Which pickups for Gibson Les Paul Axcess Std ?

[maxime1122]

Which pickup do you recommend to replace the stock 498T in bridge position of the LP Axcess Std (stop tail version) ? I find it lacks ooomph and mids... too bright and thin for my taste. So, I want something fatter/warmer, but still hot. I play on Marshall amps (plexi, jcm 800, jcm 2000, etc.), so not heavy metal, but rock/hardrock ('70s, '80s rock/hardrock tone). My favorite pickups are SD APH2 sets that I have on 3 Gibson LP. But for the Axcess, I want an heavier tone.. to have something different. What do you guys recommend?

BTW, the 496R at the neck is ok, but could swap if needed (better match with bridge pickup).

[nkay]

I've tried a Holydiver and Black Dog in my Axcess (stop-tail), and they both sounded great. Holydiver fits better if you want a hotter pickup.

A few people here have said the Rebel Yell is a go-to for the Axcess, but I haven't tried it yet. The Holydiver (to me) sometimes sounds a bit flat (eq-wise) in a Les Paul style guitar, so I think the Rebel Yell might give you the mids and the punch you need to fit more a hard-rock style.

I would just keep the 496R neck in there, I think it sounds great in the Axcess.

[Telerocker]

The Holy Diver is what you're looking for.

[ericsabbath]

holy diver

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=csCWGl8k9vs
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HqEyS83NThU

[Slartibartfarst42]

I've loved hearing a Holydiver in a Les Paul and it's one of my favourite Bare Knuckles but I wouldn't use one in my Les Paul because it's too smooth and compressed so you'd lose that rawness that characterises a Les Paul Rock tone for me. Having said that, I'm not sure what would give me that classic Les Paul tone in the BKP range, which is one of the reasons why mine has remained stock for now but if I were to change, I suspect it would be between the Black Dog, Rebel Yell and A-Bomb.

[maxime1122]

Thanks for the replies guys! I was thinking about either the Alnico V Nailbomb, Rebel Yell or Holydiver.. I'm not sure about the Rebel Yell and Holydiver, because the Axcess is a bit thinner than a regular LP, so maybe those two would lack a bit of bass, and so, be too bright? Anyone compared the three?

[Slartibartfarst42]

The Rebel Yell is the brightest of that lot so I understand your concern and I'd probably try something else too. The A-Bomb and Holydiver are very different beasts indeed so it depends what sort of sound you're after. The Holydiver is middy pretty much across the board and very smooth so classic 80s Metal territory. The A-Bomb is raw, hairy, tight and very aggressive. I found it to have a very 90s Metal feel. It has a strong bottom end but it also has a lot of upper mids to give it that raw and hairy aggression. I absolutely hated it in a maple neck-thru guitar because that naturally has upper mids anyway and it was too much but if your guitar has a strong bottom end with healthy lower mids it should work well. I still feel that the Black Dog would work well for you or maybe even the Abraxas.

[ericsabbath]

the diver sounds great in regular les pauls and in the axcess model as well