Gibson Les Paul Studio - PUP change

roseyp

roseyp

New member
Hi All,

Following all your last advice i installed a set of covered duncan hot rod set in my Epiphone Les Paul Standard. Since then I have got some cash together and bought a new Gibson Les Paul Studio in Wine Red. It has come with the stock 490r / 498t covered pickups which to be honest, dont sound that bad.

Doing a stock comparison between the guitars through my amp, the gibson blows the Epi away for tone with its stock pickups, even though the Epi has the hot rod set in.

I now have reservations of putting this set in the Gibson.

Has anyone done this and what ws you opinion when done.

Love the Gibson even though the volume and tone pots are the wrong way round for us lefties !!

Thanks
Roseyp
 
Re: Gibson Les Paul Studio - PUP change

The thing about pickups in general is that some people like them and some people don't. A lot of people say they don't like the modern Gibson pickups because of the grainy quality they have, but to be honest I kinda like them.

I personally do not like the JB in most LPs, and the Jazz doesn't suck,but isn't particularly fantastic either. I have the Jazz in my Epi and it does what I need it to do its just a little boring to my ears.

That's just my opinion. If you like what you got why change it?
 
Re: Gibson Les Paul Studio - PUP change

Oceano said:
The thing about pickups in general is that some people like them and some people don't. A lot of people say they don't like the modern Gibson pickups because of the grainy quality they have, but to be honest I kinda like them.

I personally do not like the JB in most LPs, and the Jazz doesn't suck,but isn't particularly fantastic either. I have the Jazz in my Epi and it does what I need it to do its just a little boring to my ears.

That's just my opinion. If you like what you got why change it?
Click to expand...

+1 to all of the above. Some Gibson PU's are grainy-sounding and the 498T is one of them, but I think it gives the tone more character.

I have an A2 JB in an LP which is nice, but didn't like it with the stock A5. And the JazzN is okay, but kind of bland. Not the best match for the wild JB; don't know why SD came up with that pairing. I like a neck PAF better (like a '59N or PGN); they have more bite & color.

And why swap out the 498T/490R anyways if you like them? At most a mag swap or two will probably give you what you want. I put an A5 in my 490R's & that gives much more clarity; it's a very good PAF that way, and a better match for the bridge. If you want to add mids to the bridge, put an A8 in it, which is what I do.

So what about the Epi & it's PU's do you think needs to be improved? Again, this may just be a magnet swap away. Always try the cheap fixes first & work your way up to the expensive ones. Sometimes the cheap ones solve the problem, and the expensive don't.
 
Re: Gibson Les Paul Studio - PUP change

Before you go through changing pickups in the Studio check the pots. I have one and mine had 300K pots in it. I was ready to do a pickups change, but after discovering the pots were the wrong value(they should be 500K) I changed the pots and the guitar just opened up!
 
Re: Gibson Les Paul Studio - PUP change

Bludave said:
Before you go through changing pickups in the Studio check the pots. I have one and mine had 300K pots in it. I was ready to do a pickups change, but after discovering the pots were the wrong value(they should be 500K) I changed the pots and the guitar just opened up!
Click to expand...

this suggestion should not go unnoticed.

I like the gibson pickups. see if changing the pots (and thus the entire tone) works for you.
 
Re: Gibson Les Paul Studio - PUP change

we recommended a jazz/JB?????? That doesn't sound like us!!!!!

Still, I'd think the pups should sound better than stock....Since I missed the first three posts, what sort of sound are you looking for??? Also - new electronics may help. Basically the route to good epi sound is totally pup/control replacement...which is still cheaper than that Studio!

And as for the Gibson pups, or any pup for that matter, live with them for a bit. You may love them. Who cares who made them - if you like it, you like it!

I generally don't love them, but I don't hate them either (490/498). But I can always find something closer to what I really want or that is better for my specific guitar. Their biggest problem, IMO, is that they don't sound good together.
 
Re: Gibson Les Paul Studio - PUP change

Bludave said:
Before you go through changing pickups in the Studio check the pots. I have one and mine had 300K pots in it. I was ready to do a pickups change, but after discovering the pots were the wrong value(they should be 500K) I changed the pots and the guitar just opened up!
Click to expand...

There is no 'wrong' pot value dave. I happen to REALLY like the 300k pots in the bridge for say A distortion, or a JB, or a superD or anything like that. Takes the spikey shrill edge right off!

But I agree - 500k will open it up, and do wonders for the neck.
 
Re: Gibson Les Paul Studio - PUP change

I have a 93 studio and recently replaced the stocked 498t with JB trembucker but also change the capacitors with mojotone vitamin T .022uf and it certainly made it sound so much better than the 498t
 
Re: Gibson Les Paul Studio - PUP change

If you like the stock pups I would stick with them and look to address the Epi pups. I like thehot-rod set, but you may be better suited with a Custom-Custom or Pearly Gates instead of the JB. I like the Jazz neck pup, personally.

I agree that you also have to look at your pots. The Epi pots are likely cheap. I would recommend getting some CTS pots and a decent capacitor or two and see if you hear an improvement.

Also, let's not forget that the Epi and the Gibby are made with different woods, glues, etc... which may also affect the tone.
 
Re: Gibson Les Paul Studio - PUP change

Thanks for all the advice. Will try a pot change for the neck pickup and see what happens (500k cts).

I am looking for a mid rock tone, as we do things like zz top tush, road house blues, GnR, Stiff Little Fingers, some Pink Floyd.

I really like the tone from the 490 / 498 and may try a capacitor change (oil/paper) to see if that releases and more tonal variaitons.

Roseyp
 
Re: Gibson Les Paul Studio - PUP change

The Dali said:
If you like the stock pups I would stick with them and look to address the Epi pups. I like thehot-rod set, but you may be better suited with a Custom-Custom or Pearly Gates instead of the JB. I like the Jazz neck pup, personally.
Click to expand...

I had the CC-PGn in a all mahogany guitar, and it sounded amazing.

But, if it ain't broke... don't fix it.
 
Re: Gibson Les Paul Studio - PUP change

May just take the plunge and put in the Jazz/Jb set i have now and see what the outcome is. Looking at all your suggestion, if this swap does not work, then either a 59n or PG for the neck and a custom 5 or custom custom for the bridge.

Thanks for all your responses and advice

Roseyp
 
Re: Gibson Les Paul Studio - PUP change

BTW most of the pots in newer Epiphones aren't that cheap like people say. My Epi LP came with 500k alpha pots, which most people agree are good quality (or at least good enough) so unless you're changing value I probably wouldn't worry too much about changing them out :)
 
Re: Gibson Les Paul Studio - PUP change

i've read that the finish on many epis is really thick poly, as opposed to the nitro finish your gibson probably has, that may play a bigger part in this than one would think
also, epis are known for their relatively crappy components; i agree that replacing those and re-assessing how you find the pickups would be a good first step
 
Re: Gibson Les Paul Studio - PUP change

Leave it stock if you like the tone now. It took me 3 Gibsons to find I really liked what it came with.

On a side note I put one of my spare 500t's and a 490 neck in my buddies Epi SG and SHAZAM!!!!!!!
 
Re: Gibson Les Paul Studio - PUP change

My vote is that the wood in the Gibby is better quality than the Epiphone. There's no harm in swapping in the Duncans just to see how it sounds, can always switch back.
 
Re: Gibson Les Paul Studio - PUP change

well on the burstbuckers they do sound better with the pole pieces higher then flush mount sorta. For some reason on the buckers you have to do this, prob because of the winding I was told and he was right. BTW my frankenstien pup will be in the wolfgang monday night! cant wait to see how this puppy sounds.:)
 
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