Modern rock pickups for Les Paul

[Yellowjacket]

What about a Holy Diver bridge and a VHII neck?  That would be dark, warm, phat and smooth.

The Rebel Yell is good too, but that's a bright and upper mid focused pickup with a beautiful harmonic sheen.  I have a Rebel Yell B / VHII Neck combo in a solid mahogany axe and it's positively wonderful.

I have an Alnico Nailbomb bridge with a Rebel Yell neck in m LP.  Great for hard rock and many other things, but it's more of a raunchy and uncouth tone.  The question is how polite or pissed off are you wanting? 

[Wayne_S]

Id agree with how polite or pissed off you wanna be statement which make me say Rebel Yells. Ive had them about a year now and I can positively say you can play with polished seduction or in your face shred. Its all how you play the guitar !! I do understand my opinion here is biased cause its the only BKP I currently use but the RY's are continuing to force my commitment to how I play. The volume knob roll back vibe along with your playing touch really covers a lot of tonal ground. These are not pups where you sit back and play, they are asking for a players commitment in technic and soul. Brutally honest are the RY's and should be for a polished discriminating player like Steve Stevens.

Im sure theres some other possibilities for your situation thus others suggestions stated here. IMO Yellowjacket's statement about how polite or pissed off is really what what Ive experienced with the RY's, its been exactly both ! I don't mess with my amp settings much anymore its all volume knob, my playing and RY's telling me if Im whimpy or getting real with it. If you don't go with a RY Im sure another BKP will work cause from what Ive read here in the past couple years it seems the whole BKP line has that "You better play better" gig going for them. I recall a Steve Stevens interview where he called it "Mojo" and made the comment to a point that "Theres something going on in there" about his experience with BKP's. Heck yeah Steve a swift kick up my butt on how I was playing LOL !!

Im itching to get a 2nd set of BKP's and experience the same with a different flavor   

[Kiichi]

I now have a handful more BKPs, as my signature notes, and I still agree with your sentiment. All BKPs do it more than most of the commonly used alternatives, but the RY still sticks out. I recon it is the combination of the clear and present high end, combined with the super fast and punchy low end, finished off with the output, which gets you there, but only goes as far as it needs to get metal. That open restraint in compression and output together with the rest gives it thas feel you talk about.

It punishes you when you screw up, but when you hit the notes right...oh my, it is something else. No other BKP has that like the RY does. The next closest things are the P90s. So maybe look at them for the next round Wayne_S, good chance youŽd love them the way you say you play.

[Yellowjacket]

:Modern weight relief: is Gibson Code for : Almost Chambered:

http://club.topguitars.ru/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/A3030023.jpg

Given that it is a lighter, brighter instrument, I can't help but think a darker and phatter bridge / neck pickup combo will be better.  This is why I mentioned the Holy Diver bridge and VHII neck.