57 Classic and 57 Classic Plus opinions for hard rock?

[ledvedder]

What do you guys think of these pickups for hard rock?  I recently bought a 2016 Les Paul traditional, which I absolutely love, feel and playing-wise.  But something about the pickups in it aren't doing it for me.  I play through both a Marshall DSL and a Ceriatone Chupacabra, which is basically a hot-rodded plexi.  I have a Peavey Wolfgang with an EVH Wolfgang pickup and a parts Strat with an EVH Frankenstein pickup, and these both sound and feel amazing through my amps.  I'm not sure what is going on with the 57 Classics in the LP.  Maybe I have them too close or too far from the strings?  Maybe they just aren't the pickups for me?  I see tons of great reviews about them, but mostly for lower gain classic rock and clean stuff.  The tone I always like to dial in is reminiscent of VHII.  I was playing with my amps for a few hours tonight, and just couldn't get that dialed in when using the Les Paul.

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[Securb]

Re: 57 Classic and 57 Classic Plus opinions for hard rock?

I have a Lester Traditional and a DSL myself. I find the 57's do not have any punch in the midrange, no chug, no balls. I replaced the 57s with a Whole Lotta Humbucker set and could not be happier.

Review: Seymour Duncan Whole Lotta Humbucker

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

 

[LLL]

Re: 57 Classic and 57 Classic Plus opinions for hard rock?

What do you guys think of these pickups for hard rock?  I recently bought a 2016 Les Paul traditional, which I absolutely love, feel and playing-wise.  But something about the pickups in it aren't doing it for me.  I play through both a Marshall DSL and a Ceriatone Chupacabra, which is basically a hot-rodded plexi.  I have a Peavey Wolfgang with an EVH Wolfgang pickup and a parts Strat with an EVH Frankenstein pickup, and these both sound and feel amazing through my amps.  I'm not sure what is going on with the 57 Classics in the LP.  Maybe I have them too close or too far from the strings?  Maybe they just aren't the pickups for me?  I see tons of great reviews about them, but mostly for lower gain classic rock and clean stuff.  The tone I always like to dial in is reminiscent of VHII.  I was playing with my amps for a few hours tonight, and just couldn't get that dialed in when using the Les Paul.

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Doing hard rock with the traditional setup of PAF + "older" Marshall circuit... you're gonna need to goose things.

An MXR 6-Band EQ, MXR Distortion+, BOSS DS-1 (traditionally) or other, newfangled stomps to kick things into high gear.

Otherwise, a hotter pickup (IIRC, the Wolfgang and Frankenstein pups are around 14K)

 

[Securb]

Re: 57 Classic and 57 Classic Plus opinions for hard rock?

I wouldn't call the DSL an "older" Marshall circuit. Even with my MXR Distortion + it didn't goose the 57s enough to get the mids needed to play rock and metal. Just wondering LLL do you have a Les Paul Traditional with 57s? A DSL? Or are your opinions just conjecture? I truly respect your opinions but find people with the gear in question might have more experience and insights into it. Just wondering if your options are from expertise or internet research.

 

[Boogie Bill]

Re: 57 Classic and 57 Classic Plus opinions for hard rock?

Your assessment is correct: lower gain classic rock and blues (and jazz).

If I'm doing harder rock, I'll use one of my Historic LPs with the BB 1 & 2 set, but for softer stuff, or an older crowd, I'll use my LP Elegant with the '57s...softer and rounder. For the music you describe, I think the WLH recommendation is a great one.

Bill

 

[Nightburst]

Re: 57 Classic and 57 Classic Plus opinions for hard rock?

If my deal goes through I'll be able to tell you how the 57 classic plus will sound for heavy rock tones by the end of next week. There are plenty of youtube videos out there where people get decent tones out of them. Is it the inherent tone of the pickups you don't like? Too middy or trebly?
Otherwise, what LLL said, use OD or Eq to shape tone and feel. But to be fair, VH2 doesn't sound very high gain to my ears, just cranked , more like classic rock. The great thing about lower output pickups is that they are the perfect plaform for gain stacking, which if done right gives you amazing results: a very open crunchy tone with a liquid feel.

 

[Securb]

Re: 57 Classic and 57 Classic Plus opinions for hard rock?

If my deal goes through I'll be able to tell you how the 57 classic plus will sound for heavy rock tones by the end of next week.

They are not bad pickups I keep mine after I pulled them. They just didn't have that "lionized" Les Paul tone I was looking for. Even with boosts and EQ, they would get close but not quite there. Once I put in the WLH set not only did the pickups nail the sound but the touch sensitivity was amazing. The pickup turned the Les Paul into a totally new, different feeling guitar.

Good luck with your new purchase. What kind of axe is it?

 

[Chistopher]

Re: 57 Classic and 57 Classic Plus opinions for hard rock?

Before you go and yank yer pickups out for some new ones, a couple dollars could get you an A4 for the neck and a UOA5 for the bridge. This will make the pickups on par with SD or DMZ offerings. What most people don't know is that Gibson pickups are high quality, they just ship them out with the wrong magnets for some reason. I have this set in my ES-175 Special (The Epi one) and it rivals just about any hollowbody I've ever put it up against. It excels at anything from clean to mild overdrive, and everything above classic rock levels it will do pretty well, not as good as, say Blackouts, but it'll do it.

