Les Paul Studio - looking for 'Forever' pickups

[TeaAt5]

Hi, I'm gearing up to get a set of pups for my faithful, battered '96 LP studio.

It currently has the stock pups which are... OK. I just make them work using EQ pedals and whatnot. Now I'm looking to install a set of pups which will stay in there until the grime glues them in place.

I have been reading up and I am just too overwhelmed with all the options! Alnicos and winds and ohms... oh my. I would just like to get some tonal variety, I don't give a rat's rectum if it not a "genuine" replica sound... just has to sound nice!


Here are the problems I have with my current setup:

* Bridge too harsh and trebly
* Neck too boomy (fix with eq)
* I play a Fender HRD which is very boomy so need tighter low-end
* Not enough variety... sounds odd playing funk on a gibson.
* I only use one guitar which is unlikely to change. Prefer to get some nice pups than another guitar.

Here is what I am aiming for:
* Versatility to play reasonable impersonations of blues, AC/DC, U2, Radiohead, maybe some funk...
* Nice crunchy sound to complement a Fender HRD with a THD Hotplate, mostly played clean on 10 to get poweramp breakup... very happy with this sound. (Very rarely use a distortion pedal. Mostly rely on driving the amp harder with some boost for solos.)
* Would love to have a single-coil sounding option... just close will do
* Don't play metal, ever. Don't want to melt any faces off.
* My favourite sound on my LP is the middle position, is has a nice airy, expansive tone with lots of sustain. Would love to hear it 'bloom' more.

At the moment I am thinking of P-Rails for the versatility. However I also see JB/Jazz, JB/59, Customs... yikes.

Can anybody nudge me in the right direction? I don't really have the budget to try out a bunch of options. I want to get somebody to wire them in with the most flexible possible wiring (happy to drill holes for new switches and pots) and then leave them in there and be happy.

 

[TeaAt5]

Re: Les Paul Studio - looking for 'Forever' pickups

PS I also use JJs in my Fender HRD... they helped clear up the mud and I am very happy with them.

 

[Jeff_H]

Re: Les Paul Studio - looking for 'Forever' pickups

For the type of sounds you describe, I believe something of low to moderate output will serve you best; something with clarity yet enough crunch in the bridge to do AC/DC, etc., along with brighter cleans for funk and such. Something with a bit of warmth in the neck, but with plenty of clarity leftover. My first thought is the Seth Lover set. Like a great set of PAF pickups from the late 50's, theta can do the "Tele on steroids" sound through hard rock with the right amp. They will do AC/DC and other such classic rock and blues in spades. The one downside is the coil split sound can be rather weak, since they are lower output pickups.

The solution to that is a higher output pickup which sounds better when split, but you lose clarity and the bridge can sound harsh. Here are some options:

Seth Lover Set - Does all you ask except really good split coil sounds
59' Set - A little more power, but still vintage, but not great split either and can be boomy in the neck of a LP, which you want to avoid.
Custom59' Hybrid/Seth Lover Neck - the C/59' is a bit hotter in the bridge, but still does vintage tones well enough. AC/DC still good. Will split well. Seth Neck a good match.

There are other neck pickups to pair as well with the Custom/59' Hybrid bridge:

Pearly Gates Neck - less bass, not boomy, sizzle and snap to the mids and treble, but still sweet. Good clean a d dirty sounds.
APH Neck - Warm and smooth, more bass but not boomy, rich midrange and smooth, sweet treble. Good clean and dirty sounds.
Jazz Neck - Similar to a 59' neck, but without the boomy low end. A very clear, bright pickup. Can feel sterile depending on the guitar, but a good choice for clear jazzy and funk tones.

My personal recommendation would be the Seth Lover set, if you didn't want split coil tones, that would be their only weakness. But, run in series instead of split might solve that, but I'm not familiar with that wiring or setup. Otherwise, the Seth Set to me sounds nearly perfect for your needs.

The Custom/59' bridge and another neck pickup (Seth or another above) might be the most versatile.

