Which BKP for a Gibson Les Paul standard?

[Jcortez]

I am looking for a good replacement pup for my 2006 Gibson les paul. The Burstbucker is just way too bright and I have to turn the tone knob @ least 1/2 way down to make it bareable. I play mostly metal and some classic rock and blues. I guess I want something that can get really nasty but, can clean up with the volume knob well for the blues and classic rock stuff. I play through a Splawn Quickrod into a 4x12 with V 30's currently. I like what I have heard of the Miracle Man and think that maybe a ceramic magnet might be the way to go. Any suggestions would be great!

[lulusg]

Hi JC!!, and welcome!!. Tim Mills from this forum plays a MM( amongst other PUs) on a Les Paul std, you can check his clips on the players section, and contact him at the sales department with all your inquires. Also some of the gentlemen of this forum may be of greater help, they may pinch in any moment.

[Jcortez]

Thanks for the welcome.I am really looking forward to putting one of these BKP in my Gibby, I think it will definitley be an upgrade to the stock pup's. Been hearing good things about them for years now. Just want to get the right one and get down to business.

[gwEm]

you'll be looking in the vintage hot range... crawler, emerald, black dog.

tell us more about your style! :)

the miracle man is marvellous, but its not the best for cleaning up

[BigB]

Hi

Well, I don't have any experience with ceramic BKPs, but from what I've experienced with other makers ceramic pups, I can only second gwEm : I think you want some alnico pup. The Crawlers just shine in my all-maple going-thru neck (hence very tight and bright) Vox Custom 24, smooth cleans and slight OD on the neck, crushing, cutting, sharp yet still warm on the bridge, and boy, they do deliver when you need POWAH !-). Now I don't know how they'd sound in a LP, and I while they are just great for anything from blues to rock to old school hard rock to punk, I don't think they'd be the best choice for metal. Emerald might be a better fit (if gwEm suggests them), or perhaps holydivers ?

Just my 2 cents. And, yes,  welcome here BTW  8)

[Jcortez]

I play everything from Allman Bros and AC/DC to Pantera, Ozzy(from Randy to Zakk) and up to 5 finger Death Punch. I know one pup ain't gonna cover it all but, I guess I need it to be heavy foremost and somewhat versatile. I have 2 other guitars both with SD custom 5's and I like the way they sound. I play somewhat heavy handed, lot of harmonics and thought the MM sounded like the right fit. I like the clarity of the BBpro that is in the guitar just not the annoying high end. I guess I want the LP to be my go to modern heavy guitar and use  the fenders and charvel for the 70's and 80's rock/meatl stuff. Don't know if that clears it up thanks for the suggestiuons so far :D

[ericsabbath]

I think a holy diver would sound great through your rig
not a vintage model, but quite versatile

[Jcortez]

I do like the Holydiver as heard in some of the clips. It is definitely an option. Seems like everyone is trying to talk me out of the MM. Does the MM lack versatility? Is the MM only good for crushing metal tones?

[Roobubba]

I read earlier today on old posts about some people not liking the HD in a mahogany-with-maple-cap LP. Too dark was the criticism there. The MM is certainly not the most versatile pickup (though I maintain it's not a one-trick pony), but there's much love for the MM in les pauls.

However, the Vintage Hot range can get PLENTY nasty enough, so don't let that put you off.

Have you asked Tim, yet? (if not, do!)

Roo

[Jcortez]

No, I have not asked Tim yet, thought I would throw it out to ya'll first to get some opinions! I guess the only way to really be sure is to buy 2-3 different BKP's and try them all out :lol:

[Jcortez]

I e-mailed Tim the other night and he answered me back incredibly fast,less than 24 hours, now that is what I call a quick response! I gave him my specs and he suggested the MM or the Painkiller. I listened to clips on the site and like both of them ALOT! They both have that crushing distortion I'm looking for with the PK sounding more focused in the mids and the MM with looser sounding mids. Maybe I will just get both and put the PK in my mahogany charvel natural and the MM in my Les paul :P I could switch them up and do a little experimenting.

[MDV]

Its not a bad plan, but I'd start the other way round. The MM is happy, one way or another, in most guitars - its got enough low end to still sound full in a guitar with weaker low end like a typical superstrat and enough high end that it can cut through a slab of mahogany. The PK, however, can be overly cutting in a bright guitar.

[Jcortez]

Thanks for the heads up MDV. My charvel mahogany weighs about 2lbs heavier than my alder Fender HSS so it is a little more chunkier than a typical superstrat but no where near as heavy as my LP which I have never weighed  but, has got to weigh in @ 13-14 lbs. @ least it feels like it to my back!

[hunter]

I play everything from Allman Bros and AC/DC to Pantera, Ozzy(from Randy to Zakk) and up to 5 finger Death Punch.

If those styles are equally important, a classic PAF type might be the best, they can cover most ground - e.g. Mules (I don't own Mules yet but I want to ;)

[HTH AMPS]

Mostly metal, but some rock and blues - sounds like a Cold Sweat to me.  Had them in my Les Paul and they were very versatile, but with a slant on liking the gain turned up to rifftastic.  If you want to err on the rock side, go with the Abraxas - sounds like a PAF, but hotter with plenty of poke.