2015 epiphone les paul pick upgrade

[Hammer88]

Hey folks:

I'm new to the forum so first off, hello to you all.
The question I have is about my epi les paul pickup upgrade. I have a 2015 epi les Paul with coil tapping and pro pick ups am looking to put new SD pick ups in it. I like the p rail for the neck because of the strat and blues sound it has. I like to play classic rock/ blues and wonder if i install a p rail neck pu what would be suggested for a bridge pu? What is minimal effort to install and what else would I have to upgrade? I've tried many pick up tones on the SD site but am looking for your thoughts on this please. Thanks all.

 

[Chistopher]

Re: 2015 epiphone les paul pick upgrade

If you go with the P-rails, I'd suggest going with it in parallel for the neck position. It can be really dark, especially in a Les Paul. For the bridge I'd suggest a Seth Lover or Custom Custom.

 

[Mincer]

Re: 2015 epiphone les paul pick upgrade

Welcome to the forum!

A P-Rails is a great choice, but becomes a really amazing choice with the addition of the Triple Shot ring, which adds a lot of sounds that are easily wired in and accessible. You can complement that with a P-Rail bridge, or a 4 conductor version of a '59, so you can get split tones out of that, too. If you need or want a boost in output for the bridge, check out the Whole Lotta Humbucker for more 70's blues rock sounds.

 

[Gtrjunior]

Re: 2015 epiphone les paul pick upgrade

My only thing to add...keep in mind that you're 2015 most likely has the PCB board in it....I'm not 100% if they are in the Epi models but I know they are in the Gibson models.
I personally hated the board and had it taken out and wired up in traditional 50's style.

 

[Chistopher]

Re: 2015 epiphone les paul pick upgrade

My only thing to add...keep in mind that you're 2015 most likely has the PCB board in it....I'm not 100% if they are in the Epi models but I know they are in the Gibson models.
I personally hated the board and had it taken out and wired up in traditional 50's style.

Nope, that's only Gibsons. Epiphone doesn't want to cut into profits to put that "luxury" onto their guitars, lucky for us.

 

[Gtrjunior]

2015 epiphone les paul pick upgrade

Nope, that's only Gibsons. Epiphone doesn't want to cut into profits to put that "luxury" onto their guitars, lucky for us.

Nice! Good to know.
I'm sure some people have found the pcb board to be a good thing, and I can see how swapping Gibson pickups exclusively would be a LOT easier but once you want to change brands (like I did) it can be problematic. Especially for a novice at repair/replacement work, like myself.

 

[Chistopher]

Re: 2015 epiphone les paul pick upgrade

Another suggestion. If you want to keep up with the uncoventional aesthetic, the Stag Mag. It, much like the P-Rails, is massively under rated. A bit of that probably has to do with the look, for both pickups. The Stag Mag can also split to sound pretty close to an SSL-1.

My vote is towards P-Rails neck and Stag Mag bridge, with a single series/parallel switch to keep it simple. If you don't want the switch, I'd go with the P-rails hard wired to parallel and the Stag Mag set to series. But IMO, that would be a waste of the neat tricks you can do with both, with the right wiring these pickups can make a guitar with quite a few cards up its sleeve.

 

[Discharged]

Re: 2015 epiphone les paul pick upgrade

I have a 2015 epi les Paul with coil tapping and pro pick ups am looking to put new SD pick ups in it.

Ok, you're new here, so welcome!

Here are some basic rules of engagement: to ask for any useful advice, you first need to give context.

Like, "what is it that you're looking for and your actual p'ups don't deliver?" "What kind of music do plan to play with that guitar?"

Also, a brief description of your gear would help even further.

Without any context to go on, any given advice could be potentially harmful, or in a best-case scenario, just an exercise of futility.

Also, the p'ups on your guitar are actually quite alright, and modding'em would result in a change for the better. I should know, I have the exact same p'up on my ES-339.

So, I did perform the suggested modding of changing the filister screws, bobbin slugs and the magnets, the one suggested by a forumite that went with the handle of "LtKojak", and I couldn't be happier with the results, making'em practically undistinguishable of a real Seymour Duncan '59 set, tone-wise, put on the same instrument.

/Peter

 

[Hammer88]

Re: 2015 epiphone les paul pick upgrade

Hey peter/ Discharged, thanks for the advice. I just have a mustang 2 modelling amp. No effect pedals, but play through I rig 2 and it's provided effects. I'm not opposed to altering the pick ups, just not experienced at it. Would you be able to provide me with more detail ( I.e.) parts you used and where you got them? Even with the mods I would still be interested perhaps a p rail pick up but would do the mod first.

 

[Hammer88]

Re: 2015 epiphone les paul pick upgrade

Thanks to all of you that have replied. Great advice and options to steer me. I havnt really played guitar since I was in my very early 20's. I had been playing drums for many years by then and guitar fell by the way side. Due to back issues I have renewed my interest in guitar and have been having a pile of fun playing and learning all over again. You folks have been a lot of help.

 

[GuitarDoc]

Re: 2015 epiphone les paul pick upgrade

Another suggestion. If you want to keep up with the uncoventional aesthetic, the Stag Mag. It, much like the P-Rails, is massively under rated. A bit of that probably has to do with the look, for both pickups. The Stag Mag can also split to sound pretty close to an SSL-1.

My vote is towards P-Rails neck and Stag Mag bridge, with a single series/parallel switch to keep it simple. If you don't want the switch, I'd go with the P-rails hard wired to parallel and the Stag Mag set to series. But IMO, that would be a waste of the neat tricks you can do with both, with the right wiring these pickups can make a guitar with quite a few cards up its sleeve.

No, no, no. Don't even hint at hard wiring the P-Rails in parallel. Yes it's a great sound, but by far...WAY by far...the best tone of the P-Rail is the P-90 coil. Why even spend the money on a P-Rail if you're not going to utilize all of its goodness?!!

 

[GuitarDoc]

Re: 2015 epiphone les paul pick upgrade

The advice to detail what tones you want out of your guitar (or what tones you can't get from the existing pups) is good. We are then in a better position to help you with your goals.

But let me say this...I have that guitar, the 2016 or 2017 model and really love it. I have 4 dozen other guitars to compare it to, and it compares favorably with every one of them. You have a really good guitar there and the stock pickups are really quite good too. Unless you need some tones that those pups just can't deliver, there's no need to replace them. However, I am an extreme advocate of the P-Rail pup and recommend the P-Rail as just about the best possible upgrade you can do for versatility. And if that is indeed what you want, then mount the P-Rail in a Triple Shot mounting ring. This will enable you to get the very excellent P-90 tone, the very nice Parallel tone, the Stratty rail tone, and the very full and rich series tone.

I would suggest that you keep the existing bridge pup for now until you have a chance to play it a lot with the P-Rail in the neck. Then you can see if you want any further change and most importantly, where you want to go in that change

 

[Hammer88]

Re: 2015 epiphone les paul pick upgrade

Some great advice!! Thanks!!!!