80s MJ Wound Parallel Axis neck pickup in a Les Paul?

[STLMTLHD79]

I just picked up a 1995 Les Paul Studio for VERY cheap and i have never liked the 498/490 pickup configuration. I always swap pickups in Les Pauls. I have a Custom 5 for the bridge (seems to be a popular Les Paul pickup) and i was thinking about this parallel axis for the neck. Or should i save that pup for another 80s shredstick?

 

[Clint 55]

Re: 80s MJ Wound Parallel Axis neck pickup in a Les Paul?

I'm scheming about high cut neck pickups also. I bet that would sound good.

 

[Artie]

Re: 80s MJ Wound Parallel Axis neck pickup in a Les Paul?

Or should i save that pup for another 80s shredstick?

I have a set of PATB-1's in an LP, and I love them. Clean and clear, but still with character. I wouldn't necessarily associate them with a "shred stick".

 

[STLMTLHD79]

Re: 80s MJ Wound Parallel Axis neck pickup in a Les Paul?

I have a set of PATB-1's in an LP, and I love them. Clean and clear, but still with character. I wouldn't necessarily associate them with a "shred stick".

so then it shall be done. This PATB-1N will be going into the LP Studio. I saw a writeup stating that the pickup has the clarity of a Jazz and some of the warmth of a 59 for the neck position. sounds right up my alley.

 

[eclecticsynergy]

Re: 80s MJ Wound Parallel Axis neck pickup in a Les Paul?

Great choice.

 

[Aceman]

Re: 80s MJ Wound Parallel Axis neck pickup in a Les Paul?

I just picked up a 1995 Les Paul Studio for VERY cheap and i have never liked the 498/490 pickup configuration. I always swap pickups in Les Pauls. I have a Custom 5 for the bridge (seems to be a popular Les Paul pickup) and i was thinking about this parallel axis for the neck. Or should i save that pup for another 80s shredstick?

Just because it SEEMS popular on the internet has no bearing on what YOU will find it to be. For example...the 498 that might be in there is failrly close to a C5 from Duncan (or sort of close). A lot of guys don't like them. So imagine a slightly better 498. Still have a boner for that now? But maybe for what you want to play and that guitar's tone - it will be fine.

And I have to confess, all of my parallel Axis knowledge is from reading...but never heard of it in a neck position.

However - as long as we are going with hearsay on the Intarwebz....why WOULDN'T you try it???? Worse case scenario...do over.

My suggestion:

Axis in the bridge
Swap the 498 A5 mag into the 490 in the neck.

Much win should be achieved.

Take leftover A2 mag, place into the C5, making it a Custom Custom, and place that in your Floyded 80's Superdooper Strat for tonal bliss.

 

[Mincer]

Re: 80s MJ Wound Parallel Axis neck pickup in a Les Paul?

I say, try what you have. If you aren't freaked out by the looks (some people are), the PA should be great in an LP that uses hard-rock-and-more amounts of gain. Maybe not for traditional jazz, but the Custom 5 would be a bad fit for that, too.

 

[STLMTLHD79]

Re: 80s MJ Wound Parallel Axis neck pickup in a Les Paul?

Just because it SEEMS popular on the internet has no bearing on what YOU will find it to be. For example...the 498 that might be in there is failrly close to a C5 from Duncan (or sort of close). A lot of guys don't like them. So imagine a slightly better 498. Still have a boner for that now? But maybe for what you want to play and that guitar's tone - it will be fine.

And I have to confess, all of my parallel Axis knowledge is from reading...but never heard of it in a neck position.

However - as long as we are going with hearsay on the Intarwebz....why WOULDN'T you try it???? Worse case scenario...do over.

My suggestion:

Axis in the bridge
Swap the 498 A5 mag into the 490 in the neck.

Much win should be achieved.

Take leftover A2 mag, place into the C5, making it a Custom Custom, and place that in your Floyded 80's Superdooper Strat for tonal bliss.

the 498 has what i consider around the perfect amount of output (i like pickups between 13-15k it seems) however, its very sloppy, not articulate but has a decent low end. from what i have read, the C5 is a bit more precise in those regards.

I actually just acquired a used Custom Custom to put in a different guitar. That should work perfect for that guitar.

 

[STLMTLHD79]

Re: 80s MJ Wound Parallel Axis neck pickup in a Les Paul?

I say, try what you have. If you aren't freaked out by the looks (some people are), the PA should be great in an LP that uses hard-rock-and-more amounts of gain. Maybe not for traditional jazz, but the Custom 5 would be a bad fit for that, too.

I play lots of Metal, 80s rock and Progressive rock. I think the Custom 5 will be perfect.