Best pickup for melodic hardcore punk in an Epiphone LP Studio

[MillsyScores]

Hey hey,

So I'm a bit of a newbie here and was hoping for some advice.  I play in a melodic hardcore band.  I guess our main basis of comparison is bands like Strike Anywhere, Ignite or Rise Against, but lately our new material is a LOT heavier, inspired by bands like Envy, Boysetsfire, Grade, Ruiner, Modern Life Is War, The Hope Conspiracy etc.  We aim to get a very thick and crunchy sound  out of my guitar, as I mostly provide the driving rhythmic backbone to our songs, and at the moment my current Epiphone Les Paul Studio just doesn't quite cut it, because as many of you know the 'studio' model is a bit thinner so has less of that fine mahogany wood to really give the beefy sound of it's standard counterpart.

I don't want to get a new guitar because quite simply I'm a skinny lad and the Epi LP studio is the perfect size for me.  It's really easy to play and has a lot of sentimental value, and is also a reasonably rare design (it's silver but NOT a chameleon one), so rather than invest in a LP studio proper or a ESP/LTD guitar,  I'm hoping to get a BareKnuckle bridge humbucker to beefen up the sound... but don't know which.

I guess the main issue with the current setup is though it sounds heavy enough at times, any palm muted chugger-chugger parts sound a bit flat.  So I'm really hoping to get a pickup that can get that thick and beefy sound you require when playing Drop D palm muted riffs.  Think 'Artist In The Ambulance' era Thrice if anything else,, or just any hardcore with good breakdowns! 

But at the same time, I don't want a 'dirty' sounding pickup because whilst I want something thick and crunchy and deep, we're still a MELODIC hardcore band, and I do play a fair bit of higher notes and lots of melodic octave slides and that with a bit of an emo vibe.

It seems the best bets are either the Warpig, Holy Diver or Nailbombs.  Can anyone advise please?

I never use the neck pickup, so I was thinking what I'll probably end up doing is just buy a bridge pickup and then rework the electrics and remove the neck pickup and keep it just a bridge based guitar.

I've just brought a Marshall JCM 900 High Gain Master Volume MK 3 as well if that makes any difference as to what pickup I'd need

[discofudge]

Ok, this might sound a bit strange, but i think you might be looking at the wrong end if the range. I would honestly go for a mule or a riff raff for melodic punk. Think of all the classic bands using les pauls that played punk. It'll still give you loads of crunch and chunk when you want it, but with far more versatility than a high gain pup.

I know everyone's gonna weigh in and disagree here, but the new gallows album was recorded using LP customs, and that's as punk as there is these days.

Oh and welcome to the forum, the guys here are the best.

[MillsyScores]

Cheers for the kind welcome!

That's a very interesting response as well.  But when I say punk, it is far more in the hardcore end of it.  I think to describe the sound I'm after the best would be Thrice before they got a wee bit pretentious, or possibly Funeral for a Friend in terms of the crunchy riffs they get (not saying they're punk, it's just that's the sound I'm after). 

We're not massively inspired by those bands in terms of songwriting, but in terms of the sound we need from my guitar, it's that really.  I'm doing a lot of drop D based palm muted chugging and I really need to be able to fill the room!  That's why I was considering that end of the range - our other guitarist plays more of the individual notes so what I'm after is just something thick and beefy. 

But if the Riff Raff or Mule provide that still then great.  But what I am doing is MORE based on lower notes than higher.  When it comes to anything at the other end of the range, it's mostly doing Octave slides or adding subtle harmonic notes to power chords if anything.  It's difficult to explain really.

I'm not actually a huge fan of the Gallows sound.  I've only briefly heard the new single mind.  I completely respect them and everything, and actually like them as a band, but in terms of their sound, whilst it really suits them, it does because 'Orchestra Of Wolves' sounds deliberately stripped down and raw, and has that Black Flag garagey sound, which is sort of the opposite of what we're after.  We want to basically sound HUGE and anthemic, whilst still maintaining the DIY hardcore punk mentality.  If that makes sense.  Not because we don't like the stripped down and raw sound, but because it's been done, so we want to try and sound a bit different.

