2011 Gibson Les Paul Custom Pickup Replacements

[Satch4u3]

Hi everyone.

I was wondering if you could recommend a set of replacement pickups for a 2011 Gibson Les Paul Custom? Currently it has the stock 490R/490T installed.
 
I am looking for a pickup that has a nice crunchy bridge pickup that has a tight, but bouncy bottom end. As for the other frequencies I am looking for it to be punchy and the treble to be smooth and not to harsh. I am not looking for anything really hot and something that cleans up nice with the volume knob. Something that can get me in the classic rock, hard rock and metal territory.
 
As for the neck pickup I would like something that gives a nice woody tone that doesn't get flubby in the bottom end. Maybe something like a slash style neck sound.
 
As for Ceramics vs Alnico I THINK I am looking for Alnico. Also is there any differences in the sound if they are open coils or covered?
 
If it helps any, I am currently running my guitar through a Mesa/Boogie Mark V.
 
I apologize for all the acronyms :) Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated

[darrenw5094]

Haven't got one myself, but i bet the Alnico Nailbomb will get some votes here for the bridge.

As for the neck, classic rock Slash style i thought of the VHII neck, but maybe the Emerald neck is a better choice.

DISCLAIMER: I don't have either the Nailbomb or Emerald. :P

[ericsabbath]

sounds like an abraxas set description

[Duke Hunt]

I was going for the "Slash" sound for my Les Paul Standard, yet wanted something versatile that could get into modern territory. I ended up going with an Alnico-Nailbomb for the Bridge and a Holy Diver for the neck. Works a treat, couldn't be happier.

[Telerocker]

Thinking Abraxas too, it's like a hotter Mule. AIV-magnets provide a very balanced eq and the topend of the Abraxas is, while chimey, quite round.

[Satch4u3]

Thanks for the replies everyone. Tim suggests a set of Emeralds. Anyone have any experience with these? He mentioned that the sound samples were recorded with a Les Paul Custom. Sounds pretty killer.

[Roboten]

I just got a set of emeralds for my Les Paul DC Standard a week ago, and so far i can say their name is very fitting, they sound very much like jail break to bad reputation-era thin lizzy. They replaced a pair of riff raffs and in comparison they are higher output, bigger sounding and fatter but tighter, the bridge has the same level of bite and attack while the neck is a bit mellower compared the it's riff raff equivalent. Great for mid to late 70s rock tones.

[darrenw5094]

Well i got the neck pickup right. 8)

The Abraxas set in my '93 Gibson LP Standard is a great combo though too.

[Mr. Air]

I think both the Emerald and the Abraxas would work well for you. Hard to choose which one.

[Telerocker]

More topend: Emerald
More mids: Abraxas

[TheyCallMeVolume]

More topend: Emerald
More mids: Abraxas

This is pretty accurate. I'm not familiar with Boogie amps or how you use it so I wouldn't know which frequencies you like more. It's up to you, they'll both work well.

[Satch4u3]

I definitely do not want any more high end in my sound. I tend to run my Mark V a little warm and round. I like a vocal midrange with smooth highs. The Mark V naturally has a prominent midrange voice.

After reading some reviews on the Emeralds it sounds like they will bring in some highs. They will be going in a Gibson Les Paul Custom so maybe it would level out the highs. Sounds like an Emerald in neck is the way to go though. I am hearing great things about it in that position.  Maybe the Abraxas will be the way to go in the bridge. More reseach I guess.

Any experience with the Abraxas in a Les Paul Custom?

[TheyCallMeVolume]

Not personally but I know lots of guys here have them in LP's with great success.

[Telerocker]

Abraxas performs well in LP's and PRS's.

[shaman]

I have a '91 LPC and one of my amps is a MkV...good stuff!
-my LP is a very bright one...I have had a hard time finding a good match for it
-mules were too bright...I am betting a 300 k pot would have helped them, but I swapped 'em out for a set of nailbombs...real good for classic/blues/hard rock
-I ended up swapping them out again for a set of Crawlers-they just seem to work better in this guitar,while the nbs worked better in my Hamer
-my Mark amps are bright, but I do play them thru the uncompromising evm12L ev speakers...
the crawlers work for all types of music for me(even down tuned TOOL riffs...), and it sounds sweet thru my hot-rodded marsh into greenies
Tim is the man when it comes to recommendations,however
-i have not played /compared my LP to new ones,either
-do you have a Mk v combo,or head?what speakers?
...love the 10 watt setting on channel one...dimed out...smell the paint melt on the tubes...yum!