So, I'm becoming a BKP fan. I previously owned a Stormy Monday neck pickup in my Tele. Now I find myself with two Les Pauls outfitted with Abraxas pickup sets. I really dig the tone and push while sounding more in the PAF/vintage camp. They are certainly smoother and less ratty.
That brings me to my Chris Shiflett Tele. I'm dumped some money into that one. Beautiful guitar BTW. I upgraded the bridge and completely replaced the innards with Emerson 500K pots and new 3 way switch. Big improvement. The stock 3 way was junky (it's Mexican made) and had problems. Regarding pickups, I had changed the stock Korean pickups for a Dimarzio 36th in the neck and an AT-1 in the bridge. The AT-1 sounded good with more distortion but it was a bit soft and too rounded...for me. It was just OK. Whereas the Abraxas is rounded but leans enough into the bright world where it sounds awesome. But...I tried the Abraxas set in a DGT Standard (which is what I originally bought it for) and in that guitar, it was too much. I think the all mahogany body just amped up the mids so much it lost it's character. Much prefer that set in a Les Paul.
With this Shiflett, I think his original parts caster had a 59/JB combo and the stock pickups are Korean made approximates. What I'm after with this guitar is to approximate that setup and find something that is a little more brash vs polite. The guitar is Alder with bolt on maple neck and rosewood fingerboard. My understanding is the Riff Raff Neck and Holy Diver bridge is the 59/JB equivalent in BKP world but as I've read up, I'm worried the Holy Diver might be too smooth...like the AT-1. I'd rather come down from Holy Diver so the Emerald might be interesting in the bridge if it's not too bright. Looking for other suggestions. Rebel Yell or would that be too bright in an Alder/Fender scale guitar? In terms of music, I play up through hard rock...probably the Foo Fighters or that realm of guitar tones back through the classic Marshall sounds of the 70s and 80s.
