Here we go again.. Gibson suggestion

[DavidPRS]

Just ordered a Gibson Les Paul LPJ. A budget specked no frills LP. A perfect guitar if you like to rip'm apart a do your own thing. Played one for about an hour yesterday at GC so I ordered a gold top. They didn't have a gold top in stock. The pickups are the 490/498's (ok but not enough) and its a mahogany body, maple top and neck, rosewood board. I putting my PRS pickups on hold for now (thinking Miracle Mans for it though) and I want to mod this LP. I'm thinking of putting the Abraxis, Cold Sweat or Holy Divers. I know the first question will be "what style of music do you play", but I hate saying a certain band. I love hi gain metal but for me, I can play slayer then jam a 311 tune and then noodle around on a STP song and never switch channels on my Boogie Mark V. Sure each band has different sound qualities but I have my own style and I play rock and metal without worrying how much gain I have dialed in on my amp. In short, I love tight focused and not muddy pickups. I'm not that picky. I love Duncan's and the JB and even EMG's once in awhile. So I guess what pickup set is best suited to complement the LPJ and not necessarily me or a band?

[EffigyForgotten]

Can't beat the Holy Diver or Nailbomb for versatility.

[DavidPRS]

Can't beat the Holy Diver or Nailbomb for versatility.

The Holy Diver concerns me.. I'm told the HD is similar to the JB just not as hot but more articulate or clearer. Abraxis intrigues me but I'm not sure if they're hot enough. Cold sweats look like they're ready for anything. So confused! Pulling out my hair as we speak.

[shaman]

you have a mark V, so I wouldnt worry about a BK being "hot enough"!
I have Lp's with stormy,mule,rebel, and crawlers...
love em all thru the 5-the stormy and mule lp are a little brighter...a little rounder sounding
-the crawler and rebel have a more modern,darker  tone...I go to these when I am wanting my Lukather/Schon thing
i like the alnico V pups...cover lots of ground/very flexible...u can dial in/out a lot with the mk v
good luck on quest(my faves???rebel yells!!)

[Duke Hunt]

I loaded my Les Paul Standard with an alnico Nailbomb bridge and a Holy Diver neck, with compatibility and versatility in mind. So far I couldn't be happier with the results, the characteristics of both picks up suit the LP to a tee in my humble opinion.

[ericsabbath]

the nailbomb sounds like a pretty good match for your amp, unless you want something less over the top
maybe an abraxas, riff raff or vhII
I wouldn't pick the diver or rebel yell
there's something about the marks midrange that's just too dense and intense

[DavidPRS]

the nailbomb sounds like a pretty good match for your amp, unless you want something less over the top
maybe an abraxas, riff raff or vhII
I wouldn't pick the diver or rebel yell
there's something about the marks midrange that's just too dense and intense

How is the Abraxas? Is it considered a "hot" pickup? Is it loose, tight?

[darrenw5094]

How is the Abraxas? Is it considered a "hot" pickup? Is it loose, tight?

Abraxas is hot alright, not too tight though. Mine are in a Gibson LP Standard and they are hot and balanced, which i like.

[shaman]

the nailbomb sounds like a pretty good match for your amp, unless you want something less over the top
maybe an abraxas, riff raff or vhII
I wouldn't pick the diver or rebel yell
there's something about the marks midrange that's just too dense and intense

I own a Mk V, and the rebel sounds sweeet in all 3 channels of the mk v-the mk V has onboard eq...you can really dial those mids out(and many players probably over-do it-I keep my 750 slider even with the midline on the geq)
I love the clean tones as well on channel 1 of the mark V-my fave channel of the mk V
-I have gotten positive feedback at EVERY gig I have played concerning tone, and every LP player I know has asked me about my pickups...thanks Tim and co.!! :D

[TheyCallMeVolume]

I would think a RY would work well here.