'59 & Pearly Gates

[R0CKER1220]

I have my first guitar which is now 4 years old and i still have the stock pickups and i need a change. I generally play modern and classic rock with some punk blues alternative thrown in there. This is my guitar and i'm thinking about getting a '59 in the neck and a Pearly gates for the bridge. I'm going to install them by myself with the help of my moms old co-worker who does some guitar repair on the side. For practice with a soldering iron i was going to disassemble and reassemble my current pickups. Just to make things a little easier I have the tone comparison for the two pickups i want.

 

[Benjy_26]

Re: '59 & Pearly Gates

No offense bro, but I would look into getting a different axe to upgrade. I say this because every one of these guitars that I've played sounded pretty bad and felt like it was going to fall apart.

 

[Jay 77]

Re: '59 & Pearly Gates

Tough call bud. I think your best bet is to save your cash & look to go to another guitar. You should be able to find a good deal on something used. I did the same thing a long time ago & managed to get my super strat for $400 (CDN). While I appreciate you wanting to beef up your guitar now, I think you're best to just save for a new model, and then upgrade that when you have the cash. No use putting $200 worth of pickups into a $200 guitar. It's like putting 18's on a Tercel.

Why not look to go up the Epiphone line? The LP Standards are reasonably priced, or you could always go with a MIM Tele or Strat. I saw a Mexican Fat Strat just the other day for less than what i paid for my Epi LP Standard. That would be a decent guitar to get & then upgrage the pickups on.

Just a thought. Hope it helps your decision. I've been there.

 

[R0CKER1220]

Re: '59 & Pearly Gates

yea, the guys at Sam Ash said something like that too, but it was my first electric and i would like to stay with it. Would buying another guitar really make that much of a difference? I know the woods of the body and neck make a difference but that's about it. Also what guitars would you suggest? My max would probably be about $500 unless i work my ass off this summer.

 

[ErikH]

Re: '59 & Pearly Gates

If you want a Les Paul type and you like the Epiphones (I do), look at the Standard Plus model. Built very well, sounds good, balanced. I've got one myself and play it all the time. Since I'm on a budget, it works for me and fills the Les Paul need just fine.

 

[Jay 77]

Re: '59 & Pearly Gates

I'm with ErikH on this one. My Epi's been really good to me for the price I paid. The only thing close to that in the price range are some of the Mexican Strats. You might want to look at some of Yamaha's stuff as well. The quality's excellent and the sound is great. My bandmate/business partner/buddy since high school bought a 620HB recently & it's amazing. It's above your price range, but they have plenty below what he got.

I guess it all depends on what you're going for. Do you want to stick with the LP's feel, or change it up at all?

 

[R0CKER1220]

Re: '59 & Pearly Gates

I think i'll go with keep it similar. I have a pieve of crap flying V too and i prefer my epi.

 

[Jay 77]

Re: '59 & Pearly Gates

Then your choice is pretty clear. Check out the Epi LP Standard. I believe the Plus models come with Grover tuners, so there's one less thing to upgrade in the future.

 

[ErikH]

Re: '59 & Pearly Gates

Yup, the Plus models have the Grover tuners, a nice top, even if it is a veneer flame maple it looks nice, and their quality is very consistant.

It's easier to find a well made MIC Standard or Standard Plus these days than a MIK model. The pickups aren't bad either but changing them out is what a lot of people do anyway, including myself.

Change the electronics on an as-needed basis. So far I've only had to change the volume pots. The jack, switch and tone pots are still what came on the guitar.

 

[R0CKER1220]

Re: '59 & Pearly Gates

Ok, thanks, i'll go to the music store and try that guitar out and probably some others :beerchug:

 

[Aceman]

Re: '59 & Pearly Gates

If you've been playing for four years you should be able to tell an axe with a straight neck, etc. I say go pawn shop. Someone out there at this very second is choosing crack over music. That's a win for you. Rescue that axe! My GPX Paul is awesome. Lot's of 'Punk" tude. EAsy for me to say, though, I have a bunch of axes and get paid decently no matter what all year!

But you could find a killer axe with killer vibe AND get the new pups for a little bit of clean upo, adjust & some new strings!

That said I thing the PG bridge would punk out just fine! and the classic tones would be no problem with that setup.

 

[R0CKER1220]

Re: '59 & Pearly Gates

mg:(clickable smilie) damn, i might get that one! Gotta love the P-51

 

[TheArchitect]

Re: '59 & Pearly Gates

Id put a 59b in the bridge and a PGn in the neck myself