pickups for les paul custom

[Doadman]

Wouldn't the Abraxas be a good alternative to the Mule? Like the Mule, it's Alnico IV so tonally similar but it's hotter. It should be the closest to the Mule in giving you that Bonamassa tone but the extra power should mean it will cover other areas too. I believe there are a few clips in the Players section of Abraxas pickups doing Metal as well. I'd say that you should give them serious consideration.

[AlexHookah]

from the description on the BK site the abraxas has always been what im looking for but i has never been recommended to me before, even by Tim. I will defo check out the players section as you mentioned, thanks. Were you thinking of the abraxas set or combined with another Bridge p/u?

[Doadman]

It has always seemed to me that the Abraxas is a bit ignored here. I think that may be because it's too easily associated with Santana and while that's not a bad thing, I've always had the impression that it's far more versatile than this might suggest. It has always seemed to me that if you want a really hot PAF tone, the Abraxas has to be worth a look. Now in fairness, I've never actually tried one so someone like Nolly may be better qualified to give an opinion but based on my understanding of the description, the comments I've read here and the clips I've listened to, the Abraxas has to be worth consideration. In actual fact, I was thinking of either a calibrated set or an Abraxas bridge with a Mule neck. My rationale for this was that as soon as you mentioned Bonamassa, the consensus of opinion was squarely in favour of a Calibrated set of Mules so it stands to reason that if all you need is a bit more power to that basic tone, a calibrated set or one of each was the logical conclusion. If, having heard the clips, you feel you need a hotter, more 'Metal' bridge pickup, I'd maybe consider an Abraxas neck with an Alnico V Nailbomb bridge. The Nailbomb is certainly a 'Metal' pickup but it's also very versatile and by sticking with an Alnico V magnet instead of ceramic, you'll keep an element of PAF tone in it and the versatility you need. So, to summarise, I'm fairly convinced that one of these three options is what you need, depending on where your priorities lie:

1) Abraxas bridge and Mule neck
2) Calibrated Abraxas set
3) Alnico V Nailbomb bridge and Abraxas neck

[AlexHookah]

There has been so many suggestions. All great and useful. Thanks guys. Seems like my options are this:

1) Calibrated Abraxas
2) Alnico V Nailbomb bridge and Abraxas neck
3) Cold Sweet Set
4) Holy Diver and Miracle man/Nailbomb

IIm edging towards 2 and 4 at the moment. Im going to pass on the mules. No doubts they do Joe Bonamassa as i asked but im worried they wont be able to keep up when i play with my band. Our whole album was recorded using painkillers in the bridge :)

Anyhow, gonna give Tim a call in the new year, ill let you know what he says. Thanks for everyones help :)

[Doadman]

You seem to have quite a preference for a more 'Metal' sound and that is pulling you away from the Mules but likewise, it seems to me that your fourth option is too Metal and won't give you those Bonamassa tones you said you liked. To my mind, the best balance is the Alnico V Nailbomb bridge and Abraxas neck as that offers the best of both worlds.

[ericsabbath]

I'd pick the holy diver over the nailbomb
cleans up better, it's a bit less aggressive, more versatile, a lot fatter in the center mids and more fluid on leads
not as tight, but still tight enough for faster metal riffing
for some reason, I loved it for old Metallica stuff, although it's not as appropriate as a hot ceramic model
and it's also more sensitive to boosting than the nailbomb, in my experience (maybe because the nailbomb is already hot as $%&#?)
if you're into Alice In Chains tones (from any era), this is the ultimate AiC pickup
also great for Doug Aldrich and Jake E. Lee stuff

the cold sweat neck is a great match for most models

[AlexHookah]

Well ive been listening to the abraxas on here and YT and it sounds sweet. I think it can handle heavier stuff too. Its finding a balanced bridge P/U. Im tempted to go with the calibrated set as well, they were designed to match but maybe a HD or NB would be good to.

There are two songs i recorded here with the painkiller. http://www.reverbnation.com/tunepak/3115554

Would the AX/HD or NB be able to handle it?? The heavy riffs kick in pretty soon so no need to listen to the whole song if you dont wanna!

Thanks again guys

getting ever closer :)

[LP_LOVER]

Think twice about it 8)

All BKP's are high quality pickups and I'd recommend looking more at what the guitar needs, instead of basing your pickup choice on your music style or amp you're playing through (which changes through time). Of course these last two things are important, but a great guitar should always sound great when you know it's all in the fingers and when you know how to play with the natural tone of the guitar. Some guitars really want you to play jazz all night long and/or fluid metal leads, other guitars want you play blues, country or twangy rockabilly. When you listen to the guitars voice, you'll find the right pickups for it (EQ-wise..more bass, more mid, less treble for instance). The guitar has the tone, not the pickups. O, and I love to play clean jazz/classic rock with both the CS neck pickup and CS bridge pickup (with both tone knobs down to like 7). Sounds thicker than any A5 BKP bridge pickup I tried before (Mule, RB, HD, Lollar Imperial), while still being clear.