Changing pickups on my Gibson LP Classic

[Musicscotty]

Hi there.

It's my first post, so hello everyone.:wave:

I have a 2001 bullion Gibson LP Classic, currently with the stock pup's (496/500). As far as I can ascertain the guitar is solid mahogany with a carved maple top. The guitar has a very clear but rich sound when played unplugged.

The time has come to change them to a more ... versatile sound. I've done a search and had a look at previous threads on LP Classic's and also had a good long listen to the audio samples on the SD site.

The music that I'm now playing ranges from clean country right through to classic rock.

The advice that I'm looking for - given the above info - is this.

Will a combination of SH-11 Custom Custom (bridge) and SH-PG1 Pearly Gates (neck) be able to handle the different playstyles?

If anyone has a LP with this combination, I'd be obliged to hear your thoughts.

Of course if anyone has a different combination for the style that I'm playing, I'd be interested as well.

Cheers

*** Edit ***

I forgot to say that I play lead as well as rhythm.

 

[poweredbysoul]

Re: Changing pickups on my Gibson LP Classic

I just put a set of Alnico Pro II's in my standard and I can't believe how good they sound!!! I have always went for hotter pickups especially for the bridge but I am a believer in lower output for sure. They are the best buckers I heard for clean and handle overdrive/Distortion very well. Very even and smooth sounding. I have had the Pearly Gates in both positions and like these better. I have also thought about SH-11 for the bridge but opted for the matching set, with no regrets!!! I sure others will chime in..

 

[pstarove]

Re: Changing pickups on my Gibson LP Classic

four country and classic rock I'd recommend a set of Jazz neck and Jazz bridge over the PG/CC set.

A set of Alnico Pro IIs, 59s, Seths or PGs will be fine also, I just think that the Jazz set is better for country. In any case, don't go for the CC in the bridge.

An welcome to the forum!

 

[Jazz Rock]

Re: Changing pickups on my Gibson LP Classic

Hello fellow inhabitant of Scotland,

Welcome to the forum. My question would be: do you really need a high output pup for the kind of music you want to play.

I think classic rock would be really well handled with a set of '59, AIIpro, Jazz, PG or a mix of these. Personally I love my set of '59 in my Epi LP classic. I know it is not exactly the same but it should do the trick for you as well.

From there it depend what feel you are after, '59 would be more Led Zeppelin-like, PG getting closer to ZZTop, AIIpro is typically the set Slash swears by, so with a more modern feel than the precedent, or the Jazz set for something very clear and articulate.

 

[LtKojak]

Re: Changing pickups on my Gibson LP Classic

The music that I'm now playing ranges from clean country right through to classic rock

I can name three combinations:

1. Jazz set. You can play anything with'em.
2. Jazz bridge in neck, Custom 5 in bridge. I have this combination in my 335 clone and I swear by it.
3. Pearly Gates set. PAF as PAF should be.

HTH,

Pepe aka Lt. Kojak
Milano, Italy

 

[Musicscotty]

Re: Changing pickups on my Gibson LP Classic

Thanks for the replies.

I did forget to say that I play lead as well as rhythm - hence the higher output for the bridge pickup.

 

[Musicscotty]

Re: Changing pickups on my Gibson LP Classic

Hello fellow inhabitant of Scotland,

Welcome to the forum. My question would be: do you really need a high output pup for the kind of music you want to play.

I think classic rock would be really well handled with a set of '59, AIIpro, Jazz, PG or a mix of these. Personally I love my set of '59 in my Epi LP classic.

I also have an Epi LP (Birdseye maple top) which I use as back up. It has a much lighter unplugged tone and all going well I will indeed fit a set of '59's in there.

Oh and hello back fellow Scottish person :wave:

 

[Jazz Rock]

Re: Changing pickups on my Gibson LP Classic

Thanks for the replies.

I did forget to say that I play lead as well as rhythm - hence the higher output for the bridge pickup.

Still, I think a set of lower output pup would do the trick.

BTW, do you know that we most probably have the exact same model of Epi LP! What colours is yours? Did you buy it in the mid 90's?

Oh, and I am only Scottish by adoption, originally from France (nobody's perfect :laugh2

 

[Musicscotty]

Re: Changing pickups on my Gibson LP Classic

The Epi LP is a champagne colour with birdseye effect. I bought it in 1996. The pickups are very light weight but it plays well.

 

[blueman335]

Re: Changing pickups on my Gibson LP Classic

Instead of the usual reaction of dumping the stock Gibson PU's, try different magnets. A lot of guys question Gibson's wisdom of putting ceramic magnets in a "classic" guitar. Poor choice & lousy tone. Put an A5 in the neck, and an A4 in the bridge & you'll have much better tones for the music you're playing. The neck will be similar to a SD '59 & the bridge like a C5 (but a little warmer). Please...do this before you buy new PU's. Spend a few dollars tweaking you PU's & electronics, rather than automatically spending hundreds buying & selling PU's that don't quite fit your wood's tone (in spite of all the heartfelt advice from this forum).

If the modified Gibsons aren't what you want, then... you'll need a bright neck PU in that fat mahogany body; try a JazzN, '59N, or Phat CatN.

In the bridge, a '59B, JazzB, or PGB will give you a PAF sound (as used on countless classic rock & blues recordings). For something hotter, a C5 with 250K pots has muscle & warmth.

DiMarzio has some good LP choices too, like:
1) Bluesbucker/Fred (very good in one of my LP's)
2) Humbucker from Hell/Virtual PAF Br

Whatever you wind up with, keep in mind it may too need a magnet swap or different pots & caps to get the tone you're after.

 

[DonP]

Re: Changing pickups on my Gibson LP Classic

A lot of guys question Gibson's wisdom of putting ceramic magnets in a "classic" guitar.

The Classic came out in 1990. What was guitar music like back then? Yes, heavy metal. And with a thin shredder neck as well.

Poor choice & lousy tone.

Matter of opinion. I think they sound great.

While I think playing clean country might be best done with a tele rather than an LP, I can get a very good AC/DC tone with my LP Classic going straight into a Kalamazoo Model 12 amp. This amp is a very clean 12 watts of all tube tone, an it takes all the power the 500T can muster to get any sort of grind going.

 

[disturb]

Re: Changing pickups on my Gibson LP Classic

See my signature for what I put in my Classic. Extremely happy!

 

[Musicscotty]

Re: Changing pickups on my Gibson LP Classic

Thanks for the advice.

I should point out that I'm not saying that the 496/500 stocks are bad at all. I mean I've been using them live for 6 years now. It took a while to get used to them and learn how to best control the power that they produce and to be honest they do produce some truley great sounds - for certain types of music.

I just feel that a change will do me and the guitar some good. I love my guitar and will never sell it. It's just that I feel I want a more versatile, contemporary sound and from what I've heard from the audio samples and read here the combo of Custom Custom (b) and Pearly Gates may well just give me that.