Looking for combo for epiphone les paul standard

[458mag]

I'm looking for a combo for my les paul since the stock pickups are quite sucky.  I believe I've decided on a Holydiver for the neck, and I'm looking for the bridge pickup for this combo.  Let me hear what you think.

[TheyCallMeVolume]

It depends really, need more info. Style, taste, genre, your gear, etc. all need to be factored in.

[458mag]

Sorry about that.  I play just about any type of rock, but I especially enjoy hair metal.    I play through a one of the smaller Orange solid state amp.  I think its the 35W one.  I chose the Holydiver because of other reviews and some of the samples.  I'm working on getting some more money together to buy a bigger tube amp.  Thanks for your help.

[Lezard]

You might want to consider getting the tube amp first.

[BigB]

You might want to consider getting the tube amp first.

This. And you don't need anything "bigger" - 30W tube power is more than you'll ever need, specially if you go for cranked up tones. Try to stand within 2 meters of a cranked up Vox AC30 for more than 5 minutes if you don't believe me.

[ericsabbath]

nah, get a big amp  :D

[Mr. Air]

I'll say get a good amp like the others  :D

[darkbluemurder]

I am with Eric on that one. Just because an amp can go really loud does not mean it should. And most hard rock and heavy metal tones do not require any power tube overdrive.

As regards the pickups: for 80s hard rock tones, Holydiver, Rebel Yell and Cold Sweat are all good options. But I would also get the good amp first.

Cheers Stephan

[BigB]

I am with Eric on that one. Just because an amp can go really loud does not mean it should. And most hard rock and heavy metal tones do not require any power tube overdrive.

My experience is that even on hi-gain amps - which are designed to stay as clean as possible - you need to get your powersection cooking (even if not at maximum temperature xD) to get that "massive" tone. As far as I'm concerned I never managed to get a 40 or 50 watter loud enough to sound fine (and I'm not necessarily talking about all out distortion).

Just my 2 cents...

[richard]

Nothing wrong with getting new pickups at this point. My first replacement was a JB in an SG. I was using a solid state Laney at the time and the improvement in sound was remarkable. It gets even better with a decent tube amp but that can come in time. A bit surprised that you've decided on a neck pickup first. I would always pick the bridge first.

[TheyCallMeVolume]

I would say amp over pickups too. It's like getting a Klon and putting it in front of a Line 6!

Ok maybe not that bad but still, a good amp will do you wonders, much more than pickups will at the moment.

[richard]

I have a nice tube amp but my current number one guitar sounded terrible through it until I ditched the Gibson pickups and got some BKs. If the OP wants BK pickups they are going to sound a LOT better than the stock Epis even through a solid state amp. The pickups are going to cost £230 ish but how much for a quality tube amp ? I'd say go ahead and get your pickups and then save up for your tube amp.

I prefer tube amps but I've done a lot of gigs with solid state amps and got a decent sound.

[ericsabbath]

cooking hot el34's/6l6's/6550's = fat and punchy chewy awesomeness
cooking hot el84's/6v6's = thin muddy mess with heavy gain

[Dr.Pain]

My Epi Les Paul is a tribute plus and the Gibson 57 pick ups in it are very nice.  Not sure what the BKP equivalent is but it might be worth finding out.

[458mag]

You might want to consider getting the tube amp first.

Yeah I'm working on it, but I'm going to be apartment living for awhile, so I'm working with the solid state so I can stay fairly quiet and not get evicted.  Once I buy my own place, it won't matter anymore.