Pickups for Gibson Explorer E2

[rkyrmsr]

Hello!

So the story is I've looked through this forum and read a good portion of the posts about BKP's in Explorers. I understand Riff Raff's, Cold Sweat's and Miracle Man's seem to be among the most frequently recommended, but I thought I'd get some of your opinions for a broader understanding of my options.

I recently got hold of a '79 E2 Gibson Explorer which I'd love to be capable of achieving a tone similar to that of the guitars in Rick Rubin's productions '99 Problems' and 'Classic'. Another (and quite possibly futile) reference would be probably be the power chords in Prodigy's 'Spitfire'.

Being that I much prefer the vintage PAF sounding BKP's over the contemporary, which pickups would you guys suggest?

(And yeah I do apologise for the vague Hip-Hop song references.)

Thanks!

[Telerocker]

RiffRaffs or VHII's perform well in all mahogany Gibsons.

[ericsabbath]

nailbomb

[rkyrmsr]

Thanks for the ideas.

nailbomb

If I were to get a Nailbomb bridge, what would you suggest for the neck?

[ericsabbath]

riff raff should work
maybe a vhII

[gwEm]

Sounds like you'd prefer an alnico magnet pickup for a more natural sound.

I've listened to all the tracks in your list just now. I think a nailbomb would suit very well the dirty Prodigy style, but I'm not sure that it fits to the Rick Rubin stuff. The guitars on those tracks are quite layered with other sounds, but they sound a bit more vintagey to me.

The E2 is a very cool guitar, but I don't have much experience with the walnut/maple laminated construction and how it would affect tone. Generally in the more uncertain cases its better to aim for more low output, to get something that would work first time.

What pickups are in the E2 - is it the original Dirty Fingers (they have double rows of screw pole pieces)? How are you getting on with those?

[rkyrmsr]

What pickups are in the E2 - is it the original Dirty Fingers (they have double rows of screw pole pieces)? How are you getting on with those?

Funny story actually, the previous owner replaced the bridge pickup to a low output, 'woofy' sounding SD. And as well as that, he decided to leave the high output Dirty Fingers pickup in the neck. The result is a very interesting balance to say the least.

I do enjoy the Dirty Fingers pickup. However it's a little too overbearing for me and lacks that vintage tone I'm after. And while rolling off the volume does tone down the aggression a bit, it's not enough to be able to call the pickup overly 'adaptable' or 'versatile'. Essentially it's either in your face or it's not.

I think a nailbomb would suit very well the dirty Prodigy style, but I'm not sure that it fits to the Rick Rubin stuff. The guitars on those tracks are quite layered with other sounds, but they sound a bit more vintagey to me.

If I were to choose one of those guitar sounds I'd definitely say I'm more after that vintage Rubin tone.

[BigB]

Funny story actually, the previous owner replaced the bridge pickup to a low output, 'woofy' sounding SD. And as well as that, he decided to leave the high output Dirty Fingers pickup in the neck. The result is a very interesting balance to say the least.

Interesting indeed :mrgreen:

I do enjoy the Dirty Fingers pickup. However it's a little too overbearing for me and lacks that vintage tone I'm after. And while rolling off the volume does tone down the aggression a bit, it's not enough
(...)
If I were to choose one of those guitar sounds I'd definitely say I'm more after that vintage Rubin tone.

Well, I have to say I had hard time identifying the guitar on these tracks (specially on the second one), but if what you want is a vintagey bucker that has enough punch for serious hard-rock tones, then RiffRaff or eventually BD bridge / RR neck. Now given your guitar seems to be somewhat uncommon wrt/ woods, by all means AskTim(tm).

[gwEm]

Good info!

I think Riff Raffs.

I like Dirty Fingers alot, but they are unsubtle ;) If you find the Riff Raffs too bright, then you could look at Mules or Black Dogs.