First BKP for my Gibson LP Custom - huge metal tones

[Demiurges]

Hi all,
I'm new to the forum and to BKPickups but I'm planning to change the stock pickups of my Gibson LP (490/498) for something more appropriate to modern metal territories, rhythm and leads.

What I found good/not good in the stock pickups:
well, I actually think they're good pickups, otherwise why Gibson would have put them in the Custom line?
I'm using the guitar through an Engl Screamer head with handcrafted 4x12 cab with Eminence Legend (nearly v30).
Need to say that, playing metal, the sound I achieve is just too...really hard to explain...poor in frequencies. It's like all the bass are there, some mids and a lot of really unpleasant icy picky highs. The leads are good but the rhythm not really thight or "metal", they don't fill up in a good way in the mix. The guitar can't just cut through, in no way nor with amp EQ adjustament, actually going graving the sound or make it more icy than never. Pinch harmonics a la zakk wylde? They don't come out really easy. Just to say, my other guitar, a Squier strato, through the same AMP with same settings, sound just "better" ( in a tonal frequencies way :P), more open voiced and squealer/screaming!

What i'm looking for:
A pair of pickups that give me great clean tones, great huge and surrounding, still open, distorted rhythm sound ( a la zakk wylde, in flames, rammstein, soilwork, lacuna coil...), easy harmonics, huge flute like leads ( doug aldrich, zakk wylde, and the bands above).

What i'm really looking for:
a pair of pickups that could pair absolutely well with the guitar and the dark wood of the Custom model. Did you ever found in the same questions as I do?

Then, for a perfect change, what I need to buy?
Ben French from BKP, while suggesting me to use ceramic Painkillers or Nialbombs, and Warpings with ceramic magnet in the bridge, as also recommended me to check their custom design BKP 550k pots for vol and tone, but I also have seen that are other things in the accessories page. I'm a noob, so I need advice for whatever I had to buy also with pickups to obtain the best results.

Let me know, thank you
Gabriele

[Telerocker]

I would follow Ben's recommendations. The C-Bomb would be my first pick, but Painkillers will work too.

[EffigyForgotten]

Since you mentioned Zakk Wylde quite a few times, the Miracle Man will suit you well.

[ericsabbath]

I'd pick the miracle man for all the influences you mentioned, except doug aldrich
the c-bomb as a second option

engls are overly satured and too much gain will actually take out the punch and tightness rather than making it sound heavier
try using the gain very low (under 40%), put some more master volume and add a booster pedal for the extra cut and sustain

gibson pickups suck for high gain, as they get mushy quite easily under gain and their more aggressive ceramic models are very fizzy
the 498t is their worst sounding model, in my opinion
they put that in most models, including the custom since 1990
not because it's good, but  because it's reasonably hot and quite flat sounding, so most people won't complain about any shortages or excesses

[GuitarIv]

From my experience, the Painkiller will sound huge and balanced in a darker voiced guitar, at least it does in my Jackson (Mahogany Body, Maple Neck, Rosewood Fretboard). However if I was you I'd first try to change the pots to 500k ones like Ben suggested since Gibson uses 300k pots which make the guitar sound darker (for that reason Humbuckers are usually paired with 500k pots to lighten them up a bit and Singlecoils with 250k pots to darken them, the lower the value, the darker the sound). From there I would listen to your guitar again and reconsider just how much brightness you need, maybe the pots make you perceive it darker as it acoustically is (which is also a great way to judge an axe, play it unplugged and listen to the natural voice of the timbers, rule out the most pronounced frequencies). Just my 2 cents :)

Cheers

[Slartibartfarst42]

Miracle Man for me  :D

[Demiurges]

From my experience, the Painkiller will sound huge and balanced in a darker voiced guitar, at least it does in my Jackson (Mahogany Body, Maple Neck, Rosewood Fretboard). However if I was you I'd first try to change the pots to 500k ones like Ben suggested since Gibson uses 300k pots which make the guitar sound darker (for that reason Humbuckers are usually paired with 500k pots to lighten them up a bit and Singlecoils with 250k pots to darken them, the lower the value, the darker the sound). From there I would listen to your guitar again and reconsider just how much brightness you need, maybe the pots make you perceive it darker as it acoustically is (which is also a great way to judge an axe, play it unplugged and listen to the natural voice of the timbers, rule out the most pronounced frequencies). Just my 2 cents :)

Cheers

Thank you.
What I have to buy in order to have the best?
There are BKP Custom Audio Taper 550 long shaft CTS, Jensen BKP 0.022μfd or 0.015 capacitor. Surey I don't know if I need them both and why.

