3 pick-up Les Pauls... opinions?

[lex666]

Please give me your opinion of 3 pick up les pauls. Good or bad...

What if I said it was an Epi 3 pup custom?

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/srs7/g=guitar/search/detail/base_pid/518096/

What if I said I wanted to use it for metal and put EMG's in it or something?

thanks,

 

[JeffB]

Re: 3 pick-up Les Pauls... opinions?

ONLY ISSUE I have with them..and it's a BIG issue for me

Middle pickup gets in the way of my picking hand...

I had a 3 pup SG/LP years ago, and that lasted about 5 days...PITA for *me*

 

[Kac]

Re: 3 pick-up Les Pauls... opinions?

Epi 3 pup Custom sound and looks fun. I wouldn't put EMG's in it though.. but that's just me. Duncan's all the way!!!

Give it a try ~ Rock On ~!~

 

[ratherdashing]

Re: 3 pick-up Les Pauls... opinions?

I have heard from a few people that the middle pickup's tone is completely useless. I think that's a matter of personal preference though. I have also heard the getting in the way complaint.

 

[kmcguitars]

Re: 3 pick-up Les Pauls... opinions?

This Guy got some Rightous tone from his original 3 PuP Black Beauty.According to Gary Rossington, Steve Gaines used this on the opening Riff to `I Know A Little' I would swear it sounds Fendery? But with the middle Pup Some say you can get a Tele like tone? BTW, This is a Great Album !!

 

[XSSIVE]

Re: 3 pick-up Les Pauls... opinions?

ONLY ISSUE I have with them..and it's a BIG issue for me

Middle pickup gets in the way of my picking hand...

I had a 3 pup SG/LP years ago, and that lasted about 5 days...PITA for *me*

i'm with Jeff, although, i hate middle pickups on anything, even strats so i'd think the full size hum in the middle of a LP would be a real PITA to me.

-Mike

 

[fusion101]

Re: 3 pick-up Les Pauls... opinions?

The guitar looks bad ass, and if you ever find the middle pickup as being worthless, simply lower it to its maximum amount and wire it like a H-H

 

[BloodRose]

Re: 3 pick-up Les Pauls... opinions?

I have an Epi Ace Frehley with is a triple pup model. Ive heard complaints about it gettin in the way, but it doesnt bother me or other who have used it. Frampton etc. Honestly the middle pup doesnt have a radical change on tone, but it does offer an added choice. And I think looks cool.

 

[Loserchief]

Re: 3 pick-up Les Pauls... opinions?

My custom B.C Rich is H-H-H with Emgs. It's loaded with 60N/89M/81B: huge range of tone with this setup,i can exchange the 60 and 81 whenever i want and i never had problems with the middle-pup getting in the way.

 

[Blueline]

Re: 3 pick-up Les Pauls... opinions?

i always find myself hitting the pickup while playing - maybe because i'm a lousy player
i personally tihink the effect of a middle pickup is more pronounced when its not another humbucker
3 p90s or a single coil in the middle of 2 hums is much more versatile

 

[jmh151]

Re: 3 pick-up Les Pauls... opinions?

I've heard of people putting a Phatcat in the middle position or the Dimarzio pickup that's supposed to be a p-90 in a hunbucking housing. That will givbe you a good range of tones

 

[ErikH]

Re: 3 pick-up Les Pauls... opinions?

That is sweet looking but I'm with Jeff and Mike. Don't like middle pickups. I don't mind them on Strats though, hells, I acually use it on my Strat. Anything else, dual humbuckers or 1 humbucker 1 single or 1 humbucker only.

 

[Zhangliqun]

Re: 3 pick-up Les Pauls... opinions?

If you hit the middle pickup with your pick, you are just digging in WAY too deep. My next score after getting out of debt will be a 3-pup Historic Black Beauty -- LOVE 'em. My plan is to put an underwound Phat Cat in the middle position and rewire it with a push/pull pot to pop the middle pu in and out so I can have all 7 pickup combos.

The Phat Cat -- being a single coil with the poles in the middle instead of off to each side -- will give much better bridge/middle and neck/middle "cluck" tones than a humbucker does.

I routed a Lucille I had a 5 years ago for a middle pickup and it worked really well. Never tried a Phat Cat in the middle but I did put a mini-hum in the middle and it worked really well for "cluck" tones. I think the Phat Cat underwound to about 7.0k (maybe even less) will work even better -- and it'll sure LOOK better...

