Pickup Suggestions to replace 498t in Les Paul Custom?

[skoora]

While A2 mag pickups tend to have nice big midrange for rock, they can be softer in the low end. Fine for a cranked Marshall but not necessarily for metal. If you go with alnico I recommend an A5 pickup. More defined lows but slightly less mids than an A2.

 

[RoidRage]

XXX

 

[RoidRage]

BURSTBUCKER III

Amazing In My LP!

R RAGE

I love this pickup too, great midrange and treble Kerang through a Marshall. Plus it has a decent output......BUT.....It being more of a vintage type pickup the low end is not as defined as someone who wants to play a lot of palm muted metal would like. Awesome for rock but I wouldn't recommend it for a lot of heavier muted stuff. It's fine but not ideal for that.

Wow..

Someone that knows what they are talking about! and Can Hear! Congrads!

Yes... You Nailed it. I play 80's Metal, and Hate TIGHT sounding stuff... The Biggest Thing to me is...
It sounds ORGANIC!!! So really this is the Perfect for my application!

Maiden, Preist, MSG, Dio, Sabbath, etc

Best,

Roid RAGE

 

[luxxtone]

I play a lot of tight Palm muted metal.

so don't think the burstbucker will work well for me.

Now that you say that, you absolutely should try the new Bare Knuckle Aftermaths. Super tight, huge but tight bottom end, but with a new magnet design so it doesn't compress nearly as much as all other higher output pickups. This one is for you! I take it your local L.A. since we met at the amp shootout.....you're welcome to come by our shop and try a few pickups out thru your amp. Give me a call next week if you want to come by.

 

[ericsabbath]

bare knuckle nailbomb, bare knuckle holy diver or motor city afwayu
had the bomb and afwayu in a '73 les paul custom and the diver in two quality les paul copies

holy diver is somewhat like a JB, but with a smoother top, fatter low end and clearer mids
most fluid leads and the fattest and easiest pinch harmonics I've ever pulled off
its string separation under high gain is really impressive
rhythms sound thick, but not spongy
low end is tighter than a JB

nailbomb is tighter, higher output and has a more focused metal sounding approach, but with a held back smooth alnico 5 PAF type midrange instead of modern poking mids
not really scooped, but not a middy pickup like the other two

the motor city afwayu is a lot like the nailbomb in output and edge, but it has a very strong, dry and aggressive midrange (more than the holy diver)
bass can be overbearing in lower tunings, but I loved it in near standard tunings (drop D, Eb standard)
so if you want rawness from an alnico pickup, the afwayu can be a good choice, although you shouldn't discard the nailbomb

a ceramic pickup will hardly have less treble than a 498t, but maybe you can check the ceramic nailbomb or the new aftermath

 

[mightywarlock]

it's sounding like some experimentation is in order for this one.

I have a few pickups to try, it just sucks though, as once I find what I need, even if i have one already (like I already own a Nailbomb, just never tried it out), I will have to buy one anyways, to get the Nickel Cover, so it looks right on the Silverburst Custom. Just don't think coils will look good at all when the Nickel looks so fancy nice on this guitar.

I have a couple at home now to try...a JB, (although it's a TB4, so I am trying to sell it), a Duncan custom shop Diablo, the Nailbomb...not sure what else...

Perhaps I will try the Nailbomb first, and if i like it, sell it and buy a nickel one, or see if someone has one to swap.

I also want to check out the MCP Solution, since I keep hearing about that.

I took a listen to the Aftermath clips, and wasn't impressed...not sure if it was just what they were actually playing, or the tone, or what, but i'm not sure it's what I need...

Here's an example...(Uber TJ-stock explorer 500T)

And these are a little tigher on the bottom end...(PRE-500 Recto)
Xiphos with stock Dimarzio DeActivator

Washburn custom with SD Diablo

 

[RoidRage]

I thought the Nailbomb was terrible... but that's me.. Thin & bright.

