Help please with my search for the holy grale

L

Lithium_Grim

New member
Hi there,

Ok, so this is probably the 10^5 time someone asks, but even after a search I can't make up my mind. Can you help me find my pickups?

I want to rip out my burstbucker pro's from my 2004 Gibson Les Paul standard faded because I find them to muddy (a bit muffeling my sound).
My guitar setup:
  • Mahogany Body and Neck (60's style)
  • Maple Top
  • Rosewood fretboard
  • Egnater Renagade 212 Amp
Playing style:
  • Classic Rock
  • Hard Rock
  • ZZ Top, Thin Lizzy, Whitesnake and the old Gary Moore sound
I used the tone wizard and it advises:

Bridge 1 SH-4 JB Model
Bridge 2 SH-14 Custom 5
Neck 1 SH-2N Jazz Model
Neck 2 SH-1N '59 Model

I already have a Custom 5 in a Mahogany epiphone and like it a lot but I'm afraid it will be a bit too much treble or misses some "body". I really love the crunch/bite it has though.
I also have a SH-1 in a maple epi les paul, and like it. Now I wonder how the sound changes in a mahogany body....

Now, for my Gibson I'm considering to get a shpg-1 or a sh-1 4c in the neckposition and a SH-12 or SH-4 as bridge, then again I might use my existing SH-14 as bridge as it might sound different in my Gibson. I really want all 4c cable pickups and use them with a set of tripleshots.

What do you think is the best set for my axe and playing preferences. Or should I look into other combinations.... I'm lost, save my guitarsoul please.....
 
Last edited:
Re: Help please with my search for the holy grale

my favorite gibson les paul set at the moment is a pearly gates neck pup with a slightly degaussed magnet (like an antiquity magnet) and a stock pearly gates bridge pup.

the degaussed mag in the neck helps the two pups balance just right for my tastes.

a jb could work in the bridge for a hotter sound that would do better with the triple shots
 
Re: Help please with my search for the holy grale

jeremy said:
my favorite gibson les paul set at the moment is a pearly gates neck pup with a slightly degaussed magnet (like an antiquity magnet) and a stock pearly gates bridge pup.

the degaussed mag in the neck helps the two pups balance just right for my tastes.

a jb could work in the bridge for a hotter sound that would do better with the triple shots
Click to expand...

That really does sound like a great combination. Degaussed A2 in a neck pickup can be a beautiful thing, and the Pearly Gates seems like it would take to it very well. :1:

FWIW, I recommend a PG set or something similar. In a Les Paul, it's just a natural match. However, you might want to try degaussing the A5 magnets in your BB Pro's first. This will make them clearer and more even, and take away some of that muddy bottom end. It will also add some warmth and nice harmonics to the tone, a bit similar to what is found in A2 pickups. If that doesn't work out to your liking, you can always charge them back up in 2 minutes. You can do all this without having to even touch the pickups or wiring, and that preserves the value of the guitar. Something to think about, since a Gibson LP is not cheap. It is worth a try before doing anything that will actually modify the guitar itself.
 
Re: Help please with my search for the holy grale

Thanks for the info! I will go for the pearly gates in the neck for sure. But how about the bridge. I find that the burstbuckers miss that extra "oempf" so that is why I was looking for a more "halleluja, hell yeah hear comes the solo" type of bridge pickup that plays nice with the neck pickup and that's why I was looking at the SH-4, SH-12 or SH-14. Any thoughts on that or stick to a set of pearly gates?
 
Re: Help please with my search for the holy grale

What kind of amp setup are you running through? That can make a huge difference in what type of pickup you need in the bridge. I found the Custom 5 to be a little too much in my Les Paul. And I've heard that the JB sounds a bit farty in an LP, but no personal experience.

The PG neck with the degaussed mag will be sweet. I put a set of APH buckers in my Les Paul and for me that was a great setup though a Marshall half stack.
 
Re: Help please with my search for the holy grale

I would suggest giving the A2P a try in the bridge. Ive had lots of experience with JBs and I have come to the conclusion they hate Mahogany. Also a Custom with a A8 magnet might do something for you. Jeff_H is right about the amp though.
 
Re: Help please with my search for the holy grale

Set of Pearly Gates. Done. Ignore these "deguassed" fools. PG's. Period. The End.

Does Billy G. use "slightly deguassed" magnets? No.

A set of PG's is what you want.
 
Re: Help please with my search for the holy grale

The tone wizard recommendation isn't for you as you have seen with the C5.

The PG bridge probably makes you happy. The PG neck can have too much of a low-mid push in a LP. I dunno whether degaussing it a little helps.

Myself I really like the Antiquity (or Seth) as a neck pickup. These unpotted ones have a little extra sparkle that puts some extra life into a neck pickup (can use it).

If you like things a little more snorty and more in-your face treble and bass the 59 set is also a candidate.
 
Re: Help please with my search for the holy grale

Lol, thanks again (also for the typo). As for the amp, I'm using an Egnater Renagade 212.
 
Re: Help please with my search for the holy grale

C5 bridge, either a '59 neck or maybe an AP2 neck.......


"now go aweh.......or I shall taunt you a second time-uh!"
 
Re: Help please with my search for the holy grale

Aceman said:
Set of Pearly Gates. Done. Ignore these "deguassed" fools. PG's. Period. The End.

Does Billy G. use "slightly deguassed" magnets? No.

A set of PG's is what you want.
Click to expand...

excuse me doctor but yes he does use degaussed magnets. pearlys pups are 51 years old and im sure have aged a little bit.
 
Re: Help please with my search for the holy grale

I now have a '59n and a custom 5 as mentioned. Ordered some A5 unoriented and will try to swap the magnet to "tame"it a bit. Is there a good tutorial on how to swap it from a custom 5? Maybe a video?
 
Re: Help please with my search for the holy grale

Lithium_Grim said:
I now have a '59n and a custom 5 as mentioned. Ordered some A5 unoriented and will try to swap the magnet to "tame"it a bit. Is there a good tutorial on how to swap it from a custom 5? Maybe a video?
Click to expand...

Excellent choice of PU's. I've put an unoriented A5 in a couple C5's, and wow. Full mids, with just enough treble for bite. I'm playing Zeppelin, Cream, Gary Moore, Peter Green, etc. Let us know how you like it.

For mag swapping instructions, check old threads, including some recent ones. There's lots of info around here.
 
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