help with LP Studio brige pickup...

[smauk43]

I'm just not happy with the 498. Tell me if i've got this right. I also have an Explorer with the 500 pickup in the bridge. I don't know if it's my amp (tech 21 Tm60) or what, but it seems that the 498 is hotter than the 500. That's not supposed to be is it? I've tweaked and tweaked with the amp, but I just can't the Studio to sound anything but too "gainy". I play hair metal almost exclusively and can get real close to anything from Ratt to Cinderella to older Kiss type tones on the Explorer, but the LP just seems too "hot" no matter how I play with the tone and/or volume control or the amp. Maybe I just need a pickup swap. What's a good pickup for older Kiss type stuff? An APII or maybe a 59 or what? And yes, it's okay if the two guitars end up sounding alike. I keep one 1/2 step down and the other in standard.

 

[Benjy_26]

Re: help with LP Studio brige pickup...

A Dimarzio Super Distortion IS Kiss in a LP.

 

[smauk43]

Re: help with LP Studio brige pickup...

Yeah I know Ace used the Super. I had one in a Tremonti SE, not the same as a Paula I know, but it was close. I found it kind of limiting though. Looking for something maybe more encompassing of "hair" metal.

 

[JOLLY]

Re: help with LP Studio brige pickup...

Did you buy the Studio new? If not, maybe someone replaced the bridge pickup in the Studio? A 500T is way hotter than a 498T.

 

[smauk43]

Re: help with LP Studio brige pickup...

Yes I bought it new about 8 months ago. I know the 500 is "hotter". I just can't figure it out. I've tweaked til my fingers don't know which way to go anymore. It just puts out a real grainy tone is the best way I know to describe it. Could it be something with the wiring maybe? I kind of thought it might be the amp being too touchy because it sounded pretty good on the Valvetronix I had before but its odd that I can dial in what I want on the Explorer and can't get there on the Studio.

 

[JOLLY]

Re: help with LP Studio brige pickup...

It just puts out a real grainy tone is the best way I know to describe it.

That sounds like most Gibson pickups to me personally. I don't know what to tell ya man.

 

[smauk43]

Re: help with LP Studio brige pickup...

Thanks for the info Jolly. Probably just need to yank the thing out and start over. Tell you the truth, I've never had a guitar with Duncans. I've used the Super D, Tone Zone, Hum from Hell, and some other Dimarzio's I can't remember. From what great info I've gathered on this board, it seems a Custom or maybe even a 59 or Alnico II pro bridge can get me to hair metal (nothing harder)tonedom, am I wrong there?


I just listened to Jolly's clip of the Jazz bridge, that might be the one I'm after. Great clip!!!!!

 

[anewdefguitarist]

Re: help with LP Studio brige pickup...

doesnt the 498 have bumped up mids? while the 500t (although still has enough...dont worry, im not a "scooper" for all you tone freaks reading this) while the 500t is a little more scooped, or at least, more relaxed in the mids department?

 

[MikeS]

Re: help with LP Studio brige pickup...

In a mid-happy LP, a 498T definitely could come off as harsh in the upper mids department. The 498T has a strong upper mid presence that along with the highs, could come off as very harsh under the right amplifier settings. Those upper mids really stand out, and may very well be the reason the 498T sounds "hotter."

To be sure, there's always a multimeter. My old 498T read 13.9k if memory serves.

 

[lex666]

Re: help with LP Studio brige pickup...

In a mid-happy LP, a 498T definitely could come off as harsh in the upper mids department. The 498T has a strong upper mid presence that along with the highs, could come off as very harsh under the right amplifier settings. Those upper mids really stand out, and may very well be the reason the 498T sounds "hotter."

To be sure, there's always a multimeter. My old 498T read 13.9k if memory serves.

+1

The 498T may have more mids, especially in an LP, and may be the reason you perceive the 498T to be hotter. Try the AP2 if you wanna warm things up.

I swapped out the 498T in my LP studio with an extra C5 I had laying around...

 

[primo]

Re: help with LP Studio brige pickup...

I replaced both of my LP studios with distortions...love 'em. I tried out a Custom and found it a little too bassy, I tried out a JB and found it a little thin...BUT the distortion was perfect!!! I play in a cover band so I need great versatility(everything from classic rock to metal). It doesn't clean up so bad either. I do have a JB in my Epi LP which I love to, and actually assumed that a JB would sound good in the LP Studio, but I couldn't get a similar sound to the Epi LP. The distortion to my surprise sounded similar to the Epi LP w/ the JB than the JB in my particular LP studio.

cheers Primo.

 

[primo]

Re: help with LP Studio brige pickup...

BTW, I don't like to change my amp settings, so I try to get a similar sound out of ALL my LP's.

cheers primo.

 

[JeffB]

Re: help with LP Studio brige pickup...

In a mid-happy LP, a 498T definitely could come off as harsh in the upper mids department. The 498T has a strong upper mid presence that along with the highs, could come off as very harsh under the right amplifier settings. Those upper mids really stand out, and may very well be the reason the 498T sounds "hotter."

Zakkly.

498 is high mid overkill in a Paula but sounds pretty nice in other all mahogany thinner bodied Gibsons. The 500T just matches REALLY well in a Explorer or V. And I dont care too much for the 500T in a paula either, but like it better than a 498.

Key to gibson pups is drop 'em pretty low. Raise the poles if need be. They even and smooth out pretty nicely if you do that.

 

[lex666]

Re: help with LP Studio brige pickup...

Zakkly.

498 is high mid overkill in a Paula but sounds pretty nice in other all mahogany thinner bodied Gibsons. The 500T just matches REALLY well in a Explorer or V. And I dont care too much for the 500T in a paula either, but like it better than a 498.

+1

I think the 498's sound great in my SG's...

 

[SFW]

Re: help with LP Studio brige pickup...

Not to be a smartass, but have you tried lowering the pickup height?

 

[smauk43]

Re: help with LP Studio brige pickup...

I did that just this morning, and it did help a little. But still not exactly what I perceive it "should" sound like. Think I'm just gonna decide on something else to put in there. Never hurts to have a couple extra pickups laying around anyway does it. I'm still tempted to go Jazz bridge. I'm not near the player Jolly is, or have his equipment, but that Jazz bridge clip is the shiznit!

 

[The Usual]

Re: help with LP Studio brige pickup...

One thing I ended up doing to my LP studio 498 is switching to an A2 magnet. It smoothes it out a bit, and makes it a softer. If that makes any sense at all.