Help with Pickup Selection!

[The Hitman]

Hello all,
I am looking for a new set of pickups for my Les Paul.  I want to get a very Iron Maiden/NWOBHM sound, but I also want to go as heavy as Thrash metal in the bridge.  As for the neck, I want to get a very Dave Murray violin like tone, but I also want to maintain the ability to have a cleans as an option for the neck, I could care less about cleans for the bridge.

I have a VHII neck and Cold Sweat combo in my PRS McCarty and I like this a great deal.  I would like to go ceramic in the bridge based on how awesome the Cold Sweat is, but I am also considering open to other option besides this.

I was thinking about a set of Nailbombs with a ceramic bridge, but I don't know if this will suit my needs.  I play everything from clean GNR type stuff all the way to Megadeth levels of gain.  I play through a Marshall and currently have a set of boutique pickups from another winder, but would like to go a bit more contemporary with this potential set.

Thanks for all your help guys!  I am a regular reader of this forum, but now I am looking for first hand advice so please be as brutally honest as necessary!

[Slartibartfarst42]

For the neck, I'd go with the Cold Sweat without a doubt. The bridge is a bit more problematic as you're after such a range of tones. I'm tempted to suggest the Cold Sweat for the bridge as well as it will certainly nail those Iron Maiden, NWOBHM tones you're after but as you've already got one of these in another guitar I assume you're wanting something different this time. I think the Miracle Man might be a good alternative for you and pairs well with a Cold Sweat in the neck.

[darkbluemurder]

I second the MM bridge/CS neck recommendation.

Cheers Stephan

[Nolly]

Personally I'd recommend the Miracle Man neck as a better match with the MM bridge than the Cold Sweat - much closer in output, with a very silky and warm tone

[Slartibartfarst42]

I obviously bow to your superior knowledge Nolly.  8)

[The Hitman]

Thanks for the input guys!  Aren't the Miracle Man pickups more based on EMGs?  I have tried EMGs and hated how sterile and how little compression they had.  Made the guitar feel like a synthesizer more than a warm, dynamic, machine that reacted  with compression under gain.  Ben French claimed that they usually recommend Cold Sweats as well, but he also stated that the Aftermath might be a good choice which really surprised me.  I guess you guys feel that the Nailbombs won`t work for what I`m after then.  Please let me know what you think of the Aftermaths as an option and if you could give me further insights into the Miracle Man pickups.

Thanks a million!

[Slartibartfarst42]

I wouldn't have thought of the Aftermath at all for the tones you mention as it's quite a dry sound and exceptionally tight.

There are a lot of good neck pickups in the BKP range so a few of them will do what you want. I suggested the Cold Sweat because when I mentioned a Dave Murray tone to Tim he immediately said 'Cold Sweat' but I believe the neck version of the Holydiver is also exceptional and will have the power to live with a hot bridge pickup like the Miracle Man. I hadn't considered a neck Miracle Man but Nolly knows his stuff so it's an idea worthy of consideration.

The reason I originally thought of the Cold Sweat for the bridge was because it's not massively overpowered and in a Les Paul will have enough body to it for a John Sykes tone and is bright enough for Iron Maiden. In many ways it is your best option but I equally understand if you want to try something different this time. Obviously the other great 80s pickup would be the Holydiver, which is my new favourite pickup of all time but it's thicker, warmer and has more lows than I naturally associate with Maiden. The Nailbomb could work well but it's got a very 90s Metal tone to it and has a real edge. It's also a very tight pickup, even the Alnico version and that level of tightness isn't something I associate with your main tones. My choice of the Miracle Man was really by default. You're right that it does have this EMG association so it will certainly cover your Thrash tones but it's no EMG clone. You should find it warmer and more organic for a start rather than sterile. Think of it as having many of the benefits of active EMG pups with none of the negatives.