 

[WhoFan]

Re: 3 pick-up Les Pauls... opinions?

I liked PT's LP Deluxes in the 70's... The minis and a middle Dual Sound.... It looked really cool! But i do have to say i love 3 pickup LP Customs... Just for the look.... A Black Custom with 3 pickups with no covers is for me...

WhoFan

 

[ErikH]

Re: 3 pick-up Les Pauls... opinions?

If you hit the middle pickup with your pick, you are just digging in WAY too deep.

It's not a matter of digging too deep. They stick out past the strings, especially humbuckers in mounting rings. I end up hitting them before hitting the strings. Single coils I don't have a problem with though. Yeah, I may dig a little deeper than some but I'm not a virtuoso type player. That's how I get some feeling in to it. It's the SRV influence I guess.

 

[Zhangliqun]

Re: 3 pick-up Les Pauls... opinions?

It's not a matter of digging too deep. They stick out past the strings, especially humbuckers in mounting rings. I end up hitting them before hitting the strings. Single coils I don't have a problem with though. Yeah, I may dig a little deeper than some but I'm not a virtuoso type player. That's how I get some feeling in to it. It's the SRV influence I guess.

You're telling me the pole pieces stick out PAST the strings? Or do you mean the pickup sticks out outside the E-strings horizontally -- but then again all pickups stick out like that, middle or not, so maybe I'm just not understanding what you're saying.

As for digging in, maybe you use too thin a pick? If so, try a pick thick enough that there is no flex or give to it, not even a tiny bit. It'll get you that SRV "dig in" tone without you having to go in up to your knuckles. It's like a power hitter developing a tighter, more compact swing to get the average up without sacrificing power.

 

[ErikH]

Re: 3 pick-up Les Pauls... opinions?

You're telling me the pole pieces stick out PAST the strings? Or do you mean the pickup sticks out outside the E-strings horizontally -- but then again all pickups stick out like that, middle or not, so maybe I'm just not understanding what you're saying.

As for digging in, maybe you use too thin a pick? If so, try a pick thick enough that there is no flex or give to it, not even a tiny bit. It'll get you that SRV "dig in" tone without you having to go in up to your knuckles. It's like a power hitter developing a tighter, more compact swing to get the average up without sacrificing power.

I'm meaning the outside edges of the pickup. Not the poles, just the body. I have no problem with the bridge and neck because I pick between them anyway. It's just when there's something there, sometimes it gets in the way.

The picks I use are medium-heavy (yellow tortex) to heavy. I really like the feel of heavy picks but I still dig with 'em. I abuse my strings sometimes.

 

[Kelsey]

Re: 3 pick-up Les Pauls... opinions?

I don't much care for the middle pickup even in Strats. It does get in the way of my picking at times, and it's not just a matter of digging too deep with the pick -- it's a common problem with finger picking, too, and I don't dig deep with my bare fingers. The treble edge of a Strat pickup is the culprit, so I lower it out of the way, making it pretty weak on its own, but it still delivers the expected quack when combined with the neck or bridge pickups.

 

[Gearjoneser]

Re: 3 pick-up Les Pauls... opinions?

I love mine, and the middle position sounds cool on cleans. The gold bars look great, and you can always lower it flush if you want it out of the way of your picking hand. I play this guitar the least, mostly because it's too valueable, and I don't want the C-5/59/59 tarnished. It's kinda like owning a Rolls Royce....you don't want to drive it to work everyday, but you admire it when it's parked in the driveway!

You won't believe this, but a kid's dad bought him this 35th Ann Custom BB for over $3000 used, then the stupid moron wanted a Godin!!!!!!! He put it in the paper for $1400 in mint cond. and he took my offer of $1300!!! I showed up to his mansion in the Hollywood Hills (his dad is a TV producer) and I crapped my pants when I saw his guitar! I was floating on clouds when I stole this candy from a baby!!! His dad must have had a heart attack when he realized his 18 yr old just sold a pre Historic 1989 35 Anniversary Black Beauty Custom w/aged binding, that plays better than almost any other guitar in the world!

 

[kmcguitars]

Re: 3 pick-up Les Pauls... opinions?

That's one SWEEEEET Guitar there GJer !! Is it true you can get a Tele like tone from it? I've also read they have Mahogany caps (Not Maple?) I guess there is a reason they call them the fretless wonder's.