Pickup Suggestion for Les Paul Custom if you please (Long post warning)

[JimmyMoorby]

I've owned a Gibson Les Paul Custom VOS for several months now and im in love with it.  Its warm sounding and has lots of guts.

The stock pickups were the 498t and 490r.  The 498t took me back at how good it was but the 490t well.....I could not find any use for it and I tried every style I could think of to find some positives but couldnt!

After buying the les paul I was short on cash so I whipped out the credit card and bought some black hawks from GAK but they were sold out.  In fairness an impulse buy and im glad it did not work out althogh I might go there in the future who knows. To order from BKP direct is quite a bit more money so I chose to go with others brands to save money.

I really wanted to make the Les Paul into a riffing and shredding machine.  I wanted to get the sounds of Testament and Megadeth with their more recent albums like Endgame and Dark Roots of the Earth and Dream Theater/Mastodon and play in E Flat.  I went for a Duncan distortion in the bridge and a Di Marzio D-Activator in the neck.  Both were a step in the right direction from the stock pickups.

The distortion works really really well but it falls down in one place is misses the clarity of BKP.  I told BKP I was after some thing similar and they recommended the ceramic nailbomb (Maybe because I already said I lthought that was a good idea) but they actually said the Painkiller would be ideal.

Now I like the painkiller from what ive heard but also it seems as if it ISNT chunky and lacks guts particularly compared to a Duncan Distortion.  I was thinking either c-bomb or alnico black hawk but im open to any suggestions although I will say I just havent heard any thing I like re the miracle man so that might be a lost cause.  I've noticed BKP have never ever recommended me the black hawk which is odd as I have a soft spot for it.  I'm open to the idea of the juggeranut but I definitely dont want some thing on the darker/smoother side regardless of how tight it is.  For the bridge mega chunky and tight riffs with lots of presence.

The Di Marzio D Activator for any one who is interested is an odd creature.  Extremely high output, cold and lifeless like an active you might say but then it responds like a single coil at times.  Its tempting to say it cr@p but it  isnt that bad but its a big step down from BKP but still better than the woeful Gibson 490r.  I've already bought a cold sweat neck for this.  It was crystal clear and articulate in my super strat but too twangy......cant imagine that being the case in a les paul but still open to suggestions re the neck slot too.
Just looking for awesome metal leads here like Petrucci etc

Cheers!

[littleredguitars2]

i've tried a few different pickups in my LP custom and the best ones were the BK Juggernaut and the Gibson Dirty Fingers. both fit the guitar really well and can absolutely scream. the juggernaut was not really dark in the lp. it was a little brighter than in my strat and it seriously had so much balls. the c-bomb thats in there now handles itself very well but its the exact opposite of smooth which at times is great but other times isnt. i think the jugg is a little less hairy so it lends itself to be a little more versatile. i also tried the rebel yells in my les paul classic before i sold it and they were quite nice. i'll post a few videos of different pickups in my LP custom.

gibson dirty fingers
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GX8vdlvRir8 (cr@ppy camera mic. sounds better than the video gives it credit for)

bare knuckle cbomb
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U1obbO-DBA8 (mic'd cab)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q7vv-zIZQuM (mic'd cab)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zitofsOS6kI (mic'd cab)

bare knuckle juggernaut
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EuCNEite9gg (quick demo. camera mic. sounded incredible in person)

[JimmyMoorby]

Thanks for that I have seen the videos before but as with the vast majority of youtube clips through my laptop I can't tell a difference but thanks any way.  I can't tell a difference between ANY of the clips of the BKP site!

Just 2 questions if you dont mind.

Did either the c-bomb or juggeranut have better cleans or sound particularly clearer?

What do mean by the juggeranut screams in the les paul?  To me that suggest a nice cutting lead sound?

Thanks a lot

[Telerocker]

I think the BKP-recommendation is spot on.

[JimmyMoorby]

I think the BKP-recommendation is spot on.

Quite possibly but whilst browsing through the web for answers I found a thread with some guy wanting suggestions for a flying v guitar.  He also had  Duncan Distortion but just wanted some thing a bit more refined.  He tried the aftermath and painkiller and said they had less balls which worries me. 

Always fancied the idea of the painkiller though as I like brighter pickups but I still like full ones if tthat makes sense.  Many people seem to suggest the painkiller is a little weak from reviews.......

[littleredguitars2]

i've seen the painkiller in LP's a lot lately. seems to be a winning combo.

both the cbomb and juggernaut have great cleans but both versions of the nailbombs have had some of the best cleans i've ever heard. the cleans of the juggernaut sound great in my strat but i can't remember how they sounded in my LP.

by screaming, i mean the lead tones were just unreal. harmonics just jumped out effortlessly. definitely would cut through really well. i'd say a bit better than the cbomb

[Dave Sloven]

Quite possibly but whilst browsing through the web for answers I found a thread with some guy wanting suggestions for a flying v guitar.  He also had  Duncan Distortion but just wanted some thing a bit more refined.  He tried the aftermath and painkiller and said they had less balls which worries me.

