Pickup recommendations for a Gibson Les Paul Standard

[siesingrocks.]

I need some pickup recommendations for my Gibson Les Paul Standard (2015).

I play mostly classic 70s rock. AC/DC, Kiss, Thin Lizzy, Black Sabbath, etc. But I also sometimes play 80's metal, such as early Metallica, Guns n Roses, W.A.S.P etc.

The Les Paul is fitted with the stock pickups, Burstbucker 1 (neck) and Burstbucker 2 (bridge). They sound quite good and have pretty decent string separation. But there's something about them that just doesn't feel right. When I play high gain stuff, i.ex. Metallica, and palm mutes the thick E string it sounds a bit muddy and boomy.

As a reference, I also have a Gibson SG '61 RI (1987) with a Seymour Duncan JB (bridge) and a Gibson 57 Classic (neck). I also have a Gibson Les Paul Traditional (2013) fitted with a Gibson 57 Classic (neck) and a Gibson 57 Classic Plus (bridge).

I feel that JB sounds a bit too generic in tone and it has a little too much output for my taste. I like it when the guitar's personality is heard. It is also difficult to get a good clean tone from it. Even if I turn the volume down. I really like the tone I get from the Gibson pickups. The 57 Plus gives me enough output for the music I play. But they have a problem. They sound muddy at times and string separation is not very good.

I play through a Blackstar HT-5R, all-tube. It sounds very much like a Marshall. I also have a Boss eBand JS10 that I use when the wife and kids are asleep.

I've been listening to The Mules, Riff Raffs and Black Dogs. I like them all. I like vintage sound more than the modern sound. I really like the tone of The Mules. They sound like pretty versatile pickups. But I've not heard many examples of them for the music I play, besides an example on the BKP's website.

Any suggestions for me? I am open to any suggestions other than active pickups.

Thanks in advance!

[Telerocker]

Mules and RiffRaffs both are very suitable for classic rock and are able to do Metallica. I have Mules and I think they're perfect 59 PAF-replica's. The RiffRaffs are a bit brighter, early sixties style. If you're LP has a dark voice I would go RR. Mules are to die for nevertheless.

[Dave Sloven]

Yeah I would have said something in the Riff Raff - Emerald - Rebel Yell spectrum for this application.

Rebel Yell might be the best compromise to cover all those styles.  It should be nice and tight on palm mutes.

[JimmyMoorby]

Just because you said you like the Gibson 57's but you need more output i'd say consider the Emeralds.

They have a super charged PAF feel not so much PAF on steroids more PAF's after drinking lots and of energy drinks.

I have to say when I first put the Emeralds in my les paul I was not that impressed because whilst they were super clear and had tons of clear harmonics I wanted more balls.

That being said I jammed with a band the other week so finally got a chance to crank them and we did a little recording and it sounded massive (I do play through a 5150 though).  Super tight and it would would be ideal for drop tunings (Although that's not my bag).

Not saying the emeralds would be any better than the riff raff or rebel yell but I think the emeralds get overlooked here a lot.
Personally i'd say rebel yells or emeralds.  Emeralds still have a PAF vibe wheras Steve Stevens himself said the rebel yell sounds like 'an old JB'. 

I think Emeralds would be better for all those bands you mentioned but rebel yells would take it up a notch for Metallica.  There's no getting around it you REALLY need high output pickups for Metallica tone so this would be where the rebel yell might come in.

EDIT - I actually think think an alnico nailbomb would be perfect BUT i've never tried one in a les paul.  Rebel Yells are designed to go in les pauls

[leolyonsofficial]

I'm torn between the Cold Sweats and the Rebel Yells matched pair...

[Dave Sloven]

I'm torn between the Cold Sweats and the Rebel Yells matched pair...

IMHO Rebel Yells are more hard rock and Cold Sweats are more heavy metal.  Just depends on what you are looking for.  Both sets are great.  I'd also say that both sets tend to perform best with big, gainy amps.

