Pickups for ESP Viper 417

[vibhas]

Hi,

New to the BKP Forum. I have heard many good things about BKPs and would like to install them in my 7 string ESP. It's got a maple neck, rosewood fingerboard and a mahogany body. It's a set neck guitar. Here's what I want from the pickups:

Bridge - Tight fat sounding humbucker. I want tones ranging from Van Halen to Periphery.

Neck - PAF style. Want some really creamy Les Paul-ish tones, has to respond well to tone knob rolled down. Warm clean tone.

I'm going to do the JP style wiring which means the middle position on the pickup selector will be the inner coils of both humbuckers. So I'm hoping to get some nice sparkly tones from this. 

Thanks,
Vibhas

[Dave Sloven]

What's in there now?  EMGs?  How do they sound?  What don't you like about them?

[vibhas]

Hey Agent Orange, thanks for your reply.

I don't like active pickups in general. While they sound good enough on distorted amps, there's a sterile quality to them that I absolutely hate. I want a sound that's as tight at least (If not tighter) but with a dynamic response to picking and volume knob changes. I also want the high end to be smooth and organic, and not very hi-fi.

[Dave Sloven]

I'm no expert on seven strings, the lowest I've tuned to is C# standard, but I suspect that the Miracle Man might do it for you in the bridge.  The other one I am thinking of is the Rebel Yell.

Actually provided the guitar is not too bright, I suspect a Rebel Yell bridge combined with an Emerald neck might be ideal.  The extended range usually means that you have to go brighter, so I suspect the RY might be ideal.  It has all the other properties you mention, can do real '80s rock tones and has performed well in djent applications due to its tightness.  The Emerald definitely ticks your boxes for a neck pickup and should match up well with the RY.  Emerald set could also be worth looking at.

The other option would of course be a P-90 in the neck.  BKP has just released them for seven strings! I wouldn't go any hotter than a Mississippi Queen in your case.

I could find any videos that would fit exactly but these might help.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bT-61-ouULg

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P-ppjENE6J8