Stock Les Paul pups.....

[dr.barlo]

Re: Stock Les Paul pups.....

I can't tell what the volume pots are in my LP Studio, but the tone pots are 500K. I assume they use the same pots in the ES-137, and the Seth Lovers I just had installed in my ES-137 Classic are plenty full and bright as is -- a huge improvement in clarity, brightness, warmth and balance over the stock 490R/498T set. This upgrade on my ES-137 will most surely lead to an upgrade of the pickups in my LP Studio.

Exactly!

When I came home today the first thing I did was to find the tone pots from my 95 LP standards and measure them. Right on! 480K and 495K!

Both linear!

B

[dr.barlo]

Re: Stock Les Paul pups.....

Hi All,

I have a '93 Les Paul Custom, and I'd like to swap out the pickups, and this thread has some interesting comments...

First, what pickups are likely in my guitar?

Second, what role does the resistance of the pots play in the tone? I was going to buy an RS Guitarworks set of "True Tone" pots and capacitor set, and it comes with 500k pots. Their "Treble Tame" set is designed to work for guitars whose bridge pickup seems a bit bright (like mine), and this set has different pots (they don't give the value).

I feel my bridge pickup is too bright, I was going to swap out both pups, but maybe this Treble Tamer kit is what I need.

Anyone have any recomendations for a good set of replacement pups for a Les Paul? I want a warmer sound out of the bridge pickup. The neck pickup seems a little too warm, it tends to mush out a bit. When I set up my amp to sound good on the neck, I don't like the bridge, and vice vera. I don't think I need the high output of the bridge pickup, I think it measured 13.5k

BTW, my amp is a 30 watt Aiken Invader Mk I, 4 EL-84's, like an old Marshall. Power Tube distortion baby!

- Dave

Luke gave great info!

What I'd do is:

0. Get a set of antiquities.

1. Get 4 CTS500K audio pots, and get some orange drop caps (3 or 4 from each uuf value - they are cheap) measuring 0.015; 0.022; 0.033 and 0.047. I expect that you'd like 0.047 in the bridge (the higher the uuf value the more highs cut off by your tone pot).

2. Get an ally tail from Pigtail. They are great! And wrap your strings on the ally tail. This softens the highs on the bridge.

B

[Luke Duke]

Re: Stock Les Paul pups.....

Luke gave great info!

What I'd do is:

0. Get a set of antiquities.

1. Get 4 CTS500K audio pots, and get some orange drop caps (3 or 4 from each uuf value - they are cheap) measuring 0.015; 0.022; 0.033 and 0.047. I expect that you'd like 0.047 in the bridge (the higher the uuf value the more highs cut off by your tone pot).

2. Get an ally tail from Pigtail. They are great! And wrap your strings on the ally tail. This softens the highs on the bridge.

B

Wow it's a heady experience getting props from the Doctor....that man knows how to review!

I'm using an tonepros bridge, and Aluminum TP. That TP livened up my accoustic sound a bit too. More vintage sounding some say I don't care what it is I jut like it!

I wrap my strings over my TP and like the tone and feel maybe it softens the highs? Dr B.?

Luke

[papersoul]

Re: Stock Les Paul pups.....

I tried the aluminum tail and to me it made the tone more vintage, open and brighter. You may like that. My tone is thicker and darker with the stock tailpiece.

I also have used .047 caps and it will also slightly darken the tone with everything on ten. Keep that in mind.

[HarrisonDavid]

Re: Stock Les Paul pups.....

Hmmm. I know I recentley read somewhere that Gibson uses 300k pots on all LP Studios for volume and tone. But, maybe you're right. I'll have to check.

The value of the CGE pots are 300k volume and 500k tone.

That was my reply from the customer service dept.

I have a 2003 Les Paul Studio

[HarrisonDavid]

Re: Stock Les Paul pups.....

Well I've had the guitar for about 4-5 years now. I like the clean sounds coming from it, but not the distortion.

