Bridge pickup for LP Axcess stoptail

[nigelpkay]

It came with the 498T/496R set, I really like the 496 in the neck, a real shredder, and while the 498T is good, I want more midpush and output. The 498T always sounds like the Cult, AC/DC, and 90's metal, and I'm more 80's Maiden, Ratt, Dio etc...

Will the 500T work here? I currently am using a BKP Cold Sweat set which is nice and crunchy clear, but I'm kind of missing the Gibson growl, midgrind, and balls.

I also have a Dimarzio Super Distortion and PAF (pre-36th anniversary one) that I can use too and they are tried and true, but I've never tried the 500T before so am curious how the 500T would compare.

 

[Schaf]

It came with the 498T/496R set, I really like the 496 in the neck, a real shredder, and while the 498T is good, I want more midpush and output. The 498T always sounds like the Cult, AC/DC, and 90's metal, and I'm more 80's Maiden, Ratt, Dio etc...

Will the 500T work here? I currently am using a BKP Cold Sweat set which is nice and crunchy clear, but I'm kind of missing the Gibson growl, midgrind, and balls.

I also have a Dimarzio Super Distortion and PAF (pre-36th anniversary one) that I can use too and they are tried and true, but I've never tried the 500T before so am curious how the 500T would compare.

The 500T is a good pickup, but to me it just has too much output and doesn't clean up with the volume knob very good. But it really depends on the guitar. I loved it in my Explorer but hated it in my V. But the explorer was a studio pro and the wood was poplar. Where the V is mahogany.

The Suhr aldrich would be a good alternative if you want more mid push. It has a lot of output but is still very open sounding. And it still cleans up pretty good with the volume knob.

 

[TrueTone500]

The 80's era Duncan Distortion is tough to beat for 80's metal tones. The newer ones don't sound the same to me.

 

[nigelpkay]

It's weird I've tried the JB so many times, but never ran into the Duncan Distortion. I saw Mark Day's video where he is playing it in his Floyd Axcess and it sounded pretty good. I always hear that the Distortion suits Les Paul's better than the JB.

Suhr Aldrich, always see it mentioned, but when I hear it online, and from James Lugo's shootout, it seemed a bit stiff and the JB actually sounded better.
I would like to try a JB in this Axcess but a lot of people say it doesn't work that well for Les Pauls and mahagony. ESP uses it in their non-active Horizons and Eclipses so it can't be that bad.

 

[fritzreiser]

BKP Rebel Yell. I had an Axcess with an RY in it that sounded fabulous.

 

[TrueTone500]

It's weird I've tried the JB so many times, but never ran into the Duncan Distortion. I saw Mark Day's video where he is playing it in his Floyd Axcess and it sounded pretty good. I always hear that the Distortion suits Les Paul's better than the JB.

Suhr Aldrich, always see it mentioned, but when I hear it online, and from James Lugo's shootout, it seemed a bit stiff and the JB actually sounded better.
I would like to try a JB in this Axcess but a lot of people say it doesn't work that well for Les Pauls and mahagony. ESP uses it in their non-active Horizons and Eclipses so it can't be that bad.

Depends on the guitar also. If I were playing a maple neck, I'd consider the JB...but chances are I'd stick with the DD. It has a tighter bottom-end to my ears... More "metal" sounding, more "in-your-face" compared to the JB. If you're going for lots of chug-a-chug palm mutes, definitely go with the DD.

I purchased a 3 x pickup LPC from steve39stripes several years ago. It had a JB in the bridge which sounded good, but not quite there... I tossed in and old DD, and there it was!

 

[JerEvil]

It's weird I've tried the JB so many times, but never ran into the Duncan Distortion. I saw Mark Day's video where he is playing it in his Floyd Axcess and it sounded pretty good. I always hear that the Distortion suits Les Paul's better than the JB.

Suhr Aldrich, always see it mentioned, but when I hear it online, and from James Lugo's shootout, it seemed a bit stiff and the JB actually sounded better.
I would like to try a JB in this Axcess but a lot of people say it doesn't work that well for Les Pauls and mahagony. ESP uses it in their non-active Horizons and Eclipses so it can't be that bad.

The JB in my neck thru LP Custom absolutely kills the Aldrich I had in there through the Splawn rig. I was actually pretty surprised.

 

[jabps]

500T to me, sounds fantastic in a Paul. My two Standards and my Custom all have 500T's. You want mids and grind in a Paul, it's got it. I'm typically not a fan of ceramic pups and as was said above, I've had them in other guitars and it didn't work well but the 500 in a Paul is perfect. Just my opinion.

 

[nigelpkay]

500T to me, sounds fantastic in a Paul. My two Standards and my Custom all have 500T's. You want mids and grind in a Paul, it's got it. I'm typically not a fan of ceramic pups and as was said above, I've had them in other guitars and it didn't work well but the 500 in a Paul is perfect. Just my opinion.

Ok thanks, I hope it's alright on a thin Axcess though. I guess it was a standard bridge pickup for Flying V and Explorers, so should be similar.

 

[nigelpkay]

BKP Rebel Yell. I had an Axcess with an RY in it that sounded fabulous.

I had a recommendation for that from the BKP forum as well. As I said my Cold Sweats are good, just maybe think they don't suit this guitar as well as others. The Rebel Yell is not far off and could bring some mid-warmth there.

 

[jabps]

500T to me, sounds fantastic in a Paul. My two Standards and my Custom all have 500T's. You want mids and grind in a Paul, it's got it. I'm typically not a fan of ceramic pups and as was said above, I've had them in other guitars and it didn't work well but the 500 in a Paul is perfect. Just my opinion.

Ok thanks, I hope it's alright on a thin Axcess though. I guess it was a standard bridge pickup for Flying V and Explorers, so should be similar.

Still though, maple cap, Mahogany neck...should work well. I did have one in my PRS Tremonti II for a bit...same specs ala maple top/mahogany body and it was too knarly for that guitar but I think it's absolutely worth a try in your Paul. Again, I love them in mine.