I need HONEST answers
- Thread starter benji657
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Lewguitar
Guest
Re: I need HONEST answers
I haven't read the thread so I might be duplicating some answers.
I recently sold my Les Paul '59 Historic. Great guitar as far as Les Paul's go. Very light and resonant.
When I bought it eight or nine years ago I ordered a set of Tom Holmes humbuckers in double cream to replace the 57 Classics.
I installed the Tom Holmes humbuckers and did like that tone a lot better but the neck pickup was still to muddy for me to get the clarity I like for playing clean chords.
This has been as issue for me with every Gibson guitar with humbuckers that I have ever owned.
But in a Les Paul, it seems that pickups sound louder and bassier and have more lower mids than with other guitars.
A few months ago I sold that Les Paul and put the 57 Classics back in. Then I put the Tom Holmes humbuckers in a favorite Strat of mine that came routed for two humbuckers.
What a difference. Much less mud!
I think if you're going for clarity a Fender style guitar is where it's at. But most guys here are not going for clarity - they tend to play with distortion most of the time.
I did a poll here and that's what the poll showed. Most guys here tend to play with a lot of overdrive and distortion most of the time and in some cases all of the time.
Lew
I haven't read the thread so I might be duplicating some answers.
I recently sold my Les Paul '59 Historic. Great guitar as far as Les Paul's go. Very light and resonant.
When I bought it eight or nine years ago I ordered a set of Tom Holmes humbuckers in double cream to replace the 57 Classics.
I installed the Tom Holmes humbuckers and did like that tone a lot better but the neck pickup was still to muddy for me to get the clarity I like for playing clean chords.
This has been as issue for me with every Gibson guitar with humbuckers that I have ever owned.
But in a Les Paul, it seems that pickups sound louder and bassier and have more lower mids than with other guitars.
A few months ago I sold that Les Paul and put the 57 Classics back in. Then I put the Tom Holmes humbuckers in a favorite Strat of mine that came routed for two humbuckers.
What a difference. Much less mud!
I think if you're going for clarity a Fender style guitar is where it's at. But most guys here are not going for clarity - they tend to play with distortion most of the time.
I did a poll here and that's what the poll showed. Most guys here tend to play with a lot of overdrive and distortion most of the time and in some cases all of the time.
Lew
Last edited:
jimijames
New member
Re: I need HONEST answers
It's a shame, some people play either distorted or acoustic, and there are some gorgeous clean textures. Actually, lew, you're at least partially responsible for my increased interest in treble frequencies - I got a chance to go to guitar center the other day, and I swear telecasters have never sounded good to me, but every one I picked up (with brass saddles, at least) sounded gorgeous - even more so when I played with my fingers or a heavy pick (I don't like the way a thin pick sounds with telecasters, a bit too twangy for my tastes).
Even the distorted sound was very pleasing and musical to my ears, through a number of amps (fender, vox, marshall, and bogner). So, I know it's off topic, but I think my next project guitar is going to be a telecaster!
Back on topic, I think you'll dig the phat cat or PGn, and if you don't like those, I'd order an underwound phat cat from the custom shop.
It's a shame, some people play either distorted or acoustic, and there are some gorgeous clean textures. Actually, lew, you're at least partially responsible for my increased interest in treble frequencies - I got a chance to go to guitar center the other day, and I swear telecasters have never sounded good to me, but every one I picked up (with brass saddles, at least) sounded gorgeous - even more so when I played with my fingers or a heavy pick (I don't like the way a thin pick sounds with telecasters, a bit too twangy for my tastes).
Even the distorted sound was very pleasing and musical to my ears, through a number of amps (fender, vox, marshall, and bogner). So, I know it's off topic, but I think my next project guitar is going to be a telecaster!
Back on topic, I think you'll dig the phat cat or PGn, and if you don't like those, I'd order an underwound phat cat from the custom shop.
super rad stuff
Skaforlifeologist
Re: I need HONEST answers
or you could try artie's de-mud mod before you drop the $160 custom shop price:cool2:
or you could try artie's de-mud mod before you drop the $160 custom shop price:cool2:
L
Lewguitar
Guest
Re: I need HONEST answers
I do like the PG neck! In fact, it sounds a lot like the Tom Holmes neck humbucker. Both are alnico 2 and both have been designed with Billy Gibbons approval. The PG neck has been my favorite Duncan neck humbucker for years.
I love the Phat Cat bridge pickup - I'm waiting on a new pickguard for one of my Strats and plan to use it as the bridge pickup along with some Antiquity Strat pickups. Might go with the Texas Hots.
I like the Phat Cat neck pickup, although for me to love it it would need to be a little brighter than the stock version.
Lew
I do like the PG neck! In fact, it sounds a lot like the Tom Holmes neck humbucker. Both are alnico 2 and both have been designed with Billy Gibbons approval. The PG neck has been my favorite Duncan neck humbucker for years.
I love the Phat Cat bridge pickup - I'm waiting on a new pickguard for one of my Strats and plan to use it as the bridge pickup along with some Antiquity Strat pickups. Might go with the Texas Hots.
I like the Phat Cat neck pickup, although for me to love it it would need to be a little brighter than the stock version.
Lew
super rad stuff
Skaforlifeologist
jimijames
New member
Re: I need HONEST answers
Yeah, that first, but a de-mud mod isn't going to make a humbucker sound like a single coil... Plus the phat cat neck is a touch hotter than a real-deal p-90 (ask zhang), and if you're confident with pickups you don't even have to get the custom shop to do it, just apply some gentle heat with a hairdryer while you pull gently (I'd like to emphasize gently here, if you break the wire it is a PITA to find it again) and take off about 1,000 turns IIRC. But I'd really like zhangulin to chime in, he's the one who's had it done.
But yeah, it couldn't hurt to try the de-mud mod first.
Yeah, that first, but a de-mud mod isn't going to make a humbucker sound like a single coil... Plus the phat cat neck is a touch hotter than a real-deal p-90 (ask zhang), and if you're confident with pickups you don't even have to get the custom shop to do it, just apply some gentle heat with a hairdryer while you pull gently (I'd like to emphasize gently here, if you break the wire it is a PITA to find it again) and take off about 1,000 turns IIRC. But I'd really like zhangulin to chime in, he's the one who's had it done.
But yeah, it couldn't hurt to try the de-mud mod first.
Buckeyedog
New member
Re: I need HONEST answers
I know you most likely have done this, but have you really lowered it? Seems to make a big difference in mine.
BTW - Wade at motorcity pickups winds just awesome pickups with serious clarity. Maybe give him a shout and tell him what you are looking for. I'd say his Bliss Bucker neck would be perfect for your application.
I know you most likely have done this, but have you really lowered it? Seems to make a big difference in mine.
BTW - Wade at motorcity pickups winds just awesome pickups with serious clarity. Maybe give him a shout and tell him what you are looking for. I'd say his Bliss Bucker neck would be perfect for your application.
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