[The Hitman]

I`m pretty convinced with going with the Cold Sweat neck.  Everyone is telling me it is the one I am looking for so I am not going to go against all the experience of this forum.  Incidentally, Tim previously suggested a VHII in the neck position for my PRS McCarty as well as a Cold Sweat in the bridge with the same tones in mind.  I love this combo, but could someone tell me the difference between a VHII neck and a Cold Sweat neck so I have a point of comparison.  Secondly, could someone please tell me the subtle differences between the Miracle Man bridge and the Cold Sweat.  I`m pretty close to placing my order.  Thanks for all your help!

[The Hitman]

I haven`t heard much about the Holy Diver in a Les Paul style guitar.  I thought this pickup was more suited for alder bodied Strat style guitars.  Please educate me on how well this pickup would work in a Les Paul with the tones I have in mind.  I initially thought a ceramic was a no brainer, in the bridge, but if you think otherwise please let me know.

[Slartibartfarst42]

As I said, it's a lot warmer and thicker than I'd associate with Maiden, though it sure sounds good. Try this for a Holydiver in a Les Paul:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T26RqvH3YBA

[The Hitman]

That sounds great.  I get what you are saying about it not being Maiden-like.  You can definitely hear the alnico in the sound so I am pretty sure the Coldsweat bridge if for me.  How does the neck compare to the Coldsweat neck.  It sounds very like what I am looking for.  Thanks for all your feedback.

[Slartibartfarst42]

Exactly. The Holydiver is the best pickup I've ever tried in my guitar and I love Maiden but it's not going to be an obviously Maiden sound in a Les Paul. Variety is good but it seems to me that you like a Cold Sweat in your McCarty and a Les Paul isn't hugely different so it makes sense that the same bridge pup is what you want. As for the neck pup, I've never tried the Holydiver neck so I can't really comment on that but I've read comments from plenty people saying it's their favourite neck pup and I'd guess it would give a slightly thicker and creamier sound so it should be ideal for Dave Murray cream. I'm sure somebody with experience of both will chime in.

[darkbluemurder]

... could someone tell me the difference between a VHII neck and a Cold Sweat neck so I have a point of comparison. 

While I have both pickups I never had them in the same guitar so I cannot give a direct comparison. In both guitars they pair with a hotter bridge pu (VHII + NB, CS + CS bridge or HD bridge). Levelwise they have no problem in keeping up with their bridge partners so I guess the outputs are similar. My feeling is that the VHII neck is a bit brighter and the CS neck has a bit more center and upper mids.

Secondly, could someone please tell me the subtle differences between the Miracle Man bridge and the Cold Sweat. 

Now, that one is easier since I had them in the same guitar (mahogany body with maple top and mahogany neck with rosewood board, tune-o-matic bridge and stoptail). Both pickups sound very good and very clear. The MM is louder and has more bass - it could keep up with the Lawrence L-500R without a problem. The CS is significantly brighter and has a bit less output and bass - this was very noticeable when I had it with the Lawrence L-500R in the guitar. The guitar now has the CS set in it.

Cheers Stephan

[darkbluemurder]

Personally I'd recommend the Miracle Man neck as a better match with the MM bridge than the Cold Sweat - much closer in output, with a very silky and warm tone

I have not yet heard the MM neck. I had the MM bridge and CS neck combination in one guitar for a while and I agree that the CS neck has significantly lower output than the MM bridge, yet I thought they worked well together. BTW Tim told me to try my Crawler neck with my MM bridge in my bright LP Custom. He said they would work very well together. I am yet to try that combination but I will report once I do.

Cheers Stephan

[The Hitman]

Thanks for all the input guys.  I am pretty sure I am going to go with a Cold Sweat set since they are made for each other and everyone is telling me these are right up my alley for what I am looking for.  I am thinking about going with the Tyger finish on these and I have a couple questions.  I have only seen these in one picture online and I think they look awesome, but could anyone tell me if the lines are actually put into the cover or if they are painted on like the black covers.  Also, I have only seen these in the Aftermath model, so will mine come with the one side of screws like normal or will they have the double bolts as is standard on the Aftermath.  Thanks!