Closest Page pickups?

[BluesJunkie]

Re: Closest Page pickups?

Didn't he use a Tele in the studio? Bit of a laugh if that was the sound you were aiming for.

He used a Tele on the first album, and on various other tracks like the "Stairway" solo. Other albums like Led Zeppelin II are almost exclusively Les Paul/Marshall.

As I said though, I'm not trying to replicate his tone. I'm sure not everyone who uses Alnico II Pros is trying to sound like Slash. I just liked the description of the pickups, and I'm using Page as a reference to see what the pickups sound like. However, since Page's tone rocks sometimes and sucks others, I was also trying to determine which Page tones best represent the pickups.

 

[Robert S.]

Re: Closest Page pickups?

Like I stated either before or somewhere else receintly I find the JPs to hover somewhere between the 59s and the Antiquities tonally. They are far from lifeless or lacking in sustain.

 

[ledzepp29]

Re: Closest Page pickups?

Thanks guys, i think im gonna get the page customs they sound like what im goin for. one more question. would these pickups serve good in hard rock distortion situations ? because i know they are vintage sounding pickups and i love the sound of vintage pickups, but i dont know if these pickups will sound full and defined under distortion. thanks

 

[Soundscape]

Re: Closest Page pickups?

page's live tone kicks ass, man.
i can't undestand why you think otherwise.

 

[Bradster]

Re: Closest Page pickups?

IMHO, it depends on which "live" tone we're speaking of. The "Song Remains The Same" (TSRTS) has a fairly clean "high tension" sound BUT that new DVD and CD set (How The West Was Won) shows off his original KILLER tone, one can hear the wood in his lester!.

My personal favorite tone of Jimmy Page's is that on the new CD and DVD which incidentaly has also the sound from LZ-II "Heartbreaker" (not the solo) though I do love the TSRTS tone I much prefer his original '59 Lester/Marshall tone.

Interviews in which JP speaks of his amp indicate it might have been a two-fold change that brought about the TSRTS tone, not only did he have the new T-top in the bridge position, he also had his 1959SLP Marshall's fitted with KT-88's which give a much tighter, more high tension sound (and nearly 200w of power) compared to the EL34's he used prior.

That new CD "How The West Was Won" has a bunch of great examples of his '59 with the PAF's, try "Over The Hills And Far Away", "What Is And What Should Never Be" and the "Ocean", talk about a '59 Les Paul/PAF sound!!! whoaaa baby!.


BTW: the TSRTS era tone, JP had a "T-top" in the bridge position which had replaced the original cream PAF around 1971, ...which begs the question... did Seymour (and Gibson for that matter) make copies of the TSRTS setup or the original PAF setup? 'cause they're way different sounding for sure.

.

 

[villanovajunction]

Re: Closest Page pickups?

3 year overdue bump!

can anyone answer bradster's question?

 

[xxxplorer]

Re: Closest Page pickups?

I think JP actually uses the 500T 496R set now a days. I have read that he likes hot pickups?

 

[Thunder]

Re: Closest Page pickups?

I've gotten great Page tones with 59's and a Plexi. But if you got the $$$ get the JP set!

 

[Thunder]

Re: Closest Page pickups?

Thanks, guys.

I used to be a huge Page fan when I was a teenager, but I don't necessarily want to nail his tone. I'd rather sound like myself, but with a better tone. I just saw descriptions of the JP pickups here and on the LP Forum, and they sounded like just what I was looking for.

Since there aren't any soundclips available, I went back and listened to some Zep cd's to get a feel for what the pickups might sound like. I really loved his album tones, like on Led Zep II, but his live tone kind of sucked. His sucky live tone could have been caused by a lot of different reasons besides the pickups including his extra sloppy live playing. That's why I wanted to know whether the pickups were more like his live tone or his studio tone.

I don't want to spend $300 on pickups to end up sounding thin and sustainless like Page did live. However, if the pickups have plenty of sustain and sound full with plenty of bright and bite, kind of like Page's studio tones, I may have to shell out the cash for a set.

