Bridge Pickup for Bright Gibson Les Paul Custom?

[IndieRock]

Hi, hows' it going?

The bridge position in my Gibson Les Paul Custom is very lively yet at the same time seems too bright.

I play through an EL84 style amp and love its overdrive tones.

I am looking for a bridge pickup that can give me jangly\semi-dirty rhythm tones and smooth, somewhat thick overdrive with a bit more volume and mostly picking\strumming technique.

Thanks!!

 

[Benjy_26]

Re: Bridge Pickup for Bright Gibson Les Paul Custom?

Seth's or PG's will get the job done in a Paul. :burnout:

 

[IndieRock]

Re: Bridge Pickup for Bright Gibson Les Paul Custom?

Thanks for the reply.
Any other suggestions? I am thinking the Pearly Gates bridge would be too bright in an already bright guitar...

 

[rspst14]

Re: Bridge Pickup for Bright Gibson Les Paul Custom?

Check out the Alnico II Pro. Slash has used them in his Les Paul's for years.

Ryan

 

[IndieRock]

Re: Bridge Pickup for Bright Gibson Les Paul Custom?

I thought about the Alnico2pro but is it really compressed sounding?
I kinda want a thickness with smooth clarity thats not harsh or bright.
I play indie rock\rock n' roll\atmospheric,spacey,jangly stuff\jazz...

 

[ranalli]

Re: Bridge Pickup for Bright Gibson Les Paul Custom?

Just by looking at the tone chart how could anyone suggest an Alnico Pro II or PG for a *bright* guitar??

Maybe I'm wrong but I'm thinking Custom Custom would tame the highs a bit better.

 

[Jeff_H]

Re: Bridge Pickup for Bright Gibson Les Paul Custom?

My vote would be either the Custom Custom or APH-1. Neither are too compressed sounding, and are very warm for bridge pickups. I have to say that head to head, the CC is actually the warmer of the 2 pups. I have the CC in the bridge of a double fat strat, and it really warmed that up. It would do even better in your LP.

There are several members here who have recently put the CC/APH combo in LP's and are loving the tones.

 

[IndieRock]

Re: Bridge Pickup for Bright Gibson Les Paul Custom?

I have heard good things about the custom custom.
But I have also heard that it sounds like "cheezy, 80's, hair-metal"
So, I am kinda confused. I am also kinda interested in the Gibson 57 classic Plus. Anyone have any experience with that pickup?

 

[ranalli]

Re: Bridge Pickup for Bright Gibson Les Paul Custom?

I have heard good things about the custom custom.
But I have also heard that it sounds like "cheezy, 80's, hair-metal"
So, I am kinda confused. I am also kinda interested in the Gibson 57 classic Plus. Anyone have any experience with that pickup?

How the hell can a pickup sound "cheezy, like 80's hair metal"?? That is probably the dumbest thing I've ever heard.

Especially considering that many people were using JB's and Distortions and stuff which are COMPLETELY different.

My best advice is not to listen to that person

 

[Robert S.]

Re: Bridge Pickup for Bright Gibson Les Paul Custom?

The warmest and most "jangly" LP I own has an Antiquity set in it.

 

[IndieRock]

Re: Bridge Pickup for Bright Gibson Les Paul Custom?

Yeah, I don't know about the cheezy 80's hair-metal thing, just something I've read...but maybe they meant thats the type of sound it is good for?
I don't know, I would think it all depends on what music you play.

The antiquity seems cool but I don't like that relic'd pickup cover.
I am actually looking for something with a gold cover.
Is the antiquity really bright? I like your description but am concerned it might be too harsh. Is a seth lover very similair to an antiquity but with a gold cover?

 

[Benjy_26]

Re: Bridge Pickup for Bright Gibson Les Paul Custom?

The Antiquity is a clone of a 45 year old PAF. The Seth is what you would get if you went back in time, ripped the PAF's out of a late 50's Gibby, and put them on your guitar.

 

[dr.barlo]

Re: Bridge Pickup for Bright Gibson Les Paul Custom?

Just by looking at the tone chart how could anyone suggest an Alnico Pro II or PG for a *bright* guitar??

Maybe I'm wrong but I'm thinking Custom Custom would tame the highs a bit better.

1. Ranalli: How do you know that people are suggesting pickups just by checking the tone chart? Couldn't they own what they recommend?

2. IndieRock: Bright LP's have been my problem too. Recently I typed out a long list of things to do before getting a new set of pickups. In your case depending on the amount of clarity you want there are 2 options: (1) CC and don't mind them 80's metal critism. Not true. (2) If you need more clarity, and wanna do your LP custom justice get a set of antiquities. You can get them either from the custom shop with new covers or contact John at BlackRose. He could help you with what you are looking for as he as a big inventory of Ants and (gold-plated) covered SD pickups.