[GuitarIv]

550k pots from BKP are splendid and if you're going for the 50's Style wiring in your LP you can use 2 caps. Not sure though if you need the long or the short shaft, I think for LPs the long shafts should work. Just e-mail BKP again and ask them or send forum member "felineguitars" Jonathan a pm. He does stuff like building guitars and therefore wiring on a regular basis so he could help you out as well :)

[Dave Sloven]

Depending on how close you want to be to the Doug Aldrich side of things you might want to consider a mix of neck and bridge pickups, such as a Cold Sweat or Holy Diver in the neck with a Miracle Man in the bridge. The only one of the more 'metal' pickups I'd probably avoid given your tastes is the Aftermath, based on the samples I've heard.  I found a lot of clips on youtube with different BKP pickups in Les Pauls while I was trying to work out which set to buy for my SG.  Overall the Les Paul seems less 'finicky' about pickups than the SG, and I think you have a wider choice of pickups that will work, meaning that it's really a matter of taste.  This is why I'd recommend checking youtube.  People who are giving you advice have a certain idea in their head regarding what you want based on what you have told them, but the only real judge of that is you

[Demiurges]

Depending on how close you want to be to the Doug Aldrich side of things you might want to consider a mix of neck and bridge pickups, such as a Cold Sweat or Holy Diver in the neck with a Miracle Man in the bridge. The only one of the more 'metal' pickups I'd probably avoid given your tastes is the Aftermath, based on the samples I've heard.  I found a lot of clips on youtube with different BKP pickups in Les Pauls while I was trying to work out which set to buy for my SG.  Overall the Les Paul seems less 'finicky' about pickups than the SG, and I think you have a wider choice of pickups that will work, meaning that it's really a matter of taste.  This is why I'd recommend checking youtube.  People who are giving you advice have a certain idea in their head regarding what you want based on what you have told them, but the only real judge of that is you

Thank you :) I'll follow your recommendation.

[Dave Sloven]

When you are looking at the clips remember a few things:
1. Microphones differ in their ability to reproduce sound, the clip may not be completely accurate as to how the pickup will sound.  If there are a variety of pickups compared in the clip, take notice of how they sound relative to one another.
2. Their amp settings and playings styles might be quite different from yours. A lot of tone is in the amp and your hands.  If you are a mature player who has really settled into a style that is probably even more important; if you are a newer player your style and ability are developing and that might not be such a good guide.  If the person seems like a good player it's likely that less of the sound will be sloppy playing etc.
3. Pay careful attention to the construction of the guitar.  A Les Paul Studio is different from a Les Paul Standard, and the top and finish have a big impact on sound.
4. If there is not enough information on the clip - e.g., whether the ceramic or alnico version of a pickup with magnet options is being used - try posting a question about it under the video.  Most people are happy that you've shown an interest.
5. Ask someone who builds and/or sells the pickups at BKP.

[BigB]

A Les Paul Studio is different from a Les Paul Standard, and the top and finish have a big impact on sound.

Depends on the exact version of the Studio and Standard, but most of the Studios are just Standards with a very slightly thinner top, no binding and a silk screened logo. Same woods (really same woods - they don't waste time choosing which one will be a Studio or a Standard, that's just urban legend), same finish (bare the bindings), same hardware. 

[ericsabbath]

he probably was referring to those vintage mahogany worn finish studios
those sound VERY different from regular standards
and old norlin standards, which are still very common, had the 3-piece maple neck

[darkbluemurder]

I voted for the only two out of the given selection that I have played - the Miracle Man and the Alnico Nailbomb. Both should give you huge metal tones with the right amp/cabinet set up.

Cheers Stephan