Epiphone '59 Les Paul bridge pickup replacement... BB3 sucks

[Jermo3178]

I recently acquired an IBG Epiphone '59 Les Paul.
It's got all the fancy upgrades...


Ran it through it's paces at the last several practices.
It is by far the best Les Paul I've ever had/played. The fit, feel, play ability, neck, finish are all fantastic.
The BB2 in the neck is pretty nice. It's clean, clear, handles my amp well and I found myself using it a lot.
The middle position is pretty nice as well... definitely usable... complements the neck nicely.

However, when you switch to the bridge the guitar basically disappears in the band mix. No lows, no cut, bland, lifeless, low output.
Palm mutes are like you're chugging rubber bands. Chords are barely there. Single notes are just blah.
It was a real buzz kill... maybe it's because I use a JB in all my strats? But regardless.. I don't dig it at all.

So I'm looking to advice from Les Paul guys.
Something nicer. Thicker. middier maybe? More of everything.
Doesn't necessarily have to be hot... just more oomph for sure.
Not opposed to changing both pickups out, as I'm not completely sold on the neck, but not against keeping it.

We play lots of classic rock (70's and 80's). Lot's of southern rock (Skynyrd, Marshall Tucker, Allmans... little ZZtop).
Some heavy metal.. verge of Metallica like... dirty country tones and Tom Petty...
I use a Blackstar HT100 venue with matching 4x12 cab. A digitech Bad Monkey for a little bite in the clean tone if needed.
I don't mind turning around an cranking up the mids on the amp while changing out guitars, but I don't really
want to change everything every time I swap.

What say you?

 

[Chistopher]

Just to note, the OEM BB's are slightly more desirable than the aftermarket ones because the OEM ones come potted

 

[80's_Metal]

I generally end up slapping a TB-6 Distortion in every LP I have owned.
But.... I love the thick Distortion, the harmonics, the compression, everything about that pickup, I play drop tuned chugs and that's about it.

I have tried the Black Winter a few times in LPs and do not like the tones as much.

The Gibson 500T is a great choice IMHO. It's very similar to the TB-6.

The ALT-8 is an interesting choice that I'm looking into for one of my own LPs.
Also a lot of folks really like the JB or Custom in an LP but I haven't used that option very many times.

 

[weepingminotaur]

Any particular reason you wouldn't try a JB first, since you use 'em in your Strats so you already know you like it? The JB will definitely give you more of everything and has the versatility to handle all flavours of rock plus metal.

 

[Jermo3178]

Just to note, the OEM BB's are slightly more desirable than the aftermarket ones because the OEM ones come potted

Yeah so I've read. There's so many threads on so many forums that speak so highly of this pickup. I was looking forward to it... was...

I generally end up slapping a TB-6 Distortion in every LP I have owned.
But.... I love the thick Distortion, the harmonics, the compression, everything about that pickup, I play drop tuned chugs and that's about it.

I have tried the Black Winter a few times in LPs and do not like the tones as much.

The Gibson 500T is a great choice IMHO. It's very similar to the TB-6.

The ALT-8 is an interesting choice that I'm looking into for one of my own LPs.
Also a lot of folks really like the JB or Custom in an LP but I haven't used that option very many times.

I've never tried the Distortion or the Black Winters.. maybe preconceived notions about being too metal?
Everything we do is half step down...

Any particular reason you wouldn't try a JB first, since you use 'em in your Strats so you already know you like it? The JB will definitely give you more of everything and has the versatility to handle all flavours of rock plus metal.

The main reason I think is I put one in an Epi LP and it didn't help. But then again, nothing helped that guitar.
I tried hard to make myself like that one.
Changed pickups several times, electronics, sanded the neck... I ended up hating that guitar. Turned me against LP's in general.

 

[weepingminotaur]

I've never tried the Distortion or the Black Winters.. maybe preconceived notions about being too metal?
Everything we do is half step down...

I've gotten a lot of recs for the Distortion in my Epi LP. Not tried it myself but it might do the trick.

The Black Winter can do way more than just metal. The name and the presentation scare people off but both bridge and neck are very versatile, and split very well.

 

[Mincer]

Pearly Gates? Or for something more modern, maybe even the Pegasus. Chuggy goodness.

 

[STLMTLHD79]

If you want to keep it Gibson, i would say 498T would be perfect answer.

With a Duncan, Custom 5, or even a Pearly Gates if you want something more vintage. Even a 59 maybe the answer.