Best Neck Pick Up For Me?

[ILiies]

Hey guys,
Been reading these forums for a while now, just never signed up xD So brand new here, but you guys seem like a freindly bunch so thought id throw out this question. I have a Gibson Les Paul Traditional with '57 Classic pups in both the bridge and neck, but i want to change the neck pick up. The bridge is fine, i love the heavy gritty classic sound through my Marshall tube amp, but i find the neck pick up to, unclear? I dont know how to describe it, i just want a smoother tone, i feel the mids are too high, i dont know if this is a common complain amonst the '57s, but whatever. As for what to put in its place, im stuckk between a rock and a hard place, i cant decide between a '59, Pearly Gates, or Alnico II (Not the Slash one, dont know why but i refuse to use other players signature prodicts). Anyway as i said i just want to hit a smooth, rhythmic almost bluesy sweet spot. Im a big fan of Slash, Jimmy Page, Joe Perry, Joe Bonamassa, but dont necessarily want to sound like them, im just looking for a diverse pick up to go with the '57.
Any help would be appreciated :scratchch

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: Best Neck Pick Up For Me?

Welcome to the forum.

"Smooth, sweet, bluesy" pretty much defines the Reverend William F. Gibbons. Hence, I suggest the Pearly Gates N model with metal cover.

 

[DarkMatter]

Re: Best Neck Pick Up For Me?

The alnico II is probably the one you want. Definitely the smoothest of those 3

 

[9unslin9er]

Re: Best Neck Pick Up For Me?

I tried out a few Traditionals and found the '57 muddy as well.

I'll agree with AII Pro. It's a great bluesy pickup that covers many different styles of music.

Unless you're into the vintage thing, then I'd say Seths.

*Also, try not to be as black or white, for or against endorsed equipment. Yeah, the guy on the other side may make a few bucks on the side and look like they're selling out, but more often than not, it may be a customization option that would cost more if you got it yourself. In the Slash AII's, you get a vintage build of a modern pickup. That may be worth more to some people.

 

[indie folk guy]

Re: Best Neck Pick Up For Me?

I like Seths a lot but I think the PG or AII Pro would also work for you. Not really a right or wrong here just different.

On the bright side you could always exchange if you don't like something.

 

[ILiies]

Re: Best Neck Pick Up For Me?

So what i gather, Alnico II's or Pearly Gates would be my best bet. I have a trip to England coming up but when i get back ill make a trip to the store, hopefully they might have some Les Pauls with those pups already in (Doubtful, but worht a try). And as for the signature series stuff, its just not for me. Big fan of Slash, bough the collectors edition of his latest album the day it came out, learnt 4 songs of it in about a week, love his tone, its just that his name is on the pick up. I personally feel it ruins my credibility and integrity as a unique musician, i love Slash's tone, but i dont want to sound like him. I know im probably alone in saying this, but its just my opinion.

 

[9unslin9er]

Re: Best Neck Pick Up For Me?

I have a trip to England coming up but when i get back ill make a trip to the store, hopefully they might have some Les Pauls with those pups already in

I was just in Oxford Circus, London.

You...do not want to a guitar there. 2500 lbs for a decent Les Paul? FML.

*More importantly, 2500 quid guitar on freight back to Canada with prying Customs agents? Heck no.

 

[ILiies]

Re: Best Neck Pick Up For Me?

I like Seths a lot but I think the PG or AII Pro would also work for you. Not really a right or wrong here just different.

On the bright side you could always exchange if you don't like something.

Different in what way? Ive just been on the Les Paul forum and they all rave about the '59s, and most dislike the PG's and AIIs, finding them too dark.

Can anyone give me a quick descrpition of each pick ups tone, and what style each would be primarily used for?

 

[Gypsyblue]

Re: Best Neck Pick Up For Me?

Before you buy a new pickup check to see that you have 500K volume and tone pots for that neck pickup. One or both of them are probably 300K and you're losing clarity because of it. If you like the bridge pickup leave the pots alone. But change them for the neck pickup to the values Gibson used on the REAL Les Pauls made in the 1950's. The 57 Classic is an excellent pickup when used with the "right" pots.

