UPGRADE Gibson Les Paul Studio

[TaumaX]

Hi guys,
I am thinking about upgrading my LP studio with Bare Knuckle pickups, but I'm a bit confused because I really like many models :)

I'm considering these combos:

NECK  /   BRIDGE

Cold Sweat/ Nailbomb
The mule / Nailbomb
The mule / Black Dog


I'm looking for versatility and  thicker tone in the bridge position, clarity in the neck position (now my lp studio has gibson 490-498). I usually play hard rock/metal, I'd like to play heavy stuff with a typical gibson sound ( something like The Darkness), so I need something with a good rock sound that could be good also in hi gain situations.
I play on a Marshall JVM head and Mesa Recto Trad cab.
Thanks  :)
Sorry for my bad english :?

[Frank666]

The crawler would be my recommendation

[TaumaX]

Thank you!
Is it good to play something like Alter Bridge or Nickelback (modern metal/post grunge)?

[BigB]

I'm not sure the Crawler's neck is what you want.  It's a very nice pup and I love it, but it might be a bit on the dark side (or at least that's how it sounds on my going-thru maple-neck, maple sides Vox Custom 24, which is possibly brighter than a LP Studio).  But don't rule out the crawler bridge - it's at once fat and warm yet really sharp and punchy, and cleans up pretty well (gibson 50's style wiring here but I bet it would work as well with a modern wiring and treble bleed).

My 2 cents...

[Doadman]

If you want thick tone I'd maybe consider trying Alnico for a start and you have some excellent candidates in a Les Paul.

A calibrated set of Mules may offer possibilities. They're vintage but if Tim can use them in an Ozzy tribute band they have to be versatile enough for what you want.

Another possibility I'd consider would be a Rebel Yell in the bridge (awesome pickup) and maybe a VHII in the neck.

If you want something hotter, I think the Nailbomb bridge and Cold Sweat neck sounds like a winning combination.

[TaumaX]

I listened to VHII neck sample, it is really awesome.
VHII neck and Nailbomb bridge? Too different output?

[Doadman]

Well, there's a difference in power but I would have thought it would still be OK. It's not THAT far away from a Nailbomb neck pup. The reason I suggested the Rebel Yell to go with it was only partly due to the lower power but also because it's very like a Nailbomb. It's tighter than a Nailbomb but retains the Alnico warmth. I believe the Rebel Yell started life as a modified Nailbomb for Steve Stevens and his clip really shows its potential and that's certainly not to undermine Nolly's efforts on the new site.

http://www.bareknucklepickups.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=3433&highlight=rebel+yell

I had thought that if you were used to ceramics, the Rebel Yell would retain that tightness better than the Nailbomb but as I say, the Nailbomb would also go with a VHII. I think it's Nolly's favourite neck pickup.

['Ash' J. Williams]

I think you'll be very happy with a Black Dog set. It's like the Mules but with more low mids and attack.
I have these in a LP std and it does exactly the "heavy stuff with a typical gibson sound".
It'll be a giant leap from those muddy 498/490...

[TaumaX]

Well, there's a difference in power but I would have thought it would still be OK. It's not THAT far away from a Nailbomb neck pup. The reason I suggested the Rebel Yell to go with it was only partly due to the lower power but also because it's very like a Nailbomb. It's tighter than a Nailbomb but retains the Alnico warmth. I believe the Rebel Yell started life as a modified Nailbomb for Steve Stevens and his clip really shows its potential and that's certainly not to undermine Nolly's efforts on the new site.

http://www.bareknucklepickups.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=3433&highlight=rebel+yell

I had thought that if you were used to ceramics, the Rebel Yell would retain that tightness better than the Nailbomb but as I say, the Nailbomb would also go with a VHII. I think it's Nolly's favourite neck pickup.

Thanks! Maybe the Nailbomb could be more aggressive?

I think you'll be very happy with a Black Dog set. It's like the Mules but with more low mids and attack.
I have these in a LP std and it does exactly the "heavy stuff with a typical gibson sound".
It'll be a giant leap from those muddy 498/490...

I agree with you in what you say, in fact I'm thinking about them too. Are they good also to obtain modern tones?
What kind of music do you play with that Les Paul?


Thank you again for your suggestion

['Ash' J. Williams]

Playing anything from classic rock to Alice In Chains up to Tool is a real blast with this LP.

[Telerocker]

I think Nailbomb/Cold Sweat would be a nice match for your style. Nailbomb agressive, but organic sounding and Cold Sweat stays clear in the neckpos. and will provide tone for fluid solo's.

['Ash' J. Williams]

Be careful as the nailbomb as this tendency of always retaining this "Metal" edge in some guitars...

[TaumaX]

The Nailbomb seems to be more versatile than Black dogs, but I don't want a 'metal pickup' in my LP; I hope it isn't this.
Anyone has it in a Studio LP?
I think it will be far better than my gibson pu, both in tone and thickness.

I think Nailbomb/Cold Sweat would be a nice match for your style. Nailbomb agressive, but organic sounding and Cold Sweat stays clear in the neckpos. and will provide tone for fluid solo's.

Isn't the cold sweat neck pickup too metal oriented? Or is it versatile enough?

[Telerocker]

These are on the hot side, but since you wrote heavy rock/metal, I presumed you wanted something in that direction. If you're looking for hot PAF-tone, the BD's are great with strong midrange, but at the same you could look at Rebel Yell's or a Mule-bridge with a VHII-neck.

[TaumaX]

These are on the hot side, but since you wrote heavy rock/metal, I presumed you wanted something in that direction. If you're looking for hot PAF-tone, the BD's are great with strong midrange, but at the same you could look at Rebel Yell's or a Mule-bridge with a VHII-neck.

I'm gonna use this LP to play hard rock/metal, but I'd like something versatile and not only metal oriented; something that can also do heavy stuff with a LP sound.

Like this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hTGWfF3whps

Fat sound, punch and versatility (blues,heavy rock, post grunge)