lead playing.  I'll spend some time and see how things go.

[Dave Sloven]

Yeah, I've never really thought of the A-bomb as a pickup for leads.  Usually I switch up to the neck.

How does it sit with the RY neck?

[Yellowjacket]

I need more time with this setup.  I like how the tones work together but I've unknowingly built a lot of my technique around the Rebel Yells so I'm going to need some time to figure this out.  The rhythm tone is so HUGE!!

I'll also need to adjust the pickup height.  It looks like I don't need to have the neck pickup down flush with the pickup ring anymore.  Adjustments and time will be the best thing here.

The bridge position leads tend to work best with a high gain amp.  It's the vintage high gain / mid gain where it starts to get fussy with the solo tones.  I don't really use the bridge pickup for lead playing but more for tearing solos.  I miss the chirpy harmonics / crazy pick attack of the Rebel Yells but I LOVE LOVE LOVE the huge defined and crisp rhythm tone of the Nailbombs.  It's as big as a house!!

Now I have a set of Juggs on order for my project guitar.  WEEE!!!

[Dave Sloven]

Do you have '50s style wiring?

A lot of people find that works well with the A-Bomb.

[Yellowjacket]

Indubitably. 

[Yellowjacket]

The Nailbombs work and I think they sound good in the Les Paul.  I'm not totally getting that 'magic' feeling of the Rebel Yell bridge but it definitely doesn't sound thin.  I tried playing some lead stuff and I can get the chirpy pick tone if I dig in.  Grrrrr.  The Rebel Yell found it's way into a Godin LG on a whim.  That's not going anywhere.  Not a chance. 

With the Recto, I turned down the gain, brought the bass up, and found some really great rock tones between the Nailbomb bridge and the Rebel Yell neck.  I think there is a balance and I have to get used to it.  I'm just a little stunned over the other swap.  Not sure what I'll do with the neck pickup for that guitar.

The problem I have is that the feet are so long that they are touching the bottom of the pickup cavity  (Wood mount)  so I wouldn't be able to use a rebel yell neck should I swap the pickups out.  OH well, I'll make more noise about this later.  I like the Nailbomb and I'll like it more when I get used to it.  I'm just finding the more 'metal' sound is clashing a bit with the more 'rock' sound of the Rebel Yell with some amp settings.  The colours don't mesh as well as I might like.  GRRR, messing around with stuff is baaaad.  I don't have $$$s for this with my other build project under way. 

I'll update more later.

[Dave Sloven]

You might need to adjust the height of your neck pickup upwards.  Did you try that?

[Yellowjacket]

Yes, I totally need to play with the pickup height on both the pickups in the Les Paul.  I mean the Nailbomb was just as good as the Rebel Yell.  I'm just a little shell shocked at hearing the Godin make the sounds it's making right now.  It's seriously ludicrous.

[Yellowjacket]

Much better today with some space.  I didn't guitar jump, amp jump, or style jump.  I just did some good light / poppy / classic rock / blues / crunch rhythm stuff.  Gibson + Electra Dyne.  I was really enjoying the added beef from the Nailbomb with this amp and this is my primary tone combo anyhow.  I think the Rebel Yell neck and Nailbomb bridge work well and they balance each other out nicely.  It works well!  Felt good to play today which is a good start.  I'm thinking I'm going to keep the Nailbomb in the bridge and I like the Rebel Yell in the neck.  It's just the non-matchy matchy covers that bugs me.  I REALLY like the brushed nickel cover with the BKP etch and black screws.  I'll have to get another for the neck 'soon' tehe.