Gibson LPJ

[Graeemee85]

Guys,

Firstly, I'm new to this so apologies if this thread has been done before or it's in the wrong place...

I have just got myself a Gibson LPJ in Tobacco Burst (or whatever they're calling that colour now) and was wondering if someone could explain to me how the sounds could potentially vary from it's stock 490's to if I were to upgrade to the Slash AP2's...

I find (and I may be picky on this) that the 490's seem dark and perhaps a little muddy if anything and was hoping to clean it out a bit. I tend to use the amp for achieving the driven sounds and I like my guitar to be clean at the start of the chain. I'm playing a lot of blues/rock stuff, but do cross a lot of genres among my playing...

Any help/tips/information would be greatly appreciated!!

 

[Snake Aces]

Re: Gibson LPJ

First of all, welcome to the forum and sweet Hulk avatar.

Next, most people will agree with me it is a good idea to play a guitar for at least 6 months before making any pickup swaps to get a better idea of what you really want out of it.

That being said, the Slash alnico II pro set can do exactly what you want. They sound great and are definitely clean at the start of the chain. They are capable of many genres of music from funk, jazz and country all the way up to hard rock, metal and punk/grunge.

I do not currently have a set of the Slash signature pups but I do have a set of alnico II pros in a Warmoth LP and they are amazing pups. I love them and they do really well as split coil with a push-pull option as well.

 

[Graeemee85]

Re: Gibson LPJ

I do not currently have a set of the Slash signature pups but I do have a set of alnico II pros in a Warmoth LP and they are amazing pups. I love them and they do really well as split coil with a push-pull option as well.

Thanks for the great advice!

Can you explain the difference between the standard A2Ps and the Slash variants? I notice from the spec sheets that they have different resonant frequencies and resistances,but not sure how to equate into tone...

And cheers for the Hulk comment lol

 

[allbutromeo]

Re: Gibson LPJ

Slash set has a slight bump in the mids and slightly higher output.

 

[Snake Aces]

Re: Gibson LPJ

Thanks for the great advice!

Can you explain the difference between the standard A2Ps and the Slash variants? I notice from the spec sheets that they have different resonant frequencies and resistances,but not sure how to equate into tone...

And cheers for the Hulk comment lol

The main 3 differences between the regular Alnico II Pro and the Slash set are:

1. The Slash set has more mids. Therefore I find the Slash set is better for, well, what Slash does. The Slash set is a little less clear (to me) with cleans because the mids come through more but it sounds great with gain or overdrive. I am not sure, but I thought I read somewhere Slash's main guitar is actually a Les Paul knockoff built by a great Luthier back in the 80's. Anyway, it has a maple neck with a rosewood fretboard as opposed to a mahogany neck with a rosewood fretboard. Since maple is usually, by nature, a bright wood I could see why the need for a mid boost exists. That being said, this mid boost might sound muddy in some warmer guitars, not a lot of mud, but just enough to have to take a shower.

2. The Slash set has a slightly hotter wind. They are still moderate output by all means, but are slightly hotter than the regular Alnico II Pro set. Again, this goes back to the fact Slash primarily plays rock (at least when he isn't jammin' or practicing).

3. The Slash set, as far as I know, is only available with one-conductor cable. The regular Alnico II Pro set is available in four conductor cable to allow for things like coil splits.

It's important to keep in mind that outside of a gift from SD, Epiphone or Gibson... there is a very small chance Slash actually has a guitar loaded with his signature pickups. It's an endorsement deal and SD definitely used his tone as the base to making his signature pickups. What Slash likely has are the original Seymour Duncan custom shop Alnico II Pro pickups that became the signature pickups after Slash requested his customization.

 

[allbutromeo]

Re: Gibson LPJ

I've read, I dont know how true it is, that the Slash set was developed to get his newer guitars to more closely match the tone of his old handbuilt copy since he no longer tours with it. But that could easily be a bunch od marketing b.s. His guitar from the 80s still has the old 1 conductor APH-1s in it. The Sig. set sound great clean in my opinion especially the neck pickup, really nice bluesy sound. I do wish they offered it in 4 conductor though.

 

[audiocheck]

Re: Gibson LPJ

Guys,

Firstly, I'm new to this so apologies if this thread has been done before or it's in the wrong place...

I have just got myself a Gibson LPJ in Tobacco Burst (or whatever they're calling that colour now) and was wondering if someone could explain to me how the sounds could potentially vary from it's stock 490's to if I were to upgrade to the Slash AP2's...

I find (and I may be picky on this) that the 490's seem dark and perhaps a little muddy if anything and was hoping to clean it out a bit. I tend to use the amp for achieving the driven sounds and I like my guitar to be clean at the start of the chain. I'm playing a lot of blues/rock stuff, but do cross a lot of genres among my playing...

Any help/tips/information would be greatly appreciated!!

Pretty much any Duncan will be an improvement over the Gibson pups.

Also consider replacing the pots. The PC board in there may cause you some trouble with installing the new pups.

 

[Graeemee85]

Re: Gibson LPJ

The Slash set has more mids. Therefore I find the Slash set is better for, well, what Slash does. The Slash set is a little less clear (to me) with cleans because the mids come through more but it sounds great with gain or overdrive. I am not sure, but I thought I read somewhere Slash's main guitar is actually a Les Paul knockoff built by a great Luthier back in the 80's. Anyway, it has a maple neck with a rosewood fretboard as opposed to a mahogany neck with a rosewood fretboard. Since maple is usually, by nature, a bright wood I could see why the need for a mid boost exists. That being said, this mid boost might sound muddy in some warmer guitars, not a lot of mud, but just enough to have to take a shower..

I was kinda looking at these for particular pickups because I'd heard the same thing! The LPJ has a Maple neck and rosewood fretboard too... I'm kinda torn between wanting the Slash set and the regular A2Ps due to the lack of four-wire connections... Had sorta wondered how a split coil would sound on the maple neck etc...

Guys, thanks for the very helpful comments! Loving this forum already!

 

[Graeemee85]

Re: Gibson LPJ

Pretty much any Duncan will be an improvement over the Gibson pups.

Also consider replacing the pots. The PC board in there may cause you some trouble with installing the new pups.

The PC Board? not sure I know what that is... I'm pretty competent replacing pots and pups myself though...

 

[Snake Aces]

Re: Gibson LPJ

I was kinda looking at these for particular pickups because I'd heard the same thing! The LPJ has a Maple neck and rosewood fretboard too... I'm kinda torn between wanting the Slash set and the regular A2Ps due to the lack of four-wire connections... Had sorta wondered how a split coil would sound on the maple neck etc...

Guys, thanks for the very helpful comments! Loving this forum already!

Perhaps the custom shop could wind you a Slash set with four conductor cable? I'm sure it could be done.

 

[Graeemee85]

Re: Gibson LPJ

I have done a little more research and I'm starting to find the Pearly Gates to look like a decent option... Can anyone shed any light on this idea for me?

 

[Myaccount876]

Re: Gibson LPJ

The Pearly Gates bridge has a lot of high end/high mid bight, a bit of low mids, and a soft low end. It's a bit twangy for a humbucker, and I like it a lot. The neck model is mostly mids with some rolled off treble.