Steve Jones sound (possible with Les Paul + Riff Raffs? Or what else?)

[mattaki]

You all have combined far more experience with these pickups than anyone!

I was wondering if you guys think a set of Riff Raffs could get this sound of a Steve Jones signature LP Studio:
https://youtu.be/_bArS7ZAy2M?t=2m35s

Hi! I have a Gibson LP Studio Raw Power. The Raw Power is the same Steve Jones model of Gibson LP Studio but is all maple, so it's brighter than most LP's.

The model in the video has a set of Gibson 496/498's in it. Do you think you could get this sound from a set of Riff Raffs? Or what else would you recommend?

[Dave Sloven]

I dare say the Raw Power will be brighter again, as the guitar in the clip has a rosewood fingerboard, whereas a Raw Power has a maple fingerboard.

I would be careful, as I think the Riff Raffs might be considerably brighter than a 498T.

The 498T is also quite a powerful pickup.  I tend to think that if you want something bright and powerful then the Cold Sweat bridge might be the closest. I would probably go for a different neck though, maybe a Holy Diver.

[ericsabbath]

my first thought was alnico nailbomb

[gwEm]

my first thought was alnico nailbomb

^^ this probably right


But i always thought the original Never Mind The Bollocks tone does sound pretty low-gain. Its raw and obnoxious, but its not that saturated. I read Steve Jones used a Fender amp for the recording, but he later used Marshalls of course. In a Les Paul with traditional woods, I would reach for Riff Raffs, but in this one I would go for Mules probably to soften the attack a bit. People don't realise that effort went into the production of Never Mind The Bollocks, many of the guitar parts are multi-tracked.

Nevertheless, I agree with Eric that Nailbombs would be the choice here. I just prefer my punk to use lower output pickups.

[Dave Sloven]

I have used an A-Bomb in place of a 498T.  If the OP wants something like the sound in the clip from a similar guitar the A-Bomb won't do it.  I have used a Cold Sweat in the same guitar that had the 498T and A-Bomb and I think it is closer tonally to the 498T, definitely.  498Ts are quite smooth, but are bright and a bit thin sounding.

[ericsabbath]

I have used an A-Bomb in place of a 498T.  If the OP wants something like the sound in the clip from a similar guitar the A-Bomb won't do it.  I have used a Cold Sweat in the same guitar that had the 498T and A-Bomb and I think it is closer tonally to the 498T, definitely.  498Ts are quite smooth, but are bright and a bit thin sounding.

gotta disagree on this
the 498t is quite dull to my ears
like they wanted something that only added lots of compression and no character at all
pretty much the opposite concept of the cold sweat
the nailbomb should be bright in an all maple guitar

[mattaki]

Having listened to the samples, what about the Emerald?

[ericsabbath]

Having listened to the samples, what about the Emerald?

would work great for a regular les paul, but I'm afraid it could be too bright and thin for an all maple guitar
the nailbomb should deliver a fuller and more balanced sound

did you email bkp?

[Dave Sloven]

I thought of the Emerald but then thought the Rebel Yell, but either of them might be too bright

[darkandrew]

I thought of the Emerald but then thought the Rebel Yell, but either of them might be too bright

In my experience,  the Rebel Yell isn't as bright as its reputation would lead you to believe - infact in terms of absolute  high frequencies, I'd say the A-Bomb is actually brighter, with the RY peaking in the high-mids and then rolling off a little after that. As for Steve Jones' tone, I'd probably agree with gWem and say Mules or maybe even the Riff Raffs if your all-maple LP is not too bright.

[Yellowjacket]

I think the harmonics and the lack of low end is what makes the Rebel Yell seem so bright.  This pickup is definitely at home in very dark sounding guitars.

[richard]

The RYs in my all mahogany Firebird are very close to Steve's sound. When we play Pretty Vacant they sound spot on.

[CommonCourtesy]

Think a Les Paul into a Marshall is the classic Stevie J tone, no bullshitee - just pure rock n roll!!

[Alex]

Provided the Raw Power is very bright and snappy, I think the Black Dog or Holy Diver would work for that sound.
The Nailbomb would be too raw and aggressive.