Suggestion for pickup set change on a Gibson Les Paul Axcess

[Econ]

I'm looking for something that will allow me to play 80's metal, hard rock and top 40 music. My current amp is a Friedman BE 100 and also have a Kemper that I use at home. I've been thinking about the following combinations, but dont know which one should I go for (I know that tone is subjective and in the players fingers, but a little guidance would not hurt in making this decision

1. Motor City Garuda in bridge and T-Wreck in neck
2. Dimarzio Super Distortion bridge and PAF neck
3. Suhr Aldrich in bridge and neck
4. Bareknuckle Nailbomb in bridge and Cold Sweat in neck
5. Bareknuckle Holy Divers in neck and bridge

I'm also intrigued by the Dimarzio Transitions, but don't know if they would work with the body and neck wood of the Axcess.

Once again, any feedback on these choices would be most appreciated.

 

[mooncobra]

try some wolfetones, great for les pauls.

 

[messenger]

I've never really felt the need to change pickups in any of the LPs I've had. I must be odd

 

[chumbucket]

Seymour Duncan Custom Shop JB with an Alnico 8 Magnet

How does the 8 affect the tone of the JB anyway? I kind of like JB's as they are but curious.

 

[nigelpkay]

Tried the Holydiver bridge in my stop tail Axcess, it was ok, but I've found that pickup just doesn't work in Les Pauls (my opinion after several tries in different LPs), it's much better in brighter superstrats.

I've had a cold sweat set in there as well, it was ok too, but the Cold Sweat is a bit hollow in the low mids and didn't sound the right match in the light Axcess (whereas in a dense dead slab LP custom it excels) The neck Cold Sweat did not sound great either, kind of weak sounding, in fact the stock 496r sounds really great in the Axcess.

Right now I have BKP Black Dog in the bridge, and it sounds great, really chunks it up and retains the Gibson flavour. But sometimes I want a little more output.

I'm about to try the classic Dimarzio Super Distortion / PAF combo, but I know that works in ANY guitar already so I expect it will be great.

I've heard the Rebel Yell really shines in the Axcess bridge (there's a guy on YouTube with one if you search).

My recommendation would be to leave the 496r in the neck, it's great already and haven't found better myself, and try the Rebel Yell in bridge, or go for the Dimarzio combo.

I wished I liked the 498t, it's a good pickup, but it's just never seemed right for me.

 

[PBGas]

Follow along my journey if you can....
Funny you should mention this...I have a couple of Axcess guitars as well and completely love them!

I have tried the Super D in my regular Axcess....it was ok and worked well but with a bit of a....I don't know mid frequency that I wasn't that fond of. Sounded the same through many different amps and modellers. Really cuts through nicely though....I didn't like how it cleaned up.

I tried the Transition neck and bridge in that same guitar and I didn't like it for the higher gain stuff. It has a raspiness that I particularly didn't enjoy. The neck Transition is very nice and worked well. Clean and mid gain was beautiful on it and it cleaned up well.

Currently, I pulled the 498T and the 496R out of my Lifeson Axcess and put that in my regular Axcess and I don't mind it but it is still not what I am looking for. I find the 498T to be thin on the lead stuff at higher gain.

So...for my Lifeson Axcess, I went with the Dimarzio AT-1 in the bridge and the PAF36 in the neck. Both pickups sound outstanding for for this guitar. I've had them in there now for more than 9 months and have no desire to change them out. It sounds perfect to my ears.

For my regular Axcess, I'm looking at doing the following either:
-Duncan Custom 5 in the bridge with a Jazz in the neck.
-Dimarzio Gravity storm neck and bridge. I had the Gravity Storms in one of my previous JemFP2 guitars with a basswood body and they were the best set of pickups I have ever heard or used. I just am unsure how they will sound in this guitar. My regular Axcess is already really resonant and rings out loudly so I'm worried this may be a bit too much based on the specs of the pickup.
-Dimarzio Mo'Joe in bridge and Paf Joe in neck
-then I saw Reza's post above and now I'm thinking.....hmmm.....

Either way, I'm getting covered humbuckers for this next swap. They look fantastic!

 

[Mark Day]

I put a covered Duncan Distortion in my Lifeson and I really like it.

Mark

 

[metalmaniac93]

My vote goes for the Rebel Yell. Wade does not make the Garuda anymore so that might be out. You also might want to check out the MCP Detroiter. The Suhr Aldrich is a popular choice especially the bridge.

 

[angelspade]

When it comes to passives and Gibsons....I always end up back at the same place: Covered Duncan Distortion or JB. They just work.