Allways wondered why Page couldn't get more of album sound live being he was a Master in the studio.

 

[villanovajunction]

Re: Closest Page pickups?

In the studio, he had everything at his disposal to change the sound of the guitar. He had close/far miking, different mixers, EQs, and a million and a half other variables.

Live, he had to recreate the range of sounds on zeppelin's albums using only:
Guitar volume and tone controls
Amp settings
Echoplex
Wah

Later on, he added the phaser/chorus, but that's basically all he had.

I have a lot of bootlegs, and his live tone sounds thin on some recordings, but it's generally pretty nice.

I know it's been touched up and doctored, but I say his live TSRTS tone is phenomenal, especially on Over The Hills and Far Away and No Quarter. I don't see the tone there being thin and sustain-less at all

 

[super rad stuff]

Re: Closest Page pickups?

hey, somebody who has the jp set should, you know, maybe pop the tape off the sides of their pickups and tell us if it has a t-top sized magnet in the bridge. also, over the hills and far away is my favorite tsrts tone.

 

[Thunder]

Re: Closest Page pickups?

In the studio, he had everything at his disposal to change the sound of the guitar. He had close/far miking, different mixers, EQs, and a million and a half other variables.

Live, he had to recreate the range of sounds on zeppelin's albums using only:
Guitar volume and tone controls
Amp settings
Echoplex
Wah

Later on, he added the phaser/chorus, but that's basically all he had.

I have a lot of bootlegs, and his live tone sounds thin on some recordings, but it's generally pretty nice.

I know it's been touched up and doctored, but I say his live TSRTS tone is phenomenal, especially on Over The Hills and Far Away and No Quarter. I don't see the tone there being thin and sustain-less at all

Yes. He sure did have alot at his disposal. I read an article where he stated sometimes he would go into the board first and then to the amp. And the huge delay on Zep I was actually plate reverb put on tape an slowed down.

 

[J.C.R.W]

Re: Closest Page pickups?

I must have completely missed this thread when I created a question thread a few days ago. Lot of useful info

 

[DonP]

Re: Closest Page pickups?

I think JP actually uses the 500T 496R set now a days. I have read that he likes hot pickups?

Not sure, but the first Gibson JP sig Les Pauls used that combo (from 1995 to 1997). The ones with the push pull pots.

 

[the guy who invented fire]

Re: Closest Page pickups?

59's will get you there for sure, and a forum buddy of mine does quite well, maybe even better than 59's with a set of Antiquities swapped to an alnico III in the neck and an alnico 5 in the bridge...past that just order the CS Page set...done and done

 

[villanovajunction]

Re: Closest Page pickups?

I've been really convinced to get the CS Page set

Just one question remains...

Are the pickups made to replicate page's TSRTS tone (w/ T-Top, 1973) or his pre t-top live sound?

 

[the guy who invented fire]

Re: Closest Page pickups?

I've been really convinced to get the CS Page set
Just one question remains...
Are the pickups made to replicate page's TSRTS tone (w/ T-Top, 1973) or his pre t-top live sound?

I think the real answer is neither...however just email the CS and talk with MJ....

 

[xxxplorer]

Re: Closest Page pickups?

That 500T is really kinda cool if you can get past the ceramic! Roll back the vol. and nudge the tone and BAM you have something kinda like a PAF.

 

[hamerfan]

Re: Closest Page pickups?

59's will get you there for sure, and a forum buddy of mine does quite well, maybe even better than 59's with a set of Antiquities swapped to an alnico III in the neck and an alnico 5 in the bridge...past that just order the CS Page set...done and done

I did a lot of magnet swapping with my set of Ants. A set of 2 degaussed A5 did bring out this somewhat hollow and nasal sound of Page.

 

[villanovajunction]

Re: Closest Page pickups?

I just dropped the CS an email asking them my question

I'll post the answer here when they respond