Best Pickups For My Les Paul?

[astrozombie]

Do you know what I mean? That's what my guitar and amp sound like right now. It's a nice sound, but I need it to be *there*. I'm hoping the tone in the clip and the style of the playing can give you an idea of what I'm trying to achieve. The 57 classics in my guitar seem muddy, how do I get this tone, or better?

 

[Shooter.556]

Re: Best Pickups For My Les Paul?

Some Seths will do that, I think the Whole Lottas will get you there too.
The 57s are just muddy, I have a set and I have tried tried tried to like them because they came in my Traditional a 57 and a Plus but I just can't get them just as you said, "there"..

 

[Chickenwings]

Re: Best Pickups For My Les Paul?

WLH.

 

[Nuts]

Re: Best Pickups For My Les Paul?

Honestly, it sounded good to me, I wouldn't change them

 

[Mincer]

Re: Best Pickups For My Les Paul?

I am not sure what 'there' means, but a set of Seths, Antiquities, Whole Lotta Humbuckers or even 59s will get it to my version of 'there'.

 

[Shooter.556]

Re: Best Pickups For My Les Paul?

I am not sure what 'there' means, but a set of Seths, Antiquities, Whole Lotta Humbuckers or even 59s will get it to my version of 'there'.

I kinda understand what he means with "there" with the 57s.. They are like 90% okay but that 10% just kills it lol!
They are a pickup set that I wanna like but I just can't get past almost liking them.
They do weird stuff to my ears if that makes sense? They'll be sounding fine then you'll be playing and be like WTH is that? That is muddy and horrible!
I have been embracing a set in one of my Les Pauls I dont play much and I am finally after 2 years done with the 57s Classic and Plus.
It all started for me when I bought my EVH 5150iii back in summer. They just never got the crunch right.. It was just muddy and mushy..

 

[Christopher Caruana]

Re: Best Pickups For My Les Paul?

Ive never liked the 57 classics in a les paul. Too dark, mushy and muddy

 

[LazNovak]

Re: Best Pickups For My Les Paul?

Ive never liked the 57 classics in a les paul. Too dark, mushy and muddy

Same here. I swapped mine out pretty quick.

 

[blueman335]

Re: Best Pickups For My Les Paul?

The 57 classics in my guitar seem muddy

'57's are muddy. You'd have a hard time finding a worse-sounding PAF anywhere near their price range. Gibson uses them just so they have something to stick in the PU cavities.

 

[astrozombie]

Re: Best Pickups For My Les Paul?

'57's are muddy. You'd have a hard time finding a worse-sounding PAF anywhere near their price range. Gibson uses them just so they have something to stick in the PU cavities.

I put a burstbucker 2 in the neck and a burstbucker 3 in the bridge.

 

[Grandturk]

Re: Best Pickups For My Les Paul?

I just hear a lot of acoustic string sound in there like he was room mic'd and hitting them hard. It's hard to just hear the amplified sound.

 

[Mincer]

Re: Best Pickups For My Les Paul?

And people on Gibson forums love those 57s, and I don't get it. I think the sound of any LP will be improved with Seths or Antiquities.

 

[Humbugger]

Re: Best Pickups For My Les Paul?

I have two LP Traditionals and replaced the 57 Classics because the pickups were way too muddy. I had APH-1 sets in both but just changed one to a Pearly Gates set and I absolutely love it. It has bite, personality, and also sounds great clean. Can't say enough about the PG set. I like the APH set in my other LP as well, it's very smooth and warm - has a nice singing quality about it and the cleans are amazing. In my opinion both sets are much better than Gibson's 57 Classics and have plenty of definition and cut. I don't think you will go wrong with any set of Duncan's, I have tried other brands but always come back to Duncan - I think Seymour just has an ear for what these things should sound like.

 

[blueman335]

Re: Best Pickups For My Les Paul?

In my opinion both sets are much better than Gibson's 57 Classics and have plenty of definition and cut. I don't think you will go wrong with any set of Duncan's, I have tried other brands but always come back to Duncan - I think Seymour just has an ear for what these things should sound like.

Seymour has more passion for PAF's than the people at Gibson designing their PU's. For Seymour, it's been a lifelong quest for creating great vintage tones. Gibson makes PU's so they have something to put in their guitars. '57 Classics are proof of that.

 

[Mincer]

Re: Best Pickups For My Les Paul?

You may be right about that blueman- I don't know of a current Gibson pickup I wouldn't replace with something from SD. I also have a problem buying an expensive guitar that doesn't sound the way I want it to and having to replace the pickups in the first place.

 

[Securb]

Re: Best Pickups For My Les Paul?

I don't know of a current Gibson pickup I wouldn't replace with something from SD.

I love the 498T/490 set, I would never take them out of my SG. I also put 498Ts in two of my Ibanezs I love them. My buddy has a Les Paul with that set that sounds killer. My Paul unfortunately came with 57s that are now replaced with a WLH set. Here is the Ibanez Roadster with the 498T

 

[Rand-O-Monium]

Re: Best Pickups For My Les Paul?

I put a burstbucker 2 in the neck and a burstbucker 3 in the bridge.

Better?

 

[chadd]

Re: Best Pickups For My Les Paul?

And people on Gibson forums love those 57s, and I don't get it.

It all depends on how you set up your amp and what tones you are trying to achieve. For some things, 57s sound great. For other stuff, there are better options. When talking about pickups, tones and sound in general, there is no "better", only preferences. Some people seem to lose sight of the fact that and treat their opinions as unassailable fact.

 

[Humbugger]

Re: Best Pickups For My Les Paul?

It really depends on the guitar also. Some pickups will work better than others, you have to find the right match. My two 2013 LP's sound very different than one another, despite being the same model and year - which is why I have two different sets of pickups in them to get the most out of each one. I have no doubt 57's probably work well for some people, with so many different variables at play it really is all subjective to a point. I think you have to treat each instrument on a case by case basis to get the most out of it. You just have to experiment and listen.

 

[blueman335]

Re: Best Pickups For My Les Paul?

I have no doubt 57's probably work well for some people, with so many different variables at play it really is all subjective to a point. I think you have to treat each instrument on a case by case basis to get the most out of it. You just have to experiment and listen.

Yes, it's subjective, but most of the people who like '57's haven't tried aftermarket PU's. Compared side-by-side to Duncan's PAF's, or some of the boutique makers, I doubt '57's would be anyone's first choice. They're adequate if you haven't heard what a really good PAF can do.