Pickup upgrade for Epiphone Les Paul (hard rock/metal)

[weepingminotaur]

No, the BW specs don't suggest versatility. But that is why you can't just go by specs. As Rex says, I think the versatility was a happy accident, not intentional, but it's a great result.

The BW manages to be both better at chugging (more attack, focus, and bite) *and* more versatile than just about any other metal pickup at tackling other genres. I don't know why that is but it is so.

 

[AdrianSD]

My comment there is how much more power, attack, and aggression do you need?

I question your description of those also. What I hear people say is that it is a more flexible, progressive pickup. And I don;t think power, attack, and aggression would do that.

I don't think the Black Winter can do classic hard rock and heavy metal very well. Compared to the Distortion, it lacks that sizzle in the treble and the bass needs to be at least a teeny tiny bit loose, it lacks both. After playing the JB and the Dimarzio Super Distortion, both rather classic sounding, switching to the BW sounds and feels vastly different. Where I find it versatile is that it cleans up with the volume pot very well and sounds excellent split. And if I was to play high gain stuff in a dense mix with another guitar player, I can guarantee that the BW into a JCM800 or 5150 will bury completely, absolutely destroy the other guitar player at the same volume, unless he used a similar rig

 

[weepingminotaur]

I don't think the Black Winter can do classic hard rock and heavy metal very well. Compared to the Distortion, it lacks that sizzle in the treble and the bass needs to be at least a teeny tiny bit loose, it lacks both. After playing the JB and the Dimarzio Super Distortion, both rather classic sounding, switching to the BW sounds and feels vastly different. Where I find it versatile is that it cleans up with the volume pot very well and sounds excellent split. And if I was to play high gain stuff in a dense mix with another guitar player, I can guarantee that the BW into a JCM800 or 5150 will bury completely, absolutely destroy the other guitar player at the same volume, unless he used a similar rig

Yeah, it depends on what genres we're discussing. I'd disagree that it can't do heavy metal well. For hard rock, the Distortion may have an edge. But yes, the BW is a modern-sounding pickup, so in that sense, it will sound very different from a JB or a Super D.

 

[marcello252]

And if I was to play high gain stuff in a dense mix with another guitar player, I can guarantee that the BW into a JCM800 or 5150 will bury completely, absolutely destroy the other guitar player at the same volume, unless he used a similar rig

Really? I've always thought it's the mid content coming out of the mix, as far as I understand it's not the main characteristic of the BW.
My guiding light in this was an early 90s Jerry Cantrell's interview where he said he asked in mixing just for a peak on 1 KHz, from that moment on I've always put a boss ge7 in my rig after distortion with a 1 khz enhancement, and it worked since to stand out from other instruments playing.
The JB does this, the super distortion, in some way the SD distortion too btw

 

[AdrianSD]

Really? I've always thought it's the mid content coming out of the mix, as far as I understand it's not the main characteristic of the BW.
My guiding light in this was an early 90s Jerry Cantrell's interview where he said he asked in mixing just for a peak on 1 KHz, from that moment on I've always put a boss ge7 in my rig after distortion with a 1 khz enhancement, and it worked since to stand out from other instruments playing.
The JB does this, the super distortion, in some way the SD distortion too btw

That's the thing, you very much nailed it; Black Winter is a big flat thumping wall of mids, I wholeheartedly recommend every player who likes the JB and Distortion to try one in the bridge, at least It's so good, but so different at the same time.

 

[AdrianSD]

Yeah, it depends on what genres we're discussing. I'd disagree that it can't do heavy metal well. For hard rock, the Distortion may have an edge. But yes, the BW is a modern-sounding pickup, so in that sense, it will sound very different from a JB or a Super D.

For hard rock and heavy metal I have this idea that the lower end needs a bit of sag, squishy tone for the single notes that I just can't get from the BW. Tried to bump the presence, roll the mids and bass back a bit, chance the pick attack, it's just not happening. It's too tight, it hits very hard. Lovely pickup for palm muted Nuno style single notes runs and leads in general, where alternate and economy picking combine with legato, it just doesn't bark like the JB, Distortion or the Super Distortion. It bites, though

 

[Aceman]

Words are just not gonna cut it. At some point, I just need to get another Les Paul and put a set in there...

My question is how different from a standard Distortion is it really? (<= rhetorical, don;t answer).

Only my ears will be able to decide for me.

 

[Rex_Rocker]

Words are just not gonna cut it. At some point, I just need to get another Les Paul and put a set in there...

My question is how different from a standard Distortion is it really? (<= rhetorical, don;t answer).

Only my ears will be able to decide for me.

Yeah, I think you would like it if you tried it.

Would you like it more than a Distortion or 500T? Who knows. But I doubt you'd go "yeah, this sucks" LOL.

 

[marcello252]

I just need to get another Les Paul and put a set in there..

there's always room for a new guitar

 

[Wattage]

Custom 5

 

[marcello252]

Custom 5

personally, I find the Custom 5 one of the oddest pickup I know, in a negative way, at least with my guitars and rig.
It's loud but it's scooped, so you have in hands harsh treble and overpowered bass without the most important characteristic of a HB, the mid which should cut the band mix, a standard custom works way better and the eq is much more friendly, although with strats I do prefer without doubt the Custom Custom

 

[Wattage]

I find the regular Custom is very brittle with the ceramic mag. A CC might work for some of the stuff the OP is targeting like GnR but not so much for the more metallic stuff.