[darrenw5094]

I tested my Greco Les Paul with Rebel Yell's and the Tokai Les Paul with the Alnico Nailbomb last night.
They are virtually the same pup, but with one major difference. The NB is super hot compared to the RY. The Nailbomb makes the RY sound like vintage pup, i had to higher the gain on the amp a huge amount to get parity with the NB.
Then when i compared the RY with my Bachuss Les Paul with a Mule set, the output of both is pretty similar.
The output of the Mule and RY is identical, obviously they are voiced different, but the hotness level of both is medium gain at most.

I don't know if that is a help, but just an observation from yesterday.

[siesingrocks.]

Thanks for all input and recommendations!

I've been researching a lot these couple of days. Since I play 70-80 % classic rock and the rest is more 80s' metal I'm worried that the RY's are a bit too hot for me. Please correct me if I'm wrong. I have the JB in my SG and I feel it's a bit too hot, not cleaning
up very nicely. This might be different with the RY. But if Steve Stevens says that it sounds like an old JB my alarm clock starts to ring.

Right now I'm leaning towards the Mules, the Emeralds or Riff Raffs, but that could probably change.

Please feel free to add further advice or opinions.

[darrenw5094]

The Rebel Yell is not hot. It is the same level as the Mule, but the voicing is more modern than the Mule obviously. The Rebel Yell sounds best with a load of gain, with a slight crunch setting, it's not as good as the Mule or Riff Raff IMHO.

The Emerald might be a good choice if your LP is not already bright or as suggested earlier the Mule or RR.

[Dave Sloven]

I don't think a Rebel Yell or Cold Sweat is as hot or compressed sounding as a JB.

The Emerald certainly isn't - I've compared them directly in Les Pauls.

If you were to go for a PAF I would suggest Riff Raffs over Mules.

[Jimmy Forest]

Emeralds are great, I have them in my les paul custom, they are punchy but not too much, sound open and warm, have a lot of clarity, bite when you pick harder, in a nutshell they are really great !!

[Slartibartfarst42]

When I read your original post with all the bands you play and when you clarified it later, I confess that both times I thought of the Cold Sweat. It may be modern and ceramic but it has a surprisingly vintage feel to it and sounds awesome in a Les Paul. If I were to move away from the stock pickups in my Les Paul, I'd go either Cold Sweat or Black Dogs.

[Alex]

Thanks for all input and recommendations!

I've been researching a lot these couple of days. Since I play 70-80 % classic rock and the rest is more 80s' metal I'm worried that the RY's are a bit too hot for me. Please correct me if I'm wrong. I have the JB in my SG and I feel it's a bit too hot, not cleaning
up very nicely. This might be different with the RY. But if Steve Stevens says that it sounds like an old JB my alarm clock starts to ring.

Right now I'm leaning towards the Mules, the Emeralds or Riff Raffs, but that could probably change.

Please feel free to add further advice or opinions.

I think the Mules or Riff Raffs would be better. It is my experience that lower output pickups tend to let more of the guitars natural tone come through. Since you like the fairly low powered Gibson pickups a lot, I would rather go for something similar.
I think the Riff Raff is the one that does the metal side more convincing (from what I hear).

[Telerocker]

Thanks for all input and recommendations!

I've been researching a lot these couple of days. Since I play 70-80 % classic rock and the rest is more 80s' metal I'm worried that the RY's are a bit too hot for me. Please correct me if I'm wrong. I have the JB in my SG and I feel it's a bit too hot, not cleaning
up very nicely. This might be different with the RY. But if Steve Stevens says that it sounds like an old JB my alarm clock starts to ring.

Right now I'm leaning towards the Mules, the Emeralds or Riff Raffs, but that could probably change.

Please feel free to add further advice or opinions.

I think the Mules or Riff Raffs would be better. It is my experience that lower output pickups tend to let more of the guitars natural tone come through. Since you like the fairly low powered Gibson pickups a lot, I would rather go for something similar.
I think the Riff Raff is the one that does the metal side more convincing (from what I hear).

Nolly posted in the past some great Mule-metalclips. With the right amp both can do that. I think the choice between the RR and the Mule depends on the natural voice of the guitar.