 

[Econ]

Thank you all for the great feedback. I'm going to look into the Duncan Custom Shop JB with the Alnico 8 magnet. I think that I'm between that and the Suhr Aldrich.

 

[glip22]

Thank you all for the great feedback. I'm going to look into the Duncan Custom Shop JB with the Alnico 8 magnet. I think that I'm between that and the Suhr Aldrich.

You will lose the mid spike the JB is known for. You will get the tighter lows though and not at a loss of clarity. Not sure if that is what you want. If I could get the lows and the mid spike it would be 100%

 

[Econ]

Anyone with experince putting a Dimarzio AT 1 on a Les Paul?

 

[ericsabbath]

holy diver

I strongly disagree about it not working right in les pauls
had it in my '73 gibson lp custom, in a 90's japanese lp custom copy with rosewood board and also in a custom made brazilian mahogany/brazilian rosewood/imbuya top les paul std copy
it sounded pretty aggressive in the '73 lp custom, very balanced and versatile in the japanese and HUGE in the imbuya top les paul
I have a custom Short Hydra (their take on the les paul) in final assembly process right now, and it's gonna have a holy diver in the bridge and an emerald in the neck position

 

[nigelpkay]

holy diver
I strongly disagree about it not working right in les pauls
had it in my '73 gibson lp custom, in a 90's japanese lp custom copy with rosewood board and also in a custom made brazilian mahogany/brazilian rosewood/imbuya top les paul std copy
it sounded pretty aggressive in the '73 lp custom, very balanced and versatile in the japanese and HUGE in the imbuya top les paul
I have a custom Short Hydra (their take on the les paul) in final assembly process right now, and it's gonna have a holy diver in the bridge and an emerald in the neck position

I guess "doesn't work" is a little strong. What I mean is that there are better options for a Les Paul, I find the Black Dog (like a lower output diver), Cold Sweat, and Rebel Yell are better alternatives that suit a Les Paul better.

 

[Econ]

Heard the AT-1 in a Les Paul Custom and it sounded really good. Thinking about doing the AT-1 in the bridge and a PAF 36th Anniv in the neck.

 

[Steinmetzify]

Didn't like the Holydiver in my Short LP either, but I'm playing lower tuned metal with that guitar and that pickup didn't hold together well tuned low.

The Nailbomb wouldn't be my first choice either. Like said above if you do the alt8 you're gonna lose that spike that the JB has...that's a great pickup as well if you don't go too low with it. The low end falls apart in drop C. Had it in my LPC and it sounded chunky and great in standard. No boutique prices either!

 

[Mesa\Kramer]

I'm looking for something that will allow me to play 80's metal, hard rock and top 40 music.

You already have the perfect pickups for that.
Gibson 498T/490R

 

[ericsabbath]

holy diver
I strongly disagree about it not working right in les pauls
had it in my '73 gibson lp custom, in a 90's japanese lp custom copy with rosewood board and also in a custom made brazilian mahogany/brazilian rosewood/imbuya top les paul std copy
it sounded pretty aggressive in the '73 lp custom, very balanced and versatile in the japanese and HUGE in the imbuya top les paul
I have a custom Short Hydra (their take on the les paul) in final assembly process right now, and it's gonna have a holy diver in the bridge and an emerald in the neck position

I guess "doesn't work" is a little strong. What I mean is that there are better options for a Les Paul, I find the Black Dog (like a lower output diver), Cold Sweat, and Rebel Yell are better alternatives that suit a Les Paul better.

I had the black dog and cold sweat installed in the same lp custom as well
they all sounded just as good, but each one had its own sound (the black dog has some similarities with the holy diver indeed)
the guitar actually ended up with a riff raff, though

 

[nigelpkay]

I guess "doesn't work" is a little strong. What I mean is that there are better options for a Les Paul, I find the Black Dog (like a lower output diver), Cold Sweat, and Rebel Yell are better alternatives that suit a Les Paul better.

I had the black dog and cold sweat installed in the same lp custom as well
they all sounded just as good, but each one had its own sound (the black dog has some similarities with the holy diver indeed)
the guitar actually ended up with a riff raff, though

Don't get me wrong, love the Holydiver in superstrats. I just find it's thickening character and flattish EQ takes away some of that deep Les Paulness. You hear it in that Sylosis video. I found the Black Dog has a similar sound, just has more openness that let's the natural Les Paul character through (even on a thin Axcess). Who knows I'll probably try the diver again some day. I've become a chronic pickup swapper and sometimes I need more heat. Or more guitars...

 

[chumbucket]

I put a covered Duncan Distortion in my Lifeson and I really like it.

Mark

Hey Mark,

Wasn't the DD just a JB with a different magnet too?


PS. You got any Ax8 videos coming down the pike?