Les Paul pups: Gibson & Epiphone

[fatboywhitney]

I'm trying figure out why my Epi Lp with SD's (A2ProN, 59B) have better tone than my Gibson Standard with BBPros? Gibby sounds bigger but not better.

I play blues, hard rock (not metal) and harder edge classic rock.

Can the SD's make that much of a difference?

 

[Sludgenutz]

Re: Les Paul pups: Gibson & Epiphone

Les Paul himself likes stock Epi LP Standards. He loves the bang for the buck as many of us do with our Epi LP's.

Tone, like gold, "is where you find it"!

Pickups made in Asia (to American specs) are usually pretty awful for music with any drive. A new set of US made pickups could very well make the difference!

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Have you tried a switching the pickup sets between both guitars?

 

[fatboywhitney]

Re: Les Paul pups: Gibson & Epiphone

Tone, like gold, "is where you find it"!

Well put.

I just wish I could combine the soulful and edgy tones of the Epi with the larger fullness of the Gibson.

Maybe I should swap the pups out!? Or - maybe I should just play the Epi.

 

[Robbyk]

Re: Les Paul pups: Gibson & Epiphone

I love the sound of MY epi through my marshall and could not even consider replacement of pickups.

 

[fatboywhitney]

Re: Les Paul pups: Gibson & Epiphone

I love the sound of MY epi through my marshall and could not even consider replacement of pickups.

Do you mean the stock so called '57's?

I kind of liked them but the Epi came to life big time with the SD's.

 

[LtKojak]

Re: Les Paul pups: Gibson & Epiphone

I've got an Epi SG Les Paul Custom 400, w/3 p'ups.

The guitar itself is not anyting special, not dead but not particularly resonant and it didn't sound too bad either, I thought... until I needed a good SG sound for the studio. It just didn't cut it!

I put a couple of SD '59 in it and it nailed right away. I even disconnect the middle p'up as was getting in the way of my playing and of the sound.

The guitar was wired with the '50 mod, 500K pot, .47 cap for the neck p'up, 250K pot and .22 cap for the bridge p'up.

Moral: No SDs, no tone. Know SDs, know tone!

HTH,

Pepe aka Lt. Kojak
Milano, Italy

 

[fatboywhitney]

Re: Les Paul pups: Gibson & Epiphone

So....I'm wandering what to do about the my Gibson and the BBPros. I'm leaning toward 59's or maybe 59b and Jazz neck w/coil split.

I thought the BBpros were suppose to be great pups.. Wound closer to original PAF's and A5 mags.

Any feedback here.

 

[blueman335]

Re: Les Paul pups: Gibson & Epiphone

I've yet to be disappointed by a '59 set. They seem to work well with more woods. I think the Jazz pair, PG's, and C5 also fall in that category of consistently improving the sound of a guitar, at least for blues & rock. While Gibson's PU's are good and there are plenty of fans, they don't seem to please as many people as SD's do. I think with SD's you always get clarity & definition.

 

[heymcz]

Re: Les Paul pups: Gibson & Epiphone

If you want to stay in Gibbo land, the BBPros...well, they suck. Try a 57 Classic Plus in the Bridge, and a '57 Classic in the neck...

 

[fatboywhitney]

Re: Les Paul pups: Gibson & Epiphone

I've yet to be disappointed by a '59 set.

Thanks blueman and everyones' input.

I do like the idea of a matched set of '59's.

Is it possibe to coil split the '59N?

I sometimes love the chimey tones I can get with the A2ProN when split in my Epi. I don't necessarilly want to duplicate the Epi with the Gibson, but it would be nice to get some of that cleaner (with the right amount of delay) single coil neck tone when a song calls for it without switching to my Strat or Epi.

Or....on another path...How would a Phat Cat Neck pair with '59B? Or what others would go nicely with a Phat Cat N?

 

[Bludave]

Re: Les Paul pups: Gibson & Epiphone

I think a lot of it depends on the woods. The EPI's have a maple neck and IMHO that affects the tone also. I have a set of BB in a Guild Bluesbird and would never consider changing them.... they sound awesome in this guitar. For what you describe as what you play I would consider the AII pro set. Very warm and articulate pickups. A friend of mine is a Archtop builder and he uses this as his standard pickup.

 

[fatboywhitney]

Re: Les Paul pups: Gibson & Epiphone

Thanks to all for input. I'll leave this thread jones'n for gear.

 

[blueman335]

Re: Les Paul pups: Gibson & Epiphone

I do like the idea of a matched set of '59's.

Is it possibe to coil split the '59N? Or....on another path...How would a Phat Cat Neck pair with '59B? Or what others would go nicely with a Phat Cat N?

The '59's split nicely (with 4-wire leads). In the neck it still has enough power to work, and on the bridge keep the slug coil on (instead of the screw coil) as its louder & warmer.

A '59B/Phat CatN is excellent, as good as any two HB's. For me the PCN is a little dark (two A2's), so I use an A5/A2 pair in it, and wow, those gorgeous single coil tones come out in full force. Gives it sparkle & cut.