New pickups for my ESP Eclipse (Help needed)

[another_drunken_robot]

Hi,

I`m searching for some new pickups for my ESP Eclipse which EMG`s are good for metal but that is not what I play most of the time an they tend to get very ice-picky, especialy the 81.
What I do play most of the time vary`s often. It goes from Hendrix to Led Zeppelin over to stoner rock like Kyuss and Qotsa and also sometimes metal like Metallica.

So my ESP is an Eclipse I and has a thinner Body than a normal Les Paul, but also has a maple top with an mahagony body and neck. The fretboard is ebony and currently the Pickups are the stock EMG 60 (neck) and 81 (bridge).

I do like the 60 in the neck wich has a very articulate sound but the 81 just has way too much top end.
I thought a Mule in the neck, wich could be splitted would fit nicely for everything more Vintage sounding stuff but I have absolutly no Idea wich pickup to put in the bridge... :lol:

The bridge PU should have a tight bottom, a warm top and be able to cover everything from Led Zep to Metallica, and from what I read in the forum so far Emeralds, Abraxes and Cold Sweat`s would fit in that catergory.

I really need some help  :D

[Dmoney]

I have Miracle Man's in my LTD EC-1000. they rock! but not what you're after.
My les paul used to have Emeralds, i really really like them. i found them really rich sounding, but without massive output, just enough output. they sounded warm in my les paul. real nice, proably one that people don't talk too much about but its an awesome pup for sure.

[another_drunken_robot]

Can you tell me more about the Micracle Man? I really have no Problem with ceramic magnets as long the pup doesn`t sound as sterile as the EMG 81...

[Dmoney]

i prefer it a lot more to the EMG's i had in my LTD.
It doesnt clean up so well, but then i use it with a fair amount of gain. with lower gain settings on the amp its probably a lot better. its real nice. i tried the MM in my les paul but in that it had too much low end for me. It's high o/p but it sounds more organic than an EMG, and in the LTD is pretty nicely balanced by the body. for me it was an awesome alternative, but if you want something truely versatile, it might be better to look at something with a lower o/p. mine also look sweet




EDIT: when i say 'it' i mean they... its a calibrated MM set.

[ericsabbath]

crawler?

[MDV]

Yeah, crawler set. Peter green through to kerry king. Its not the best at any extremity but its an extremely versatile set that would work very well with that guitar.

[MDV]

Oh, by forum decree, since Darth Hellstyle and I have given the same recommendation, it is inviolate truth and our recommendation must be carried out.

So say we all.

[Antag]

Oh, by forum decree, since Darth Hellstyle and I have given the same recommendation, it is inviolate truth and our recommendation must be carried out.

It's hard to argue with that :lol:


...but in true BKP-forum style, someone has to recommend something completely different :)

I played a Black Dog set in CrazyJoe's Ltd Eclipse & thought they sounded pretty good.  They were what I think of as "vintage" in output & voice.  Not mega mental metal pickups by any means & would be abig change fro EMGs. But IMHO they'd cover everything except the "metal like metallica" bit...

[Dmoney]

...but in true BKP-forum style, someone has to recommend something completely different :)

i really think an overwound unpotted ceramic warpig set would be fine

[dheim]

just to be kicked off this board ( :P), i solved my EC1000 tone problems in the simplest way, at the time... an EMG85 in place of the 81...
but if you want BKPs of course you're right! i'd love to hear a warpig set in mine, but if you want extreme versatility do whatever master MDV said.

so say we all.

[another_drunken_robot]

Ok thanks for all the recommendations so far :D

Fromm what Dmoney said I think the Miracle Man is out of the Race becaue the bridge pickup should have the ability to clean up with the guitars volume, but thats not so important because I mainly use the neck pu for clean and bluesy stuff and the bridge for distorted sounds

But how are the Pickups voiced and how they compare against each other?

Black Dog: from what I`ve heard very mid-rangy and a little dark
Emerald:?
Abraxes: also strong mids and overall very warm
Holy Diver: more treble?
Cold Sweat: less mids, more treble and bass?
Crawler: hot PAF

[Dmoney]

i think emeralds are sweeter than black dogs. they were the first two bareknuckles i tried, and based on the test i went for emeralds in my les paul. black dogs break up earlier, and sounded thinner to me. i dunno emeralds just sounded richer.
i have no experience of the others though

[dheim]

Ok thanks for all the recommendations so far :D

Fromm what Dmoney said I think the Miracle Man is out of the Race becaue the bridge pickup should have the ability to clean up with the guitars volume, but thats not so important because I mainly use the neck pu for clean and bluesy stuff and the bridge for distorted sounds

But how are the Pickups voiced and how they compare against each other?

Black Dog: from what I`ve heard very mid-rangy and a little dark
Emerald:?
Abraxes: also strong mids and overall very warm
Holy Diver: more treble?
Cold Sweat: less mids, more treble and bass?
Crawler: hot PAF

holy diver: low mids is what you get... cleans up very well, hi mids are sacrificed.
cold sweat: not scooped at all, but much less middy than most contamporary BKPs... strongly on the bright side

[Dr. Vic]

Oh, by forum decree, since Darth Hellstyle and I have given the same recommendation, it is inviolate truth and our recommendation must be carried out.

It's hard to argue with that :lol:

Yeah, quite difficult to say something else....

 :idea:
But have you ever considered the Nailbomb, which is said to be, like the CR, one of the most versatile BKP, from metal to blues stuff ? I guess it should sit well in that guitar and I don't see it in your short list...

 :P
 




 

[another_drunken_robot]

Oh, by forum decree, since Darth Hellstyle and I have given the same recommendation, it is inviolate truth and our recommendation must be carried out.

It's hard to argue with that :lol:

Yeah, quite difficult to say something else....

 :idea:
But have you ever considered the Nailbomb, which is said to be, like the CR, one of the most versatile BKP, from metal to blues stuff ? I guess it should sit well in that guitar and I don't see it in your short list...

 :P

I was under the impression that the Nailbomb may be too hot?!
And the Crawler are definitely on my list  :mrgreen: