Big Rock Les Paul tones!

[papersoul]

Hi guys...

I recently grabbed an LP Classic and am not digging the 500T bridge bucker. I want to keep this LP a hard rock Les Paul since my LP Standard has the Burstbuckers which are working out great. I want this LP to be different so I was wondering if any of you have found a great set for the LP Classic? I am hoping to buy something prior to our gig next weekend so I'll take the recommendation and get it set up prior to next Saturday's gig and I'll report back hear with a tone report.

I currently have the Classic set up with 500k CTS pots. I am not sure if I want to put it back to the traditional 300k volume at least in the bridge, but that may depend on the bridge pickup of choice. I do know my LP Standard with BB pickups sounds fantastic with 300k pots for the bridge. Hmmm, I bet a 59 would sound great in the Standard.

I started getting into boutiquw pickups but I am getting a bit carried away with spending large sums of money on hand wound pickups and want to prove to myself that I can get by on mainstream pickups. I am not apposed to using Gibsons, Dimarzios, or any other suggested p'ups. I even considered the Gibson 498T since I like how it sounds in my tech's LP.

Anyway, I can't wait to hear the thoughts.

Thanks all!

 

[JeffB]

Re: Big Rock Les Paul tones!

Dunucan Custom. By far my fave non PAF pickup in the bridge of a Les Paul. PERFECT hard rock pickup without sounding like a meg distortion pup. Thick and gutsy...lotsa low mids and slightly rolled off bass so it's not as "round" as a PAF. Highs cut and bloom, but are not as twangy/bitey as a PAF.

Pair it with a 59 or Jazz in the neck.

From DiMarzio, Super D's are tough to beat in paula.

That new prototype Cold Sweat from BareKnuckle sounds phenomenl if ya like John Sykes' tone (which I think is phenomenal)

 

[the guy who invented fire]

Re: Big Rock Les Paul tones!

a rock Les Paul...Im with Jeff on this, a Custom in the bridge and for the neck the 59 or Jazz would be just fine. A C5/59set up might do will too, but the C5 is gonna lack mids compared to the Custom...if the guitar has a nice strong natural midrange the C5 would work, if the guitar lacks mids on it's own go with the Custom...the cool part is that no matter which one you buy you can do a magnet swap to try the other one if you don't like it!

 

[krankguitarist]

Re: Big Rock Les Paul tones!

Custom dude, I hated the 500T in my studio lite, swapped it with a custom and never looked back. Sounds thick as hell.

 

[papersoul]

Re: Big Rock Les Paul tones!

Thanks guys! Much appreciated! I was leaning toward the Custom. I haven't heard of the Cold Sweat prototype from BareKnuckle. Where did you hear about it???

Funny, I ended up liking the PRS pickups in my PRS after all and the stock Burstbucker Pros in my LP Standard with 300k pots are incredible.

I thought of staying with Gibsons in my LP Classic but I donot like the 500T. I thought maybe a Gibson 498T or something to stick with Gibsons....but the Custom sounds like the thing to get based on opinions.

I have heard comments that the Custom can be too 80s metal? Not what I want.

Okay...Custom - nickel covered or black? :burnout:

 

[Benjy_26]

Re: Big Rock Les Paul tones!

Black Custom with a zebra Pearly Gates at the neck. C'mon, everybody wants their 'Paul to look like mine. :burnout:

 

[Texas Swamp]

Re: Big Rock Les Paul tones!

I have heard comments that the Custom can be too 80s metal? Not what I want.

Okay...Custom - nickel covered or black? :burnout:

Nah the Jb or Screamin' Demon is more 80's metal than the Custom, the Custom is a all-around versatile rock p'up. I say Nickel cover also, never can go wrong with Nickel covers.

 

[Biu]

Re: Big Rock Les Paul tones!

Nickel or Zebra!

 

[papersoul]

Re: Big Rock Les Paul tones!

I thought maybe nickel covers would be too repeditive since I have nickels in my Standard.

 

[pinto79]

Re: Big Rock Les Paul tones!

I thought of staying with Gibsons in my LP Classic but I donot like the 500T. I thought maybe a Gibson 498T or something to stick with Gibsons....but the Custom sounds like the thing to get based on opinions.

I have heard comments that the Custom can be too 80s metal? Not what I want.

I vote Gibson Dirty Fingers. Vintage or Re-issue. It's the nastiest and most powerfull passive pickup I have ever used. It sounds good in ay guitar, Harmonics fly out, and it always sounds solid.

And nothing looks more bad-ass than that double row of slots...

 

[tone4days]

Re: Big Rock Les Paul tones!

jazz / jb?

 

[Stevo]

Re: Big Rock Les Paul tones!

Custom/A2Pro - That's a combo I really like for big Les Paul tone.

 

[papersoul]

Re: Big Rock Les Paul tones!

Thanks Stevo! Great clips and very helpful.....also NICE playing!

I have spent a lot on WCR pickups and making certain these are it for me. They are really sweet, but I miss being able to pick up a Duncan set for much less.

 

[papersoul]

Re: Big Rock Les Paul tones!

Thanks again gents! Maybe I tend to prefer Alnico V magnets so I am going to look into getting another C-5 (Sold my Dean which had the C-5) and finding a Rio Grande BBQ. It is hard to remember what I liked about the C-5 because I had it wired so the tone pot was out of the loop while on ten and it seemed too bright. Now, this C-5 if I order will go into a stock wired LP with CTS pots and Orange drops. I say stock as in the way in which I have it wired but with better components.

Anyway.....has anyone compared the C-5 to the BBQ? Thanks!

 

[WICKED LESTER]

Re: Big Rock Les Paul tones!

JB
air zone
custom
norton
custom 5
any of these will do the job for "BIG" rock tones

 

[Duke of Metal]

Re: Big Rock Les Paul tones!

hmm.. i am surprised nobody has suggested the Duncan Distortion

 

[MDS]

Re: Big Rock Les Paul tones!

I'm about to get an LP Classic and want to swap the pups out too. I'm also looking for great hard rock tones. I was thinkning of going Distortion, but you guys seem to be all over the Custom...

 

[hamerfan]

Re: Big Rock Les Paul tones!

To set it right: i love my Custom, but you must be aware of the highs. Some call them harsh, but in a les paul (set in neck, mahogany, and short scale) it is just right. Up to now i didn't find the right guitar for my C-5: it has a great distorted sound but playing clean it doesn't cut thru the band mix so well. I have a 11k A5 custom made by David Barfuss which is a lot better (more cut and mids, less bass) but still a tad dark when played clean.

 

[JeffB]

Re: Big Rock Les Paul tones!

I'm about to get an LP Classic and want to swap the pups out too. I'm also looking for great hard rock tones. I was thinkning of going Distortion, but you guys seem to be all over the Custom...

Not a whole lotta difference in a *properly* set-up Gibson 500T in a Classic and a Distortion...some..but not much. I got my 500T sounding QUITE good. Just gotta play with it. Outta the box, they sound...errr..not so good.

Custom is different animal...great LP pickup...along with a *good* PAF, it's hard to beat a Custom in a paula

 

[Engel]

Re: Big Rock Les Paul tones!

I've just given up on a Distortion on my LP Custom. Though it rocks, it also don't match well for clean tones with the middle and rhythm position. Total lack of bass! It was unuseable for me. The 500T did not perform on the LP Custom as well, muddy lower strings, lack of definition on higher speed pickings on that region. I am considering on trying a SDCustom now... or a Dirty Fingers... hell...