I'm looking for new pickups for my EPI. I'm just a hobbyist guitar player, to calm my nerves after a hard day and to sweeten my soul. I play mostly by myself with a VYPYR amp or my CRATE GX 20, sometimes with headphones. I play mostly ACDC, BLACK SABBATH, JUDAS PRIEST, ZEPPELIN, some BEATLES and other 50's/60's/70's/80's. 59 hybrid, Slash, JB, PG's? LOVE THE SOUND OF ALL OF THESE!
Epiphone Les Paul Standard, pickups?
- Thread starter Skipper
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allbutromeo
New member
Re: Epiphone Les Paul Standard, pickups?
For those styles you'll definitely want something paf based. I'd say WLH set as they have enough extra punch for Sabbath AC/DC and of course Zeppelin, while still being low enough output to do Beatles and 50's and 60's stuff
For those styles you'll definitely want something paf based. I'd say WLH set as they have enough extra punch for Sabbath AC/DC and of course Zeppelin, while still being low enough output to do Beatles and 50's and 60's stuff
Re: Epiphone Les Paul Standard, pickups?
You actually have a large palette of tones that you want to play. While a good PAF set of pups will do the job IF you have a couple of good stomps, I would, however, recommend something a bit more versatile.
For the neck: a PG is a great choice. Also consider a Screamin Demon (which I personally like a little better than the PG and is my favorite pup for neck position).
For the bridge: a PRails with Triple shot mounting ring. Split to the P-90 coil or coils in parallel will give you many of the Beatles and Zep tones. Split to the Rail coil will give you a bit more high end for other Beatles tones and more twang for some Strat and even Tele tones. Played in series mode will give you the full tonal spectrum and output for AC/DC and Sabbath.
You actually have a large palette of tones that you want to play. While a good PAF set of pups will do the job IF you have a couple of good stomps, I would, however, recommend something a bit more versatile.
For the neck: a PG is a great choice. Also consider a Screamin Demon (which I personally like a little better than the PG and is my favorite pup for neck position).
For the bridge: a PRails with Triple shot mounting ring. Split to the P-90 coil or coils in parallel will give you many of the Beatles and Zep tones. Split to the Rail coil will give you a bit more high end for other Beatles tones and more twang for some Strat and even Tele tones. Played in series mode will give you the full tonal spectrum and output for AC/DC and Sabbath.
Re: Epiphone Les Paul Standard, pickups?
I was going to suggest the Whole Lotta Humbucker set. If you want more power in the bridge but want to remail PAF-based, I like the 59/Custom Hybrid.
I was going to suggest the Whole Lotta Humbucker set. If you want more power in the bridge but want to remail PAF-based, I like the 59/Custom Hybrid.
blueman335
Mojo's Minions
Re: Epiphone Les Paul Standard, pickups?
+1. A2P's are a great choice for what the OP wants. Rich tones and they're a well-balanced set. I'm not a fan of PG's, as the neck is too warm and rounded for my tastes, and the bridge too bright and thin. But that's a matter of personal preference; some guys love them.
+1. A2P's are a great choice for what the OP wants. Rich tones and they're a well-balanced set. I'm not a fan of PG's, as the neck is too warm and rounded for my tastes, and the bridge too bright and thin. But that's a matter of personal preference; some guys love them.
marytakesadrag
New member
Re: Epiphone Les Paul Standard, pickups?
WLH bridge's punchy bass and mid grunt suite those genres well. The more gain it gets, the more old school metal it'll become. Less gain, nails the crunchy classic rock thing.
However, I found the neck pickup too aggressive and a little muddy (magnet change helped but still, wound too hot, at least IMO). Try a Seth Lover or A2P. May not match the bridge position sonically as much but it'll definitely make the guitar even more versatile. Get those nice cleans and smooth lead tones.
WLH bridge's punchy bass and mid grunt suite those genres well. The more gain it gets, the more old school metal it'll become. Less gain, nails the crunchy classic rock thing.
However, I found the neck pickup too aggressive and a little muddy (magnet change helped but still, wound too hot, at least IMO). Try a Seth Lover or A2P. May not match the bridge position sonically as much but it'll definitely make the guitar even more versatile. Get those nice cleans and smooth lead tones.
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blueman335
Mojo's Minions
Re: Epiphone Les Paul Standard, pickups?
+1. Love the WLH bridge, but the neck is definitely darker than I expected. I'd like it better with .5K less resistance.
+1. Love the WLH bridge, but the neck is definitely darker than I expected. I'd like it better with .5K less resistance.
Edgecrusher
New member
Re: Epiphone Les Paul Standard, pickups?
With a Crate GX20... a pickup swap might be a bit.... underwhelming of an improvement. Bigger gains in tone would be found in better amps than that vypyr or the crate.
With a Crate GX20... a pickup swap might be a bit.... underwhelming of an improvement. Bigger gains in tone would be found in better amps than that vypyr or the crate.
Re: Epiphone Les Paul Standard, pickups?
^ absolutely. I totally agree.
But a good amp is a bit more expensive than a couple pups. For a bedroom hobbyist, it may not be worth the investment. And if he's using earphones, it's not going to make as much difference as pups.
^ absolutely. I totally agree.
But a good amp is a bit more expensive than a couple pups. For a bedroom hobbyist, it may not be worth the investment. And if he's using earphones, it's not going to make as much difference as pups.
Re: Epiphone Les Paul Standard, pickups?
