A GROWLY Sound for a Les Paul

Re: A GROWLY Sound for a Les Paul

My plan right now is to be schooled by the wisdom of the forum so I don't make the wrong choice.

I REALLY like the p-90's and will have them in my next guitar but right now I think a humbucker with vintage tone is the way to go. Maybe I am playing it safe right now (I guess I am). I want a range of tone from old Clapton, Zep and Alman brothers, to a grunge growl. Maybe I am asking for too much, BUT I think I can get that range with a good set of vintage pups and a tube screamer into a good amp.
 
Re: A GROWLY Sound for a Les Paul

phat cats and p-90s are more versatile than you think, they have more top end clarity than most humbuckers, and are just as fat in most cases. they've got a more open tone too, which adds to their verstility imo, as if you want a more compressed and duller humbucker-like tone, just knock the tone knob down a bit. they may hum as opposed to humbuckers, though phat cats hum a 'lil' less because of the nickel cover blocking out more noise. there's also the tweakabiliity factor, you can stick a combo of just about any 4 magnets you want into these things!
 
Re: A GROWLY Sound for a Les Paul

Can I play pearl Jam, Zed Zeppelin, Alman Brothers, Cream, type stuff with P-90's?

I just think a vintage humbucker will give me options.
 
Re: A GROWLY Sound for a Les Paul

LPClassic said:
Can I play pearl Jam, Zed Zeppelin, Alman Brothers, Cream, type stuff with P-90's?

I just think a vintage humbucker will give me options.
Click to expand...

you can definitely play that stuff with '90s, in fact i've seen pearl jam play live(in video form) with p-90s. look up a live version of "better man" by them where the lead singer's playing a p-90 equipped tele, it sound frickin' amazing.

edit:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6kV8g2av2nQ the video tracking on this video is off but you get the generall idea.
 
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Re: A GROWLY Sound for a Les Paul

I don't know about in a les paul, but the p-rails in my carvin growls like all hell.
 
Re: A GROWLY Sound for a Les Paul

LPClassic said:
Can I play pearl Jam, Zed Zeppelin, Alman Brothers, Cream, type stuff with P-90's?

I just think a vintage humbucker will give me options.
Click to expand...

I don't think you understand how perfect P90s are for you.
You want a growly tone, when I think of P90s the first adjective that comes to mind is growly, you can play all that stuff with ease (cream might be tricky, due to Clapton's woman tone, but it's definitely doable)
Now if you don't WANT 90s for some reason than don't get them, but they are what you need to get the tone you described...
 
Re: A GROWLY Sound for a Les Paul

LPClassic said:
On those speakers I guess you mean G12M's not g12H's??? Or would either do?
Click to expand...

if you only want Celestion and can't spend $200+, the 25W G12 Greenback is the one. the G12H30 doesn't have the same low-mid push. Neither are really strong enough for a 2x12 cabinet when you have a 50W tube amp though.

for the price of a Celestion, you could get a 50W or 75W Weber Silver Bell or a Weber 1265. I wouldn't ever pay $100+ for a current Chinese Celestion.

Eminence is the best option under $100/speaker

as far as pickups go, yes, P90s will get the most growl. if I only owned one electric though, I'd get humbuckers for the versatility. put P90s in your next guitar.
 
Re: A GROWLY Sound for a Les Paul

CaughtLikeFire said:
if you only want Celestion and can't spend $200+, the 25W G12 Greenback is the one. the G12H30 doesn't have the same low-mid push. Neither are really strong enough for a 2x12 cabinet when you have a 50W tube amp though.

for the price of a Celestion, you could get a 50W or 75W Weber Silver Bell or a Weber 1265. I wouldn't ever pay $100+ for a current Chinese Celestion.

Eminence is the best option under $100/speaker

as far as pickups go, yes, P90s will get the most growl. if I only owned one electric though, I'd get humbuckers for the versatility. put P90s in your next guitar.
Click to expand...

would vintage 30 give me a better growl than greenbacks?
 
Re: A GROWLY Sound for a Les Paul

LPClassic said:
would vintage 30 give me a better growl than greenbacks?
Click to expand...

if we're still defining "growl" as thick low mids, no. a Greenback-type speaker is the way to go.

it's pretty much been established here that the ultimate growl is LP + P90s + Greenbacks. question is where you want to compromise (if at all).

