Epi LP with Line 6 Pod

[Bezza]

Hola people

Ok, so the first bit has been done a million times over (what pickups for an Epiphone Les Paul) but couldn't find much advice when it comes to the second bit - what works well with amp modellers (Line 6 Pod X3 Pro in this case).

I like the guitar itself but the pickups sound a bit muddy. When playing through an amp at volume, these open up a bit through the size of the room etc. However, my options on cranking up the volume are a little limited, hence the Pod which allows me to get decent enough tones at lower volumes, and also with headphones. It's at this point the tone from the pickups lets things down.

I don't play live (I'm still learning) so most of my playing is either practicing or recording (which I do a little of). Therefore a bit more clarity in tone is desired, and possibly with a lower output on the pickups. I tend to play more around the rockier end of the music spectrum, venturing towards more modern punk rock bands, screamo etc, but will also muddle through some indie, 60s/70s etc. Bit of everything really.

So questions are:

- What pickups would you suggest?
- How would you suggest these are wired?
- Any recommendations of places to go around Surrey/Sussex to get someone else to do all the wiring for me? Or would I be able to manage it with little electronics experience?
- Or should I scrap the whole idea and get a Strat?

 

[FuseG4]

Re: Epi LP with Line 6 Pod

welcome to the forum!

Anyways I know about how muddy those stock pickups are, especially the neck one.

since modeling and headphone amps don't inherently make any pickup sound bad, you should just focus on getting the pickups you think have the sound you want. There are no pickups that magically "sound good" with modeling amps, they just sound good or they dont.


Try a '59 in the neck position for a versatile, all round good neck pickup, something you can play some chords on and not have it be muddy. If you really like the neck pickup for leads, try the Pearly Gates or Alnico II Pro, which still have enough brightness, but they're smoother and sing more than the '59. The PG has a little more sizzle and edge than the A2P.

If you really wanna stay within vintage character and output, try the Alnico II pros as a set. They have a nice crunch and sizzle due to the character of the magnet, and can sound as thick as some higher output pickups while retaining the clarity of low output pickups.

I've never played the regular duncan custom (the ceramic magnet one) but it seems like it would work with any of those neck pickups. Very versatile, plenty of power to do hard rock. You could also try the JB, it has a very raw, powerful sound with what I found to be surprisingly good clarity.

An epiphone is pretty basic wiring, but how they organize it in there can be a little confusing. I guess, just take the cover off the control cavity and look around in there for a minute, and compare that to a schematic for a normal les paul. if you can make sense of how it's already wired, you could do the install yourself. if not, take it to any competent tech, they'll do it for you.

For the wiring itself, I'd recommend just the "normal" wiring, just the way it is now. Series wiring is the classic humbucker sound and although you could opt to have coil-splitting installed, it's kinda thin sounding, especially the neck pickup when split.

You should eventually get a strat as well. Strats are as much fun as LPs but in different ways.

 

[eschoendorff]

Re: Epi LP with Line 6 Pod

I have gone through a JB, and SH-6 Distortion and finally a SH-5 Custom on my Epi LP studio.

Now I know why so many people recommend the Custom. It is THE sound. I would recommend that you try one in your Epi LP.

For the neck, I am sure that others will have better suggestions, but I am using a Jazz pickup. Nice clear sound.

 

[dominus]

Re: Epi LP with Line 6 Pod

Measure the bridge string spacing and go for the TB-5 or SH-5 Duncan Custom in the bridge, and 59N in the neck.

 

[Aceman]

Re: Epi LP with Line 6 Pod

Welcome!!!!


If you are modelling, absolutely no need for mega-gain pups.

PG neck, 59 Bridge, and ROCK!

Just drop them in as is.

And friends don't let friends be screamo....

 

[Fly_with_v]

Re: Epi LP with Line 6 Pod

Alnico II set for a spongier bottom, 59 set for tighter bottom and more sparkle, C5/PG for more gain. I prefer the AII's, but all of these work well in the LP, But for versitility try the P-rails w/ push-pulls or the rings with switches on them from seymour.. P-rails tend to be a little darker in the bridge, but you can adjust that with the POD. The P-rails will meet just about any of your musical demands. I have them in an Epi LP and I love them. Very good in every aspect, excellent in most.

 

[GilmourD]

Re: Epi LP with Line 6 Pod

When I started predominantly using my PODxt Live for gigging use and recording, I didn't change ANY pickups.

My '07 Epi Les Paul Custom has a GFS VEH (Vintage Extra Hot) from GuitarFetish.com in the bridge and the neck pickup is the factory stock pickup which I put an AlNiCo 8 magnet in and removed the screw poles. I'm going to eventually get a new neck pickup, but this works for me right now on my current budget.

I think part of the problem with the stock pickups in Epiphones is that the magnets are actually shorter than what is considered a "short magnet", so the magnetic field isn't as strong as a standard AlNiCo 5 magnet.

What kind of budget do you have for pickups?

 

[GilmourD]

Re: Epi LP with Line 6 Pod

Oh, BTW, this is my Epi with the VEH in the bridge through several different presets on my PODxt Live.

http://www.geargeek.net/media/veh.mp3

 

[FuseG4]

Re: Epi LP with Line 6 Pod

"short magnet"

many PAFs have punch, warmth, and clarity, while still using a short magnet. I think this has more to do with epi's problem

 

[GilmourD]

Re: Epi LP with Line 6 Pod

many PAFs have punch, warmth, and clarity, while still using a short magnet. I think this has more to do with epi's problem

It's not that the magnets are PAF short. They're even shorter, at least compared to the short magnets I got from Addiction-FX. A full-length A8 definitely woke up my Epi neck pickup and I didn't even remove any wax.

 

[astrozombie]

Re: Epi LP with Line 6 Pod

custom bridge 59 neck

 

[FuseG4]

Re: Epi LP with Line 6 Pod

It's not that the magnets are PAF short. They're even shorter, at least compared to the short magnets I got from Addiction-FX. A full-length A8 definitely woke up my Epi neck pickup and I didn't even remove any wax.

interesting. I don't remember the mags on mine being *that* short, but alas, that was at least 2 years ago, so I'm gonna say yeah, throw some real magnets in there.