A few days ago I sent a request to join the forum so I could ask about pickup recommendations for a 2016 Les Paul 60s Tribute with P90s. A lot can change in 3 days though. I played with the guitar for a week and decided I'm definitely a humbucker guy and even though I wanted something different it was too different. I was well under the 45 day return window, so I took it back and swapped it for a 2017 Tribute with humbuckers. Much better and closer to what I'm looking for.
I have BKPs in three other guitars and have had Nailbombs in a LP type guitar. (It was nice, but the guitar wasn't really a keeper. Pickups were the high point.) I range from Emeralds in a Brian Moore, to Holy Divers with Irish Tour middle in a Warmoth Strat, to an all-out demon of in an old Ibanez Randy Rhoads type V that has Warpigs and is tuned to Drop C. I really like the overall clarity you get from BKP. Even with the Warpigs there is nice definition.
Now with this new Les Paul, I probably could have been OK with a 490R and 498T combo, but this came with a 490T in the bridge and it's quite a bit lower output than I generally like. Was considering just swapping the bridge pickup and spent some time listening to clips and YouTube vids to get an idea of how a few of the BKPs sound. I also compared a couple of my own guitars a bit, even though they tend to be Strat type guitars. I was pretty settled on the Rebel Yell. Seemed about the right level of gain and tonal balance for this guitar. I was debating on a whether to get a set or just the bridge, and whether to go uncovered, or with the Ray Gun covers. Then I found a set of nickel covered Rebel Yell's with the Ray Gun used in Like New condition and decided to place the order. I have a feeling they will be a good fit for this one, but you never know until you get them into the guitar.
Anyway, just wanted to introduce myself and kind of join in on the discussion. I'm an old rocker who started playing around the time Van Halen came onto the scene, so that was an influence, although I've always leaned toward the harder and heavier sounds, going through a big Metallica phase in the 80s and then Pantera, etc. I'm still influenced by the 80s tones, but I also like bands like Arch Enemy, Children of Bodom, Amon Amarth, and several of the fairly heavy bands. My own playing tends to be a bit more commercial and melodic, but definitely with some heavy tone to it.
I play through a Mesa Triple Crown TC50 with a Fractal FX8. I have a couple of 1x12s and a 2x12 Port City, and found an extremely light weight DV Mark Neoclassic 4x12 that should arrive by next weekend. If I like it, I'll have a 4x12 that is a lot easier for an old guy like me to move around. If not, 45-day returns will come into effect. :)