I know one thing the Suhr Aldridge has a very tight articulate bottom end... And really sounds pretty decent!! still pretty organic!

Have you ever considered one of these?

Nick (dawnofadream) uses one for Nu-Metal, dropped tune stuff, and really loves it.

Roid RAGE

 

[hthomas]

I have played metal with my MCP 2nd degree pickup in a Les Paul. Im pretty sure there a Alnico 5 magnet.

 

[luxxtone]

it's sounding like some experimentation is in order for this one.

I have a few pickups to try, it just sucks though, as once I find what I need, even if i have one already (like I already own a Nailbomb, just never tried it out), I will have to buy one anyways, to get the Nickel Cover, so it looks right on the Silverburst Custom. Just don't think coils will look good at all when the Nickel looks so fancy nice on this guitar.

I have a couple at home now to try...a JB, (although it's a TB4, so I am trying to sell it), a Duncan custom shop Diablo, the Nailbomb...not sure what else...

Perhaps I will try the Nailbomb first, and if i like it, sell it and buy a nickel one, or see if someone has one to swap.

I also want to check out the MCP Solution, since I keep hearing about that.

I took a listen to the Aftermath clips, and wasn't impressed...not sure if it was just what they were actually playing, or the tone, or what, but i'm not sure it's what I need...

Don't ever trust clips to judge how a pickup sounds. Who knows how it was recorded, the way the guitar sounds, the amp used, the amp settings, the player. Pickups will always sound way different than they would with you and your rig. I think most of the pickups I personally use all sound like crap on the clips I've heard! I'm not trying to push you towards the Aftermath or anything....but I'm just saying you can't judge any pickup thru peoples clips. Unless it was done like Lugo's pickup shooutout with the same guitar, same riffs, thru same amp one after another. But even then, you can't FEEL the pickup, which is a huge factor when playing a pickup, the way it responds to your attack and the feel. Come by the shop and I'll show you what I mean!

 

[ericsabbath]

Don't ever trust clips to judge how a pickup sounds. Who knows how it was recorded, the way the guitar sounds, the amp used, the amp settings, the player. Pickups will always sound way different than they would with you and your rig. I think most of the pickups I personally use all sound like crap on the clips I've heard! I'm not trying to push you towards the Aftermath or anything....but I'm just saying you can't judge any pickup thru peoples clips. Unless it was done like Lugo's pickup shooutout with the same guitar, same riffs, thru same amp one after another. But even then, you can't FEEL the pickup, which is a huge factor when playing a pickup, the way it responds to your attack and the feel. Come by the shop and I'll show you what I mean!

this
when it comes to picking gear based on amateur clips and videos, you better listen to experient people than trusting your own ears if you didn't try the stuff in person
also, everything can be relative
some pickups work well with some guitars and not so well with others (even when they're the same model)
some pickups sound awful through some amps and great through others
I've been surprised/disappointed by pickups I hated/loved at first and later I tried them in different guitars and had a completely different impression
also, tastes change with time too

 

[mightywarlock]

Come by the shop and I'll show you what I mean!

I think I'll take you up on the offer.

I'll see what my schedule is like in the upcoming week and we'll talk about it!

Thanks!

 

[hawkeye17]

So, I just traded guitars and picked up a nice new Silverburst Les Paul Custom, has the stock 498t's in it, which I find too bright, thin, and harsh. Nice clarity though.
Not enough meat and potatoes, I want more grind, less top end treble, more low end needed, better mids.

Not sure the JB is what I want in here, and I know there are so many pickups to try, but I want more raw than smooth...
I'm used to Duncan Distortions in my Ibanez guitars...

recommendations?

I was looking for the same thing for my Les Paul and hit the jackpot with a Wolfetone Fenris. It's like a JB but with tighter low end and smoother highs(probably from the Alnico II magnets). That guy makes good pickups, especially for Les Pauls and he's great to deal with.

http://www.wolfetone.com/