Help with an Epi Paul

[Max]

New member in need of some pickup upgrade help.

For gear I currently run my Epi Les Paul with JB's through a Peavey 3120(XXX).  I tend to write in a sorta 80's melodic metal kind of way where I usually start with some quiet cleans then transition into fullblown semi chaos (Think early Savatage).  Ah hell, a picture tells a thousand words, the song below pretty much sums up what I am after.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m2TVLq8U4XE

The JB I currently have in the guitar has performed ok and I have gotten by but the single note harshness is starting to wear thin.  From checking out the site and some youtube videos I'm thinking a Holy Diver or maybe the Nailbomb will do the trick, but then again there is the Miracle Man and the Warpig.  I'm a little overwhelmed with all the choices not to mention the choice of Alnico vs Ceramic.  I don't mind leaning towards the heavier side of things but I do need the ability to go clean.

If you guy's could lend some guidance it would be greatly appreciated.

[Mr. Air]

I think you should look at the holy diver. I haven't played it, but it should have good cleans and a nice thick tone. It's ideal for 80's heavy stuff as well.

[Telerocker]

I think you should look at the holy diver. I haven't played it, but it should have good cleans and a nice thick tone. It's ideal for 80's heavy stuff as well.

One more for the Holy Diver. One of the best BKP's for creamy, searing leadtones. Cleans up nice and splits well.

[Max]

Thanks for the suggestions.  I keep coming back to the site and the decision keeps getting harder, I wonder what this or that pickup would sound like and the circle never ends.  I now wonder about the Warpig.

Thanks agian,

Max

[Slartibartfarst42]

Don't. The Warpig has a much bigger bottom end and I really don't think it's what you want. The Holydiver is perfect for you.

[Telerocker]

Don't. The Warpig has a much bigger bottom end and I really don't think it's what you want. The Holydiver is perfect for you.

The lowend of Warpigs could a be too much for a LP.

[Max]

I'm sold, the Holy Diver it is.  I have a basswood superstrat in need of pickups also so if all else fails I can move the HD to the strat and try something else in the Epi.

It's funny, I bought the Epiphone Les Paul four years ago thinking this will get me by until I can upgrade to something else (which I have), four guitars later I keep coming back to the Epiphone and it still is my main guitar.  So I've decided to stop trying to replace it and show it some love by upgrading the pickups and pots.  Something about the setup and action on this guitar that keeps bringing me back.

Thanks agian for the help and sorry about the tangent, just thought I'd share a little.

Max

[Telerocker]

I'm sold, the Holy Diver it is.  I have a basswood superstrat in need of pickups also so if all else fails I can move the HD to the strat and try something else in the Epi.

It's funny, I bought the Epiphone Les Paul four years ago thinking this will get me by until I can upgrade to something else (which I have), four guitars later I keep coming back to the Epiphone and it still is my main guitar.  So I've decided to stop trying to replace it and show it some love by upgrading the pickups and pots.  Something about the setup and action on this guitar that keeps bringing me back.

Thanks agian for the help and sorry about the tangent, just thought I'd share a little.

Max

Never sell one of your fav guitars.

[DoomBuggi]

Maybe a bit late, but, I would say Holydiver or even the Rebel Yell

[Max]

Hi guys, checking in with a question since I still haven't got around to ordering the Bare knuckles for my Epi (got sidetracked with another gear purchase).

The Holy Diver still seems to be my pickup of choice for this guitar thanks to your recommendations.  However, someone local is selling a Alnico Nailbomb at killer price which has raised some questions.

I have another guitar in need of pickups, mainly a basswood superstrat that I use for the couple of alternate tuning songs we do in the band.  With this guitar I was planning on a more modern metal sound and had decided to go with a Alnico Warpig.

Should I say the hell with it and pick up the Nailbomb even though its not what I was envisioning for either of these guitars?  I think we've already hashed out that the Holydiver is the best choice for the Epi but I was thinking if I get the Nailbomb I could at least try it in both guitars.  Also, what would be some advantages or disadvantages in comparing the Nailbomb to the Warpig in the basswood super strat? 

[richard]

I played an SG with a JB bridge for years and I was able to get some great sounds out of it. I now play a Firebird Studio  with Rebel Yells. The RYs can easily outperform a JB. Great punch and attack and maintain definition even when you pile on the gain.

[itamar101]

Hi guys, checking in with a question since I still haven't got around to ordering the Bare knuckles for my Epi (got sidetracked with another gear purchase).

The Holy Diver still seems to be my pickup of choice for this guitar thanks to your recommendations.  However, someone local is selling a Alnico Nailbomb at killer price which has raised some questions.

I have another guitar in need of pickups, mainly a basswood superstrat that I use for the couple of alternate tuning songs we do in the band.  With this guitar I was planning on a more modern metal sound and had decided to go with a Alnico Warpig.

Should I say the hell with it and pick up the Nailbomb even though its not what I was envisioning for either of these guitars?  I think we've already hashed out that the Holydiver is the best choice for the Epi but I was thinking if I get the Nailbomb I could at least try it in both guitars.  Also, what would be some advantages or disadvantages in comparing the Nailbomb to the Warpig in the basswood super strat? 

I think you might even prefer the nailbombs sound in you superstrat to the warpig. It'll have a bit more bite and aggressiveness than the warpig but retains the powerful bottom end and mids. How "killer" is the deal for the nailbombs?

[Slartibartfarst42]

The Nailbomb, even in alnico form, is a LOT more aggressive and tight than the Holydiver. It has a very 90s Metal feel to it. I  didn't like it at all in my Jackson but I wouldn't be averse to trying it in a darker guitar with a lot of mahogany. If you got the A-Bomb and the Holydiver, I'd be tempted to change things around a bit and put the Nailbomb in the Les Paul and the Holydiver in the Super Strat.

[BigB]

The Nailbomb, even in alnico form, is a LOT more aggressive and tight than the Holydiver. It has a very 90s Metal feel to it. I  didn't like it at all in my Jackson but I wouldn't be averse to trying it in a darker guitar with a lot of mahogany. If you got the A-Bomb and the Holydiver, I'd be tempted to change things around a bit and put the Nailbomb in the Les Paul and the Holydiver in the Super Strat.

Can't comment on the HD (never played it) nor on the Jackson or any other super strat (never had one), but the ABomb bridge is indeed tight and aggressive (I'd say "abrasive") when cranked up (and that's on a rather dark sounding SG), yet  cleans up beautifully with the volume pot without loosing clarity (nb: 50s wiring here) even on rather hi-gain settings.

I neither listen to nor play 90s metal so I won't comment on this, as far as I'm concerned this pup JustWorks(tm) for anything crunch/overdrive/hi-gain but you do have to love tight, well-defined tones with lot of bite.

[TheyCallMeVolume]

I would never turn down a KILLER deal, but it sounds like a decent fit