Pickups for Gibson Les Paul which can handle low tunings

[0T]

Some time ago I bought Gibson Les Paul Studio with Gibson 498T and 490R pickups. This guitar sounds like typical Gibson, dark and deep, with some kind of "growl" in it - really good guitar compared to other Gibsons I played. It sounds awesome in normal tuning, but I'm mainly playing in low tunings such as B standard or C standard and in that tunings my sound becomes very dark, with lots of bass and low-mid, kinda muddy. I'm looking for pickups which will cut low frequencies a bit and add brightness and clarity to the sound. I also like "crunch" in my sound, although I don't know how to describe it. I had that crunch in one of my other guitars while using SD Blacouts AHB1. I can't get much brightness from amp, because I play dark sounding amp - Bogner Uberschall with Ubercab cabinet. I prefer ceramic magnets and rather high output than moderate one. My style of playing demands clarity and "pumping" while palm muting. I read a lot about different BKP pickups and now I know even less than before... I played Aftermaths in sapele body guitar and didn't like it. Any experiences and advice is welcome.

[Kiichi]

Since you want ceramic I would say the Cold Sweat might work. It is one of brighter ones from the range and can crunch well.

If you are not set one ceramic I would say what I have been recommending a lot lately, which is the Emerald. Bright, metal, has that alnico crunch and is also bright.

[Slartibartfarst42]

I agree entirely. As I was reading your original post I kept thinking of a Cold Sweat set and while it's not a super hot pickup, it will do everything you want in spades. The Emerald is a bit more open sounding in the bridge, is a bit brighter than the Cold Sweat while the neck is a bit more versatile and has a sweeter lead tone. Or you could try a Cold Sweat bridge with an Emerald neck.

[ericsabbath]

not sure... probably a painkiller, maybe a ceramic nailbomb

[Mr. Air]

I was thinking painkiller as well. It should add some brightness and tightness.

[charles55]

I have a NailBomb set on a LP standard tuned to B. Great pickups. \m/

[Roboten]

Ceramic Warpig. Why you say? They have that crunch you want and although they are somewhat darker than your pickups they are incredibly clear and defined, which means you'll get the tone you want with a brighter eq-setting.

[Telerocker]

I concur with the C-Bomb.

[0T]

Thanks for that many responses! I don't know why, but I stopped getting e-mail notfications  :?

[GuitarIv]

Regarding low tunings, the Painkillers won't let you down. They are very defined, track the bass like mofos and sound very raw and in your face. I wouldn't say they crunch, nor would I say they give you that "pump" when you chug, they are more dry than juicy, if that makes any sense. If you're looking for smething that will stay clear and defined on the lowest tunings with a raw and grinding sound, then those are for you. If you want something that has more of the Crunch and Pump, I'd rather take a Nailbomb, however I never played it personally, just read lots of reviews and listened to sound samples.

Here you have good examples of the "Crunchiness":

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X2kvQkpz5sM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CDrq49nrYFY

Hope that helps :)

[DoomBuggi]

Definitely Painkiller. Had one in my Les Paul, and it killed.