From personal experience I would say that BKPs are a lot less compressed than most 'hot' pickups.  This probably translates into them seeming to have 'less balls' than Duncans at the same resistance rating.  I think the Painkiller would be a good option for you, but I wouldn't overlook the Black Hawk either.  The BH is the exception: it seems higher output than resistance readings suggest.  You might also want to consider a PK together with a compressor on your effects board for when you want more compression.  It's easier to add compression than to take it away!!! I have an MXR Custom Comp but to be honest I rarely feel the need to use it with my Nailbomb and Stockholm pickups on distorted amp settings.  I've used it on clean and on high gain when playing my Cold Sweat SG and that is quite good.  Just depends on what you are looking for.

Definitely sounds like the PK or BH are the pickups for you out of the BKP range though.

I really like the sound of PKs in a Les Paul, but they are very aggressive in the mids.  I would also consider the A-Bomb.

[littleredguitars2]

very true. i've heard people say that the blackhawk is possibly the hottest BK pickup even though the readings suggest otherwise. i've been dying to try one ever since i started using BK's

[Alex]

I would have recommended the Miracle Man for this, but as you've ruled it out I won't.

You basically have the Blackhawk, Juggernaut and Painkiller left for a "shred machine", as they all have the treble cut and fluidity. I think the Juggernaut will be the least likely to get you that Megadeth/Mastodon sounds you're looking for - it's a great sounding pickup but it always sounds too modern and crisp in the upper mids, too much djent. That leaves the Blackhawk and Painkiller and it seems that the BKP recommendation is then really very good.

Nailbomb and Holy Diver... for me these work in a different guitar.

[JimmyMoorby]

Quite possibly but whilst browsing through the web for answers I found a thread with some guy wanting suggestions for a flying v guitar.  He also had  Duncan Distortion but just wanted some thing a bit more refined.  He tried the aftermath and painkiller and said they had less balls which worries me.

From personal experience I would say that BKPs are a lot less compressed than most 'hot' pickups.  This probably translates into them seeming to have 'less balls' than Duncans at the same resistance rating.  I think the Painkiller would be a good option for you, but I wouldn't overlook the Black Hawk either.  The BH is the exception: it seems higher output than resistance readings suggest.  You might also want to consider a PK together with a compressor on your effects board for when you want more compression.  It's easier to add compression than to take it away!!! I have an MXR Custom Comp but to be honest I rarely feel the need to use it with my Nailbomb and Stockholm pickups on distorted amp settings.  I've used it on clean and on high gain when playing my Cold Sweat SG and that is quite good.  Just depends on what you are looking for.

Definitely sounds like the PK or BH are the pickups for you out of the BKP range though.

I really like the sound of PKs in a Les Paul, but they are very aggressive in the mids.  I would also consider the A-Bomb.

I get what youre saying about compaing BKP's to othe brands but it seems common from what ive seen from BKP users that the painkiller can sound harsh/weak.

Thanks for the advice so far folks.

I can say its either going to be the painkiller or the alnico black hawk so far.

[Slartibartfarst42]

From what you have so far, I'd say Black Hawk.

I use the same pickups in my Les Paul Studio and I know exactly what you mean. I really like the 498T but the 490R? Not really! The thing that would concern me is that if you like the 498T so much, why are you going for something that is going to be so radically different? The nearest thing to a 498T that BKP do is the A-Bomb as it has that gritty, aggressive hairiness that only seems to come with 43PE wire wound hot. The Bare Knuckle pickups that are supposed to be hotter 'Metal' pickups like the Miracle Man etc. generally use polysol wire and while it seems to retain articulation very well etc. the pickups lose some of the edge. I found the Miracle Man to be a lot more polite sounding than I had anticipated and the same was true of the Holydiver. I assume (I may be wrong) that this is simply a by-product of the wire used. The 498T sounds hotter, tighter, more aggressive and more saturated than most of the contemporary Bare Knuckles I've heard and it's one of the reasons I'm so loathed to change it.

So, of the two you seem to have narrowed it down to, I'd go A-Hawk but if it was me, I'd be looking at an A-Bomb for sure.

[JimmyMoorby]

From what you have so far, I'd say Black Hawk.

I use the same pickups in my Les Paul Studio and I know exactly what you mean. I really like the 498T but the 490R? Not really! The thing that would concern me is that if you like the 498T so much, why are you going for something that is going to be so radically different? The nearest thing to a 498T that BKP do is the A-Bomb as it has that gritty, aggressive hairiness that only seems to come with 43PE wire wound hot. The Bare Knuckle pickups that are supposed to be hotter 'Metal' pickups like the Miracle Man etc. generally use polysol wire and while it seems to retain articulation very well etc. the pickups lose some of the edge. I found the Miracle Man to be a lot more polite sounding than I had anticipated and the same was true of the Holydiver. I assume (I may be wrong) that this is simply a by-product of the wire used. The 498T sounds hotter, tighter, more aggressive and more saturated than most of the contemporary Bare Knuckles I've heard and it's one of the reasons I'm so loathed to change it.