V30s are very articulate for cleans and very aggressive and punchy under gain. the focus is on the upper mids (the upper-mid spike bothers a lot of people, which is why you'll see a lot of info on the net about V30 alternatives like the Eminence Governor and WGS Veteran 30). they're good rock n roll speakers but not ideal for the tone you're going for.
 
Re: A GROWLY Sound for a Les Paul

blueman335 said:
Well, I don't like A2 HB's, because of the lack of growl. I think the output is too low, the top end too rounded, and the bottom too loose. Too compressed a sound for me. But P-90/Phat Cat's cure that. And you have a far wider tonal range to choose from with twin magnets. What's your Plan B if the A2 HB you select doesn't match the tone of your wood like you thought it would? Keep buying HB's until you stumble on to one you like?
Click to expand...

I did this for years untill I played a P90--but... Its his choice.
 
Re: A GROWLY Sound for a Les Paul

man-oh-man thanks for all the help. Ok, if a P-90 is the deal then what is the best p-90 for decent tone, plenty growl, and low hum?
 
Re: A GROWLY Sound for a Les Paul

LPClassic said:
I think I am just in shock. I know nothing about P90's and always thought they were for WAY old school rock. Like jangly Chuck Berry and Elvis stuff that I am SO never going to play. I am after this kind of tone on the LP

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5i4KcER1eGw
Click to expand...

As I said--I had the same mind set for years. I thought they were only for blues and old muddy sounding stuff (for some reason). I was 100% wrong. I might even venture out to say that a P90 sounds more "rock and roll" than a humbucker. I know thats a really broad statement t make, but for me they are perfect and Ironically I was looking for the same thing you described. Again, its your choice man, but Im not going to say that you arent going to get the AIIPros or something like them and then end up forking out more money for the PC's soon after. Save some money and take it from the guys on this thread that are telling you you'll like them ;)
 
Re: A GROWLY Sound for a Les Paul

LPClassic said:
would vintage 30 give me a better growl than greenbacks?
Click to expand...

Mids breaking up= GROWL

Greenback=a mid rangier speaker

Vintage 30=Scooped mids

Get greenbacks for our sound, but I would start with pickups and then get greenbacks.
 
Re: A GROWLY Sound for a Les Paul

Ok, greenbacks but will I blow them in a 2x12 cab with a 50 watt head? I know they're 25 watt but I think I could cook them. What is a higher watt option?

And on those P-90's, which offer the best sound with least amount of hum?
 
Re: A GROWLY Sound for a Les Paul

LPClassic said:
man-oh-man thanks for all the help. Ok, if a P-90 is the deal then what is the best p-90 for decent tone, plenty growl, and low hum?
Click to expand...
:smack:
Ok, let's try this again
P-H-A-T C-A-T
That is what you want!
And if you also want HB tones, just get a PG bridge PC neck...
 
Re: A GROWLY Sound for a Les Paul

LPClassic said:
How about G12-65's
Click to expand...

similar to Greenback (but better IMO) with 50W RMS power = Eminence Private Jack

best Greenback-type speaker = Scumback M55 or M75 (available in multiple power ratings)

Celestion G12-65 heritage, Weber 1265, Eminence Tonespotter = early 80s tone. strong mids, more "modern" sounding than Greenback-type speakers though
 
Re: A GROWLY Sound for a Les Paul

EL-34's will automatically give you more grunt and growl than most everything else.
Getting it from the amp first is the key, but with pickups....don't go for buttery smooth Alnico 2's.

There's a lot of pickups that'll do it with the right rig....59, Custom, P-90, C5. So much of it depends on the amp setup. With all the available pickups I mentioned, I get an earth rattling growl with a LP through a Bogner.....

Which leads me to my next suggestion. Growl is often determined by how slacked your strings are.....almost above pickup choice. Setup your guitars with something like 10's tuned down half a step.....or just focus on a shorter scale neck or strings that vibrate wider. Pluggin a Custom loaded LP into the Bogner XTC with 11's tuned down half a step, I get growl city...especially with a dropped lower string. Rather than finding the growl by spending money, try downtuning a half or whole step. When the strings have a wider vibration, you get more of that BBBwwwaannnggg.
 
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