Considering something more

[rogue_one]

I've posted before about Seth's vs PGs in a Les Paul. I currently have Seth's, and while they are fantastic, I'm really hoping for something more. I tried the PG's for a bit, and felt they had too much grit wound into them, especially for the bridge. The neck felt too busy.

I tried a set of used Custom shop Alnico IIs and they were closer, but a bit sterile. I have no idea what the specs were when they were ordered.

I, unfortunately, sold my 59's before I had a chance to try them out in this guitar.

The gear:
A relatively bright Les Paul. Not super bright, but bright enough.
A Laney Pro-Tube 30 Head or Peavey Classic 50 head through a number of different cabs
ODs range from a Green Rhino into a Plexi-Drive to a clone of a Marshall Guv'nor to a Hoof Reaper.

Music:
My cover band plays a variety of classic to modern rock, but when I jam with buddy's we can get into heavier stoner rock mentality.

What I'm considering:
Neck:
A4 59
Alnico II/Slash
Other suggestions?

Bridge:
UOA5 59
59/Custom
DiMarzio Super Distortion
Other suggestions?

I'm not opposed to other manufacturers, I just really like Duncans.

TIA

 

[AlexR]

Re: Considering something more

Define 'something more'

 

[Chistopher]

Re: Considering something more

If by "something more" you mean more power and Classic Rock mojo, the A4 59n and Brobucker bridge are a serious combo that I think anyone searching for "the" Les Paul tone should try at least once. The Brobucker is basically 42AWG wound within the edge of reason, a mentality that has always been the norm for rock and roll.

If you can't tell, it's one of my favorite combos.

 

[esandes]

Re: Considering something more

Yes the brobucker is awesome. If you play loud make sure you get it wax potted.

Edit: nevermind. They now come standard wax potted. When I got mine they were not potted by default.

 

[rogue_one]

Re: Considering something more

By something more, maybe i just need a slight increase in output and less mids.

I know 59s are wax potted, but are the coils mismatched?

A Brobucker would be awesome, but I can't justify that much for a single pickup currently.

 

[Chistopher]

Re: Considering something more

By something more, maybe i just need a slight increase in output and less mids.

I know 59s are wax potted, but are the coils mismatched?

A Brobucker would be awesome, but I can't justify that much for a single pickup currently.

If you're in the market for less mids, the Brobucker is definitely not the way to go. In that case I'd definitely go for A4 59n and a 59/C bridge. Try the stock 59n first, then switch to the A4 if it is too boomy for your taste. A4s have a tad more mids than an A5.

 

[esandes]

Re: Considering something more

By something more, maybe i just need a slight increase in output and less mids.

I know 59s are wax potted, but are the coils mismatched?

A Brobucker would be awesome, but I can't justify that much for a single pickup currently.

What you describe is a lot like the 59s actually. They're potted. No coil mismatch. The pickup equalizer graph on this site is very accurate.

 

[gregory]

Re: Considering something more

Custom 5/Sentient

 

[rogue_one]

Re: Considering something more

If you're in the market for less mids, the Brobucker is definitely not the way to go. In that case I'd definitely go for A4 59n and a 59/C bridge. Try the stock 59n first, then switch to the A4 if it is too boomy for your taste. A4s have a tad more mids than an A5.

Thanks, I've had 59s in my Sheraton, and they worked out well, until I changed them to Phat Cats.

Looks like its time to do some early birthday shopping.

 

[Jeff_H]

Re: Considering something more

I'm going to say the Saturday Night Specials. They are A4 magnet buckers, which will be similar but not exactly the same as an A4 59'. The sound clips are really great sounding and based on my experiments with A4 mags in various vintage Duncan winds.....I think they might be something to at least look into. The other set to consider for "a little something else" would be the WLH set.

Let us know what you decide.

 

[rogue_one]

Re: Considering something more

I'm going to say the Saturday Night Specials. They are A4 magnet buckers, which will be similar but not exactly the same as an A4 59'. The sound clips are really great sounding and based on my experiments with A4 mags in various vintage Duncan winds.....I think they might be something to at least look into. The other set to consider for "a little something else" would be the WLH set.