 

[Mincer]

Re: Les Paul Studio - looking for 'Forever' pickups

I'd go with either a 59 set, or for a slightly hotter bridge (and better split sound), a 59 with a 59/Custom Hybrid. You get clarity and versatility. There are some tight lows and enough power for rock tunes, too, with no compressed metal stuff.

 

[Adieu]

Re: Les Paul Studio - looking for 'Forever' pickups

Ive seen some impressive videos with LPs loaded with DiMarzio Super Distortion + PAF (some anniversary model I think they called it?)

Guys were NOT playing metal

 

[TeaAt5]

Re: Les Paul Studio - looking for 'Forever' pickups

Thanks for the tips, really useful. I like the description of the 59/Custom set... It's tricky because I'll be ordering from ebay without hearing them

So there is no love for prails?

 

[AlexR]

Re: Les Paul Studio - looking for 'Forever' pickups

P-rails are an odd set. They don't do a really accurate p90 sound, the rail is not really something people buy it for and I found it odd......then series is so hot it will be practically unusable for you. Parallel is good, and seems to be the best tone out of all of them when I had mine.
So they are in that supposed 'jack of all trades master of none' scenario.

Personally you can get most of what you want from a decent set of PAF like pickups. Use the controls and selector switches and you can get a wide range of tones with no special switching involved:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZkGCvLstPrE

 

[justFred]

Re: Les Paul Studio - looking for 'Forever' pickups

Pearly Gates

 

[TeaAt5]

Re: Les Paul Studio - looking for 'Forever' pickups

Yeah the prails seem perfect for me on paper, but I'm not seeing much love for them on the internets.

 

[TeaAt5]

Re: Les Paul Studio - looking for 'Forever' pickups

Pearly Gates

Thanks for the tip... Any reason you prefer to seth?

 

[TeaAt5]

Re: Les Paul Studio - looking for 'Forever' pickups

At this stage I am thinking a seth neck and a 59/Custom bridge. Seths get a lot of love, and the 59/Custom might be better for splitting. I have heard that mixing a split bridge with some neck helps fatten up the sound. I aim to use the most flexible wiring possible, and am open to to repurposing the pots or even adding new stuff.

Thanks everyone. Do seth neck / 59 Custom bridge sound like a good match? I like the promise of rich harmonics with the seth!

 

[VinceT]

Re: Les Paul Studio - looking for 'Forever' pickups

I’m with others on Seth’s, 59s, 59/Custom, Pearly Gates. That said, while I’m a fan, I find the 59/Custom a little hotter than what you’re describing.

I wouldn’t wire in a split until you’ve had chance to really get to know them as HB alone. My own preference would be to wire them 50s style in the LP and - given your amp setup - use volume and tone controls to get what you’re looking for.

Splitting low output HBs works for me into a really driven rig, but on anything with headroom, the volume drop is marked. And, though they’ll get closer, they’re categorically NOT going to sound like a Fender-ish single coil.

As for PRails, they are their own thing and I use mine as a “P90 with options” - mostly P90 or parallel settings - rails only and series seldom get airtime (too weak, too hot respectively). I have mine in my 335, which is definitely a darker guitar than my LP, and I wanted the P90 tone to cut through a little more. Recently I’ve been considering a set of Seth’s for that guitar, because - while I get the PRails, and they sound amazing, they just don’t feel right in that axe.




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[VinceT]

Re: Les Paul Studio - looking for 'Forever' pickups

Oh, and BTW, that Bonammassa video is a great reference for what can be done with a LP direct into an amp.


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[TeaAt5]

Re: Les Paul Studio - looking for 'Forever' pickups

Oh, and BTW, that Bonammassa video is a great reference for what can be done with a LP direct into an amp.

I will confess that I usually just have all the pots at 10 ��

 

[AlexR]

Re: Les Paul Studio - looking for 'Forever' pickups

Then you're missing out big time......

The controls and probably your amp settings are one reason why you are experiencing such issues with your current setup.

But you've asked for variety and flexibility from your new pickups.....your controls are the things that are going to provide much of that from any pickup you buy.
Another vid, this time with a Jr:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=YUdq59CRcxk

 

[Mincer]

Re: Les Paul Studio - looking for 'Forever' pickups

At this stage I am thinking a seth neck and a 59/Custom bridge. Seths get a lot of love, and the 59/Custom might be better for splitting. I have heard that mixing a split bridge with some neck helps fatten up the sound. I aim to use the most flexible wiring possible, and am open to to repurposing the pots or even adding new stuff.

Thanks everyone. Do seth neck / 59 Custom bridge sound like a good match? I like the promise of rich harmonics with the seth!

The Seth is a remarkably touch-sensitive pickup, and it isn't potted. That might be a problem if you use a ton of preamp gain and play really loud in close proximity to the amp. Otherwise, it is a great combo. Remember, the Seth is also 2 conductor, so no fancy wiring can be done to that unless you change this.

 

[Jeff_H]

Re: Les Paul Studio - looking for 'Forever' pickups

Thanks everyone. Do seth neck / 59 Custom bridge sound like a good match? I like the promise of rich harmonics with the seth!

Yes, I think this will work, since you seem to like a hotter bridge. The JB many times doesn't work well in a Les Paul, but it seems to for you, so your preference may be a higher output bridge..

I still prefer the Seth Set, but the splitting is going to be its weakness; but its ONLY weakness IMO. The crunchy blues and rock tones from the bridge and the sweet warm clarity of the neck are just amazing to me. The harmonically rich tones from not being potted are extraordinary. I don't have any issue with feedback either and I play through a Marshall DSL40C. I personally think the Seth's are the best off the shelf PAF available.

There are some bridge pickups in between the Seth and the C/59', like the WLH and the SNS. The WLH is like a slightly hotter and fatter 59', while the SNS has that 70's and 80's AOR/Arena rock and roll tone. Between the 2, the WLH gets more positive feedback, especially in a LP.

If you buy from an authorized SD dealer, you have a 21 day window to try the pickup and if you don't like it, you can switch for something else. That's a great option you don't get with other pickups.

 

[TeaAt5]

Re: Les Paul Studio - looking for 'Forever' pickups

I still prefer the Seth Set, but the splitting is going to be its weakness; but its ONLY weakness IMO

I am starting to wonder whether I should just go with the Seth set, since everything you have just described about its tone is exactly what I am looking for. Perhaps I should just do without the single coil option....

But then I like the idea of putting the bridge into single coil mode, blended with the neck to add depth. Arrrggggghhhh....

 

[JohnnyGuitarCA]

Re: Les Paul Studio - looking for 'Forever' pickups

Jazz neck, Whole Lotta Humbucker bridge. If you don't like one or both of those, Duncan has a 21 day exchange policy.

 

[Jeff_H]

Re: Les Paul Studio - looking for 'Forever' pickups

I am starting to wonder whether I should just go with the Seth set, since everything you have just described about its tone is exactly what I am looking for. Perhaps I should just do without the single coil option....

But then I like the idea of putting the bridge into single coil mode, blended with the neck to add depth. Arrrggggghhhh....

Then I would order the Seth Set with 4 conductor wiring through a good online SD authorized vender..... we can point you to someone when you're ready. It's a shop floor custom order but shouldn't cost any more than the regular set. You'll have to confirm with the dealer, but I believe going this way you will still have the 21 day exchange if for some reason you aren't happy with your set. I happen to have a Seth Lover with 4 conductor wiring that I bought used. One of the good SD dealers may even have a set with 4 cond already in stock.

The Seth Set is going to give you all of the dynamics and touch sensitivity you want, combined with that airy open tone only a good PAF replica can give. Bright and wonderfully crunchy in the bridge, warm yet still clear and articulate in the neck PLUS the middle tones, which I love for rich clean picking and chords. To me, in a Les Paul, the Seth's are a perfect match.

Again, I've not used them split, but if you combine one bridge coil and one neck coil, or combine those in parallel instead of series, you might get some interesting tones, but that is just a guess on my part, so don't make any decisions based on this part of my speculation. I do think that if you just straight split to, say one of the bridge coils alone, you'll be disappointed because it will be weak. Explore different wiring options and you may yet find a solution.

Whatever you decide, good luck and let us know how it turns out.