So I've browsed the internet, watched 100+ YouTube videos, and none of them really tell me the answer to a simple yet highly debated topic.
I'm building a Les Paul style guitar, I love Les Paul's, however I'm changing the neck profile and number of frets in search of playability and sustain.
I love the warm mellow Les Paul tone, and I would like to incorporate some of that as well as adding some more modern clarity and attack, hopefully without going active.
Everyone says super distortions, or jb. But YouTube sound clips don't show me good quality sound in most places.
I would like some high end clarity similar to Jon petrucci on dream theaters newest album, but to also have a slightly more traditional warmth and decent sustain.
I would say Slash's guitar is almost too warm/muddy, on the other end would be 80s and early 90s Metallica with almost piercing treble and high gain sustain. So...something in the middle if that exists...
If you want a nice mellow, but clear/non muddy tone, what brand or direction should you go for pickups?
Even thought about a good high gain/high output bridge pickup, with a more traditional neck pickup. Matching volumes would be slightly difficult though.
Sorry for the long winded question, I know I'll have to compromise on either top or bottom end most likely, but I'd like a balance of both if I can to make the guitar more versatile. So I could gift it to someone who plays blues sometimes, and metal other times, or use myself for recording.
Thanks for the help