Bare Knuckle (?) pickups for Gibson Les Paul Custom

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zerotolerance

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I recently bought used Gibson LPC and it came with EMG 81/85 combo. I want pickups which won't kill this guitar like EMGs do. Well, everything sounds good, I compared this guitar to other Customs with standard Gibson pickups (78, 94 and 02) and it wasn't any worse, just different and maybe EMGs "forgive" more than stock pups. I was thinking about The Mule for neck and Emerald for bridge from Bare Knuckle Pickups. I don't want stock 490/498 combo because for me these pickups lack selectivity and aggressiveness. Do you have any experiences with that guitar and these pickups? I want a bridge pickup which will cut a bit of bass frequency because this guitar had more bass compared to other Customs (and please remember that EMGs tend to cut bass). Right now I'm playing E standard tuning but there is a possibility that I'll come back to B standard tuning. It's hard because I want "everything", I want it to sound like Gibson in normal tunings, not to be muddy in low tunings and keep the guitar character. Is it even possible? :D

Sorry for my English. I guess you got the point.
 
I have had painkillers rebel yell and Nailbombs in mine. All sounded absolutely fantastic but have found the Nailbombs really suit my playing style and gear.

Get an older set if you can as they really used to have some spcertain special grit to em.
 
Riff Raff in the bridge, Mule in the neck

Sounds great with my LPC & Herbert!
 
I've got Rebel Yell's in my Orville LPC. Sounds killer.
 
The Bareknuckle Mules are great pickups but may be a shock to the system when making the jump from a high output set, especially the bridge. The neck Mule is outstanding and could match with lots of the other BK variants.

The Rebel Yells interest me if I was looking for higher output.
 
Which one of these pickups you guys mentioned is the most closely sounding to EMGs?

Does anyone have an email address of Tim from Bare Knuckles? I guess I should write him an email...
 
I believe the miracle man set will get you closest to the EMG's.
 
Id like to think that Aftermaths would be killer in a Les Paul.
 
I have an LP custom(s) loaded with Blackouts and one loaded with nailbombs. Love them both but I have to say the nailbombs are similar to the blackouts but with a passive feel that slices right through the mix. IMO.
 
I don't mean to be rude, but I have to ask; Why if you have such a low opinion of EMGs do you want the Bareknuckles that sound closest to them?
 
MajorTom":2r2pdgrw said:
I don't mean to be rude, but I have to ask; Why if you have such a low opinion of EMGs do you want the Bareknuckles that sound closest to them?
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This.

I have two Customs. One with Black Dogs. The other with Holy divers (currently have Nailbombs in it, but going back to the Divers).

SPAM: I also have a set of Riff Raffs for sale if you're interested.
 
He probably wants the feel of EMGs with the tone of passives. I've been in that boat before. The EMGs are so damn tight and surgical but can be sterile sounding especially in the highs.
 
MajorTom":1p3o7we2 said:
I don't mean to be rude, but I have to ask; Why if you have such a low opinion of EMGs do you want the Bareknuckles that sound closest to them?
Click to expand...

I never said anything bad about EMGs, I just wrote that they are killing my guitar in some way and I guess I want it more "organic". I like EMGs overall character, they are agressive etc. but I know I can get better pickups for this guitar that suits my needs.

FourT6and2":1p3o7we2 said:
I have two Customs. One with Black Dogs. The other with Holy divers (currently have Nailbombs in it, but going back to the Divers).

SPAM: I also have a set of Riff Raffs for sale if you're interested.
Click to expand...

Why are going back to Divers if I may ask? I heard that calibrated Nailbomb set is a "safe choice" for LP.
 
I love the ceramic nailbomb I have now but would still like to try the alnico nailbomb and the holy diver as well.
If I had 2 LP's I would probably do one with black dogs and one with nailbombs. Good call FourT6and2!
Miracle man is probably the closest to emg 81's... But they're not my cup of tea
 
If you want close to EMG, I'm really not sure I would recommend Bareknuckles at all to be honest. I've had Nailbombs, Rebel Yell's, and even a Warpig at one time. I don't think they really do the sound you're after.

My recommendation would be Dimarzio; possibly the crunch lab and liquifire set.
 
Keep the EMG's. Put in a new fresh battery. Record something into pro tools and make sure that the waveform is not cutting out at the top or the bottom. Adjust the pickup height so that the signal doesn't cut out or clip. Voila. You're golden. Best sound for metal.
 
zerotolerance":ts1bvsly said:
MajorTom":ts1bvsly said:
I don't mean to be rude, but I have to ask; Why if you have such a low opinion of EMGs do you want the Bareknuckles that sound closest to them?
Click to expand...

I never said anything bad about EMGs, I just wrote that they are killing my guitar in some way and I guess I want it more "organic". I like EMGs overall character, they are agressive etc. but I know I can get better pickups for this guitar that suits my needs.

FourT6and2":ts1bvsly said:
I have two Customs. One with Black Dogs. The other with Holy divers (currently have Nailbombs in it, but going back to the Divers).

SPAM: I also have a set of Riff Raffs for sale if you're interested.
Click to expand...

Why are going back to Divers if I may ask? I heard that calibrated Nailbomb set is a "safe choice" for LP.
Click to expand...

The Nailbombs are very base heavy compared to the Divers. And a little more generic sounding. The Divers have more character and shine a little better in the upper mid range because they have less low-end and lower-mid range emphasis. The amp I use (and how I EQ it) prefers lower-output pickups with less bass, because the amp is very bass heavy as is.

I have another guitar as well with EMGs. No comparison. EMGS sound 100% different. But I prefer the BKPs.


Mogwai":ts1bvsly said:
I love the ceramic nailbomb I have now but would still like to try the alnico nailbomb and the holy diver as well.
If I had 2 LP's I would probably do one with black dogs and one with nailbombs. Good call FourT6and2!
Miracle man is probably the closest to emg 81's... But they're not my cup of tea
Click to expand...

I've tried a bunch and so far the Black Dogs are definitely my favorite. Divers come in second. Nailbombs are cool, but a little bland.
 
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