 

[blueman335]

Re: Best Neck Pick Up For Me?

Before you buy a new pickup check to see that you have 500K volume and tone pots for that neck pickup. One or both of them are probably 300K and you're losing clarity because of it. If you like the bridge pickup leave the pots alone. But change them for the neck pickup to the values Gibson used on the REAL Les Pauls made in the 1950's. The 57 Classic is an excellent pickup when used with the "right" pots.

Agree with the 500K pots on the neck, but I wouldn't call '57's one of the world's great PU's. I think the numbered BB's sound better. Gibson puts '57's and the 498T/490R pair in so many of their guitars, and for the life of me I don't know why. The company that invented HB's could do better.

 

[indie folk guy]

Re: Best Neck Pick Up For Me?

Agree with the 500K pots on the neck, but I wouldn't call '57's one of the world's great PU's. I think the numbered BB's sound better. Gibson puts '57's and the 498T/490R pair in so many of their guitars, and for the life of me I don't know why. The company that invented HB's could do better.

the brand name Gibson invented them but I sadly think a lot has changed in Gibson over the years I really prefer a lot of other guitars (current production) to their current production offerings. The pickups they made that imho where worth a damn were produced over 50 years ago.

With that said I still like their acoustics and many Epiphones.

I stick to SD, Dimarzio, Fralin, and Lollar when I need pickups anymore.

+1 on the 500k pots btw

 

[blueman335]

Re: Best Neck Pick Up For Me?

the brand name Gibson invented them but I sadly think a lot has changed in Gibson over the years I really prefer a lot of other guitars (current production) to their current production offerings. The pickups they made that imho where worth a damn were produced over 50 years ago.

With that said I still like their acoustics and many Epiphones.

I stick to SD, Dimarzio, Fralin, and Lollar when I need pickups anymore.

+1. A number of companies have outdone Gibson in the PU department, in selection and tone. You'd think they'd at least be at the top in PAF's. Should be a matter of pride.

 

[Gypsyblue]

Re: Best Neck Pick Up For Me?

Agree with the 500K pots on the neck, but I wouldn't call '57's one of the world's great PU's. I think the numbered BB's sound better. Gibson puts '57's and the 498T/490R pair in so many of their guitars, and for the life of me I don't know why. The company that invented HB's could do better.

I wouldn't call them the world's greatest pickups either...but I'll call them excellent. When they came out they were the best pickups Gibson had made in decades. And they're much better than people give them credit for. They are not a second rate pickup in any way.

The person and company that invented HB's no longer exists. That person died and the company that was located in Kalamazoo, Michigan continues in name only.

 

[Gypsyblue]

Re: Best Neck Pick Up For Me?

the brand name Gibson invented them but I sadly think a lot has changed in Gibson over the years I really prefer a lot of other guitars (current production) to their current production offerings. The pickups they made that imho where worth a damn were produced over 50 years ago.

With that said I still like their acoustics and many Epiphones.

I stick to SD, Dimarzio, Fralin, and Lollar when I need pickups anymore.

+1 on the 500k pots btw

I like this guy. :fing2:

 

[indie folk guy]

Re: Best Neck Pick Up For Me?

Different in what way? Ive just been on the Les Paul forum and they all rave about the '59s, and most dislike the PG's and AIIs, finding them too dark.

Can anyone give me a quick descrpition of each pick ups tone, and what style each would be primarily used for?

different windings, different magnet types, etc lead to different tones. Too dark in what context a lot depends on the values of pots/caps you use, the way the guitar itself sounds, how you play, how you setup your instrument, your amp, cab, speakers, picks, strings, etc.

To generalize....(and might I suggest a great resource the actual SD website that has soundclips of all the pickups)

PG's can be kinda raw and agressive but are still controllable depending on how you use your volume/tone pots. They are still a warm sounding pickup. I find that it works best in an instrument that leans on the brighter end of things such as a semi hollow or a lot of les pauls.

AII imho is kinda like the ultimate warm, dynamic, smooth, spongey type of tone. Again they can be very versatile depending on how you play and use your pots. I find that these work best in an instrument that has a naturally bright sound where you want the pickup to kinda roll off/tame some of that inherent nature.

