Duncan bridge pup in Greco LP? Please advice

[JonasSweden1]

Hey guys, need advice

SITUATION: Looking for classic rock tone, using a Tweed 5E3 replica
with 6V6s. Using a Greco Les Paul which natural sound is a bit
darkish, not bright that's fore sure. Currently a Duncan 59 in the
bridge which is the pup I pretty much use. Basically looking for good, classic
and warm 70s style rock 'n roll tone.



COMPLICATION: Think the tone is muddy and honky/boomy on the top notes when overdriven with this amp and guitar set-up. Sometimes use a dirt pedal to drive the amp at little lower volumes. Is it the scooped mids of this pup I don't like? Further, it might be a bit hot for my taste, the DC resistance is fine, around 8 kohms. But I guess that Alnico V also contributes to "hotness" and or "harshness".


SOLUTION? What do you recommend? Would the Seth Lover move the tone further to my preferences? I think maybe an Alnico II based pup is the way to go for me.

And while I'm on it, maybe the 59 in the bridge of my Gibson SG would be a great move, bringing out the character in that guitar? I currently have a Lawrence L500 in the bridge of that, great pickup however very balanced, not really that SG growl.

Please advice guys

Cheers / Jonas

 

[JonasSweden1]

Re: Duncan bridge pup in Greco LP? Please advice

Anyone....? Please

Hey guys, need advice

SITUATION: Looking for classic rock tone, using a Tweed 5E3 replica
with 6V6s. Using a Greco Les Paul which natural sound is a bit
darkish, not bright that's fore sure. Currently a Duncan 59 in the
bridge which is the pup I pretty much use. Basically looking for good, classic
and warm 70s style rock 'n roll tone.



COMPLICATION: Think the tone is muddy and honky/boomy on the top notes when overdriven with this amp and guitar set-up. Sometimes use a dirt pedal to drive the amp at little lower volumes. Is it the scooped mids of this pup I don't like? Further, it might be a bit hot for my taste, the DC resistance is fine, around 8 kohms. But I guess that Alnico V also contributes to "hotness" and or "harshness".


SOLUTION? What do you recommend? Would the Seth Lover move the tone further to my preferences? I think maybe an Alnico II based pup is the way to go for me.

And while I'm on it, maybe the 59 in the bridge of my Gibson SG would be a great move, bringing out the character in that guitar? I currently have a Lawrence L500 in the bridge of that, great pickup however very balanced, not really that SG growl.

Please advice guys

Cheers / Jonas

 

[IanBallard]

Re: Duncan bridge pup in Greco LP? Please advice

Well, old tweed amps were designed using Fender guitars or P-90 Gibsons as the testing models, I would presume. Nothing sounds quite right to me with a tweed than a Tele or Strat. Humbuckers, even the PAF lower-output ones tend to drive tweeds to flabby ugliness. I have a humbucker Strat that I often like for playing leads with tweed type amps, but I can't stand the lower end sound. Neil Young got great tones with a Deluxe 5E3 and a Les Paul but I presume his pickups were lower output. There is always the option of P-90's as well.

I think you might consider the Jazz Bridge or putting a A2, A3 or A4 in the '59 and seeing if that helps. Or, consider the Mean 90's by GFS or Phat Cats by Duncan that are P-90's in a humbucker shell. There is also the option of lowering the bass-side of your pickup too.

 

[JonasSweden1]

Re: Duncan bridge pup in Greco LP? Please advice

"...flabby ugliness". Lol, well described - understand what you mean.

Yeah, my Tele sounds great in the Tweed, clean or overdriven.

Will check out the pickups you proposed. Have a tried a Biltoft/Vintage
Vibe Guitars P90, but at 10,5 kohm output thought that pickup is driving the
amp too hard.

Thanks for taking the time Ian, appreciate it

Well, old tweed amps were designed using Fender guitars or P-90 Gibsons as the testing models, I would presume. Nothing sounds quite right to me with a tweed than a Tele or Strat. Humbuckers, even the PAF lower-output ones tend to drive tweeds to flabby ugliness. I have a humbucker Strat that I often like for playing leads with tweed type amps, but I can't stand the lower end sound. Neil Young got great tones with a Deluxe 5E3 and a Les Paul but I presume his pickups were lower output. There is always the option of P-90's as well.

I think you might consider the Jazz Bridge or putting a A2, A3 or A4 in the '59 and seeing if that helps. Or, consider the Mean 90's by GFS or Phat Cats by Duncan that are P-90's in a humbucker shell. There is also the option of lowering the bass-side of your pickup too.

 

[uOpt]

Re: Duncan bridge pup in Greco LP? Please advice

Does the amp sound OK with other guitars?

 

[GuitarDoc]

Re: Duncan bridge pup in Greco LP? Please advice

Put a UOA5 in your existing '59. Or try an A2P.

Put a GFS Mean 90 in your SG. P-90 and SG were made for each other.

 

[lazyfinger]

Re: Duncan bridge pup in Greco LP? Please advice

There's also Dimarzio Bluesbucker, low output p90 type tone.

 

[JonasSweden1]

Re: Duncan bridge pup in Greco LP? Please advice

Yeah, especially the Telecaster with Bill Lawrence Keystones sounds fantastic. Both clean and overdriven

Does the amp sound OK with other guitars?

 

[IanBallard]

Re: Duncan bridge pup in Greco LP? Please advice

There is also the option of rolling the volume down when playing rhythms down low (where the flab is) and then cranking it back up for solos. That works pretty well for me with those old tweeds.

 

[Aceman]

Re: Duncan bridge pup in Greco LP? Please advice

This is not a pup issue IMO - it's an amp problem.

Go clean with the amp and toss a box or two in there for dirt.

 

[JonasSweden1]

Re: Duncan bridge pup in Greco LP? Please advice

Yeah, I agree with this as well. And this is what I do with the LP. Keep the amp volume at 3-4, just before break-up and then I hit a Cochrane Timmy pedal.
It sounds reasonably good, but I think the sound could improve with a different pup.

Just think that the Duncan bridge 59 is a bit too hot for the Tweed with that
Alnico V magnet.

This is not a pup issue IMO - it's an amp problem.

Go clean with the amp and toss a box or two in there for dirt.