Versatile Pickups for #1 Guitar (Carvin CT-4)

[feelthaflo]

Hoping you guys can help let me know if I'm on the right track.  My playing style relies heavily on tonal clarity and dynamics.  I play everything from cleanish blues rock to classic rock to southern rock to hard rock to modern rock.  Most of my time is spent in the realm of classic rock and blues so that is where I need the best possible tone.  When we get into the heavier stuff (usually drop-D or C# with some chugga-chugga action)  I need to be able to go there convincingly but it's not the most important part of my sound.

Right...next you'll want to know about the guitar.  It is a Carvin CT-4: mahogany body on the thinner side, carved maple top; set mahogany neck, maple fingerboard, 25" scale, 22 frets.  Resonance on this particular instrument is quite excellent, and seems to be very balanced overall, perhaps with some slight upper-midrange emphasis.  Guitar is quite similar to a PRS Custom-22.

Amps - most used are a Blackstar HT-5r for classic rock and heavier, and a Swart STR-Tweed for blues to classic rock.

Current direction: Mules are supposed to be the PAF sound, which would match great with a thicker single-cut guitar, but I think they may be too bright for this instrument.  Also the bridge seems like it would be a bit lacking for heavier styles.  This has me currently leaning towards an Abraxas set for this guitar.  What do you think?

[Telerocker]

Abraxas is a good choice if you want to keep the PAF-flavour. But I can see a Holy Diver working too. Just a little more modern in sound, but with the alnico warmth.

[darkbluemurder]

Abraxas set is what came to my mind as well.

Cheers Stephan

[feelthaflo]

After jamming this past weekend, I was really digging how my current bridge pickup could sound vintage or modern depending on the technique.  This got me thinking that a hotter bridge pickup with a brighter neck pickup might be the ticket.  So...how crazy does an A-Bomb bridge + Emerald neck sound?

[Dave Sloven]

Emerald neck is not bright.  The Emerald bridge is bright.

You might want to consider the Holy Diver set.  Not sure that you will be happy with the Nailbomb.  It's not very vintage at all.

[Duck2587]

Hoping you guys can help let me know if I'm on the right track.  My playing style relies heavily on tonal clarity and dynamics.  I play everything from cleanish blues rock to classic rock to southern rock to hard rock to modern rock.  Most of my time is spent in the realm of classic rock and blues so that is where I need the best possible tone.  When we get into the heavier stuff (usually drop-D or C# with some chugga-chugga action)  I need to be able to go there convincingly but it's not the most important part of my sound.

Right...next you'll want to know about the guitar.  It is a Carvin CT-4: mahogany body on the thinner side, carved maple top; set mahogany neck, maple fingerboard, 25" scale, 22 frets.  Resonance on this particular instrument is quite excellent, and seems to be very balanced overall, perhaps with some slight upper-midrange emphasis.  Guitar is quite similar to a PRS Custom-22.

Amps - most used are a Blackstar HT-5r for classic rock and heavier, and a Swart STR-Tweed for blues to classic rock.

Current direction: Mules are supposed to be the PAF sound, which would match great with a thicker single-cut guitar, but I think they may be too bright for this instrument.  Also the bridge seems like it would be a bit lacking for heavier styles.  This has me currently leaning towards an Abraxas set for this guitar.  What do you think?

Mules are amazing and can do heavy. I know because I have them. I play mainly shred and metal. The bridge is not bright. It is very musical, clear and has excellent body. It really does sing. I would go with the Mules. For the neck pick up, Cold sweat. Works great in mahogany.

[Yellowjacket]

Why not run a clean boost for chugga chugga?

[feelthaflo]

Yeah, maybe my gut telling me to go with the Mules isn't a coincidence.  I know they are supposed to be the bees' knees for Les Pauls...how well do they do for thinner bodied, double-cut mahogany guitars?  And is the Mule neck more jazzy or more clear/bright?

[Duck2587]

Yeah, maybe my gut telling me to go with the Mules isn't a coincidence.  I know they are supposed to be the bees' knees for Les Pauls...how well do they do for thinner bodied, double-cut mahogany guitars?  And is the Mule neck more jazzy or more clear/bright?

They will even out the frequency on your guitar and def add body but they will still add the character that they are known for. I call them the chameleon because i feel they blend into almost any setting you intend for them. They are so versatile. As for the neck, to me it is more full than most neck pick ups. Especially under distortion. Chimey and full. So it still retains the clarity. 
They're delicious pick ups