Humbucker for ash les paul

[Baby Evil]

From soundclips on the site, the '59 has my fave sound, but I guess that's recorded with a mahogany guitar.
Is ash a brighter sounding wood, and is that why the tonewizard recommends the Duncan Custom? It sounds too mu/iddy on the clips to me.

Any ideas?

thanks,

Jan

 

[t1r12003]

Re: Humbucker for ash les paul

Mahogany is a warm sounding wood to make a guitar out of. Yes ash, either northern hard ash or the lighter weight swamp ash will both be brighter. Swamp ash is said to have more of a "Pop" as well, which is why it is used for Strats with single coils.

Warmoth added a tone gauge on their descriptions of tone woods which is nice to visually see how each wood compares:

http://www.warmoth.com/guitar/options/options_bodywoods.cfm

Also, what type of neck/fretboard are you using, which will make a ton of difference too.

 

[sufferinrewind]

Re: Humbucker for ash les paul

Mahogany is a warm sounding wood to make a guitar out of. Yes ash, either northern hard ash or the lighter weight swamp ash will both be brighter. Swamp ash is said to have more of a "Pop" as well, which is why it is used for Strats with single coils.

Warmoth added a tone gauge on their descriptions of tone woods which is nice to visually see how each wood compares:

http://www.warmoth.com/guitar/options/options_bodywoods.cfm

Also, what type of neck/fretboard are you using, which will make a ton of difference too.

If it's the Gibson limited edition Swamp Ash guitars, it has a set mahogany neck and rosewood fingerboard.

 

[jguttello]

Re: Humbucker for ash les paul

Gibson sells the swamp ash SG with Gibson '57 Classics, which are close to the SD '59's.
I have a ash strat that I started with a '59 in the bridge...swapped it with a Custom Custom and then a Custom...didn't like either (too thin and didn't cut thru) and will go back to the '59 or I will give the Gibson '57 Classic a try.

 

[hamerfan]

Re: Humbucker for ash les paul

My first thought is Alnico Pro2 (like Slash uses), because this could soften the highs a little bit. But a '59 set is not a bad idea. If one or both are to bright, you could swap in a A3 for some bucks.

 

[frehley]

Re: Humbucker for ash les paul

I think you made a mistake in saying the wizard recommended a Duncan Custom. For Ash, the "Custom Custom" is the right choice. The regular Custom would be self defeating in an Ash body, as it would be super bright.

 

[Baby Evil]

Re: Humbucker for ash les paul

Thanks for the tips, guys.
I'm going to try the '59 first.

Hamerfan, what's this A3 you're talking about?

Jan

 

[Baby Evil]

Re: Humbucker for ash les paul

I think you made a mistake in saying the wizard recommended a Duncan Custom. For Ash, the "Custom Custom" is the right choice. The regular Custom would be self defeating in an Ash body, as it would be super bright.

I checked again : Les Paul/Ash or Alder/Rosewood/standard bridge,

Bridge suggestion no1 : Duncan Custom.

I will be using the guitar for droptuning, which the DC seems to be geared at too.

Jan

 

[Omni9X]

Re: Humbucker for ash les paul

A3 usually means an alnico 3 magnet.

I have a 59 in my epiphone les paul, paired with a jazz neck.

In this guitar, (it's probably not all mahogany), a 59neck was spectacular. I loved it, but it was too muddy compared to the bridge.

I put alnico 2 magnets in a jazz neck and 59 bridge, and it lessens the highs and makes the pickup sound warmer, which would be great for a swamp ash studio.

 

[Stevo]

Re: Humbucker for ash les paul

I would definitely try the 59 first. I like 59s in mahogany, ash and alder - in Les Pauls, Teles and Strats.

 

[the guy who invented fire]

Re: Humbucker for ash les paul

Im with Stevo...59's are great all around pickups plus if you don't care for them for any reason they are a great starting point to find exactally what you want. Give them a shot!