Detailed Question About Les Paul Pickups

J

January_Embers

New member
I've got a Les Paul Studio that has a Custom-5 (originally a custom) in the bridge and a '59n in the neck. My amp is a Marshall TSL100 (might be getting a new amp soon, but pickup changes are much cheaper; and besides its still a pretty damn good amp). For the most part, I'm actually rather happy with my sound. However, its just not quite what I'm looking for. For the bridge, I'd like something that is warmer/rounder with more mids (esp low mids) and softer highs. Also, something with less brightness and less output would be great. I'd like have a sweeter lead tone too; the Custom-5 gets extra thin and shrill up high on the neck on the thin strings. (I'm not quite sure how to describe it, but the Custom-5 also feels "stiff." I'd like a pickup that has a bit of "give" to it if that makes sence. I think it might have something do with AlnicoV vs AlnicoII mags, but I don't know anything really.) For the neck, I'd like something that has a bit more clarity (or less "dirt"). For both pickups, clarity is fairly important, but my guitar is naturally a bit bright so the highs need to be pulled back a bit. Oh, and I also need them to clean up well with the volume knob.

Pickups I've tried in the bridge: 498t; Custom; Custom-5.
Pickups I've tried in the neck: 490r; 59n.

I've also played Les Paul Standards with the Burstbucker Pros and didn't care for them much (thin, not much "tone"). And I played a friend's Les Paul with a Pearly Gates in the bridge and didn't like it much either (too much edge/sizzle). I played another LP Studio that still has the stock pickups and they weren't actually that bad. I think I just miss the mids.

I was thinking of trying the Rio Grande BBQ in the bridge and an Alnico 2 Pro in the neck. But I was wondering if there might other good options I'm not thinking of. Thanks.

P.S. I know I'm crazy and obsessed, but aren't we all? Isn't that why we're on this board and not playing guitar?! Haha . . . :laugh2:
 
Re: Detailed Question About Les Paul Pickups

I don't agree with the CC bridge - I think it would take care of the highs and get them fat and smooth (like butta!), but I don't know if the mids will be working for you. I have an Epi Paul & Peavey amp that I'll be glad to trade with you for the TSL, though! I really love the CC, but it seems to me it might be a tad bright/crunchy/upper middy for you in my opinion.
 
Re: Detailed Question About Les Paul Pickups

Aceman said:
I don't agree with the CC bridge - I think it would take care of the highs and get them fat and smooth (like butta!), but I don't know if the mids will be working for you. I have an Epi Paul & Peavey amp that I'll be glad to trade with you for the TSL, though! I really love the CC, but it seems to me it might be a tad bright/crunchy/upper middy for you in my opinion.
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IMHO, I have never had a "bright/crunchy/upper middy" experience with the CC. As a matter of fact, I personally find the CC to supply butta throughout the whole meal. Guess it depends on the amp. If anything is "bright/crunchy/upper middy" I would say that describes the JB. I stand by the CCb/PGn.


Peace,

Darrin
 
Re: Detailed Question About Les Paul Pickups

BlueSnMettle said:
IMHO, I have never had a "bright/crunchy/upper middy" experience with the CC. As a matter of fact, I personally find the CC to supply butta throughout the whole meal. Guess it depends on the amp. If anything is "bright/crunchy/upper middy" I would say that describes the JB. I stand by the CCb/PGn.


Peace,

Darrin
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Indeed!!! The CC is like straight Butta!!! Since the fellow has a C5 already, he should just buy a A2 magnet and throw it in to make it a CC!! It would be alot cheaper than a new pickup.
 
Re: Detailed Question About Les Paul Pickups

i was thinking a set of 59s, given that (if i read all that closely enough) you didnt complain about the neck tone .. i think a matched set of 59's might fit the bill

alternately, a set of AIIPs might be nice and creamy for what you are looking for

good luck
t4d
 
Re: Detailed Question About Les Paul Pickups

BlueSnMettle said:
IMHO, I have never had a "bright/crunchy/upper middy" experience with the CC. As a matter of fact, I personally find the CC to supply butta throughout the whole meal. Guess it depends on the amp. If anything is "bright/crunchy/upper middy" I would say that describes the JB. I stand by the CCb/PGn
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Point well taken! I may run a little "crunchy" in the mids on the amp. And my Epi seems a bit brighter overall than my Gibson. And don't get me wrong - I think that combo is awesome! It ought to be one of Seymours "packaged" sets.

Something just tels me that pup isn't goig to be it (IMHO)....but - Kudos for the mag swap suggestion! Give it a try and see (for real cheep!)

