Replace classic 57 with something hotter (LP Custom)

[fr33man1]

I came to a point (Eric read carefully you will be proud) I'm hating nailbombs on les pauls. I played them too much and now sort of sense the lack of mids (i only hear low and high mid spikes with a percussive bottom). I'm kinda tired of this one sided sound and I'm seeking something more deep sounding and richer with less compression but still able to fire it up with a good amount of gain.

I read good things on black dogs, specially the bridge unit being middy, growly and muscular. I'm also looking at Crawlers (got told once it was a more vintage nailbomb pendant) or Cold sweat as I remind having them on my old les paul custom I sold. If the diezel amp I played on did not make it very thin and fizzy I was finding it very good sounding with nice balance and very clear tone.  :)

I just cant choose between those. I got deceived by the rebell yells so I'm not so confident on those signature sets and I'm thinking the black dog might be too weak but I'm sure I'm mistaken on this one.  :lol:

So any help would be nice.  Thanks

Fr33.

[Telerocker]

I read in the Rebel Yells the uppermids are emphasized, it's noticable in the clips. I like Steve Stevens tone, so, could be the right pu. The RY is considered as a great leadpickup.  As for the Crawler (mine is in a swampashstrat, so not comparable to mahagony) it seems to me that this pu is indeed a more vintage-oriëntated NB. Mellower, fat, round, nice vocal qualities, and a nice midgrowl when pushed. I like the balance in my strat, but could be a tad too warm for your guitar. Depends on your amp too. The BD-clips I heard were quite stunning. It's a versatile (even used for metal) pu with big midrange. But I like Mules in Les Pauls too. If you want a middy vintagehot pu the BD is the one to count in. I would certainly consider Mules too.

[ev1ltwin]

To further complicated your decision, this guy makes the Abraxas sound good: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8t6FSI6vxVE&feature=related

From his video description: "The guitar is my trusty 1990 Les Paul standard with BKP Abraxas pickups, which are my favourite set they make (I've tried pretty much all of their humbuckers)." He also mods amps professionally, so I'd trust his ear.

[Alex]

I feel the BD emphasizes lower mids more than upper mids, but it is hard to tell if that is only my guitar that does it.

The VHII and RiffRaff are probably brighter options, but I'm only guessing here.

[kevinr]

BD, Crawlers or HDs all have great mids, I doubt if you would go wrong with any of these.

[Telerocker]

To further complicated your decision, this guy makes the Abraxas sound good: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8t6FSI6vxVE&feature=related

From his video description: "The guitar is my trusty 1990 Les Paul standard with BKP Abraxas pickups, which are my favourite set they make (I've tried pretty much all of their humbuckers)." He also mods amps professionally, so I'd trust his ear.

Abbraxxas is a hotter Mule. Great pu for all kinds of music. AIV is considered to be the best balanced of all magnettypes. So, count this one in too.

[Telerocker]

BD, Crawlers or HDs all have great mids, I doubt if you would go wrong with any of these.

Yes, but they all have different characteristics.

[ericsabbath]

I actually liked the nailbomb, specially for the overly bright/middy modded marshall JMP I had
I just felt a serious lack of upper mids, just like the miracle man, but with more center mids
nothing that couldn't be "fixed" with a tube screamer or something, but I really wanted more upper mids and that's why I chose the nailbomb (I was expecting something like the Diver, but with more upper mids and less low mids)

now I'm replacing a cold sweat set in that same lp custom
my aftermath/mule set is supposed to be delivered by monday  :D :D :D

[brian_ward]

black dogs are super mid heavy but i find it to be a mid-mid emphasis.  dont find the low end to be particularly deep OR percussive. they do sound good though!

[fr33man1]

NB's aree kinda bright on my lp in E tuning. Its fizzy , focused and has a lot of upper mids and low end. It lacks a mid push with a sweet voicing. Crawler might sound cool, or holy divers (best lead tone ever, so deadly AIC alike  8))

Still hard to choose. I 'd like some neck with a good clean, middy, musical sound but that can also jump up for creamy lead tones. The aftermath neck is like that but a tad too modern for the clean sounds I'm aiming at on this les paul. Could an AIV powered pickup offer me that ?  Emerald looks cool for this, I kinda like around 10k neck pickups for my use.

I love the diver too but on my ex les paul custom (very heavy and dense sounding) it did not cut through that easily and would mud out quickly. Maybe I should try it on this les paul as its far lighter and brighter (much more open tone and resonant) ?

[kevinr]

In this particular LP I don't think that you could go wrong with HDs, amazing neck sound as well!

[Telerocker]

HD and Abraxxas-neck?