Thanks to all of you for your excellent advice. I had heard great things about this forum and the people on it. Glad I joined. I'm a lefty so I can't walk into many music stores and try different equipment myself. I know my amps and guitars are minor league items but they fit me well. (just do it for fun and my own pleasure) My CRATE amp is pretty decent clean and I have and old Digitech (late 80's) that I use with it sometimes. (has settings for George Lynch, Glen Tipton, KK Downing, etc..) The VYPYR is just flat out fun! I have some friends that are much better than me,with better equipment, and they love to fool around with it. It's amazing practice amp for $129! The Fender setting is really good in my opinion. My JACKSON is a middle of the road model and a little bit rare too. They only made it for a couple years. It will get some upgrades next.
Thanks to all of you for your excellent advice. I had heard great things about this forum and the people on it. Glad I joined. I'm a lefty so I can't walk into many music stores and try different equipment myself. I know my amps and guitars are minor league items but they fit me well. (just do it for fun and my own pleasure) My CRATE amp is pretty decent clean and I have and old Digitech (late 80's) that I use with it sometimes. (has settings for George Lynch, Glen Tipton, KK Downing, etc..) The VYPYR is just flat out fun! I have some friends that are much better than me,with better equipment, and they love to fool around with it. It's amazing practice amp for $129! The Fender setting is really good in my opinion. My JACKSON is a middle of the road model and a little bit rare too. They only made it for a couple years. It will get some upgrades next.
Artie
Peaveyologist
Re: Epiphone Les Paul Standard, pickups?
I'm in the same boat. Purely a "bedroom" wanker. My #1 has become my EPI LP Custom with a set of PATB-1's. Killer pups. They can do anything. Try to find used ones to start with. (PATB-3b is a good sub for the bridge pup.)
Just my 2-cents worth.
Artie
I'm in the same boat. Purely a "bedroom" wanker. My #1 has become my EPI LP Custom with a set of PATB-1's. Killer pups. They can do anything. Try to find used ones to start with. (PATB-3b is a good sub for the bridge pup.)
Just my 2-cents worth.
Artie
Shooter.556
New member
Re: Epiphone Les Paul Standard, pickups?
On my LP Studio I wanted to cover a lot of ground in one guitar. I installed a JB and a 59, while it's not perfect it will do almost anything I ask of it and do it above average.
Is it my favorite? No, but I can grab that guitar and play in a cover band all night and cover everything from Skynyrd and Jason Aldean to Ratt and Metallica.
On my LP Studio I wanted to cover a lot of ground in one guitar. I installed a JB and a 59, while it's not perfect it will do almost anything I ask of it and do it above average.
Is it my favorite? No, but I can grab that guitar and play in a cover band all night and cover everything from Skynyrd and Jason Aldean to Ratt and Metallica.
blueman335
Mojo's Minions
Re: Epiphone Les Paul Standard, pickups?
That's one of the last sets I'd put in an LP. There's better choices.
That's one of the last sets I'd put in an LP. There's better choices.
Shooter.556
New member
Re: Epiphone Les Paul Standard, pickups?
Everyone outside of where I live says that.. I love mine, that's kinda what I grew up on in the local scene. Everyone put a JB in their LPs.
That what what an LP thru a Marshall crunch is supposed to sound like to me.
Everyone outside of where I live says that.. I love mine, that's kinda what I grew up on in the local scene. Everyone put a JB in their LPs.
That what what an LP thru a Marshall crunch is supposed to sound like to me.
blueman335
Mojo's Minions
Re: Epiphone Les Paul Standard, pickups?
- I've read 10 years of posts about LP's in mahogany. Some of them have not ended well.
- For some of us, no tones define 'LP's thru a Marshall crunch' better than late 1960's Clapton, Page, and Green.
- I've read 10 years of posts about LP's in mahogany. Some of them have not ended well.
- For some of us, no tones define 'LP's thru a Marshall crunch' better than late 1960's Clapton, Page, and Green.
L
Little Pigbacon
Guest
Re: Epiphone Les Paul Standard, pickups?
Another vote for a pair of A2P humbuckers. That bridge pickup in a Les Paul covers a lot of territory. If you think of that middy, sweet, singing tone that Slash often uses, that's the neck pickup.
Another vote for a pair of A2P humbuckers. That bridge pickup in a Les Paul covers a lot of territory. If you think of that middy, sweet, singing tone that Slash often uses, that's the neck pickup.
L
Little Pigbacon
Guest
Re: Epiphone Les Paul Standard, pickups?
I still haven't tried a JB in a Les Paul myself, but I tend to find a stock '59 problematic in the neck. Too bass-heavy and inarticulate for my taste. Jazz, A2P, '59A2 all do better for me.
I still haven't tried a JB in a Les Paul myself, but I tend to find a stock '59 problematic in the neck. Too bass-heavy and inarticulate for my taste. Jazz, A2P, '59A2 all do better for me.
Edgecrusher
New member
Re: Epiphone Les Paul Standard, pickups?
I guess it depends on ones frame of reference. Many of the guys I hang with if you say LP, Marshall crunch they think Zakk with EMG81's a Boss DS1 and JCM800's
But being this guy is a bedroom player and knowing how JB's in any guitar works better in a live situation than through headphones it would be pretty low priority on my list to try.
I guess it depends on ones frame of reference. Many of the guys I hang with if you say LP, Marshall crunch they think Zakk with EMG81's a Boss DS1 and JCM800's
But being this guy is a bedroom player and knowing how JB's in any guitar works better in a live situation than through headphones it would be pretty low priority on my list to try.
Re: Epiphone Les Paul Standard, pickups?
I use a Vypyr for teaching, and it is a great little amp. I use one of the Budda settings I thing, almost totally clean, with a little reverb and echo. It sounds great with a Tube Screamer-type pedal. I use a Bad Monkey.
I use a Vypyr for teaching, and it is a great little amp. I use one of the Budda settings I thing, almost totally clean, with a little reverb and echo. It sounds great with a Tube Screamer-type pedal. I use a Bad Monkey.
