Epiphone Les Paul Special II Pop Punk Pickups

[ThereIsNoRemedy]

Hi everyone,

Because I just started my first band, I'm looking for new pickups for my Epiphone Les Paul Special II. Since I've only been playing the guitar for about 3 years I don't have any experience with pickups different than the stock ones.
My band mostly plays punk rock/pop punk: things like Blink-182, All Time Low, Neck Deep, The Story So Far, Face to Face, Green Day etc. Right now I'm playing through a Line6 Spider IV 15 Watt amp, but I'll be borrowing a friend's JCM800 for live peformances. A lot of people recommend the JB for sounds like this, but since my guitar's made of basswood I'm not sure if this will work out.

Can anyone help me with this? Thanks in advance

 

[Edgecrusher]

Re: Epiphone Les Paul Special II Pop Punk Pickups

JB works great in basswood.. works great for punk. That is all.

 

[Johnny the Kid]

Re: Epiphone Les Paul Special II Pop Punk Pickups

The JB will be fine. Billy Joe Armstrong used one in the early days (may still on some of his humbucker guitars). Always sounded good, even if I wasn't a huge fan of Green Day.

 

[synzzzer]

Re: Epiphone Les Paul Special II Pop Punk Pickups

You have a few options. I know Tom from Blink 182 was known to use the S.D. Invader for his Strat, and a Gibson Dirty Fingers for his Gibson. However most of his sound was from using three heads and three cabinets. I'm really thinking on this, and the best I can think is that you want something bright with a bit of bite. I actually think the Pearly Gates for the bridge would be good. However, the JB is a classic. A 59 or Pearly Gates would match great in the neck.

In the late 70's - early 80's days of New York punk, they were using Les Paul's with stock pickups. Vintage bright PAF type pickups through a loud Marshall will get you that old punk sound. Again, no frills, straight up rock n' roll. Pop/Punk isn't that different. That's why I would suggest the Pearly Gates. It's a brighter sounding PAF that will rock through a cranked Marshall. Again, no frills, just straight up rock n' roll.

So you can't really go wrong with a JB or Pearly Gates. But if you want something with a bit more mids, and even more bite, try the Distortion for the bridge. Good luck in whatever you decide to do.

 

[Bfeeney]

Re: Epiphone Les Paul Special II Pop Punk Pickups

Special II's are mahogany, not basswood

 

[Edgecrusher]

Re: Epiphone Les Paul Special II Pop Punk Pickups

Special II's are mahogany, not basswood

They say its mahogany but it isnt mahogany. Its toona mahogany which is only mahogany in its trade name tonally its much closer to basswood than it is to mahogany. Its bright and toppy with even mids and muted lows.

 

[Little Pigbacon]

Re: Epiphone Les Paul Special II Pop Punk Pickups

They say its mahogany but it isnt mahogany. Its toona mahogany which is only mahogany in its trade name tonally its much closer to basswood than it is to mahogany. Its bright and toppy with even mids and muted lows.

The Wikipedia article for Toona cites the following link as a source. (Warning: After reading it, my conclusion was -- from an exasperated, head-shaking facepalm -- "Just hand me the guitar, and we'll take it one step at a time.")

http://gaskellguitars.com/downloads/90.html

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: Epiphone Les Paul Special II Pop Punk Pickups

+1

You can agonise all day about exactly what the timbers are and the difference they might make or you can accept the instrument as it is and try a few pickup experiments.

Based on my recent experience, modifying a Squier Affinity Strat, I am tempted to suggest active pickups. Buying pre-owned would keep the expense in proportion to the value of the instrument. It is possible that one pickup may be enough.

Welcome to the forum.

 

[Chickenwings]

Re: Epiphone Les Paul Special II Pop Punk Pickups

JB yep for greenday fo sho.
Invader if you want more blink 182 kind of sounds.

Dont worry too much about what species of wood your axe is made of. Just use your ears to tell you if its light and pingy, or deep and warm, or honky in the mids etc. Once you work out what kind of things about the inherent acoustic properties of your axe you'd like to change/modify/accentuate then you'll have a better idea about which pickups will do the job best for you. Also, don't worry too much about which pickup selection is "correct" or "the best" for your chosen genre. Just go with the one that sounds best to your ears and complements your playing style.

This is a fairly pop-punkish tune i recorded last year. It uses a JB equipped strat and a 335 with WLH in stereo left and right for the rhythm parts. The singer wanted to blend in a vintage punk kind of sound to go with her theatrical style vocals.
https://avatorch.bandcamp.com/track/hes-a-*****
the whole album has that kind of 2 or 3 guitar setup so there is JB on every track if you want to have a listen to the rest of the tracks.

A JB with your axe into a jcm800 will sound hellish good...just make sure the tubes are fresh and strong. Kill your spider with fire.

This video will let you hear Billy Joe using his old JB equipped strat live from Burnout at 51 minutes on thru all the other tracks to F.O.D.

 

[dominus]

Re: Epiphone Les Paul Special II Pop Punk Pickups

Can't go wrong with the TB-5 Custom. It works in just about any wood.

 

[ThereIsNoRemedy]

Re: Epiphone Les Paul Special II Pop Punk Pickups

Thanks for taking your time to help me out everyone! I can get a cheap second hand JB so I think I'm going to settle for that one. Would you recommend 250k or 500k pots?

 

[Bfeeney]

Re: Epiphone Les Paul Special II Pop Punk Pickups

500k

 

[SoundAt11]

Re: Epiphone Les Paul Special II Pop Punk Pickups

I used to have that guitar: Custom or JB are both great for that type of music in that guitar.

 

[SirJackdeFuzz]

Re: Epiphone Les Paul Special II Pop Punk Pickups

INVADER . . . is all you need.

 

[SirJackdeFuzz]

Re: Epiphone Les Paul Special II Pop Punk Pickups

INVADER

 

[Artie]

Re: Epiphone Les Paul Special II Pop Punk Pickups

Based on my recent experience, modifying a Squier Affinity Strat, I am tempted to suggest active pickups.

Not necessarily. I just loaded up an HSS Squier Affinity Strat last night with new pups/electronics. I'm surprised by how sweet it turned out.
Film@eleven.

Buying pre-owned would keep the expense in proportion to the value of the instrument.

Absolutely. I acquired this Squier as payment on a $40 wiring job. (She's like new. Still has the plastic on the pickguard.)

INVADER . . . is all you need.

Funny you should say that. An Invader is exactly what went into the bridge of the above said Strat.

Artie