Please help: Humbuckers for a Gibson 1960 RI Les Paul VOS

[rockingturtles]

Hello,
I am very new here and I hope You have no problems with my english...school is out over 35 years...

I play a Gibson Les Paul 1960 RI which is equipped with the burstbuckers 1+2 (neck, bridge).
The bb 1 in the neck position isn't completely bad overall, but everything other than clean to slightly overdriven gives me a bassy muddy sound. Especially the low E-string kills the possibility for playing for example distorted powerchords. Soloing sounds a bit too dark on the low strings. And there is really the opposite of liquid feeling  making my fingers stiff. 
I think, the guitar itself dos not sound ecxessive bassy accousticly.

So, now I am looking for a complete new set or mix of humbuckers.
I have no special idea, just want a good allround sounding Les Paul who can handle distorted sounds as well as some clean sounds. Maybe just a little more modern than now.
Though the guitar is a vintage modell, I am not really after THE vintage sound.
The amp is a Marshall JVM 410H going into a 1960 loaded with G12H30 (55hz) speakers, which tends to be a bit bassy I think. Other speakers would probably better for me, but thats another question.
I am thinking about some contemporary humbuckers, like the rebell yells or nailbombs, Holy Diver, or better Riff Raff, Emerald? Don't know.
I hope to get some input and tipps,

Thank You very much!

[darrenw5094]

Rebel yell or Nailbombs. The Alnico Nailbomb would rock in the Les Paul and is more modern than vintage.

[rockingturtles]

Thank You!

Is it ok to choose the braided wire? I do not plan to make some splitting.

[metale]

Can you name one or two bands you like the tone of? Without knowing, I would say HolydiverB + EmeraldN, if it was my Les Paul. Also, 550K pots.

Also, IMO, order 4-conductor whenever possible (easier to resell) and short legs on the neck humbucker (better compatibility with other guitars).

[Telerocker]

That Marshall has enough gain on tap so you don't need a very hot pickup. I would certainly consider a Mule-set of a RiffRaff-/Mule-neck-combo. They provide majestic cleans and handle loads of gain very well. You could try to tighten up things with a booster or an OD like a Maxon 808.

[rockingturtles]

I think You mean, Bands who are using Gibsontype guitars?
AC/DC
Led Zep
Guns'n Roses
Nearly all soundsamples from the bare knuckle website.. :D
Gary Moore
Whitesnake Doug Aldrich
and many modern bands I don't know the names

Tried it with SD alnico proII (slash) humbuckers. Really good humbuckers, but not that what I am looking for.


I have to say, that this will be my first try with high voltage humbuckers.... :|
Formerly I have played Singlecoil guitars. Since 4-5 years there is a SG with low output vintage-humbuckers. Great for clean stuff, funk!, Blues and Bluesrock to early hardrock.
After all the years with oldschool vintagesounds (I still like them too), I want to try it with a more modern rocksound sound with balls and "roaarr" in the Les Paul. :D

[Telerocker]

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

[littleredguitars2]

I think You mean, Bands who are using Gibsontype guitars?
AC/DC
Led Zep
Guns'n Roses

RIFF RAFF/MULE

[darkbluemurder]

That Marshall has enough gain on tap so you don't need a very hot pickup.

+1.

I would certainly consider a Mule-set of a RiffRaff-/Mule-neck-combo. They provide majestic cleans and handle loads of gain very well. You could try to tighten up things with a booster or an OD like a Maxon 808.

No direct experience with these pickups yet but that should work well indeed. Black Dogs would also be a good alternative.

Cheers Stephan

[rockingturtles]

That Marshall has enough gain on tap so you don't need a very hot pickup. I would certainly consider a Mule-set of a RiffRaff-/Mule-neck-combo. They provide majestic cleans and handle loads of gain very well. You could try to tighten up things with a booster or an OD like a Maxon 808.

Thank You!
Yes, I Think the RiffRaff/Mule is a great Vintage pickup set!
I am thinking about a RiffRaff/Mississippi Queen combination for my Les Paul SG....
Yes, the JVM has a lot of gain.
I have already 2 guitars (Les Paul, SG) with vintage voiced humbuckers.
Now, I am looking for a more modern voicing for the Les Paul.
Would it be a sin to put humbuckers like the Nailbomb or Rebell Yell in a Historic Reissue Les Paul?
Are these humbucker models a bad combination for a historic Les Paul?
 

[Dave Sloven]

I have a Maxon OD-9 but replaced it with an MXR Custom Badass Modified O.D. that does the same job, has a few more EQ tricks up its sleeve, and is cheaper. It can give you the EQ curve of either an OD-9 or an OD-808 depending on whether you have the 'bump' switch selected (or not).

[metale]

I have already 2 guitars (Les Paul, SG) with vintage voiced humbuckers.
Now, I am looking for a more modern voicing for the Les Paul.
Would it be a sin to put humbuckers like the Nailbomb or Rebell Yell in a Historic Reissue Les Paul?
Are these humbucker models a bad combination for a historic Les Paul?

It's not a sin by any means. Both humbucker models would work, depending on if you want more of a modern rock tone (RY) or more of a '90s metal tone (NB).

Keep in mind you have the HSP-90s too, such as the MQ and the Stockholm. Don't look at the MQ as a strictly vintage-sounding pickup (going by your post about pairing it with a Riff Raff): I had it with a Black Dog and the BD had some trouble keeping up. It can rock, it can even metal, and so can the Stockholm.

[Dave Sloven]

I have a Stockholm in an SG Junior and I use it for an '80s style hardcore band (e.g., Massappeal, Ripcord, Heresy, Intense Degree, etc) band that I play in.  It is an aggressive, powerful pickup that keeps up with my Nailbomb equipped Explorer that I use in the same band.  Both are tuned to D standard and played through a high-gain amp and V30 speakers.  Both the Stockholm and the Nailbomb are modern sounding.

I tend to think you would be happy with a Rebel Yell, but a Nailbomb can also work very well in that context.  I've heard some really nice clips using the ceramic version, but I think either version would be fine.  The Nailbomb is more aggressive sounding than the Rebel Yell.  Another pickup to consider is the Cold Sweat.  I found it to be an excellent upgrade from the 490R/498T set in my SG Standard.

[rockingturtles]

Well, now I am a little bit cleverer but also confused at the same time! :P

The Mule would be a very noble PAF 59 style humbucker, that also have no problems with high gain sounds.
The Rebel Yell is good for a 80's  rocksound.
The Nailbomb is similar to the rebell yell but more modern and metal-sounding.

All pickups have good cleanssounds. The Mule is the best for cleanssounds.
I rarely play crystal clear clean, like country style or so. But sometimes I love to play some funky style rhythm.

It seems that the Mule would be the best choice, if I want a versatile guitar?
How does it sound with the Rebel Yell, playing AC/DC style or Airbourne?
Somebody tried to play Hendrixx stuff with Rebell Yells? I am not after THE original sounds, it should just sounds good.


 

[PhilKing]

Check my reply on this thread https://bareknucklepickups.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=31387.0. I cover a lot of different pickups in Les Pauls.  I would look at the Abraxas if you want a higher output PAF sound, however for the guys you've listed, I would really think about a PG Blues set.