Metal pickups for a Les Paul?

Rex_Rocker

Well-known member
I'm loving the Fishman Alnico in my Gibson, so that's not going anywhere.

But I'm feeling like experimenting on my Epi 1959. My normal go-to in a Les Paul would be the EMG 81/60, but these days, I find Fishmans do the EMG thing better than EMG's, LOL. I also like the EMG 57/66, though.

So far, in that one guitar, I've tried:

Duncan Black Winter Bridge - Absolutely love this pickup. I am not selling it becuase I like to keep it around, but I also feel like trying other pickups out.
Duncan Blackened Black Winter Bridge - Maybe something was wrong with mine, but it was abnormally low output compared to the regular Black Winter. It did sound like a Black Winter, though, so I don't know.
Duncan Nazgul - Cool pickup, just a bit too twangy compared to the 'Winter.
DiMarzio X2N - Underwhelmed. I mean, it's not bad, I just didn't bond with it. I find it's too dark and bassy compared to everything else I've had in there.
Gibson 500T - Another absolutely love kinda pickup. Only downside is it does look kinda uninteresting compared to everything else, LOL. But that's a minor gripe. Going to keep this one around for the future as well, but don't feel like dropping it back in.
Fishman Fluence Modern set - Cool pickups, but I've only got a Modern Ceramic that's not being used right now, and it's a tiny bit thin-sounding compared to the Alnico.
Fishman Fluence KSE's - Same. Cool-sounding, but in context of my other Les Paul, kinda thin by comparison. Plus I don't want to flip them to have the Alnico in the bridge because right now, I've got the Alnico in the neck of my Gibson, and I don't want to move it from there.
Fishman Fluence Will Adler - Absolutely love the passive sound in the bridge pickup, plus it also has a second sound that's like 99% the same as the Modern Ceramic, so it's pretty usable in both voicings. My one gripe with is they look HORRIBLE and absolutely out of place in this Les Paul. Plus I hate the neck pickup in the set, LOL.

So honestly, I'm just feeling like experimenting with something new.

As you can see, I tend to like brighter pickups without an excess of low mid mud and stuffines. I also don't want an extreme low-end. I prefer some high-mid focus for attack, aggression, and clarity. I also don't want a vintage-voiced neck pickup. I want both pickups to be hot and modern.

What else should I be looking at?
 
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Maybe a Sentient/Pegasus set? They are certainly modern, handle a lot of tunings, and sound great at any gain level.
 
Could be an option! I'm certainly not overly fond of the idea of a Sentient with something like a Nazgul, for example, but I think it would probably match well with something more laid-back like a Pegasus. Plus I haven't tried tried many mid-output pickups, so it could be a first.

I am hearing in the clips the Pegasus is a bit rounder-sounding, though. But maybe I'm not perceiving it right. I mean, it's honestly kinda hard to tell if you like pizza if you're just watching pictures of it, LOL.
 
Depends on what you mean by "metal". There are so many different subgenres now. I'm a pretty big Tool fan and the sound Adam Jones gets out of his Les Paul is my reference point for a "Les Paul metal sound". He uses an SH-6 and gets amazing tones. I use a JB myself but I've always wanted to check out the SH-6. Maybe someday.
 
Well, to be specific, I play mostly Swedish-style Melodeath. But I'm pretty sure a variety of pickups can be made to work.

I love the JB as well, TBH. Plenty of grind to it. Sounds like a very 90's sound, which I love. But can also get the 2000's Arch Enemy thing going.

The Distortion is cool too. It was the first passive that I really bonded with. But after trying more pickups from that same "family line", I think I prefer the Black Winter and the JB. I still think the Distortion is fantastic, though.

But while I do love me some Tool, that is certainly not the sound I'm going for.
 
Well, to be specific, I play mostly Swedish-style Melodeath. But I'm pretty sure a variety of pickups can be made to work.

I love the JB as well, TBH. Plenty of grind to it. Sounds like a very 90's sound, which I love. But can also get the 2000's Arch Enemy thing going.

The Distortion is cool too. It was the first passive that I really bonded with. But after trying more pickups from that same "family line", I think I prefer the Black Winter and the JB. I still think the Distortion is fantastic, though.

But while I do love me some Tool, that is certainly not the sound I'm going for.

JB, Duncan Distortion, EMG 81, and Full Shred are what most of those old Swedish bands use!
The Custom might be another one to consider. Or the PATB-1 Parallel Axis.
 
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The full shred if you havent tried it, just so you know how it sounds. Its like an alnico evolution. It could be ur favorite pickup but you dont know. More open on top than evo but very sharp and articulate.
 
I like the PATB-1 a lot, but I don't think it's at all what the OP is looking for. To my ears, it sounds like a more dynamic, slightly less bright JB with tighter bass.
 
Just get a Distortion set. The problem is your lack of Metal attitude then, not the pickups. :headbang:
 
Rex, you and I clearly like very similar pickups :)
Here's an idea I just had....order a Black Winter with Jupiter style rails from the Custom Shop...call it the "Slay Ride" set :headbang:

Hmm...forum pickup idea anyone? LOL!!!

il_570xN.4395923048_lvn0.jpg


I actually picked up a couple sets of these...Custom Shop JB/Jazz Rails...but a Black Winter version would be amazing!

BSpKpFx.jpg
 
Rex, you and I clearly like very similar pickups :)
Here's an idea I just had....order a Black Winter with Jupiter style rails from the Custom Shop...call it the "Slay Ride" set :headbang:

Hmm...forum pickup idea anyone? LOL!!!

il_570xN.4395923048_lvn0.jpg


I actually picked up a couple sets of these...Custom Shop JB/Jazz Rails...but a Black Winter version would be amazing!

BSpKpFx.jpg

Those look sweet. What are differences in the sound and feel assuming there are any.
 
Those look sweet. What are differences in the sound and feel assuming there are any.

I haven't had a chance to try them yet, so I can't compare to the originals just yet, but I have ZERO doubts that they will be anything short of awesome!

However, now I'm dying to try my own suggestion above (dual-rail Black Winters, aka: the "Slay Ride" set), so I just tossed up one of my JB/Jazz sets for sale in the Trading Post!

:lmao:
 
Wow. Didn't know you could order them like that!

How about a set of regular Jupiters, though? Wonder how those are.

Good question! I got a set for one of my Meteora builds, but decided to go with Black Winters instead, ha ha! Never did end up trying the Jupiters.
 
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