Sound Pickup Suggestions Please

[Risingforce]

Hey Everyone

Decided to update my guitars with some bareknuckles after numerous recomendations from my mates.

Really in deep of some advice as I am a bit bewildered by the amount of choice! I am a very good player and gig regularly. I know my set up and effects etc but to be honest I know nothing about pickups!

I am looking to upgrade 2 guitars to start with:

Gibson les Paul Standard - I feel the neck pickup does not have as much 'creamy', tones as I would like. It seems very bassy and dull. The bridge is ok but sounds a bit thin... I would like more character in it. Will be playing Led Zeppelin, Ozzy, Gary Moore, Guns n Roses. It is important for my to have a warm charactaristic to my tone however I hate trebley set ups and low gain crunch sounds. Its useful to have them but I like to really drive my tone and get a saturated distortion with bite but enough cut in the mids to sweep, get screaming harmonics and so my fast lead work flows. I find the lower gain does not allow me to get that flow of notes!!

Was thinking either black dog and mule however this may be a bit too vintage. My other thought was cold sweats as this may give me good harmonics and tone.

Ibanez Jem - This will cover the rest of the set mainly Van Halen, Satriani, Steve Vai, Iron Maiden and 80's metal style influenced songs. On this harmonics are important to me as well as great output and clarity for shredding and tapping/ legato. Fairly high gain would be good but I dont want a thrash metal sound or anything mushy. Was considering nailbombs however listening to the sound clips the VHII sounds very Van Halen however my rig has to be versatile to cover all styles.

Quite a long post guys but any advice would be greatfully received as I dont know where to start!

Kind regards

Risingforce!

[darkbluemurder]

Gibson les Paul Standard - I feel the neck pickup does not have as much 'creamy', tones as I would like. It seems very bassy and dull. The bridge is ok but sounds a bit thin... I would like more character in it. Will be playing Led Zeppelin, Ozzy, Gary Moore, Guns n Roses. It is important for my to have a warm charactaristic to my tone however I hate trebley set ups and low gain crunch sounds. Its useful to have them but I like to really drive my tone and get a saturated distortion with bite but enough cut in the mids to sweep, get screaming harmonics and so my fast lead work flows. I find the lower gain does not allow me to get that flow of notes!!

Was thinking either black dog and mule however this may be a bit too vintage. My other thought was cold sweats as this may give me good harmonics and tone.

Cold Sweat neck will be fine for what you are seeking. For the bridge you may like something warmer better. I use a Holydiver bridge with a CS neck in my PRS Custom and it is a great combination.

Ibanez Jem - This will cover the rest of the set mainly Van Halen, Satriani, Steve Vai, Iron Maiden and 80's metal style influenced songs. On this harmonics are important to me as well as great output and clarity for shredding and tapping/ legato. Fairly high gain would be good but I dont want a thrash metal sound or anything mushy. Was considering nailbombs however listening to the sound clips the VHII sounds very Van Halen however my rig has to be versatile to cover all styles.

I think the HD/CS combination would work here as well. I was actually considering a Nailbomb A5 bridge and a VH II neck for a different guitar, and I believe there is at least one forum member here using that exact combination. Maybe he can add something.

Cheers Stephan

[Nolly]

I'd recommend Nailbombs for the Lester, Holy Divers for the JEM (alternatively HD bridge with a Cold Sweat neck as per darkbluemurder's recommendation).

[Madsakre]

I was thinking the same as nolly there :P

[Risingforce]

Thanks for the advice so far guys.

In regard to the Nailbombs for the Les Paul, might they perhaps be too metal. My thoughts were that I want really hot pickups in the Les Paul but still retain some for of traditional rock to the guitar.

The JEM was to be the main metal guitar.

Perhaps the HD/CS combination might be good for them both.

More advice needed I think. Want to make sure I get this right.

[Nolly]

I don't think the Nailbombs would be too metal - despite their output they have a very open and dynamic voicing that excels at lower gain and clean tones too. A good example is Chris George from Marshall - he uses Nailbombs in his Les Pauls and gets a huge palette of tones in his demos, perhaps it's worth checking him out on youtube if you're not familiar.

[ericsabbath]

I'd say HD/CS for the Les Paul and nailbombs for the Ibanez  :D