59's I find to be a fairly well balanced pickup it's warm but it can handle pretty much anything in vintage PAF fashion. These tend to work better in guitars that sound right on their own where you just want the pickup to translate what's already there (balanced or slightly warm).

To be honest I think all these pickups are great all-rounders they handle more of the vintagey tones rather than modern. Expect to be able to do blues to rock, they can all handle some jazz, country, etc depending.

 

[ILiies]

Re: Best Neck Pick Up For Me?

different windings, different magnet types, etc lead to different tones. Too dark in what context a lot depends on the values of pots/caps you use, the way the guitar itself sounds, how you play, how you setup your instrument, your amp, cab, speakers, picks, strings, etc.

To generalize....(and might I suggest a great resource the actual SD website that has soundclips of all the pickups)

PG's can be kinda raw and agressive but are still controllable depending on how you use your volume/tone pots. They are still a warm sounding pickup. I find that it works best in an instrument that leans on the brighter end of things such as a semi hollow or a lot of les pauls.

AII imho is kinda like the ultimate warm, dynamic, smooth, spongey type of tone. Again they can be very versatile depending on how you play and use your pots. I find that these work best in an instrument that has a naturally bright sound where you want the pickup to kinda roll off/tame some of that inherent nature.

59's I find to be a fairly well balanced pickup it's warm but it can handle pretty much anything in vintage PAF fashion. These tend to work better in guitars that sound right on their own where you just want the pickup to translate what's already there (balanced or slightly warm).

To be honest I think all these pickups are great all-rounders they handle more of the vintagey tones rather than modern. Expect to be able to do blues to rock, they can all handle some jazz, country, etc depending.

Thanks mate, couldnt have asked for a better answer. I had the luck of trying out a PG earlier today, and it seems too, gritty for what im after, the sound i got from that, i feel i can get out of my bridge pick up with the volume and tone rolled off a little, however the guitar i tried it in was an SG, so dont know if that had a bit more of an impact on the sound. I think the '59 (Judging from the sound clips) is more what im after for a dirty sound, but the clean channel from the AII is just, sweet.

Somebody mentioned the 498Y/ 490R pick ups, those are the split coil humbuckers, foudn in the newer Standards, correct?

One last thing. The tone and volume pots, how do i check if they're 300k, or 500k? Probably a dumb question, but im only 16 and in the grand scheme, relatively new to the inner workings of guitars. However, i believe both the '67 Classics have 300k pots.

 

[CountFunkula]

Re: Best Neck Pick Up For Me?

57 Classics aren't smooth enough? Alnico II Pro. They are very smooth. Lower them and they get smoother and clearer yet. If you want smooth and open, that's the way to go.

 

[indie folk guy]

Re: Best Neck Pick Up For Me?

chances are you have 300k pots if you are already going through the trouble of buying new pickups and you want to learn about the inner workings of a guitar find a schematic online that outlines your desired wiring. For a LP there are many different approaches you can take depending on your pickups. If you go with 4 conductor pickups you can install push-pull pots to coil split, change from series to parallel, etc. And without even considering that there are different ways to wire circuits that can have subtle impacts on your overall tone. 50's wiring style is one example, you should be able to search google or the forum for more info on this as I could rattle on all day and the info is already out there.

Get new pots, new caps, better output jack, etc. I kinda like doing this to guitars I "upgrade" simply because when you install quality components you don't have to worry about jacks going bad, pots getting scratchy/dirty, etc. I know its more OCD than anything but that's the way this brain works

But yeah usually if you remove the control plate you should be able to look in and see a stamp on them that identifies their value. Sometimes not, but most current production I've seen contain 300k pots.

 

[ILiies]

Re: Best Neck Pick Up For Me?

Alright guys, thanks for all the help. Just looked at the pots and they're both 300k. What ive decided to do is replace the bridge pick up pots with 500k, and replace the neck pick up with an Alnico II pro i found on eBay, and then coil split it, also with 500k pots. I think i can safely say, with this little project soon under way, my social life is oficially dead xD

* I assume a coil split Alnico II in the neck would sound alright? I'm mainly thinking for clean channel