BKPs for Les Paul (replacement for Nailbomb)?

[crease]

Hi guys, hoping maybe some of you can help me out with my BKP selection. First of all, let me say that I really dig the BKPs I've played in general. I've currently got an LP standard loaded with Riff Raffs and an ebony board LP studio with a Nailbomb in the bridge (which is the guitar I'm looking for a replacement for).

I currently have a Les Paul Studio loaded with a Bare Knuckle Nailbomb (alnico version) in the bridge, but I'm looking for something that's dialed down a little I think. I really like the Nailbomb's clarity (this part kind of blew me away actually, I feel like I've never noticed such a drastic clarity increase in a pickup swap before). I also really like how the Nailbomb sounds quite thick and has kind of a burly low end, but it still feels a little bit too aggressive (it always seem to have kind of an aggressive metal edge to it, especially in the high end, even with the volume rolled back). Not sure if this is just part of the pickups voicing, or maybe a high output thing?

I'm looking for something to use for hardcore/punk music, but with the possibility of being able to do some metal sounds occasionally. The LP Studio has an ebony board, is medium weight (~9.5 lbs), and sounds kind of hard/a little bit bright (at least compared to the rosewood board Standard). I'm running through an Ampeg V4 or a JCM800, with a couple dirt pedals. I'd like something that still sounds quite thick and fairly tight, but maybe a little smoother/less aggressive (at least as a I perceive it). I'm looking for guitar tones in the vein of Coliseum, Doomriders, and $%&#ed Up. Here's some examples:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1_11yluNmOw
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ws_C7VtN6iE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=srymjVvd7vs

It'd also be cool if there was something that was also able to pull off some more metal-leaning stuff occasionally though, like older Slayer and older Converge.

I was looking at the Black Dog, Holy Diver, and Cold Sweats. After talking with Ben at BKP, he suggested the Black Dog should be good for the stuff I want as well as tight enough for the occasional metal. Just wanted to check with you guys here though and see what other people thought as well/if there were other suggestions!

[Telerocker]

Have a look at the Abraxas, a uber-Mule with extra mids and less topend. This one should sound balanced in your guitar and is capable of doing heavier styles too.

[O731]

I know i'm not answering the question but to support what you said: I had alcino nailbombs in my 81 les paul custom before I sold it and that tone was beautiful. The distortion was really clear and it had that burly dirt you were talking about.

[ericsabbath]

holy diver
it has a little less output and low end than the nailbomb, but more low and center mids and a smoother top
the midrange is really full and dense sounding, but still quite clear

an alnico warpig should work too
it actually feels less high output than the nailbomb
it sounds smoother, grainier, thicker and less abrasive

[Telerocker]

I should have mentioned the Diver too, which sounds a tad more modern than the Abraxas.

[crease]

Cheers guys, definitely helpful. Is there a consensus on the Holy Diver in LPs as well? I feel like I've seen mixed reviews on it here on being in an LP versus a superstrat style guitar. Also I know it's supposed to be based on a JB (or maybe not totally, but I've seen it described as a better JB), does it have the same sort of nasal upper mids as a JB? Or is that a little reduced?

Also curious about the Rebel Yell (was just reading about that one a little)? Too bright and aggressive? Or mores than the Nailbomb?

[ericsabbath]

Cheers guys, definitely helpful. Is there a consensus on the Holy Diver in LPs as well? I feel like I've seen mixed reviews on it here on being in an LP versus a superstrat style guitar. Also I know it's supposed to be based on a JB (or maybe not totally, but I've seen it described as a better JB), does it have the same sort of nasal upper mids as a JB? Or is that a little reduced?

Also curious about the Rebel Yell (was just reading about that one a little)? Too bright and aggressive? Or mores than the Nailbomb?

I had it in 4 different les pauls
it sounded pretty good in all of them
it didn't work well in a gibson SG, though

it's definitely not spikey and not as hot and compressed as the jb
the mids are more focused in the center midrange
sounds fatter and more balanced than a JB

[crease]

Hmm any one have any idea how the Holy Diver compares to the Rebel Yell (since it seems they're both similar to the JB in some respects)? I've seen the Rebel Yell described on here as a slightly smoother, lower output Nailbomb..so I'm looking at that one now too.

At this rate, I may just have to order the Holy Diver and the Rebel Yell and try both of them though!

[Yellowjacket]

You may really like a Rebel Yell in the bridge.  Overall, the Rebel Yell is tighter in the bass with even more clarity and string separation than an A-Bomb.  It has a very even harmonic spread to the highs as well as focus on the upper mids which plays very nicely with most modern, high gain heads. 

The tighter lows give the pickup the impression of being brighter than an A-Bomb and your bass player will love you for staying off of his turf!! 

[Elliot]

Personally, I would say Black Dogs for the tones from the YouTube clips.

Ironically, my first thought when you said hardcore punk was to suggest ceramic nailbomb - But my tonal reference are 80s hardcore punk bands like DRI, Cromags, Youth of Today and so on in the 1980s.  I remember from the time that they all seemed to play 1980s 'Dirty Fingers' era Gibsons - which the ceramic Nailbomb is nearest to.

[gwEm]

apparently the Rebel Yell was original evolved from the nailbomb. A sort of less full on, rock oriented version of it.

i have one in a les paul and it sounds massive. i always felt the steve stevens demo are very good representation of it.

[orionz06]

Personally, I would say Black Dogs for the tones from the YouTube clips.

Having similar needs to the OP I tossed in a Black Dog/Riff Raff set and the initial impressions are that I was guided well. 

One thing that I wanted was a pickup that could do my metal sound first and the punk second.  Here's a video that did it for me: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2AO3VY8Fylk