 

[Nightburst]

Re: 57 Classic and 57 Classic Plus opinions for hard rock?

They are not bad pickups I keep mine after I pulled them. They just didn't have that "lionized" Les Paul tone I was looking for. Even with boosts and EQ, they would get close but not quite there. Once I put in the WLH set not only did the pickups nail the sound but the touch sensitivity was amazing. The pickup turned the Les Paul into a totally new, different feeling guitar.

Good luck with your new purchase. What kind of axe is it?

Its just the pickup that might replace the Custom UOA5 in my PRS Custom 22, the uoa5 mag might end up inside the classic 57 plus, have to see how it goes, options are on the table . If you guys want I can record some sound samples.

 

[Perry go round]

Re: 57 Classic and 57 Classic Plus opinions for hard rock?

I replaced the 57/57+ in my sig. T LP for a set of WLH and I am quite happy.
The 57s were a bit harsh to my ears. The WLH sound rounder, more open, great sensitivity and have plenty of balls for the hard rock stuff.
I am quite happy with them.

Enviado desde mi HUAWEI SCL-L01 mediante Tapatalk

 

[LLL]

Re: 57 Classic and 57 Classic Plus opinions for hard rock?

For the pickup consideration side of things:

The 57s don't have enough output to his liking, because he said he loves the Wolfgang and Frankenstein pups (both around 14K) with his gear.

The 57 classics are ~8K (standard PAF).

If he wants to match the output he's currently happy with, he's gonna need a hotter pickup than the WLH (or use my suggestion of the time-honored tradition of "goosing the PAF" with a stomp).

I'd recommend a pickup from the Custom series. There is a common theme after all with all three pickups (Wolfgang, Frankenstein, Custom series).

 

[donaldr]

Re: 57 Classic and 57 Classic Plus opinions for hard rock?

I have Gibson '61 zebra (vintage output) in my LP, changed strings from DR Tite-fit (10-52) to EB Slinky (11-46) solved my problem. Try different strings first before ditching the pickups.
Also remember that a Strat with 25.5" maple neck will not sound the same as an LP with 24.75" mahogany neck. Maybe you like the superstrat sound more.

 

[beaubrummels]

Re: 57 Classic and 57 Classic Plus opinions for hard rock?

Try a '78 Model for VHII in your LP, or a 59/C for the same with more bottom end.

 

[blueman335]

Re: 57 Classic and 57 Classic Plus opinions for hard rock?

I've owned 10 models of Gibson HB's, '57's were the worst sounding by far. Tried mag swaps, that didn't do much. Instead of dicking around with them, I'd just sell them, you'll get more for them if they're not cut open for a mag swap. Put the money towards a WLH set. You'll be much happier.

 

[Mincer]

Re: 57 Classic and 57 Classic Plus opinions for hard rock?

See, I liked the 57s better than the 490 set, which I thought was abysmal. I am not a huge 57 fan, but I'd certainly take those over the 490s.

 

[blueman335]

Re: 57 Classic and 57 Classic Plus opinions for hard rock?

See, I liked the 57s better than the 490 set, which I thought was abysmal. I am not a huge 57 fan, but I'd certainly take those over the 490s.

They're pretty lackluster. I got my 490's sounding much better with mag swaps, an UOA5 in the bridge and an A5 in the neck. Still not great, and nowhere near worth the retail price. For what a 490 set costs, there's much better choices.

 

[ledvedder]

Re: 57 Classic and 57 Classic Plus opinions for hard rock?

How do you think a set of Duncan Distortions would sound in my Les Paul?

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[Securb]

Re: 57 Classic and 57 Classic Plus opinions for hard rock?

How do you think a set of Duncan Distortions would sound in my Les Paul?

Depends on your end game. If you are hell-bent on a EVH tone the custom shop ’78 is what you want. Personally, I think the WLH set is the way to go. It is the most flexible Les Paul set IMO. I played post-hardcore punk in my last band and the WLH gave me all the grind and gain I needed. My latest gig was a straight up classic rock gig and once again the WLH set was perfect. I would even be comfotable playing Jazz or Blues on my Lester with this set. The WLH set makes a Les Paul sound like a Les Paul. If you want the EVH sound on the cheap the Guitar Fetish VEH pickups sound fantastic.

http://customshop.seymourduncan.com/78-model/

 

[ledvedder]

Re: 57 Classic and 57 Classic Plus opinions for hard rock?

Depends on your end game. If you are hell-bent on a EVH tone the custom shop ’78 is what you want. Personally, I think the WLH set is the way to go. It is the most flexible Les Paul set IMO. I played post-hardcore punk in my last band and the WLH gave me all the grind and gain I needed. My latest gig was a straight up classic rock gig and once again the WLH set was perfect. I would even be comfotable playing Jazz or Blues on my Lester with this set. The WLH set makes a Les Paul sound like a Les Paul.

http://customshop.seymourduncan.com/78-model/

I tend to agree. I figured the Distortion set would be way too hot. The only reason I asked is because I was offered a set of Distortions in a trade for the 57 Classics.

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[beaubrummels]

Re: 57 Classic and 57 Classic Plus opinions for hard rock?

Distortions are great in an LP. Mine were a bit fuzzy buzzy on the bottom end through a Marshall edge of break up, which is not bad, just not what I wanted at the time. They did the best Jimmy page black dog sound, however, if that's any indication. I liked that, just wanted more.