Pickup for bridge in a LP?

[CaseyCor]

All this boutique stuff, can't we recommend just a more known thing?

The OP is looking for bright, harmonics, not over the top output, cleans up nice, works well in a Les Paul bridge...

---> DiMarzio Norton.
One of *the* best split-tones too by the way. My Les Paul can sound almost like a Tele with that thing.

Do you experience much of a volume loss when splitting the Air Norton?

 

[JTyson]

While I'm not opposed to any brand, the Air Norton I tried a few years ago was not very thick sounding and had more top than mids, so I kinda wrote them off. Might have been the guitar I had it in (alder bodied superstrat with a maple neck) Have they changed them?

 

[JTyson]

I have the MCP 2nd degree black belt in one LP and a Bare Knuckle Black Dog in the other. I prefer the BD by a nose. Strong, punchy lower mids, smooth top end, and loads of clarity. A truly badass pickup that fits your criteria.

I'll check em out, thanks
looking at 3 potential BN pups
Dam..
Trying to get a pup right before you buy it will make you dizzy

 

[AmpliFIRE]

All this boutique stuff, can't we recommend just a more known thing?

The OP is looking for bright, harmonics, not over the top output, cleans up nice, works well in a Les Paul bridge...

---> DiMarzio Norton.
One of *the* best split-tones too by the way. My Les Paul can sound almost like a Tele with that thing.

Do you experience much of a volume loss when splitting the Air Norton?

The "Norton" is different than the "Air Norton". I had a Norton in a Les Paul and didn't bond with it. Had that nasally "cocked wah" thing going on.

 

[Speeddemon]

All this boutique stuff, can't we recommend just a more known thing?

The OP is looking for bright, harmonics, not over the top output, cleans up nice, works well in a Les Paul bridge...

---> DiMarzio Norton.
One of *the* best split-tones too by the way. My Les Paul can sound almost like a Tele with that thing.

Do you experience much of a volume loss when splitting the Air Norton?

Note I was talking about the Norton (DP160), not the Air Norton (DP193).
But in that particular Les Paul, as well as in my Charvel So-Cal Pro Mod, I have a Norton bridge and Air Norton neck set.
Both splittable, both awesome.

Depending on the guitar that 'cocked wah' tone (which according to some folks ALL DiMarzio's seem to exhibit... ) can be heard or not at all.
To me, it's a tight, slightly raunchy, harmonics-rich, bright-ish pickup that has the right amount of Alnico (magnet) mojo goin' on.
That Les Paul gets me very close to early EVH tones.

If you like the opposite (HUGE, solid but tight lows, smooth mids and nice treble), the Duncan Custom 5 (SH-14) would be it. Had that in a Les Paul; loved it, but wanted to upgrade my Horizon, as I wanted more beef than the wimpy stock JB could provide, whilst retaining the Alnico V tone.

 

[Dopethrone]

Duncan sh5

 

[johnpace2]

I'll be the dissenting voice and say a stock Gibson 498T has always worked really well for me. I also really like the Dimarzio 36th anniversary pickup.

 

[ericsabbath]

bare knuckle black dog (fat dense mids and smooth top) or vhII (punchy bass, open mids and bright top)

the afwayu is a good pup but way overkill, imo
it's quite high output and has too much of everything
very bassy, middy AND trebly
it's like a souped up bk nailbomb

 

[memberzonly]

So I'm on a pup hunt, looking at all the stuff out there, and reviewing James Lugo's EPIC pup shootout from a few years ago. Looking for a uncompressed bridge pup with no harshness on top, and tight on the bottom with killer mids. My magic number for output seems to hover between 8.5 and 11 DC resistance, but I realize there's more to it than that. I'm also a vol knob guy, so I need it to clean up reasonably well,which is a bit of a challenge with a hotter winding. I use high gain tones, but not saturated to the point of being ridiculous. My modded Marshalls have way more than enough gain, some of them have so much its insane. I'm way more concerned with clarity and punch with no harsh top end. I've already had a set of Aldrich's, and they were slightly more compressed than I was hoping for (I know everyone loves them) so I can rule them out.
What say you guys??

An A4 mag may be *slightly* looser on the low end than you want (compared to an A5) but is much tighter than an A2. If you are open to an even pickup that might be a hair loose on the low end but is rich and even otherwise, look at a Manlius Fat Diane.

 

[MISTER NOBODY™]

You might take a look at the Arcane Triple Clone. They build some amazing stuff.

Triple Clone is open sounding, but hot enough to drive the front end of your amp nicely if need be. I love this pickup.

Here is a link for you to check it out.

http://www.arcaneinc.com

 

[SFW]

The Duncan Alnico Pro Slash model is a great pickup, worth checking out.

Through a plexi-

Through an EVH 5153-

Pardon the playing in the second clip… There may have been lots of Jager Meister involved…

 

[JTyson]

Lots of great input in here, I appreciate all the suggestions guys
Checking out the Arcanes, and have been looking at the Duncans for a bit now.
Decided to broaden my numbers a bit as far as output, but at some point I will have to roll the dice and pick one.
This got way more complicated than I expected
I have it down to around 6 at this point

 

[fearhk213]

Wolfetone Marshallhead. An OX4 high wind is great. Don't let teh DC fool you. It rips and grinds when pushed and the clarity is excellent. Non potted and it's quiet.

This is what I was thinking. Open, clear sounding pickup with moderate output.

Which one? The OX4 HW or the Marshallhead?

Is the "high wind" the Hot Duane?

I don't think so. I liked the high wind better than the HD which I did have. Mark called the hotter set his high wind when I ordered from him last. I had a set of low winds which were great also.

I'm going to look into those. I have his standard OX4 humbucker, and it's one of my favorite pickups I own, but a hair more juice on tap would not be a bad thing imo.

 

[JTyson]

Anybody try the Duncan Alternative 8??
Its hotter than I was looking for at first, but its looking like I'm gonna go a bit hotter than I thought at first. I've heard some clips of it that sounded amazing for heavy rhythm work. Seems to be tight and focused, with nice detail and articulation, but still warm if that makes any sense. Nice mids too from what I heard, but not compressed
Anybody??

 

[Loudness250]

I like the Duncan Custom or the Bareknuckle Mule after trying quite a few.