BKP for a Les Paul Custom

[RomuluxX]

Hey guys, I'm new here but I've been window shopping a set of bare knuckles for what seems like decades.  Everyone here seems very knowledgeable and helpful, so I figured I would come here for some advice as to what to get.  I have a 2005 Les Paul Custom (Mahogany body, rosewood fingerboard, etc.) and it still has it's stock 490r/498t pups and they're a little muddy for my tastes. My current rig consists of a Peavey Ultra Plus and an Orange TH30.

The main kind of music that I play is Prog metal/Post metal stuff with some Sabbath and thrash stuff on occasion. (Mastodon, Baroness, Isis, Opeth, Metallica to give you an idea).  I'm looking for something tight with clarity that could give some good chunk on pal muted stuff and some good crunch on big power chords.  The 2 pups that have caught my eye so far are the Aftermath and the Alnico Nailbomb, but I'm certainly open to suggestions if there is a better alternative.

Thank you so much for your time and help!

[itamar101]

The Aftermath seems like a great choice to me.

Nice amp BTW (Referring to the Orange TH30). I got one along with a set of BKP Holy Diver Bridge/Emerald Neck and it's absolutely epic!

[ericsabbath]

the holy diver would sound great through your rig
had the peavey rockmaster preamp (same as the ultra) as my main device during my holy diver years
itamar101 just posted a thread about how good it sounds through the orange th30 as well
the holy diver is pretty much between the aftermath and alnico nailbomb voicings, but it's a little less hot than the nailbomb

[TheyCallMeVolume]

Going against the grain here, I like the NB for that

[ericsabbath]

the only reason I'm recommending the diver over the nailbomb is that the peavey ultra plus is already "nailbombish" by nature (tight, darkish, dense sounding and edgy)
the diver balances pretty well with the amps character
if he had a Peavey VTM, Marshall JCM or JMP, a nailbomb should work better

for some of those bands, I'd also recommend using less gain from the amps and adding a big sounding overdrive or distortion pedal in the front, like an OCD or lovepedal superlead (instead of bass cutting pedals like tube screamers and boss overdrives)

[Mr. Air]

I like my nailbomb in my LP clone. To me the Aftermath sounds very clean and sterile (I guess it was made to sound this way) and I think the more organic tone of the nailbomb will suit you better. Like the other guys said a holy diver might be a good choice as well.

[itamar101]

The Holy Divers are great too. :D I just recommended the aftermaths because they are very percussive and clear which may be good for what you play but TBH the Holy Divers would work very well too and they are as sterile sounding as Aftermaths.

It'll be able to get you Sabbath, Metallica and Opeth tones with ease IMO and although I don't really listen to to the other bands mentioned if they're in the same sort of genre it'll probably be able get get close to those tones too.

Here's the link to my review:

https://bareknucklepickups.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=27532.0

[ericsabbath]

the Holy Divers would work very well too and they are as sterile sounding as Aftermaths.

wait... what?  :lol:

did straight swaps from aftermath, diver, black dog in my '73 LPC
they're all similar voicing wise, and are the middiest models from BKP, along with the rebel yell and painkiller

immediate noticeable differences:
- aftermath is LOUD as $%&# (only had that impression before with the alnico nailbomb)
- aftermath is annoyingly sensible to picking and fingers moving over the strings
- holy diver is pretty similar to the aftermath, but a lot more organic
- holy diver has the best sustain for leads
- black dog is darker and a lot smoother than the others
- black dog's output is lower than I expected

besides that, they sounded close to each other, specially boosted

[itamar101]

the Holy Divers would work very well too and they are as sterile sounding as Aftermaths.

wait... what?  :lol:

did straight swaps from aftermath, diver, black dog in my '73 LPC
they're all similar voicing wise, and are the middiest models from BKP, along with the rebel yell and painkiller

immediate noticeable differences:
- aftermath is LOUD as $%&# (only had that impression before with the alnico nailbomb)
- aftermath is annoyingly sensible to picking and fingers moving over the strings
- holy diver is pretty similar to the aftermath, but a lot more organic
- holy diver has the best sustain for leads
- black dog is darker and a lot smoother than the others
- black dog's output is lower than I expected

besides that, they sounded close to each other, specially boosted

Sorry, typo. I meant that they aren't as sterile sounding. I never said that they don't sound similar though. It's just that from what I've heard the Aftermath is one of the most percussive BKPs.

Anyway, I never said anything that opposed what you've just written here :)

[RomuluxX]

for some of those bands, I'd also recommend using less gain from the amps and adding a big sounding overdrive or distortion pedal in the front, like an OCD or lovepedal superlead (instead of bass cutting pedals like tube screamers and boss overdrives)

Haha that's actually exactly what I do. I keep the gain on my Peavey at around 8 or 9 O'Clock and run a Mastortion in front. Put just a little bit of hair on the amp, and the Mastortion can make it sing. Love it haha  :D

Nice amp BTW (Referring to the Orange TH30). I got one along with a set of BKP Holy Diver Bridge/Emerald Neck and it's absolutely epic!

