HELP...more PAF issues..that FAT Les Paul Tone

[JeffB]

Last night I was A/B'ing my New LP Standard with BB Pros (Alnico V magnets) with my Epiphone LP Standard plus with whatever the stock pups are..

I hate to say it...but damnit the EPI pups have much more of that classic FAT Les Paul tone than the BB Pro's do. It's that slighty less clear bassy/low middy type sound with top end bite. Each note is very fat and "round" The pups are also not nearly as hot as the BB Pros.

I would assume the EPI's pups are based on the Gibson 490's or perhaps the 57 classics?

The BB"s are clearer and more articulate but def not as fat and "les paul" like...at least comparitively.

It was quite shocking to say the least :laugh2:

Could it be the diff between Alnico II magnets evenly wound coils (like th 490's/57's) vs the Alnico V and uneven windings of the BB Pros?

Here are some links to example sounds of what I'm looking for/What the Epi basically sounds like...

CLIP 1

CLIP 2

It's FAT (btw those were clips of 57 classics). The BB pros dont have that bassy sound and are fizzier on top with alot more mids...too much...not as warm or "sweet".

Are Seth's gonna get me this sound? For the life of me I can't recall how fat the 59 bridge in my H-150 was...but now I'm a little leery of ALnico V (though it just may be the wind/voicing on the BB pros and not the magnet type)

OR

Do I need to hunt down the 57 classics? (which seem to be out of stock everywhere I look, at least in nickel covers).

The clips above are THE tone I'm looking for in a pup.

 

[papersoul]

Re: HELP...more PAF issues..that FAT Les Paul Tone

I have the Burstbucker Pros in my LP and I can get em pretty fat...almost too much bass at times and a ton of upper bit. But, I am looking to test the Rio Grande BBQ/texas set in this LP becuase I find the BBQ/Texs to be some of the richest, sweetest, and fattest pickups around.

You could try Pearly Gates, Seths, Antiquities, or the Rios.

 

[JeffB]

Re: HELP...more PAF issues..that FAT Les Paul Tone

Thanx PS for the input.

Perhpas it's just another gibson QC variation, but my BBPros anre nowhere near as warm or fat as the Epis. Not that the BBPros sound horrible, jes very different, and not to my taste.

I did some research and it looks like Epi pups are based on Gibson's 57 classic but use an A5 mag instead of A2 like the actual Gibsons.

I've got no qualms about ordering the 57 classics but cannot seem to find any w/ nickel covers...

I really wish I had made some recordings of my Heritage with 59's...I just dont remember them being as fat as the Gibson/Epi pups.

So for the Duncan experts..what Duncan PAF is going to come closest to or nail the 57 classic sound?

 

[papersoul]

Re: HELP...more PAF issues..that FAT Les Paul Tone

I think you would be happy with seths, antiquities or any other alnico II magnet loaded humbucker. I haven't played these so hopefully someone will check in. The BBQ is a very fat...but somewhat modern sound for an LP.

The Classic 57 is supposed to be smoother than the Burstbucker Pro.

 

[WICKED LESTER]

Re: HELP...more PAF issues..that FAT Les Paul Tone

The Classic 57 is supposed to be smoother than the Burstbucker Pro.

yeah they would be fatter,smoother since they use II's instead of the alnico 5 in the pro's

 

[Benjy_26]

Re: HELP...more PAF issues..that FAT Les Paul Tone

I think you would be happiest with a pair of Seths, Antiquities, or even the Alnico II Pro's. The Pearly Gates are very cool in a Lester, but they do have some top end sizzle, which might not be what you're looking for. :burnout:

 

[fab.regnaut]

Re: HELP...more PAF issues..that FAT Les Paul Tone

The C5 is classic choise for Lespaul from blues to metal , nuf said !

 

[Fiesta Red]

Re: HELP...more PAF issues..that FAT Les Paul Tone

It sounds like you have your heart and ears set on 57 Classics. Indeed, those clips sound great. Try ebay. Here's a link to one set. I did a search and found several nickel covered 57 Classics.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=41429&item=7313043309&rd=1

Hope this helps.

-Mark

 

[papersoul]

Re: HELP...more PAF issues..that FAT Les Paul Tone

yeah they would be fatter,smoother since they use II's instead of the alnico 5 in the pro's

I agree they would be smoother as would be the PG pickups. I think my Gold Top will get alnico II pickups and my Standard will stay with Alnico Vs.

Hmmmm. maybe even the CC?

 

[JeffB]

Re: HELP...more PAF issues..that FAT Les Paul Tone

It sounds like you have your heart and ears set on 57 Classics. Indeed, those clips sound great. Try ebay. Here's a link to one set. I did a search and found several nickel covered 57 Classics.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=41429&item=7313043309&rd=1

Hope this helps.

-Mark

Mark, thanx for that link. I'll keep an eye on those

I'm not so much set on the 57's per-se as I am the actual tone of the pups. If I could find a tonally similar Duncan, I'd rather buy them and support our hosts here.

At the same time though, I don't really want to compromise, so to speak..in what I'm looking for. So perhaps I should go with the known entity.

Basically that soundclip is identical to what my 92 Black Standard,my 89 Custom, and my mid 80's custom shop Standard sounded like with the stock pups. I put a SH-5 in all 3 of those, but as I've gotten older, I've grown to prefer that fat "classic" tone of the Gibson pups.

Someone else told me to check into a BB1 and BB2 combo. As they are alnico II and are more tonally similar to the 57's compared to the BB Pros. I LIKE the BB pro's...they are awesome pups..very articulate..just the voicing is not exactly what I'm looking for.

 

[twoheadedboy]

Re: HELP...more PAF issues..that FAT Les Paul Tone

I would recommend either a '59b with an A2 (Antiquity?) or an Alnico II Pro Bridge.

 

[the guy who invented fire]

Re: HELP...more PAF issues..that FAT Les Paul Tone

Jeff,

An alnico 5 magnet pickups is gonna give you more bass, and an alnico II magnet pickups is gonna give you more mids. I always thought that the BB Pro's were a tad on the thin side, but don't base your opinion of all alnico 5 magnet pickups on them. It is also my opinion that classic 57's are a little on the bright side as well. I think that a set of 59, Seth's, antiquity's would be exactally what you are looking for..you could play it safe, buy new and use the exchange policy until you find what you are looking for. LP's can be pretty picky...some of them are bright, some of them are fat, some of them are midrangey...