Pickup recommendation for LP-esque guitar

[SuperMoos]

Hi all,

I'm new to the forum and have actually never played or heard a BKP in person. I've been watching all YouTube videos and listening to all the clips I can find and I like what I hear so far. Furthermore, BKP come highly recommended, so I figured I will give it a try. I hope you guys can help me decide which pickups to choose.

The guitar that is getting the new pickups is a De Gier Authority - pretty well-known over here and the guy makes great guitars. It's got a mahogany body (non-chambered) and a 5A quilted maple top, mahogany neck and blackwood fingerboard. Currently, it's loaded with Sheptone Brian Kahanek humbuckers, which I don't particularly like. These seem to be fairly close to the original PAF sound.. cool for some, but it feels a bit under-powered for my taste. Also, when playing hi-gain, these pickups just don't sound the way I would like them to.

My amp is a Soldano HR50+ (which is a very open, agressive, mid / hi-mid amp), my cab is a Bogner 412 (V30's). I am usually more of a PRS guy; I have 2 single cuts besided this De Gier and the one I love best is loaded with SC250 pickups. I would like my new pickups to be more in the league of the SC250 in terms of power and output. Specs for the SC250 pups are: Bass: Alnico 8k, Treble: Alnico 15.42k.

Music I play is mostly rock / hard-rock / metal. Stuff like Foo Fighters, Queens of the Stone Age, Alter Bridge, Tremonti, etc. Drop-D tuning is as far as I ever go down and I play 6-strings.

I am currently looking at a Rebel Yell or Nailbomb set, although I read a lot of good things about all the other pickups as well. The sets are not very cheap, so I would appreciate your opinions very much!

Here's some pics of my guitar:

[Telerocker]

Hi and welcome here!

That's a topnotch guitar you got! I know a little about The Gier, since I am from Holland, and they make absolute beautiful guitars.

I think the Rebel Yell would serve you well. Mind you this one is quite agressive and bright in the upper register, but you have a tonepot.... The Nailbomb has more bass then the RY and is one of the most agressive BKP's.  To me it sounds a bit 90's-metal with a little sizzle on the topend. Both are great pickups and clean up well.

[SuperMoos]

Hi and welcome here!

That's a topnotch guitar you got! I know a little about The Gier, since I am from Holland, and they make absolute beautiful guitars.

I think the Rebel Yell would serve you well. Mind you this one is quite agressive and bright in the upper register, but you have a tonepot.... The Nailbomb has more bass then the RY and is one of the most agressive BKP's.  To me it sounds a bit 90's-metal with a little sizzle on the topend. Both are great pickups and clean up well.

Thanks for the compliment and the reply; I love this guitar. The Rebel Yell sounds like a good choice, although I wonder if it will not be too bright.. since I play it through a Soldano, which tends to lean towards the bright side as well. But, it has a treble-pot..  8) Is the Rebel Yell really THAT bright and agressive in the upper register? Or is it more of a nuance-thing.

[Telerocker]

RY is one of the brightest in the BKP-range. If you want a rounder topend and some extra mids look at the Holy Diver.

[richard]

The RY IS bright but it was designed to perform in mahogany guitars. I have mine in an all mahogany Firebird Studio and they are amazing. Plenty of cut but not harsh. I generally have the treble on my Cornford amp less than half way up. I've sent you a PM.

[Philly Q]

I don't have a pickup recommendation, but beautiful guitar!  I really like the colour.  :D

[ericsabbath]

wow
you have a killer rig
sheptones are great pickups as well

did you try boosting the amp for the heavier stuff?
with an overdrive, I can play alter bridge pretty easily with the riff raff, black dog, vhII and even the mules

but if you decide to go hot, my vote goes for the alnico nailbomb
the holy diver would work as well, but has a more midrange based tone, not as punchy and aggressive as the nailbomb

[JJretroTONEGOD]

that guitar is an absolute beauty, definitely highest grade maple!

I have always liked the abraxas, they are very under rated but tim convinced me to get mules which I have been delighted with.

[SuperMoos]

Thank you guys for all the replies! I am going to give the Alnico Nailbomb a try; see how it sits in this guitar!

[TheyCallMeVolume]

Thank you guys for all the replies! I am going to give the Alnico Nailbomb a try; see how it sits in this guitar!

Always a safe choice IMO.

[SuperMoos]

Nailbomb arrived this weekend; installed yesterday. I do believe I made the right choice! This guitar now sounds like it should! Rocking hard! :)

Thank you guys for your help!

[richard]

Congratulations, did you get the set ? I'd love to hear some clips.

[TheyCallMeVolume]

Nailbomb arrived this weekend; installed yesterday. I do believe I made the right choice! This guitar now sounds like it should! Rocking hard! :)

Thank you guys for your help!

Glad you like them! Need some clips!

[Telerocker]

Congrats! Let us know your experiences.

[SuperMoos]

Got the set and I will post clips a.s.a.p.! I will test the new setup tomorrow evening during rehearsal. At non-gig volumes, I can tell they have a LOT more gain and output, while retaining clarity. Will keep you posted!