Haha thank you sir, I just got it about a month ago. It is crazy versatile for just having that shape knob and I'm blown away at just how good it sounds.

Anyway, looks like I'll have to check out the Holy diver.  It can't be a bad choice if it references Dio, right? Haha

[TheyCallMeVolume]

Well if you look at it that way, it should probably be the best pickup ever

[itamar101]

for some of those bands, I'd also recommend using less gain from the amps and adding a big sounding overdrive or distortion pedal in the front, like an OCD or lovepedal superlead (instead of bass cutting pedals like tube screamers and boss overdrives)

Haha that's actually exactly what I do. I keep the gain on my Peavey at around 8 or 9 O'Clock and run a Mastortion in front. Put just a little bit of hair on the amp, and the Mastortion can make it sing. Love it haha  :D

Nice amp BTW (Referring to the Orange TH30). I got one along with a set of BKP Holy Diver Bridge/Emerald Neck and it's absolutely epic!

Haha thank you sir, I just got it about a month ago. It is crazy versatile for just having that shape knob and I'm blown away at just how good it sounds.

Anyway, looks like I'll have to check out the Holy diver.  It can't be a bad choice if it references Dio, right? Haha

I have no doubt that you'll like it.
I will recommend getting the 2 BKP 550k Pots for volume and 2 CTS 500k 3/4" Shaft Push-Pull for the tone. Your chain is only as strong as it's weakest link and believe me, these make a huge difference. The 550k pots will really help get the treble frequencies through although if you have 500k pots you'll be fine too. Also, the Jensen 22n Caps that BKP sell are really nice. It will all just make you tone more dynamic and responsive and add a bit of clarity and brightness.

Also, Holy Divers sound ABSOLUTELY AMAZING coil tapped and I highly recommend wiring it so that you can do so.

Are you getting the Holy Diver set or the Holy Diver Bridge and Emerald Neck?

[RomuluxX]

I have no doubt that you'll like it.
I will recommend getting the 2 BKP 550k Pots for volume and 2 CTS 500k 3/4" Shaft Push-Pull for the tone. Your chain is only as strong as it's weakest link and believe me, these make a huge difference. The 550k pots will really help get the treble frequencies through although if you have 500k pots you'll be fine too. Also, the Jensen 22n Caps that BKP sell are really nice. It will all just make you tone more dynamic and responsive and add a bit of clarity and brightness.

Also, Holy Divers sound ABSOLUTELY AMAZING coil tapped and I highly recommend wiring it so that you can do so.

Are you getting the Holy Diver set or the Holy Diver Bridge and Emerald Neck?

I used to have a coil tapped Schecter, but I never found myself using the coil tap much. 550k pots might be a good idea. I just planned on getting the Holy Diver set. Well, if I go for the Divers that is haha

[itamar101]

I have no doubt that you'll like it.
I will recommend getting the 2 BKP 550k Pots for volume and 2 CTS 500k 3/4" Shaft Push-Pull for the tone. Your chain is only as strong as it's weakest link and believe me, these make a huge difference. The 550k pots will really help get the treble frequencies through although if you have 500k pots you'll be fine too. Also, the Jensen 22n Caps that BKP sell are really nice. It will all just make you tone more dynamic and responsive and add a bit of clarity and brightness.

Also, Holy Divers sound ABSOLUTELY AMAZING coil tapped and I highly recommend wiring it so that you can do so.

Are you getting the Holy Diver set or the Holy Diver Bridge and Emerald Neck?

I used to have a coil tapped Schecter, but I never found myself using the coil tap much. 550k pots might be a good idea. I just planned on getting the Holy Diver set. Well, if I go for the Divers that is haha

Every man for himself :D
I've heard really good stuff about the holy diver neck too.
I just want to say that coil tapped bkp sound just like independent single coils. Not like a lower output version of the same thing.
When one the clean channel the difference is very noticable. More so that on the dirty channel.
Versatility never hurt anyone.
But at the end of the day if you don't need it, you don't need it.

[RomuluxX]

Every man for himself :D
I've heard really good stuff about the holy diver neck too.
I just want to say that coil tapped bkp sound just like independent single coils. Not like a lower output version of the same thing.
When one the clean channel the difference is very noticable. More so that on the dirty channel.
Versatility never hurt anyone.
But at the end of the day if you don't need it, you don't need it.

Haha I do appreciate the suggestion. It's good to know in case I ever decide to go that route, but at the moment I just don't think I'd use it much. Thanks again for your help!