Hi, I have an Esp ltd ec401vf les paul body guitar that has 2 Duncan pickups in it. A Duncan 59 in the neck and a Duncan JB in the bridge. The Duncan 59 pickup that is in the neck position is spectacular, but the JB in the bridge while good isnt quite what i'm looking for. Ive recently been learning since ive been loving you by led zeppelin and the tone at the beginning of the song is dead nuts with the 59 in the neck, but when switching over to the JB in the bridge something isnt quite there. Any suggetions would be greatly appreciated. I was thinking maybe a bridge version of the Duncan 59 or Pearly gates in the bridge. I mostly am interested in blues, but also play classic rock, southern rock and some jazz. Thanks, Vic.
Les paul tone
- Thread starter VCC1965
- Start date
J
Jessie Sammler
Guest
Re: Les paul tone
Hmm. Pearly Gates sounds like a good candidate. Southern rock? Classic rock?
Oh, yeah!
Hmm. Pearly Gates sounds like a good candidate. Southern rock? Classic rock?
Oh, yeah!
blueman335
Mojo's Minions
Re: Les paul tone
I'm not thrilled with stock JB's myself (I'm a big Zep fan too, BTW). To get a good tone from a JB, you can swap magnets, to an A8 or A2. They'll give a fuller sound, more mids and less treble. Magnets are cheap and it only takes a few minutes to swap them.
If you decide to try another PU, for high output a C5 is very good in mahogany (unlike JB's, which are hit or miss). Of course you can always put another PAF in the bridge, like a '59B or PGB.
I'm not thrilled with stock JB's myself (I'm a big Zep fan too, BTW). To get a good tone from a JB, you can swap magnets, to an A8 or A2. They'll give a fuller sound, more mids and less treble. Magnets are cheap and it only takes a few minutes to swap them.
If you decide to try another PU, for high output a C5 is very good in mahogany (unlike JB's, which are hit or miss). Of course you can always put another PAF in the bridge, like a '59B or PGB.
blindedbysilence
New member
Re: Les paul tone
I'll go with my default answer. Try a Brobucker.
I'll go with my default answer. Try a Brobucker.
Franknfilms
New member
Re: Les paul tone
I've played your ltd model, I agree the 59 in the neck is perfection. I couldn't stand the JB in that guitar, it sounded weak, can't go wrong with the C5 in the bridge, it has more balls but also cleans up better too. The perfect hard rock pickup imo.
I've played your ltd model, I agree the 59 in the neck is perfection. I couldn't stand the JB in that guitar, it sounded weak, can't go wrong with the C5 in the bridge, it has more balls but also cleans up better too. The perfect hard rock pickup imo.
GoDrex
Riffologist Extraordinaire
King IzzO)))
Ultimate Kitten Puncher
Re: Les paul tone
Swap that JB mag to an A2 before you buy anything.
Swap that JB mag to an A2 before you buy anything.
Gearjoneser
Gear Ho
Re: Les paul tone
I'm pretty sure the C-5 is what you're looking to hear. I think of the C5/59 as the 'beefed up' 59 set.
I'm pretty sure the C-5 is what you're looking to hear. I think of the C5/59 as the 'beefed up' 59 set.
J
Jessie Sammler
Guest
Re: Les paul tone
So what's beefed up about the 59 over the 59? Is it beef by association?
So what's beefed up about the 59 over the 59? Is it beef by association?
JOLLY
Super Simonologist
Franknfilms
New member
Re: Les paul tone
This was funny. I love that we can take shots at each other on these boards but keep it mature and funny...not like ultimate-guitar where everyone is calling each other stupid and gay
This was funny. I love that we can take shots at each other on these boards but keep it mature and funny...not like ultimate-guitar where everyone is calling each other stupid and gay
F
Funkfingers
Guest
Re: Les paul tone
+1 for beefed up PAF equivalent PUs.
I have the active version of the LTD EC-401. I replaced the stock EMGs with SD Live Wire Classic IIs. It rocks.
+1 for beefed up PAF equivalent PUs.
I have the active version of the LTD EC-401. I replaced the stock EMGs with SD Live Wire Classic IIs. It rocks.
blueman335
Mojo's Minions
Re: Les paul tone
It's well known that Sammler has an alcohol problem (rum candy actually), but because he's a nice guy and a snappy dresser, we make allowances for that. By mid afternoon, he's usually snoring with his head on the keyboard, with candy wrappers all over the floor. When you see a post with a long string of just one letter, know know what's going on. He wakes up with all these indentations on his face, and then catches hell for what he accidently posted. You can't help but feel sorry for the guy, so we chip in and buy him another bag of rum candy. Society is to blame.
This was funny. I love that we can take shots at each other on these boards but keep it mature and funny...not like ultimate-guitar where everyone is calling each other stupid and gay
It's well known that Sammler has an alcohol problem (rum candy actually), but because he's a nice guy and a snappy dresser, we make allowances for that. By mid afternoon, he's usually snoring with his head on the keyboard, with candy wrappers all over the floor. When you see a post with a long string of just one letter, know know what's going on. He wakes up with all these indentations on his face, and then catches hell for what he accidently posted. You can't help but feel sorry for the guy, so we chip in and buy him another bag of rum candy. Society is to blame.
blueman335
Mojo's Minions
Re: Les paul tone
What some caller 'upper mids', I call treble. The JB needs middle & low mids to fill it out. To me ears, the 'ice pick' spike is brutal, but that's the A5 magnet at work in mahogany. An A2 or A8 shifts the EQ curve downward, and the highs become quite manageable. 'Warmed up' it's a nice PU.
What some caller 'upper mids', I call treble. The JB needs middle & low mids to fill it out. To me ears, the 'ice pick' spike is brutal, but that's the A5 magnet at work in mahogany. An A2 or A8 shifts the EQ curve downward, and the highs become quite manageable. 'Warmed up' it's a nice PU.
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