BK for Les Paul Studio

[TRAVIS BICKLE]

Greetings everyone!

I'm planning on sending an email to Tim about this, but wanted to get some ideas from you guys.

I'm a former EMG user that has seen the light!  haha. I'm currently using an lp studio tuned to A# standard plugging into a 2 channel mesa dual rectifier with a mesa oversized 4x12. the style im playing is a strange mixture of metal/hardcore/punk/doom with some progressive elements.  so the tone im after would be a mix between meshuggah, the melvins, and entombed.

I tested the ceramic warpig in the LP, which i knew would be overkill, but I just HAD to try it! of course, it was a muddy mess. I've since put the wp in my jackson sl2h (alder body with maple top and neck, ebony fingerboard),and am BLOWN away by its brutality and clarity. 

I then opted for the aftermath in the LP and really didnt dig what i think is a low mid growl that sounds great at low volumes, but once i raise the volume, it sounds really washed out.  i a/b'd the lp and the jackson and the jackson CRUSHED the lp, which we know shouldn't happen. 

based on the clips and what not, i've narrowed my choice down to a painkiller, or a holy diver.  I need something that will add more saturation to the existing lp tone, and harness that powerful low end that the lp has. i know that once i find the right pickup that it should decimate the jackson tonewise.

my reference tone now is the jackson with the ceramic warpig!!!

thanks in advance fellas!

[ericsabbath]

ceramic nailbomb

[Telerocker]

One more for the C-bomb.

[braintheory]

Miracle Man

[TRAVIS BICKLE]

Interesting. I didnt consider the nailbomb since i thought the low end would be a bit too much for the paul.

[asianaxeman]

Interesting. I didnt consider the nailbomb since i thought the low end would be a bit too much for the paul.

I think you're right, having tried a c-bomb and a miracle man in a lighter mahogany guitars, they're very bass heavy and it sounds like your LP has a strong bass response anyhow which has muddied things up before

I second painkiller for the tightness, clarity and extra treble bite it offers. It's more modern sounding than the c-bomb (still retains PAF character) and ideal for djent/ meshuggah etc

[TRAVIS BICKLE]

tim suggested a painkiller as well. going to swap out the aftermath this week. many thanks everyone!

[asianaxeman]

yeah look forward to your PK clips in the LP

[TRAVIS BICKLE]

absolutely!!! as soon as i get the pk, i'll be posting some clips. first need to get rid of the aftermath, although I am curious as to how it would sound in my jackson kv2!

[mbchepburn]

Id hapily buy the Aftermath off you if it's a set

[TRAVIS BICKLE]

unfortunately, i only have the bridge pickup.

[TRAVIS BICKLE]

finally purchased the painkiller and should be receiving it within the next day or two.  will post some clips if all goes according to plan! will be throwing the aftermath into a jackson kv2 this weekend as well.

[Yellowjacket]

A set of Rebel Yells really tamed the boom and mud with my Les Paul Standard.  The neck pickup was a particularly large improvement.  With a huge slab of wood, a bass cut is always profitable.  The Painkillers will hopefully be AWESOME for what you need!

[TRAVIS BICKLE]

if the painkillers are too much for the lp, i will certainly try out something akin to the rebel yell. im dying to try out the holydiver, but im thinking it may be too much low end for the lp as well.

[Yellowjacket]

What gear are you running?  I'm running a Mesa Boogie Dual Rectifier with my Les Paul and Rebel Yells.  A good modern high gain head can get plenty gainy and saturated, even with vintage style pickups.  I mean you could always run a boost pedal to tighten things up.  I guess it depends as much on your rig / guitar as it does what pickups and electronics you use.  For instance, I think speaker selection in a cabinet is one of the most overlooked aspects of tone.   I also think that the interaction between guitar, pickups, and amp are equally important.  Consider that I'm running a Les Paul, which is a meaty and bass heavy guitar through a Dual Rectifier which is a bass heavy amp.  I literally would have the lows turned WAY down until I got the rebel yells. 

That being said, I have high hopes for the pain killers in your rig.  If I wanted to play metal, that would be the pickup of choice for me.