Pickups for Norlin Les Paul Custom 74

[Ka_Status]

Hello, I read a lot forum but can't decide what pu to install on my new guitar. Currently it has a t-top, but they are noisy beasts on high gain level. Please give me an advice about BareKnuckle set for it. It should be versatile enough. I usually play bridge pick up with distortion, from LZ to SOAD/Metallica/Bulllet for my Valentine/Tool. On neck's I play usually and singing solos. I thought about two sets: VHII bridge/Mule neck or Nailbomb bridge/VHII neck. May be Rebel Yell in bridge. And most insane option is BlackHawk in bridge. What do you think? Thanks :)

[Telerocker]

I would pick the Nailbomb/VHII combo for those tones. The Rebel Yell isn't that far away from the NB, so if you that is a good option too. A Cold Sweat- or Emerald-neck would fit the bill too.

[Yellowjacket]

How heavy / bass heavy is your LP?  What's the overall tonality of it like? 


What don't you like about your current pickups (Tonewise, besides noise) that you hope to change with pickups.  My 2002 LP standard is weight relieved but it still sounds plenty beefy.  For my guitar, I was recommended a Black Dog in the neck and a Nailbomb in the bridge.  I currently have a Rebel Yell set and I find that the bridge pickup can handle mountains of gain and remain extremely tight and clear.   If your instrument has a really tubby bottom and needs a more clear and defined high end, this pickup is a great option.  It really mates well with the modern low mid heavy high gain tones.  My only issue I have been having is that it can be a bit thin sounding  (At low volumes, mind you) on really low gain classic rock type tones.  I think it's mostly a guitar issue though. 

Nailbomb / VHII sounds awesome.  Nailbomb / Black Dog also.  I'd recommend the Rebel Yell as a bridge pickup, especially if you want to nail those more vintage tones by turning down the volume pot and letting the amp provide the gain.  It's monstrously awesome at this!  With a Rebel Yell bridge I'm not sure what I'd put in the neck.  The Rebel Yell neck pickup is a fantastic pickup in its own right and maybe you could put that with your nailbomb bridge?

Happy choosing!!!  I'm currently trying to pick a cover ^___^

[Slartibartfarst42]

Bullet used to use Seymour Duncan JB pickups before they went to EMG so for that reason coupled with the need for versatility, I'd go with the trusty Holydiver/Emerald set. I use that set and with an Overdrive pedal it will certainly do those tones you're after and be a lot more versatile than a Nailbomb in my opinion.

[Ka_Status]

For understanding: my rig is Engl Ironball and AxeFx II. I can nail all kind of tone with my pick up, but noise is so high, so I can't

[Slartibartfarst42]

That doesn't change my suggestion at all, though I'd say the Miracle Man would be another possibility I'd look at.

[darkbluemurder]

Nailbomb bridge/VHII neck is a good combination, so is the Rebel Yell bridge/VHII neck. Any of these should get you what you want.

Cheers Stephan

[ericsabbath]

if your guitar is bassy and dense sounding like my '73 les paul custom, I highly recommend the riff raff/mule combo, and a booster for the metal and 80's hard rock stuff
I had a lot of bkps in this guitar before setting on these
I tried nailbombs, cold sweats, black dog, holy diver, aftermath and a motor city set
if your main concerns is high gain only, most of the contemporary line should work well, but the riff raff works just as fine
the riff raff shouldn't be hotter than the t-top, but it's punchier and waaaay clearer under gain
it does Tool amazingly well and handles the Hetfield picking really well for an alnico pickup
but I bet a rebell yell would sound great in this guitar too