Have a listen at www.myspace.com/keepingscores and listen to 'Chugger Khan' (the other songs aren't really that 'us' anymore).  The chuggy chorus is what I'm really trying to sort out for my guitar, as our newer songs contain a fair bit more of that.

But thanks for your help.  Sorry if I'm not being massively clear - I'm pretty awful at the technology side of guitar equipment, I've always just been about writing riffs/songs and being pretty ignorant about the 'sound' side of things.  I'm rectifying it now because no matter how good the songs are, if you have good equipment and know how to use it it's going to help you tenfold.

But again, I don't want to reduce my guitar to a one trick pony.  That's why I'm avoiding EMG pickups!

[MillsyScores]

I was also considering a Miracle Man as well.  My friend in a screamo band got them and says they're perfect  - still provide a thick, beefy crunchy sound but at the same time can play fast riffs really articulately without it sounding mushy!

Any opinions on them?

[Roobubba]

I have a miracle man in an ibanez RG series playing hardcore (especially the chugga chugga stuff). This pickup can be really thick and chunky through a high gain amp, but I don't think it's ideal for your guitar. The first thought I had when reading your post was Holy Diver, so I'm going to stick with that as my suggestion. Should be thick enough to get you where you need to be, but also has superb articulation for your accentuated notes-in-powerchords etc.
You could also do a lot worse than an Emerald in that guitar.

For reference, I'm not using the Ibanez any more, since I got a custom guitar (see avatar) which is a black-dog loaded fanned-fret baritone beast. We're in Drop-A though, so I couldn't possibly suggest a baritone for you guys!

My best advise though is: E-mail or Phone Tim!

He's very helpful, and very very very knowledgeable!

Welcome to the forum

Roo

[MillsyScores]

You know what I mean with the accentuated notes-in-powerchords yeah?  Like, if you're playing in drop D, but raise the final note in the chord by a tone (so for example, playing an A power chord in drop D would be 7-7-9 as opposed to 7-7-7), it really adds some superb clarity to it.  It's something bands like Finch used a lot back in the day, and it really helps add to the melody of our sound, which is necessary as our singer is gruff as anything!  It also just makes it more interesting than standard power chords, so I'd really love to be able to really make those them noticeable and well articulated.

I emailed the general FAQ email address on the website.  Will that get me through to Tim?

Out of interest, why would you say the miracle man isn't ideal?  Is it a bit more suited to the lower end than the higher?

And thanks again for the kind welcomes!

[MDV]

The MMs probably too smooth

Its not my genre (I know so very few of the bands you mentioned) but from what youre asking for I'd say a nailbomb.

[MillsyScores]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yMHWy7WVfMo

This sort of thing is a prime example - lots of palm muted, open drop D muting, but also lots of higher melodic pitches.  We actually sound nothing like this band, but in terms of what I individually play, this song contains the most sort of bits I'd do in one song - harsh muted, chuggy breakdowns which need to sound BIG and then melodic notes which really need to ring.

[MDV]

Yeah, nailbomb.

God that singers awfull.

But, nailbomb.

[MillsyScores]

Haha yeah our singer is nothing like that, he's gruff as.  It's why I still REALLY want the clarity and warmness for when I play Drop D power chords such as 7-7-9 and sometimes even adding an extra note to go 7-7-9-9 - it really adds to the melody but can still sound pretty heavy and distorted.

Would a Holy Diver ruin that - is it a bit too harsh?  I'd love to get as much knowledge about all the pickups - at the moment I know which are more suited to heavy styles but for example I struggle to tell the difference between a Nailbomb, Holy Diver and Warpig...

[indysmith]

I'd say the Nailbomb is for you. Mine is very good at the sort of sounds you mention; it's pretty damn hot, cuts through the mix well with awesome mids, super articulate highs, and a big mean bottom end. :)
(I have it in an Ibanez S, which also has a thin mahogany body)

[discofudge]

Yeah, listening to those clips, go Nailbomb. You'll love it.

[ericsabbath]

Yeah, nailbomb.

God that singers awfull.

But, nailbomb.

with MDV, I agree, then the right choice that might be

so say we all!  :lol:

[AdamB]

Yo Alex! :D

[MillsyScores]

Adam B how dos?  What do you rekon for The 'Scores ol' sound?  Bare in mind we're a bit heavier these days!  Seems Nailbombs are t'way forward!