Suggestions for pickups....(tone clip included)

[Tusko]

Hey Guys,

Here's a little clip of my playing style (available for stream or dload.) It's pretty much off the cuff riffing, but just an idea of my tone.

Gear-wise, tis just a Les Paul Gibson Studio straight into an Orange Rockerverb 100. Only FX is a Boss PW-10 wah.

http://www.myspace.com/tuskoband

Iv'e spoken to Tim and he reccommended a Nailbomb in the bridge (as tuned to C#) But just wondering what anyone else would suggest?

I did consider a humbucker in the bridge, and a P90 in the neck....reason being I can't stand too much bass in the neck position, and think it might be good for more bluesy solo's. Or is that just a plain bad idea???

[fps_dean]

A P90 might work for you, but I think a lower output humbucker would be fine for you.   Or even the Nailbomb neck too should be okay too... from the few clips I've heard of it, it sounds fat and warm without being too bassy.

If you use the neck mainly to solo on, then I would think a humbucker would do you better unless you use some sort of solo boost.  It comes down to how much/little bass you want fron the neck, but I think Tim would be the guy to ask about this... just be sure to specify how little you mean by little.

I do think a Nailbomb would do you well.

Oh, and I like your myspace pic ;)

[Tusko]

Thanks Dean,

I really like the tone a band called Seemless get from just using the neck PU. I use my bridge mianly for riffs and solo's, but when I goto the neck it's just too bassey to use (my bass is on about 6-7 on the amp.)

Beyond that it's a pickup combo for Stoner Rock/Doom/Sludge and a smattering of Metal Riffs. Harmonics are a must and a good balanced mid-range.

Other influences include (obviously) Black Sabbath, Church of Misery, Kyuss, High On Fire, Mastodon, ISIS, Carcass....the list goes on and on!!!

[fps_dean]

So it sounds like you want a pickup to use mainly for cleaner tones then, where now even after adjusting amp settings your neck is just too bassy.

If you like P90s you could do that.  I'd suggest a Mule... think PAF, warm, fat, well defined, and I don't think it will be overly bassy for you. And IMO, Mules or Stormy Mondays are probably the best blues humbuckers.... and your tone with both pickups I would think will sound killer too.

Although from what you listed you do play heavier stuff, so something a little louder would be more suitable...  but if you want the neck for cleans, that's an easy one IMO.

[Tusko]

Whatever I end up with, It's going in the 'Battle Worn' finish, that's the icing on cake for me Tim!

Damn, if that finish does not reflect tonal beauty. Nailbomb in Bridge and a sweet P90 in neck methinks.

[Tricalibur]

if ur into stoner/doom nstuff first thing that comes to mind is the warpig. Im in to similar bands and thats what il be getting.

[gingataff]

I think for the tone on your clip, a Nailbomb would rule as it has the upper mid crunch but a 'Pig would work too if you want massive bass. That wah is really good too.

[fps_dean]

I think for the tone on your clip, a Nailbomb would rule as it has the upper mid crunch but a 'Pig would work too if you want massive bass. That wah is really good too.

If you go for a pig, you shouldn't have so much of a problem with a bassy neck either...

[Tusko]

Thanks for the info guys, I think I`ll go with Guru Tim`s advice and have a Nailbomb in the bridge. I do also tune down to B at times and I know the Nailbombs have a lot of clarity, which is what I`m after.

Still need to decide on a P90 in the neckm would this give me much hum when playing with a lot of OD?

[fps_dean]

Thanks for the info guys, I think I`ll go with Guru Tim`s advice and have a Nailbomb in the bridge. I do also tune down to B at times and I know the Nailbombs have a lot of clarity, which is what I`m after.

Still need to decide on a P90 in the neckm would this give me much hum when playing with a lot of OD?

With a lot of gain you will probably get a significant amount of hum, but people have learned to live with it for years with single coils....

If you want a massively overdriven neck though I'd go for a humbucker of moderate output.

[carlaz]

I would just chime in and observe that the mighty Skybone has made some cogent points in the past about getting good stoner/doom sounds with relatively low output pups and relatively cranked power amps! :)  Depending on just the tone you're looking for, I think very good stoner/doom tones could be gotten out of Mules, Emeralds, Black Dogs, even Stormy Mondays.

That said, some my touchstones for tone were things like Kyuss, Iommi, yadda yadda, and I took Tim's suggestion to go with Crawlers.  For me, the worked out to be a good compromise between vintage vibe and metal power.  I confess that it would be fun giving Warpigs the ol' workout of doom, though .... :twisted:

[Philly Q]

Still need to decide on a P90 in the neck would this give me much hum when playing with a lot of OD?

As Dean says, it would, but people seem to learn to live with it (drives me crazy though).  I reckon the MQ neck would be good though, and the metal cover must make it better-shielded than a normal P90.

I watched Trouble's Live in Stockholm DVD the other week and was surprised to see Bruce Franklin playing a stock SG Junior (with dog-ear P90) for most of the set.  And if it's good enough for him...

[fps_dean]

That said, some my touchstones for tone were things like Kyuss, Iommi, yadda yadda, and I took Tim's suggestion to go with Crawlers.  For me, the worked out to be a good compromise between vintage vibe and metal power.  I confess that it would be fun giving Warpigs the ol' workout of doom, though .... :twisted:

The stock pickups in my Carvin which I think are roughly like Crawlers should do doom metal really well actually.... but I haven't tried it.

But yeah, typically for old school doom/gloom metal, whatever you call it you don't need a super high output pickup, I just think a humbucker of low to moderate output would be a better choice.... of course unless you want P90s for that P90 neck sound, then it's a different story ;)

[Tusko]

Well, my ultimate question here is how a higher output pickup will affect my amp soud. I love the Orange sound, but hate too much treble. For dropping to C# and B I need clarity and also for string skipping licks...moving from the 'E' to 'G' = mushyness in C#.

So the Nailbomb kinda nails it. BUT, I agree about low output powered pickups having the TONE and amps doing the donkey work.

Sp I like my existing tone, but would love more clarity and a bit more dirt. I also have my action about 3-4 mm above my bridge, like it raised to hit the buggers hard.

So is Nailbomb + neck way to go>???

Also, sorry for being sick but been struck down with Man Flu™

[Tusko]

Well, my ultimate question here is how a higher output pickup will affect my amp soud. I love the Orange sound, but hate too much treble. For dropping to C# and B I need clarity and also for string skipping licks...moving from the 'E' to 'G' = mushyness in C#.

So the Nailbomb kinda nails it. BUT, I agree about low output powered pickups having the TONE and amps doing the donkey work.

Sp I like my existing tone, but would love more clarity and a bit more dirt. I also have my action about 3-4 mm above my bridge, like it raised to hit the buggers hard.

So is Nailbomb + neck way to go>???

Also, sorry for being sick but been struck down with Man Flu™