Classic rock les paul-ish pickup

[evan47]

I am looking for suggestions to replace the EMG 81/60 set in my ltd ec1000fr.
The guitar is a thinner bodied single cut (mahogany body and neck, maple top and roaewood fretboard) and I am looking for something that will give a good classic rock lead and dirty chord sound but also a sweet clean sound when dialed back on the volume pot.
Trembucker spacing needed and I do not want anything too hot (the EMGs are a bit ott for me as I dial them back to halfway for chord work and when dialed back up to full sound too scratchy for my tastes).
I would like something with a fat-ish chordal sound with a tight bottom end and plenty of crunch and a nice bit of bite on the top.
What I dont want is something too warm like the PRS se245 I used to have.
Sometimes I think of getting a JB/JAZZ combo which I know I like as I have them in a washburn singlecut but am looking for other suggestions.
The EMG fat 55 set sound tempting in an actual les paul but there are few users out there so far as there is still limited availability in europe and the uk in particular. They would also be the easiest to fit as I can simply unplug the current EMG set and plug the new ones in with no other work at all.

 

[dystrust]

Re: Classic rock les paul-ish pickup

If you're looking for classic rock tones in an LTD Eclipse, maybe try a WLH set? The bridge isn't as hot as a JB and the neck is similar in output to a Jazz, though more midrange-y and less bright. The only downside I can think of is that they tend to be pretty expensive in the UK from what I hear.

 

[evan47]

Re: Classic rock les paul-ish pickup

If you're looking for classic rock tones in an LTD Eclipse, maybe try a WLH set? The bridge isn't as hot as a JB and the neck is similar in output to a Jazz, though more midrange-y and less bright. The only downside I can think of is that they tend to be pretty expensive in the UK from what I hear.

They were my first consideration as some of my fave bands like led zep, thin lizzy etc are 70s classic rock but, the WLH set does not have trembucker spacing and, as the LTD has a floyd it would be just as well to get a properly spaced pickup in the bridge.

 

[dystrust]

Re: Classic rock les paul-ish pickup

They were my first consideration as some of my fave bands like led zep, thin lizzy etc are 70s classic rock but, the WLH set does not have trembucker spacing and, as the LTD has a floyd it would be just as well to get a properly spaced pickup in the bridge.

The set isn't available with Trembucker spacing, but the bridge pickup is. You'd need to get a TB-18 for the bridge and a separate SH-18n for the neck.

 

[evan47]

Re: Classic rock les paul-ish pickup

The set isn't available with Trembucker spacing, but the bridge pickup is. You'd need to get a TB-18 for the bridge and a separate SH-18n for the neck.

It must be a rare piece then as it is not even on the Seymour duncan site.
There is mention of it elsewhere but every time I click on to a lead it shows another pickup such as a jb trembucker.

 

[beaubrummels]

Re: Classic rock les paul-ish pickup

Pearly Gates is another option for what you described.

 

[Chistopher]

Re: Classic rock les paul-ish pickup

The Saturday Night Special set rawks.

 

[Mincer]

Re: Classic rock les paul-ish pickup

The 2 favorites for classic rock were mentioned: the Whole Lotta Humbucker set and the Saturday Night Special set. Just pick the EQ you want: the SNS is a lottle brighter and with less mids. The WLH is voiced like a hotter PAF, but not as hot as,say, a Custom.

 

[Chistopher]

Re: Classic rock les paul-ish pickup

And it is important to note that the SNS is has an Alnico 4 magnet, and does manage to maintain the characteristic tone of A4 pickups. The set is fairly well balanced EQ-wise, except for the neck, which is somewhat oriented towards the treble end of the spectrum when compared to other neck pickups. The have a minor mid scoop as well.

They are advertised for 70's arena rock, where as the WLH wasn't really made for any specific genre. I tend to think of them has a fatter set of 59's. They have a bit more low mids than the 59s and slightly less bass. They are also more compressed than the SNS, if that's your kind of thing, but it's not a major difference.

Both work pretty well for what it looks like you want to do.