Les Paul Custom neck pickup

[dingleberry]

Need a recommendation please.

I'm looking for a passive neck humbucker for epi les paul custom prophecy with ebony board. This is my stage guitar for my thrash band so needs to have a very clear lead tone and have a nice clean tone also. Won't be used for rhythms ever, but the occasional volume swell w/effects.

I'm a big fan of the jazz neck but am concerned it will be too bright with the ebony board. Have been considering PGn, any suggestions?

 

[ItsaBass]

Re: Les Paul Custom neck pickup

Jazz or Seth Lover?

I don't find ebony boards brighter. If anything, a bit darker IME.

My BBV is sounding great in my '04 Standard right now. It is set up really low (below the pickup ring), with nicely adjusted pole pieces. Nice and crunchy/articulate without losing it's thickness and chewiness when you dig into it. (That guitar has EB Skinny Top/Heavy Bottom strings.)

My Custom might not be a good example, because it has a maple neck. But I use a P90 there, and it sounds absolutely killer. (It has the same strings, but with a .022 wound G.)

 

[blueman335]

Re: Les Paul Custom neck pickup

I think your inclination for a PGN is right. Excellent choice. It's got a huge sound from the mids. If you decide you need a bit more treble, you can put a brighter mag in it (like an A3, A4, or UOA5).

 

[chris_tw21]

Re: Les Paul Custom neck pickup

Use the passive looking blackouts dude.

 

[GuitarDoc]

Re: Les Paul Custom neck pickup

PGn all the way.

It can do anything in an LP, and it does it well. Even splits well for some pristine clean tones. The ebony board will just give it a bit more snap.

 

[Aceman]

Re: Les Paul Custom neck pickup

I say Jazz if you dig modern tone

PG if you like more classic sound

 

[jeremy]

Re: Les Paul Custom neck pickup

ebony has a quicker faster attack but isnt terribly bright. the jazz would be fine but i prefer the tone of the pg

 

[GuitarDoc]

Re: Les Paul Custom neck pickup

+1

 

[Gearjoneser]

Re: Les Paul Custom neck pickup

I say Jazz if you dig modern tone

PG if you like more classic sound

This. It's also hard to go wrong with a 59n if you're playing only lead guitar. It's nice and rich for that, but is a bit tubby for clean rhythm playing.

My favorite neck humbucker is the PGn for what it's worth.

 

[Jeff5]

Re: Les Paul Custom neck pickup

Another vote for the PGn. I love the AII Pro too. Both are great for more classic sounding/bluesy type leads. If you like to shred with your neck pup you can't go wrong with the Jazz.

 

[dingleberry]

Re: Les Paul Custom neck pickup

Hey all thanks for the great input! I brought the axe home last night installed a jazz neck from another guitar just to check. You guys were right about it not being too bright, i think it's in there to stay. Thanks again for the info everyone!

 

[Aceman]

Re: Les Paul Custom neck pickup

A PG in the neck is definitely my fave LP sound.

Good point about "lead only" Joe!

 

[Varg]

Re: Les Paul Custom neck pickup

59 is what I have in mine and its perfect. I used it for rehearsal on Thursday, we play stuff like "Creeping Death" and its ideal for the solos in that.

Just curious what you have in the bridge?

 

[dingleberry]

Re: Les Paul Custom neck pickup

The guitar comes stock with gibson dirty fingers, tho some speculation as to where exactly they're wound. After playing them a bunch, I'm finding it to be a very crunchy yet articulate pickup, great for rhythms, so so for leads. Not too concerned about replacing it but I've got a custom to try out if I'm feeling saucy. I like the voicing on the custom but maybe more low end articulation would be nice, any bridge pups fit that bill?

 

[PRSfan nym 1985]

Re: Les Paul Custom neck pickup

what about a 59/jazz hybrid?

 

[orpheo]

Re: Les Paul Custom neck pickup

what about a 59/jazz hybrid?

thank you, thats what I wanted to say. great pickup. it's got that vintage chewy thing of the 59 (not mushy, chewy, you know what I mean, dont yah?! ) and the clarity and precision of the jazz. I prefer this hybrid with just the bridge-versions, but the N version might be nice to. clarity, sweetness, smoothness, fluidity... oh boy don't get me started on this pickup.

 

[PRSfan nym 1985]

Re: Les Paul Custom neck pickup

idk I'm very tempted to try a 59/jazz hybrid in the neck position and a 59/custom hybrid in the bridge position (I'd get a CS model with antiquity treatment and 4 conductor hookup)....now I just need to not be poor and have a guitar to drop them in lol

after hearing about these various hybrid models I just can't help my GAS

 

[orpheo]

Re: Les Paul Custom neck pickup

what do you mean by the antiquity treatment? using UOA5 magnets? just buy them off ebay! the 4 conductor is also an easy thing to do. just buy all the pickups with 4 conductor leads, the 59 is available as such, and if not, ask Seymour Duncan (the company, not the person). it's a floor shop custom mod, so not terribly expensive (like 10$ extra or so?)

All I can say is, give it a go. put them in your favorite axe and sell off your other guitars. You won't be playing anything else any time soon.

 

[allstarrme]

Re: Les Paul Custom neck pickup

The guitar comes stock with gibson dirty fingers, tho some speculation as to where exactly they're wound. After playing them a bunch, I'm finding it to be a very crunchy yet articulate pickup, great for rhythms, so so for leads. Not too concerned about replacing it but I've got a custom to try out if I'm feeling saucy. I like the voicing on the custom but maybe more low end articulation would be nice, any bridge pups fit that bill?

for thrash you want the distortion, its like a tighter dirty fingers with more clarity under gain. The dirty fingers is pretty much the 500T pickup.

more info on them all here: https://forum.seymourduncan.com/showthread.php?t=232482

 

[PRSfan nym 1985]

Re: Les Paul Custom neck pickup

what do you mean by the antiquity treatment? using UOA5 magnets? just buy them off ebay! the 4 conductor is also an easy thing to do. just buy all the pickups with 4 conductor leads, the 59 is available as such, and if not, ask Seymour Duncan (the company, not the person). it's a floor shop custom mod, so not terribly expensive (like 10$ extra or so?)

All I can say is, give it a go. put them in your favorite axe and sell off your other guitars. You won't be playing anything else any time soon.

I'd probably just have the custom shop make the whole pickup it'd be cheaper than me doing it myself and I have no need for extra crap around.