Need Help Dialing a Les Paul in.....looking at possibly Phat Cats or P Rails

[BlueMagic]

I have an early Les Paul Classic, gorgeous guitar, great neck, really like it....but the sound is pretty bright....I've tried BKP Mules, SD 59's and JB's....and it just stays bright, I have a few of these, so I know it's probably partially the wood tone....I've never tried fat cat P90's or P Rails before....I was just thinking if I can't get it done with Buckers, I do like P90's....think that might add some lower end growl to it? If I can't figure it out, she's going up for sale, which would be a shame. Running a modded Blackstar HT60 and a Splawn Quickrod btw.

[Mincer]

Welcome to the forum!

Phat Cats can still sound pretty bright. P-Rails might be a good choice, but there are certain settings (of used with Triple Shots) which might make your problem worse. I might look at a set of Alnico II Pros, which sound like 2 sticks of butter. Not bright at all.

[Clint 55]

Is the neck bright or only the bridge? You could change the volume pot on the bridge to 250k. That would be an easy solution. I've never encountered a neck hb that I thought was too bright.

[LRS]

LP Classic 1960 owner here. Got one with the snot green inlays. I swapped the original pickups for a pair of Gibson Classic ‘57 (+). Some people consider these to be dark and lifeless due to combination of wax potting, even wound coils and Alnico II magnets; but I found these to be a perfect match with my LP Classic for old school LP sounds. I left the wiring harness stock, just a pickup swap.

[hamerfan]

'99 LP Classic Owner here. My classic is an oddball among my 3 other LPs. It's bright but compared to the others it lacks growl and a fundamental tone. If you cut the highs, you get a more dull/lifeless than warm tone. In my book it's the skinny lightwheight neck combined with a heavy body (over 10 lb).
Some folks suggested to add a brass stoptail piece with steel studs and heavier tuners like Grovers.

[Benjy_26]

PC's are brighter than most humbuckers I've messed with. I second the APH recommendation.

[BlueMagic]

PC's are brighter than most humbuckers I've messed with. I second the APH recommendation.

Is there a specific model you would recommend?

[BlueMagic]

PC's are brighter than most humbuckers I've messed with. I second the APH recommendation.

Ok, so you were recommending the Alnico 2 Pro I take it....I also see that the Pearly Gates is an Alnico II.....I have those in another Les Paul and they are quite nice....Is there a huge tonal difference between the two?

[Mincer]

The PGs have more high end and less mids than the Alnico II Pro.

[Benjy_26]

Ok, so you were recommending the Alnico 2 Pro I take it....I also see that the Pearly Gates is an Alnico II.....I have those in another Les Paul and they are quite nice....Is there a huge tonal difference between the two?

Basically what Mincer said. I hear a little more grind in the high/high mids of the PG's that I don't hear in the APH. I also hear a little less low end in the PG. The APHn is pretty creamy in comparison.

[eclecticsynergy]

+1 on a 250K volume pot. You can clip a 470K resistor between the outside lugs of the stock 500K pot to try it out.
250K doesn't simply dampen treble, it actually alters a pickup's overall character slightly, lowering the resonant peak.
Usually gives better cleanup when you roll back, too, an often overlooked benefit.

As for pickups, I wouldn't choose the PG bridge for a bright thin-sounding LP.
If you're modding, you might try an A6 magnet in your 59B or the Mule bridge.

Myself, I'd be tempted to consider the CustomCustom for a guitar like that.

[Aceman]

Yes - let's talk about the tone pots and your use of them....

What is in there and how do you use it, if you use it?

[formula73]

Roll off your tone. Idk why everybody feels the need to be wide open all the time.

[BluesMan335]

I prefer warm, full tones...for me A2P & WLH work well for that. A great bridge pickup with high output is a Custom with an A8 magnet, aka Custom 8, C8.

[Securb]

I prefer warm, full tones...for me A2P & WLH work well for that. A great bridge pickup with high output is a Custom with an A8 magnet, aka Custom 8, C8.

Another vote for the WLH set. Here is a review I wrote up on them

http://www.tmrzoo.com/2014/63700/review-seymour-duncan-whole-lotta-humbucker-im-gonna-give-love