I want to get as close as possible to a 498T without the mud!

[jdbwales]

Hi there, I just got a new Les Paul and I'm caught in a real love/hate relationship with the 498T bridge.

I really like the output, big low end, smoothness and tightness of it, but I'm not a huge fan of how it's got very little definition and clarity! It's also rather one-dimensional.

Is there a BKP that will get me in that ballpark and sound clearer? I know all BKPs will be clearer and more organic (I have some in two other Les Pauls).

I've tried a Rebel Yell (too bright and middy), a Holy Diver (not smooth enough in the highs at all - I got the HD second hand from a shop and it didn't sound much like one I tried before, so I'm still unsure if it actually is a HD!) and an Emerald (too bright and not fat enough).

I don't want low output pickups (over 12k please), play a Blackstar HT50 EL34, and play fairly standard rock stuff (I've shared my main influences before - Manics, Thin Lizzy, Gary Moore, Weezer) so don't need a Miracle Man or similar!

Tim recommended a Cold Sweat as he thinks it's his best LP Custom pickup, but I'm worried it may be a bit bright. Another option I was thinking of for a 498T substitute may be a Nailbomb. Any ideas or recommendations?

Thanks in advance gents, you're always very knowledgeable.

[ericsabbath]

the cold sweat is at least as bright as a rebel yell, and much more hard edged
if the holy diver wasn't smooth enough for you, the nailbomb certainly won't
guess the only options left are the crawler and the abraxas

[Vintage Metal]

I would have thought Output, Big Low End, Clarity & Tightness sounded like the Miracle Man?

[HTH AMPS]

I like the 498T as well, it was stock in my '93 Vee - I use an EQ pedal in my rig and tweak to taste.  I'd go that route first if you're pretty much happy with the pickup (which it sounds like you are).

If you absolutely positively must change the pickup, then a Nailbomb would be your closest in the BKP range, or even a Holy Diver.

[OddFutureWolfGang]

Crawler or A-Pig

[Philly Q]

I would say the Crawler is the closest of the BKPs I've tried.  It's not especially notable for "definition and clarity", but it'll certainly sound "better" (very subjective, I know) than the 498T.

We seem to have run through almost the entire range here....

[Slartibartfarst42]

I would have said either Holydiver or Warpig. Here's a clip from the players section of a Warpig doing the Thin Lizzy song 'Cold Sweat':

https://bareknucklepickups.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=20921.0

I've always loved this clip  :D

[ericsabbath]

I like the 498T as well, it was stock in my '93 Vee

a 90's V should have a stock 500t, which is a much hotter pickup  :?

[Philly Q]

I like the 498T as well, it was stock in my '93 Vee

a 90's V should have a stock 500t, which is a much hotter pickup  :?

Good point, the stock pickups on Vs and Explorers (or "X-plorers"...) are 500T/496R, have been for ages.

[ericsabbath]

yeah
dirty fingers from '83 to '89, then the bill lawrence HB something with the PCB plate (I think that was in '89), and then, in late '89 too, the T/R series was released, and the 500T/496R has been the stock set for the regular V series since then (I wonder if the lawrence HB was a ceramic set like the others)
never heard of a 49x loaded V (some custom shop models have '57 classics)

[jdbwales]

Thanks guys, I may have to look into the Crawler then.

The Rebel Yell wasn't so much of a problem in terms of the brightness, it was more the way the mids reacted and the lack of bass. I thought the Cold Sweat would be better as it's much fatter and a bit scooped, much like the 498T?

[keith]

A mate of mine is selling a set of Crawlers but I dont think he would sell seperately he's asking £120 for them if you are interested
cheers
Keith

[jdbwales]

May very well be tempted Keith, would you mind giving him a shout?

I've just reinstalled both the Emerald and then the Diver to try and give a more detailed reason on why they're not doing it for me.

The Emerald is a great pickup in terms of output, harmonics and aggression but sounds a little too thin as it's a very trebly pickup - especially when you consider the maple top and ebony 'board on the Custom I'm trying it in. I found myself wanting more in the way of mids and bass and more thickness.

The Holy Diver is much better than it seemed when I had it in first time round; I was a bit hasty before - it's not that I find it trebly as I first thought, more that there's that upper-mid sizzle I just can't get away from. It's also slightly too aggressive for my needs. If I could get away from that sizzle and tone it down slightly it would be much more what I'm looking for!

I can't post in the Seconds Out section but these pickups are now for sale if anyone's interested - if that's too spammy then let me know and I'll edit this post!

[BigB]

I would say the Crawler is the closest of the BKPs I've tried.  It's not especially notable for "definition and clarity"

Depends on what you come from - compared to the X2Ns that were in my Vox, the Crawlers were definitly a _huge_ improvement wrt/ definition and clarity :lol:

[jdbwales]

Any BKP is going to be a huge improvement in definition from the 498T, I'm just after that 'ballpark' tone.

In summary, I think it'll have to be between the Crawler and the Abraxas (and maybe Black Dog). The Cold Sweat will be just too much if the Diver is too aggressive.

Checking the charts, it seems the Dog has the same treble as the Emerald but with beefed up mids and bass, although it has got less output.

The Abraxas looks good as it has the same amount of mids as the Emerald but with less treble and more bass, and is a similar output - a bit of a contender!

The Crawler looks perfect on paper as there's more mids, bass, and output and less treble, plus it lacks that aggressive metal edge that I don't want.

I think I may go for the Crawler, but can anyone who's played the Abraxas chime in as well?