Actually I can't think of any pickup that would probably get his tone better then the MM. He uses a really sh1tty pickup (I had the one he uses now) and uses effects and stuff to make it sound the way it does.
Actually, Alexi is using a Jackson J50BC humbucker (the B stand for Bridge
and the C for Ceramic) in addition to an onboard preamp called the Je-1000.
The J50BC humbucker was basically the Ceramic version of the Jackson PAF hum and reads about 8.6 Kohm. This pup was also partly designed to "go along" with the Je1000.
This combination is actually pretty good sounding, far better than an EMG81 if you ask me... MUCH more alive.
As for the Je1000, it's in fact a volume pot with a variable gain switch (something like up to +15dB) that you "set and forget" (a trim pot) and, THE secret to the j50bc+Je1000 sounds, a simple 3 peak selector (think about a simple 3 band EQ) with Low Mid and High.
Now the question is : what settings did Alexi Laiho/Roope Latvala used until now, i mean, on this peak selector... my guess is Low:off Mid:on High:on or something like that.
If i had to duplicate the CoB sound with BKP, i'd go for a VHII + any kind of SUPER clean gain boost (SD1 or EMG PA).
From what i've heard of the VHII it seems enough trebly to emulate the original power of the pickup (8.6k on the J50BC) AND the Je1000 hypothetical EQ.
A gain boost is or course needed to reach a CoB kind of distortion, even through a 5150 or a VHT whose have a sh**load of gain.
My second guess would surely be a miracle man though... possibly more simple :lol:
But anyway, keep in mind that those two guys don't use a raw and rough type of distortion "LPthruMarshall" style a la Zakky. Their sound is much more 80s oriented in its root : They usually goes thru a GP1000 Lee Jackson (Class A) tube preamp and a Peavey, VHT (or ENGL for Sinergy) poweramp. And that the fundamental principe of their tone is that they drives the preamp section of the amp like crazy 8)
Well i hope that helps !