Our drummer has an SG with EMG's in it, and I love the way it sounds coming out of my dual rectifier/1960A cab...it makes me want to make that my main guitar...but I just cant let my love for the les paul go without a fight, this is why im thinkin about changin them out

I just put some EMG PUPS in my Les Paul the 81/85 set. I don't have them in their Custom positions 81 Bridge and 85 Neck, but rather 85 Bridge and 81 Neck. For Rock and Metal you can't go wrong. The 85 sounds GREAT in the bridge seems like a more mid range driven PUP. Also I would like to add that the 81 is great for the neck you can get really good cleans out of it as well. Lots of great guitar players use the 81 in the neck. The way I have it set up just seems more versatile to me! Also I never try to play any Rhythms in the neck position but I will with the 81 from time to time. For a little bit different depth.

If you were going to go with Duncans....I would choose either a DD, Custom, or CC in the bridge. If you want that 81 sound the DD will work.

Now that I have tried them both and sometimes drool over different combinations....

If I was to do it different from EMG I'll go with.

For a Les Paul CC in the Bridge and A2P, Jazz, or Pearly gate neck. Note I narrowed down the Custom Custom. I think that sounds like a versatile PUP. Anyone agree with this?

[JeffB]

Re: Stock Les Paul pups.....

I personally don't care for the JB in a Les Paul. Don't get me wrong, it's a great pickup, but it just doesn't suit me personally. I think it's excellent for leads and cuts through the mix brilliantly. However, there's just something about it to me that it lacks on rhythms. I can't really put my finger on it, but it just seems kinda lifeless. Now a Duncan Custom is kind of the best of both worlds. It cuts through the mix on leads and is tight and full and everything in a Les Paul. Just my opinion.

My exact opinion as well. Don't care for the JB in Les Pauls and other set mahogany neck, mahogany body guitars. Custom on the other hand does what the JB can, and cannot.

[papersoul]

Re: Stock Les Paul pups.....

I just put some EMG PUPS in my Les Paul the 81/85 set. I don't have them in their Custom positions 81 Bridge and 85 Neck, but rather 85 Bridge and 81 Neck. For Rock and Metal you can't go wrong. The 85 sounds GREAT in the bridge seems like a more mid range driven PUP. Also I would like to add that the 81 is great for the neck you can get really good cleans out of it as well. Lots of great guitar players use the 81 in the neck. The way I have it set up just seems more versatile to me! Also I never try to play any Rhythms in the neck position but I will with the 81 from time to time. For a little bit different depth.

If you were going to go with Duncans....I would choose either a DD, Custom, or CC in the bridge. If you want that 81 sound the DD will work.

Now that I have tried them both and sometimes drool over different combinations....

If I was to do it different from EMG I'll go with.

For a Les Paul CC in the Bridge and A2P, Jazz, or Pearly gate neck. Note I narrowed down the Custom Custom. I think that sounds like a versatile PUP. Anyone agree with this?

Do you find the 85 sounds warm in the bridge and good clean? As thick and warm as say a Custom or JB? I am really curious your thoughts.

Thanks!

[WICKED LESTER]

Re: Stock Les Paul pups.....

al i know is that after trying duncans in my one les paul the stock gibson pups are not too good

[HarrisonDavid]

Re: Stock Les Paul pups.....

Yeah definately more warm and middy sounding. Right now I think it's perfect for what I like. Also the 81 sounds good in the neck too. I don't play too much clean though. Though when I do I don't dime the volume and I mess with the tone knobs. People forget about those

[HarrisonDavid]

Re: Stock Les Paul pups.....

al i know is that after trying duncans in my one les paul the stock gibson pups are not too good

Mudd at high volumes......though I could get some killer pinch harmonics out of the 498T.

Now I can get both P.H on bridge and Neck if I wanted(because of the 81N).
It's pretty neat to get a different heavy tone from a neck pup! With a little tweaking you can get a clean tone. You just have to fight a little to find it. People don't like that. I guess it's the good ole, fast food method of thinking they are stuck on.