[LOOKING FOR] Bridge Pickup for Post-Metal/Sludge : Gibson Les Paul

[DemolitionColorScheme]

So, I've been swapping pickups on Les Pauls for a while now. At the moment I've got a 2008 Gibson LP Custom Classic Limited Edition:


Specs:

BODY
Top Species: Carved maple
Back Species: Mahogany
Binding: Custom top binding
Finish: Antique ebony
NECK
Species: Mahogany
Profile: 1960s slim-tapered
Neck Joint Location: 16
FINGERBOARD
Species: Ebony
Scale Length: 24-3/4"
Number of Frets: 22
Nut Width: 1.695"
Inlays: Pearloid trapezoid on neck, holly on headstock
Fingerboard Binding: Antique
HARDWARE
Plating Finish: Gold
Tailpiece: Stopbar
Bridge: Tune-o-matic
Tuners: Grover keystone

There's a Gibson 490R in the neck which I've always really liked. I'm tuned to B Standard with an Elixir Baritone Set (with a .028 wound D).

In the bridge I've had a Suhr Doug Aldrich, a Tesla Plasma-2 and now a Bare Knuckle Miracle Man (Ceramic). The Suhr was okay, the Tesla was atrocious and the BK Miracle Man is something I've had for a while now but haven't been really happy with. The BK MM is quite clear and spikey. The bass response is quite tight and aggressive but it's all more focussed on the upper mids and high end, instead of focussing on the low mids and the lows. I'd like something that is less shrill and a little more loose. It doesn't even have to be high output, really. Medium is fine. Just think low end, a little wooly. It doesn't need to be super tight. Think Cult of Luna, CALLISTO, typical post-metal / modern sludge. It needs to be pretty open, organic and thick. It's not your typical metal approach.

I'm using an Axe-FX ULTRA with, for gain tones, mostly the 5150 model.

Now, I heavily rely on coil-tapped singlecoil tones when I play  clean in this particular band I'm in called IZAH (Sludge/Post-Metal/Post-Rock). So, I'm looking for a bridge picup to  put in the LP that enables coil-tapping as well (4 conductor wire). A gold cover is a most as well, to be honest.

I'm NOT looking for EMGs or active pickups. I'm also not looking for custom things that I can't get in the Netherlands / Europe. They don't neccesarily have to be BKP if anyone has something else in mind.

If anyone has some recommendations, please shoot and I'll have a look into it! Pickups are always a hard thing to get right.

Cheers!
_
Michel.

[itamar101]

In my opinion you'll really like the Holy Diver or the VHII, although I'd go for the Holy Diver. It's pretty much exactly what you described. May I suggest a matching neck pickup, I've never really liked the 490R because I found it far too muddy and soft in the bass... I feel like the BKPs deserve a worthy partner in the neck position... It's all opinion though, If you like the 490R then good for you.
Anyway, I'd suggest the Emerald or Cold Sweat neck. Everything that you could like about the 490R but more character and clarity.

BTW, Thats a STUNNING guitar!

[DemolitionColorScheme]

In my opinion you'll really like the Holy Diver or the VHII, although I'd go for the Holy Diver. It's pretty much exactly what you described. May I suggest a matching neck pickup, I've never really liked the 490R because I found it far too muddy and soft in the bass... I feel like the BKPs deserve a worthy partner in the neck position... It's all opinion though, If you like the 490R then good for you.
Anyway, I'd suggest the Emerald or Cold Sweat neck. Everything that you could like about the 490R but more character and clarity.

BTW, Thats a STUNNING guitar!

Yeah? Tim just actually suggested the Rebel Yell or the Nail Bomb. I could check out the Holy Diver.
Regarding the neck pickup: I've always liked the 490R, but it could be because I don't know what I'd be missing. I actually really like it split.

[darkbluemurder]

Yeah? Tim just actually suggested the Rebel Yell or the Nail Bomb. I could check out the Holy Diver.
Regarding the neck pickup: I've always liked the 490R, but it could be because I don't know what I'd be missing. I actually really like it split.

I can understand the Nailbomb (Alnico version) suggestion but the Rebel Yell suggestion surprises me. I would not choose the Rebel Yell over the Miracle Man if I wanted more bass and low mids. My suggestion - solely based on its description as I have never played one - would have been the Alnico Warpig.

Cheers Stephan

[DemolitionColorScheme]

Yeah? Tim just actually suggested the Rebel Yell or the Nail Bomb. I could check out the Holy Diver.
Regarding the neck pickup: I've always liked the 490R, but it could be because I don't know what I'd be missing. I actually really like it split.

I can understand the Nailbomb (Alnico version) suggestion but the Rebel Yell suggestion surprises me. I would not choose the Rebel Yell over the Miracle Man if I wanted more bass and low mids. My suggestion - solely based on its description as I have never played one - would have been the Alnico Warpig.

Cheers Stephan

The Rebel Yell surprised me as well. It sounds a little more voiced for classic rock, especially with the tighter low end. I've read that it lays more emphasis on the high mids and high end, which is exactly what I'm not looking for. The Nail Bomb seems to have more going on in the low mids and low end. So those seems to be my best bet.

The Warpig ... It seems so aggressive. Like, really high output and so much emphasis on the low end and mids. I'm kinda afraid it's over-doing it, haha. I actually play with low to mid gain sounds. I tend to prefer that. I don't like to drown in heaps of gain. Low gain and high volumes are the way to go for me. So, I prefer a bit of dynamics and some natural twang without it being just shrill and thinny.

[itamar101]

Ah, yes, The A-Bomb would also be an excellent fit. I don't really understand the Rebel Yell suggestion though...

I still think that the Holy Diver would be a good fit though.

[DemolitionColorScheme]

Ah, yes, The A-Bomb would also be an excellent fit. I don't really understand the Rebel Yell suggestion though...

I still think that the Holy Diver would be a good fit though.

With the Holy Diver, I'm a bit afraid to get too much of a middy tone.

[ericsabbath]

nailbomb should be fine
or you can convert your miracle man into an alnico miracle man (same as its neck version)
tone is somewhere between the nailbomb and the warpig