Hi :) and a question about LP Custom

[Bentriloquist]

Hi Everyone

Any help would be much apprieciated!

I have a Gibson Les Paul Custom with stock pickups and wanted to swap them out for something with better articulation. I like A Perfect Circle tones Mastodon tones and Jeff Buckley clean LP tones. Would there be a pickup combination that would get me in these areas?(is that possible? ) I tried a JB/jazz combo but could not get on with the JB in this guitar. i did like the Jazz though but i took them both out and put the stock back. I did this because i had changed the hardware to nickel at the same time as ordering new pickups so it all went wrong

I use a DSL50 head with a 1960a. I would like a nice smooth glassy clean sound with articulation for soloing on the neck pickup and something that gives a smooth clear distortion for hard rock to metal. something that will give the clarity of mastodon's riffs but with the smoothness of APC.
(production aside )

My LP is has a pretty round sound for the most part but can be little snappy because of the ebony board

do you think a custom bridge and jazz neck would do it?

 

[Luke Duke]

Re: Hi and a question about LP Custom

Hey man, WELCOME TO THE FORUM!

In my Heritage LP I did not get along with the Jazz/JB combo myself.

If you like the Jazz neck but want a little more beef go with the 59 neck. It has a little less glass than the Jazz but still quite a bit.

For the bridge slot I'd stay in the Custom line. Custom, Custom Custom, or Custom 5. I had a late 90s LP Custom that I put a C5 in but It just didn't do it for me. Lots of high end, but not a lot of mid girth which is what I thought the guitar needed. I eventually put the 498T back in, but put in an A2 mag which made it the equivalent of a Gibson Custom Custom. I really liked that because I thought my guitar was pretty bright in the bridge slot; but that might be a bit too buttery for your taste. The Custom would be a good place to start, and if you don't like it trade it back in for a C5, or maybe even a CC. I would say look at the Distortion if you like the Custom but want "more". It is the same coil configuration as the JB, but it has an oversized magnet.

I'm probably rambling now but anyways I'll post my generic pup comparison for you to look at.

Luke

 

[Luke Duke]

Re: Hi and a question about LP Custom

The 59---The 59 is the quintessential A5 PAF (patent applied for) pup. Imagine getting in a time machine and going back to 1959 and swiping a brand new A5 pup from the Gibson factory in Kalamazoo and bringing it forward to today. They have found most homes in many neck slots. It has symetrical coils and lots of quack. It has thumping bass, a scooped mid, and cutting highs. Vintage 2 Conductor Wire

The Seth Lover---This pup is as true to the original as can be. This pup is unpotted and comes standard with a gold, or nickel pup cover. It has an A2 magnet and has good quack and fair mids. For this pup imagine going back in time to 1955 and grabbing one of the very first PAF's before they debuted in the LP's. This pup is warm and creamy, but can also get bright with the tone knob on 10. Vintage 2 Conductor Wire

The Alnico 2 Pro---The warmest of the Duncan PAF line. It has symetrical coils and is a modern take on the A2 PAFs. It has round bass and smooth treble, it also has lots of mids to make the guitar really sing. It will warm up the coldest or shrillest of guitars. The most well known Alnico 2 Pro user is Slash of Velvet Revolver and GNR. Standard 4 Conductor Wire

Pearly Gates---The PG is the hottest of the Duncan PAF line. It has asymetrical (mismatched) coils and an A2 magnet. The mismatched coils give this particular pup its rude personality. It has a frequency push in the Presence/Cut knob frequency band. This is the "Sizzle" PG owner talk about. It has the most mids of the Ducan PAF line and is also the hottest. Its patron is Billy Gibbons of ZZ Top. Standard 4 conductor Wire

The Jazz---The jazz is the pup that bridges the gap between Vintage and Modern pups. Its output is at or around the vintage level. Don't let the name fool you this pup is very versatile and smooth. It has an A5 magnet and is very widely used in the neck slot. It is articulate regardless of the tuning as well. This pup negociates cleans or overdrive very well. Standard 4 Conductor Wire

The Custom Series---The Custom Series is all on pup configuration but with different magnets. The coils are symmetrical and the pups come with Standard 4 Conductor wire

Custom---The Custom is a PAF kicked up a few notches. This pup gets its aggressive edge from its Ceramic magnet. This pup has lots of grind with good treble and midrange. It also has ample bass for palm mute playing.

Custom Custom---The Custom Custom is a midrange heavy pup that lends itself to leads and warming bright guitars. This pup gets its huge midrange from the Alnico 2 magnet. I has smooth bass and treble. Essentially it is an overwound A2 PAF.

Custom 5---The Custom 5 is a pup with an EQ very identical to The 59. It has thumping bass, scooped mids, and cutting treble. Like the 59 it is a bright pup that will liven up dark guitar, but the bass can be overwhelming in a bassy guitar, or the the treble overwhelming in a trebly guitar.

I have a write up on the JB, but you've experienced it already lol.

Luke

 

[Bentriloquist]

Re: Hi and a question about LP Custom

thanks for the great summary. Think I'm going to get the Custom Custom for the Bridge and the 59 for the neck. Tried a Washburn K50 with that combo and it was pretty near to what I wanted.

 

[34029324079]

Re: Hi and a question about LP Custom

dude you can get premade nickle/chrome covers for most pickups...but getting such on the custom will actually mean getting it done aftermarket ...make sure to get it done right otherwise it will get horrible feedback

also, whats up with not liking the jb/jazz combo? what is the dealeo? I have the jb in the bridge of my lp - sounds great with mahogony. Definitely adjust the treble/volume and height of the pickup. That is one awesome pickup (don't listen to anyone here by the name of Theodie) that pickup will cut through your band mix and help you sound like tool and alice in chains. Anything with more growl than that and you loose the cleans. JB not clean enough? well you got the jazz...I usually just let the amp do all the work in terms of cleans to dirty since the advent of high gain amps

imo