Let us know what you decide.

****** Jeff. You just had to bring those up. I hadn't even considered them.

I'll check some clips of them, but still leaning towards at least the 59/C for the bridge.

 

[Jeff_H]

Re: Considering something more

****** Jeff. You just had to bring those up. I hadn't even considered them.

I'll check some clips of them, but still leaning towards at least the 59/C for the bridge.

No thanks necessary! I am here to confuse and inflict mayhem. :lmao:

 

[rogue_one]

Re: Considering something more

No thanks necessary! I am here to confuse and inflict mayhem. :lmao:

I'm also considering the Vineham Whiskey Sour for the bridge, and possibly his Sweet V59 in the neck. Hard to beat a set of pups for the price, and from what little I've read, he winds good stuff.

 

[AlexR]

Re: Considering something more

Vineham posts here under 'copperheadroads'.

His stuff is good......don't know how he does it so well for the money.

 

[rogue_one]

Re: Considering something more

Ordering a WLH set. I think they be are just a little closer to what I am thinking than an A459 and 59/C, but just barely.

 

[Jeff_H]

Re: Considering something more

Ordering a WLH set. I think they be are just a little closer to what I am thinking than an A459 and 59/C, but just barely.

That should be a nice setup once you have them installed. I really hope they get you where you want to be sound wise. If you need some additional mayhem injected into your tone search, I'll be happy to help.

I absolutely have no use for yet another set of pickups, but I really want a set of those SNS's. If I buy the Gary Moore LP I'm looking at I'll likely take my custom shop "Greenie Set" out of my favorite Dean Hardtail and drop them in the Moore. Then, instead of the Brobucker or Seth's or 2 sets of Antiquities or PG's or APH's I'll order the SNS's. Need them like a hole in the head, but I WANT them.

 

[rogue_one]

Re: Considering something more

Got the WLHs installed last night. Ordered them from Stigler and got one of their 50s wiring harnesses. Got everything wired up last night. It was a little late so I didn't have a whole lot of time to play around, but it's going to take some time to get adjusted to the taper on these pots. Things just roll off to almost nothing way too quickly. But the 50's wiring and 500K pots did something amazing to this guitar in combination with the pickups.

I'll spend some time dialing in the pickups and my amp before making a full report. I also have rehearsal this weekend, so we'll see how things play out.

 

[Clint 55]

Re: Considering something more

Volume rolling off to nothing too quickly bugs me. What I do to correct that is take a linear pot and wire it backwards. Input to the middle lug and output and tone (for 50s) to the left lug. Draws out the taper nice and long so you can use the whole sweep.

 

[Jeff_H]

Re: Considering something more

I'm glad there is a noticeable difference in your tone. It will be great to hear a first hand report detailing whether this WLH set will give you that extra something over some of the other pickups recommended. (I still think the SNS is the way to go, but that's really just personal bias, LOL)

Make sure to update us.

 

[rogue_one]

Re: Considering something more

After playing a little more last night, I really like these.

A couple observations:

The new wiring harness with 500K pots really opened things up. I'm getting used to the sweep on the pots. I just need to keep volumes set at 7 or so for normal rhythm playing and then open them up for more. I'll have to reset my amp settings. now I need to put a 500K harness in my SG Classic (P-90s!!!)

I had the Seth Lovers in with the stock 300 Linear harness. That may have contributed to why I didn't think they had "enough" and why stock 57 Classics sounded like mud. I sold the 57s, but I will wire the Seths back in at some point just for the hell of it.

The neck pickup seems to have a lot more defined bass, but it still sounds fantastic. I'll have to roll back the bass on the amp a bit, I think. I think I have pickup heights set pretty well for an even output, now its time to dial in the amps.

The bridge sounds great. Both pickups have this wonderful sponginess to the feel of them, almost causing a sag-like effect to my amp (Laney Pro-Tube 30 AOR head - solid state recto).

I can't wait for band practice and being able to crank this beast.