Now the earlier message I typed sometime ago:

B

------------------------------------------------------

I'd recommend to do the following in that order: (BTW are you using 500K pots or 300K's)

1. Increase the pickup quite close to the strings.

2. Bury the screws into the pickup as much as necessary.

3. Wrap your strings on the tail piece.

4. Use thicker strings.

5. a. If you wanna keep that 59b: Get an a2 magnet an replace the a5 in your 59b with it.

b. If you wanna try something new: Get a Seth, or PG, or A2p for the bridge. they will be in the same ballpark with a2 59b.

c. Get a CC if you still don't like an a2 59, and think its thin.

7. If your pots are 500K replace them with 300Ks.

B

 

[Benjy_26]

Re: Bridge Pickup for Bright Gibson Les Paul Custom?

Try all that the Doc prescribed.

If that doesn't work, you can do one more thing, take my standard and give me your Custom! :burnout:

 

[MattPete]

Re: Bridge Pickup for Bright Gibson Les Paul Custom?

If you're really adventurous, add a treble bleed cap (.001 µf). Don't use it on a potentiometer, like you would with a volume control, but instead use it to bleed some of the treble from the signal to ground. I have a push-pull volume pot that can take the cap in and out of the chain. It's like an on/off tone control that only affects the super-highs. I usually prefer it in the chain.

Also, the CC is a nice bridge pickup for Les Paul type guitars. Bright LP's still have pretty good bass, so the accentuated mids and tamed highs and lows of the CC seem to complement the natural sound of an LP.

[edit: should have proof-read first]

 

[IndieRock]

Re: Bridge Pickup for Bright Gibson Les Paul Custom?

How would a CC pair with a paf style neck pickup thats 7.9k with an alnico 3 magnet?

Would one overpower the other? Would I get a good middle tone?

 

[MattPete]

Re: Bridge Pickup for Bright Gibson Les Paul Custom?

Hmmm...I only have experience with a Pearly Gates neck. In it's stock form, it sounds like it should be sold as a matched set with the CC (at least in my guitar). However, that wasn't what I was looking for -- I wanted something with less mids, so I swapped the A2 for an A5 and got the hollow sound I was looking for. I also tried an A3, but it sounded just like the stock A2 version to me (Doc Barlo has done the same A2/A3 experiment with the PGn and came to the same conclusion. I really didn't pay much attention the the PGn/CC mixed tone, so I can't comment.

Actually, if you search the Sound Clips board, Doc Barlo has some clips of A2/A3 CC and PGn posted.

Someone else will have to comment on how a Seth or AP2n sounds with the CC.

 

[ranalli]

Re: Bridge Pickup for Bright Gibson Les Paul Custom?

1. Ranalli: How do you know that people are suggesting pickups just by checking the tone chart? Couldn't they own what they recommend?

I never said that. If people would at least look at the tone chart they could see those pickups are bright. And I've tried those pickups and yes they are on the brighter side of things without a doubt.....the chart is fairly accurate.

Even if I didn't try them though I would hope that people at the bare minimum would use the tone chart as the tool that it is. Some of the advice on this forum bewilders me sometimes.......although your advice of things to try before swapping I actually agree with.

Two statements that make NO sense here are:

"Seth's or PG's will get the job done in a Paul." - What Les Paul??? Custom?? Standard?? Dont' forget that these are two VERY different sounding guitars IMO. The Custom is a good bit brighter.

"Check out the Alnico II Pro. Slash has used them in his Les Paul's for years." - As far as I know Slash doesn't use Customs hardly at all...I usually see him with Standards or more importantly something with a rosewood fretboard. Again...different sounding guitar....

I think it's good to help people but I think statements like that completely mislead people and steer them in the wrong direction.

 

[Benjy_26]

Re: Bridge Pickup for Bright Gibson Les Paul Custom?

You're right, I don't look at the tone char, I TRY the pickups I comment on, I don't go about blindly spewing "advice" . You're right the PG does have an edge to it, but it's not what I would call bright. The Seth is even smoother. Are these two pickups detailed and open, yes, are they bright, no at least through my rig. Also, he asked about a pickup that would give him "jangly/semi-dirty rythm tones and smooth, somewhat thick overdrive". The last time I checked, the CC I have isn't what I would call jangly. The Seth's, PG, and APH2 jangle well for humbuckers. At least, in my EXPERIENCE.

 

[Majestic]

Re: Bridge Pickup for Bright Gibson Les Paul Custom?

I'd think the cheapest route would be to put an A2 magnet in his bridge pickup, like Doc said.

$5

Problem solved.