Les Paul Standard 2004 pick up swapping

[EmiAba]

Hello
that's my first thread and hope don't get something wrong, in any case I want to apologize for any problem and for my bad english. I have two les paul standard (both heritage cherry sunburst and both all stock): a 1990 (loaded with the early production of 57 classic in the neck and the Bill Lawrence the Original HB-L in the bridge) and a 2004 with 60 style neck (loaded with BB pros). I'm not so happy with the 2004 and I dunno if because of 300k volume pots or because of BB pros. And after almost a year I decide finally to swap the pick up and have a go with duncans. I have only one experience with them: a while ago had PG-1 and SH-11 on a VGS eruption pro.

My concern is to waste money with pick ups change. I saw a lot of friends having three or four pick up swaps in a row because They didn't know what exactly expect from those mods. I need versatile humbuckers because I play everything between deep purple and emperor.

First of all I'm going to change both volume pots with 500k audio taper. that's the very first thing to do IMO. Then I like so much the 59 neck. I think it will be the neck pick up. the problem is the bridge pick up. I want a hot pick up (12 - 16 Kohm). Easy to say JB. But I'm not sure it's the right pick up for a les paul. In your opinion which is the best match with 59N in a mahogany solid body like a lester?

any suggestion?

 

[GuitarDoc]

Re: Les Paul Standard 2004 pick up swapping

Custom 5.

Alt 8 is also a really great pup.

 

[Aceman]

Re: Les Paul Standard 2004 pick up swapping

Good job getting 500k pots!

Next - your friends swap 4-5 times because they don't do their homework. Sound = Pickup + Guitar! And if I may also ask…

What amp???


However…with the 59n, hard to argue with A WLH, a Custom/59 Hybrid, or a Custom. Those three are all very PAF like, but slightly hot, Hot, and Very Hot.

 

[blueman335]

Re: Les Paul Standard 2004 pick up swapping

C5 (SH-14) & '59/Custom hybrid. Custom (SH-5) for hard rock and metal. All are very good and reliable in mahogany.

Most of us have gone thru the 'buy-one-PU-after-another' thing, until we came here and found out how to break that cycle. Most guys are flying blind when they buy PU's, and make some poor choices simply because they don't know any better. What we learn here is what PU's get you in the ball park for the kind of music you're playing and your guitar/wood/amp. Sometimes that's not close enough, and rather than keep buying PU's and hoping for the best, there are things you can do to change the tone yourself. With humbuckers, changing magnet types and pot values can make big differences to the EQ. Most players don't realize that the same PU can be put in 5 guitars sound different in each one. That makes some guys pull their hair out, but to us, it's an easy fix. None of this stuff is hard, expensive, or time consuming. It's just a matter of knowing what to do. And there's lots of good teachers here. Stick around.

 

[EmiAba]

Re: Les Paul Standard 2004 pick up swapping

Thanks for your replies.

@GuitarDoc - I'll take into account your suggestions. A have a question: why do you think alt 8 with such kind of magnet and EQ is right for a guitar like a les paul?

@Aceman - I've already bought the new pots :13: To answer your question: I have a little vox pathfinder (used only for training, at home) and one old 40W marshal valve state. It's old (I bought it in 1993) but it still works properly and I don't want to replace it with a modern amp. And between the amp and the guitar only few pedals: a boss chorus and overdrive and a vox was. easy. My gear changed through the years: I started with a Ibanez RG and a 91 stratocaster american standard plugged into a ADA Mp1 and a zoom 9120 (yes Skid Row) and now what I want is a huge, creamy and hot Les paul sound. That's why I choose 59N for the neck PU.

@Bluesman335 - I agree with you. That's why I asked the forum. Your experience is a gold mine for me

 

[GuitarDoc]

Re: Les Paul Standard 2004 pick up swapping

Thanks for your replies.

@GuitarDoc - I'll take into account your suggestions. A have a question: why do you think alt 8 with such kind of magnet and EQ is right for a guitar like a les paul?

Well, NO pup is necessarily "right for a guitar"...it's only right for the sound you want to get. Some pups work "better" in certain woods. But anything can be right if you like the sound of it.

The Alt 8 is "hot" and has a very big and full and yet tight sound. It works great in a Les Paul, and especially in a SG.

...and now what I want is a huge, creamy and hot Les paul sound. That's why I choose 59N for the neck PU.

The 59n is "huge, creamy and hot"?!?