Bridge PU for Les Paul Standard?

[RodO]

I have recently purchased a LP Standard and am having a hard time finding the right tone for me. I am playing out of the Marshall DSL 50 Watt head and vintage cabinet. The woods on my STD are mahogony w/ maple cap and a rosewood finger board. So far, I have tried the Alnico II Pro HB (Slash) and currently have the Jeff Beck model installed. The issues for me are the Alnico was beautiful for lead but real muddy on the rhythm. The JB model is too crisp for my liking on solos. Although rhythm has more clarity (good) solos seem to lack warmth and softness (bad). Is there a Bridge SD pickup that will suit my needs?

Thanks!

 

[Stevo]

Re: Bridge PU for Les Paul Standard?

Maybe you'd like a CC. It has alnico 2 and I don't find it muddy on rhythm at all. You can play country with it, and you can play hard rock and metal with it.

 

[Jeffrec]

Re: Bridge PU for Les Paul Standard?

Maybe you'd like a CC. It has alnico 2 and I don't find it muddy on rhythm at all. You can play country with it, and you can play hard rock and metal with it.

That's a good choice. Personally, I still love the Antiquity bridge in a LP. JMO

Jeff

 

[theodie]

Re: Bridge PU for Les Paul Standard?

Maybe you'd like a CC. It has alnico 2 and I don't find it muddy on rhythm at all. You can play country with it, and you can play hard rock and metal with it.

+1

 

[ratkent]

Re: Bridge PU for Les Paul Standard?

I think the Custom Custom is my favorite Seymour Duncan right now. I love the CC with a Pearly Gates in the neck of my LP Custom. It's seems like a great neutral place to start with your tone. Both are very smooth and respond very well to any amount of gain you pour on them.

 

[RodO]

Re: Bridge PU for Les Paul Standard?

Thanks for the feedback (hehe). Does the CC have a muddy rhythm on the higher gain applications? That was my problem with the Alnico II. Freakin great lead tone but muddy rhythm. I am also looking at the Custom 5. Has anyone heard this in a Les Paul (Mahogony)? I really want something in between a JB and the Alnico II....................

 

[papersoul]

Re: Bridge PU for Les Paul Standard?

If it's a new LP, I say the Burstbucker Pros are a great pickup set.

 

[KLINKDETROIT]

Re: Bridge PU for Les Paul Standard?

I have tried the c5 in my les paul classic 1994 goldtop and so far its my favorite but lacks some mids. I have a patb3 blues saraceno in it now. I like the blues 2nd. I tried the custom custom 1 week ago and while it sounded great on my pod. It sounded compressed, more gainy and lacking some lows with with my dual rectifier at practice. It had lows but seemed cut off compared to the c5.

 

[theboatcandream]

Re: Bridge PU for Les Paul Standard?

Thanks for the feedback (hehe). Does the CC have a muddy rhythm on the higher gain applications? That was my problem with the Alnico II. Freakin great lead tone but muddy rhythm. I am also looking at the Custom 5. Has anyone heard this in a Les Paul (Mahogony)? I really want something in between a JB and the Alnico II....................

If the issue is mud, maybe you should use the AP2 with slightly heavier strings and picks and tweak your EQ?

 

[Jeffrec]

Re: Bridge PU for Les Paul Standard?

Another option would be to take the JB and replace the alnico-5 with an A-2. I have that in my Hamer and it sounds incredible. It retains a lot of the JB characteristics, but adds warmth.

Jeff

 

[Ballgame]

Re: Bridge PU for Les Paul Standard?

I have a JB in my Les Paul. Well not yet but I bought it. Took me a while to decide what to get too. JB in the bridge and Pearly Gates in the neck. I have a LP custom

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: Bridge PU for Les Paul Standard?

Thanks for the feedback (hehe). Does the CC have a muddy rhythm on the higher gain applications? That was my problem with the Alnico II. Freakin great lead tone but muddy rhythm. I am also looking at the Custom 5. Has anyone heard this in a Les Paul (Mahogony)? I really want something in between a JB and the Alnico II....................

I don't hear it as being muddy for rythym but I wouldn't be surprised if you would. The C5 would have more treble, bigger/tighter bass and alot less midrange than the CC. It's a little like the JB but not quite as hot and the mids are clearer and do not have the upper midrange peak that the JB has and which some people find stabs them right in the ear drum!

If you find the A2Pro HB muddy, you'll find the CC or any other alnico 2 muddy...I would guess.

So my thoughts are: go for A5 magnet or ceramic magnet for the bridge pickup:


59B (alnico 5)
Screamin' Demon (alnico 5)
Custom 5 (alnico 5)
Custom (ceramic)

Lew

 

[papersoul]

Re: Bridge PU for Les Paul Standard?

I have tried the c5 in my les paul classic 1994 goldtop and so far its my favorite but lacks some mids. I have a patb3 blues saraceno in it now. I like the blues 2nd. I tried the custom custom 1 week ago and while it sounded great on my pod. It sounded compressed, more gainy and lacking some lows with with my dual rectifier at practice. It had lows but seemed cut off compared to the c5.

Try the Rio Grande BBQ....it has smoother highs than the C-5, more prominent mids, similar bass responce, but overall warmer with ones of character.

 

[RodO]

Re: Bridge PU for Les Paul Standard?

Another option would be to take the JB and replace the alnico-5 with an A-2. I have that in my Hamer and it sounds incredible. It retains a lot of the JB characteristics, but adds warmth.

Jeff

Hummm... That just might work. How do you replace the magnet and where do I purchase one?