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.

 

[uOpt]

DD or Pearly Gator.

They are quite different, PG is PAF-class (well, a little above), but we can't rule out that it will be good for your classic rock chores. I'd try the DD first.

 

[hamerfan]

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

In fact i did a lot of comparisions between both on a Les Paul clone with flippable pickups.
The 500T is a bit growlier and darker. On recommendations in the LesPaulForum i opened the 500T and pull out one side magnet (500T as 2 of them) and put in a wooden spacer. This made them really, really close.

 

[Chistopher]

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...

Yeah, I had the same set in my Epi LP, and did not care for it at all. The neck was too dark, and the bridge was too thin, but maybe that's part of the appeal of a PAF set.

I'm holding onto them though, they could both make good neck pickups in the right instrument.

 

[jeremy]

never loved the bb3. its not very paf like and tends to sound raspy. its actually hotter than many paf type pups, but if you are used to a jb, im not surprised you think its low output. i love a custom in the bridge of a les paul,

 

[Jermo3178]

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.

I'll start looking into them... I worry about the ceramic mags being to high gain? I only have experience with one set of ceramics

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

PG looks, on paper anyway, to be right on par with the BB3. Will it stand out any better?
I have yet to try a Pegasus. preconceived metal notions I suppose... is it pretty versatile?

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.

I don't care to keep it Gibson... I'm probably gonna steer clear of Gibson pickups.
I don't think I've tried anything in the custom line.. What you dig about the C5?

DD or Pearly Gator.

They are quite different, PG is PAF-class (well, a little above), but we can't rule out that it will be good for your classic rock chores. I'd try the DD first.

Another for the DD... I need to pull up some videos and sound clips on this one.

 

[Jermo3178]

Yeah, I had the same set in my Epi LP, and did not care for it at all. The neck was too dark, and the bridge was too thin, but maybe that's part of the appeal of a PAF set.

I'm holding onto them though, they could both make good neck pickups in the right instrument.

See I don't really have a problem with the neck, but I don't do a lot a playing on necks anyway.. just with this one.
And I'm wondering if that's because the bb3 is so craptacular.
What did you change out with?

never loved the bb3. its not very paf like and tends to sound raspy. its actually hotter than many paf type pups, but if you are used to a jb, im not surprised you think its low output. i love a custom in the bridge of a les paul,

To me, it has no cahonas..
Custom... I'll add it to the list to start learning about.

 

[playas]

I'd suggest a Seth Lover rather than a JB.
Alternatively a PG would probably also work for what you're after.

 

[Jermo3178]

I'd suggest a Seth Lover rather than a JB.
Alternatively a PG would probably also work for what you're after.

Interesting... I would expect a Seth to be going the opposite direction, but I'll look into it.

 

[beaubrummels]

IME any of these...
Duncan Saturday Night Special
Duncan Custom
Duncan Distortion
Gibson 500T
Duncan Whole Lotta Humbucker
Bare Knuckle Black Dog (my fave for slightly hotter, even, sticks out in the mix, but still PAF; very similar to WLH)

Output isn't the only factor. The EQ curve can make a lower output pickup 'sound' like it's louder simply by sticking out in the mix.

 

[Jermo3178]

IME any of these...
Duncan Saturday Night Special
Duncan Custom
Duncan Distortion
Gibson 500T
Duncan Whole Lotta Humbucker
Bare Knuckle Black Dog (my fave for slightly hotter, even, sticks out in the mix, but still PAF; very similar to WLH)

Output isn't the only factor. The EQ curve can make a lower output pickup 'sound' like it's louder simply by sticking out in the mix.

New flavors added.
SNS - Can you school me a little on those?
WLH - I tried in a strat. Neck was pretty good, bridge was just ok. Maybe better in a Les Paul?
Black Dogs - Them dudes are high. But... may have to seriously look into them.

 

[Jermo3178]

Another question for everyone above...
Are you using these with 500k pots? or lower/higher values?

 

[Rex_Rocker]

I used to have one of those Epi '59's as well. Cool guitar!

In my two Les Pauls right now, I have a Suhr SSH+ and a Duncan JB in each. I like both. Both are sort of along the lines, but the JB is more focused and more aggressive and the SSH+ is more open and more airy. I recommend both.

On my LP's, I run a 500K volume for the bridge in parallel with a 1M resistor for a total of 330K-ish resistance, no tone.

I love the Black Winter too. I won't contradict people who state it's versatile, but I will say it's more focused, more aggresive, and hotter than the JB for sure. I will say that the Distortion and the 500T are amazing too, but they are indeed heavier-sounding. Not to say they won't work, though.