So, of the two you seem to have narrowed it down to, I'd go A-Hawk but if it was me, I'd be looking at an A-Bomb for sure.

Good question about the 498t I did like it but I wanted some thing even more OTT, fancied open black coils and refused to believe that there werent better pickups out there :)

The Duncan distortion suits me in many ways but clarity could be much better and the cleans are awful.

Slarti as you know we have completely different take on the alnico nailbomb.  Whilst its tight for an alnico pup in my alder super strat its no where near as tight as the Duncan Distortion is in my les paul.  The distortion is so much more 'helpful' when playing fast and technical thrashy/progressive riffs and whilst the alnico nailbomb is my favourite pickup ever thus far I think its 'warm top end' would make it so it didnt have enough cut in a les paul for my tastes.  Jonathan from Feline also felt the alnico nailbomb would be too dark in a les paul for his tastes.  You obviously like a 'smoother' sound in general to me.  I think the ceramic nailbomb is an option but BKP told me to go for the painkiller!

Top and bottom ive gained an appreciation for ceramic pickups (In the bridge) again.

Several people here have recommended the Painkiller as have BKP AND Feline Guitars so I feel its too much expert advice to ignore.

Ive always liked the sound of the painkiller and its nasty nature with its string to string clarity it reminds me on the nailbomb but ive always took a lot of notice of the people who say the painkiller is on the brighter/harsh side and has no balls. What ive also noticed though is people who put it in mahogony get a lot more joy with it and this les paul I have is on the warmer side for sure and some people say its a nailbomb at the next level......some also say its not as beefy as the nailbomb and some people on this very forum have said its not as beefy as the duncan distortion.  Theres onyl so much attention you can pay to people online youve never met before though!

I personally cant decide between the alnico black hawk and the painkiller on my limited experience but when the majority of people are screaming PAAAAINKILLLLLLER at me I cant ignore it and its a pickup ive always been interested in any way just weary of.

EDIT - At the start of the world cup I put money on Germany to win.  At this stage it looks like a sure thing so if they do ill treat my self to a painkiller ASAP!

[Slartibartfarst42]

You're right, I do like things smoother in general but to my credit, I did make a post that suggested a Nailbomb 

Only a fool ignores free professional advice so on that basis, go with the Painkiller.

As for me, I still can't decide if I want to change the pickups in my Gibson at all. I really like the 498T so if I did change it, I'd like something that is similar. The 490R frustrates me a lot more but I've been thrown by the wiring too, having never owned a Les Paul before. I wanted to change the push/pull pots so that one split both pickups at the same time and the other gave me the Peter Green out-of-phase sound and I assumed that would be a simple job but when I removed the back, instead of having the loose wiring I have in the PRS, everything was on a circuit board and the pickups plugged into that instead of being soldered in. I didn't know where to start! Not only did I have to abandon my idea for the push/pull pots, I also started thinking that to change pickups I'd have to change the entire wiring and with so many variables involved, would I just end up destroying the distinctly Gibson character it has at the moment? I'm really unsure what to do now 

[JimmyMoorby]

You're right, I do like things smoother in general but to my credit, I did make a post that suggested a Nailbomb 

Only a fool ignores free professional advice so on that basis, go with the Painkiller.

As for me, I still can't decide if I want to change the pickups in my Gibson at all. I really like the 498T so if I did change it, I'd like something that is similar. The 490R frustrates me a lot more but I've been thrown by the wiring too, having never owned a Les Paul before. I wanted to change the push/pull pots so that one split both pickups at the same time and the other gave me the Peter Green out-of-phase sound and I assumed that would be a simple job but when I removed the back, instead of having the loose wiring I have in the PRS, everything was on a circuit board and the pickups plugged into that instead of being soldered in. I didn't know where to start! Not only did I have to abandon my idea for the push/pull pots, I also started thinking that to change pickups I'd have to change the entire wiring and with so many variables involved, would I just end up destroying the distinctly Gibson character it has at the moment? I'm really unsure what to do now 

I pay little attention to wiring as I simply get other people do do all that stuff for me but I know the guitar has 500k pots already which was good.

I'm not going to tell you do do anything to the bridge but as youve said the 490r is poor and id love to know what sort of style of guitar playing its aimed at because I havent got a clue.  For guitarists who want to sound like ass?

Looking forward to getting my cold sweat in there the neck pickup slot seems picky.  Both bridge pickups have sound awesome thus far and I only prefer the duncan distortion because I want it to be a blatant metal guitar.

[Toe-Knee]

Further to my PM the other day. Ill be that guy that recommends the EMG alternative as its something BKP dont do. The Het set particularly.

Also the duncan fullshred is the tightest most in your face duncan i've tried. More so than the black winters.