If you don't like that then try the JB
 
Re: Detailed Question About Les Paul Pickups

BlueSnMettle said:
IMHO, I have never had a "bright/crunchy/upper middy" experience with the CC. As a matter of fact, I personally find the CC to supply butta throughout the whole meal. Guess it depends on the amp. If anything is "bright/crunchy/upper middy" I would say that describes the JB. I stand by the CCb/PGn.


Peace,

Darrin
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PGn & CC is a good call.

Alnico 2 is what the questioner seems to be after.

I'd suggest a set of Pearly Gates, Seth Lovers, Antiquitys or AIIPro Humbuckers too.

I'd think Seth Lovers would do the trick...

Lew
 
Re: Detailed Question About Les Paul Pickups

I would say try the CC as well. I have Les Paul Custom that already has a kind of high mid peak. A JB only made it worse so I went to a Custom but it was only marginally better. I finally settled on a CC and it's perfect for this guitar. The neck is a Jazz and it's my favorite combo ever.

I swear if I were ever in a Boston tribute band I could have nailed that tone all night with that guitar with the JB. It was scary how I just could not dial that frozen wah filter sound out.
 
Re: Detailed Question About Les Paul Pickups

It sounds like the CC might be the way to go for me. I still am interested in the BBQ (any comments on that one?), but the CC is just a mag swap away so it'd be easier of course. For the neck . . . its really hard to describe what I don't like about the '59n. It doesn't clean up well enough . . . I can get great clean lead sounds, but with chords, it breaks up a little too much. Also, (and this is going to make no sense to anyone) the treble seems to be disconected from the rest of the sound. It sounds like its added in. (I told you it'd make no sense). Oh yeah, and one thing I wanted to say but forgot to: the Custom-5 sounds a little artificial.

Anyway, where can I buy some magnets online? Can anyone compare the PGn and the Alnico 2 neck? And if anyone wants throw anything else out there, I'm all for it (doesn't have to be just Duncans . . . ). Thanks again.
 
Re: Detailed Question About Les Paul Pickups

For a middy and clean tone the best pickups i have ever tried where the DiMarzio PAF Classics. Those are stock nickel covered, airbuckers (alnico II emulation) and in the end and 50's PAF reproduction. Main problem it is that I haven't tried that much pickups so I don't know if they would be a better option than any of the SD. For me those (DM paf Classisc) are impresively great pickups.

From what you are after it seems that you need a "classic" alnico II humbucker. If you want a mached set I would go for an APII or a Seth Lover set. In DiMarzio those could be the airclassics or the Paf Classics set. If you want a higher output bridge pickup then it is the CC what you should look for.

Anyway I would go for the magnet swap since it is the cheapest option. You will have the CC automaticaly and I've read many times many good things about the A2 59n.
 
Re: Detailed Question About Les Paul Pickups

I would say BBQ for sure.

I am surprised you don't like the Burstbucker Pros. I actually found the BB Pros and C-5 to be very similar in tone and both have that big bass, sharp highs, and natural mids. I find I have to turn up the mids on the amp to get what I want. Althought, lately I have been appreciating pickups with more natural midrange.
 
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Re: Detailed Question About Les Paul Pickups

papersoul said:
I would say BBQ for sure.

I am surprised you don't like the Burstbucker Pros. I actually found the BB Pros and C-5 to be very similar in tone and both have that big bass, sharp highs, and natural mids. I find I have to turn up the mids on the amp to get what I want. Althought, lately I have been appreciating pickups with more natural midrange.
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I still think the BBQ might be the right pickup for me, but I think I'll probably try the CC first since its just swapping magnets. Which neck pickup do you think goes good with the BBQ?

As for the BB Pros . . . they did remind me of the C-5 a lot too. They just seemed to be more of what I don't like about the C-5. There seemed to have less bass, more highs, and similar mids. The first time I played them actually, I thought they were great, but when I compared them back to back with the C-5 in my guitar, they just didn't sound as good. Yeah.

I doubt that this would be right for me, but has anyone compared a CC and an Alnico II JB?
 
Re: Detailed Question About Les Paul Pickups

No offense to anyone here, but I guess I'm the only guy who just does not care for BBQ pickups at all. I realize everyone has their own taste and I really wanted to like these pickups but after putting them in four different Gibsons I finally sold them on ebay. I say this because if you try the CC and like it I don't want you to feel like you may be missing out by not trying the BBQ. I'm not saying it's a bad pickup, I just found it to be very similiar to a DiMarzio PAF Pro but with a little less punch.
 
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