Looking for a neck pickup for an Epiphone Les Paul

3

357mag

New member
I think I'm gonna pickup an Epiphone Les Paul and I know I want a Duncan Custom in the bridge. Love that sound. But the hard part is figuring out what to put in the neck. I know what kind of neck sound I'm after. I'm looking for definition and articulation. Something along the lines of a Strat neck sound. Fluid and distinct. I don't want an overly bassy fat and distorted tone. High gain is okay but I don't want bassy and boomy if you know what I mean.

Any suggestions?
 
Re: Looking for a neck pickup for an Epiphone Les Paul

Try a Jazz. There are plenty of sound clips on YouTube to show you what I'm getting at.
 
Re: Looking for a neck pickup for an Epiphone Les Paul

I tried the Jazz once and I hated it. That pickup is way too clean. I'm gonna go with a '59. I remember the last Les Paul I had I stuck a '59 in it and it ended up working fairly good. If I find it's too boomy then I will change it.
 
Re: Looking for a neck pickup for an Epiphone Les Paul

Consider the Sentient. Very articulate vintage-output pickup that will give you plenty of note definition and can keep up with any bridge.
 
Re: Looking for a neck pickup for an Epiphone Les Paul

Full Shred

Even a Pearly Gates is a better choice than a 59 for what you want. Or a Screaming' Demon. 59 is the most likely to be boomy neck pup you could get.

We have no idea what this Epiuphone sounds like, of course...Epis vary quite a bit.
 
Re: Looking for a neck pickup for an Epiphone Les Paul

I also think the 59 is the right choice here. Let us know how it turns out!
 
Re: Looking for a neck pickup for an Epiphone Les Paul

I believe the '59 works well in some Les Pauls and in others it is a bit boomy. I will find out. The problem with the Pearly Gates is it's too expensive.
 
Re: Looking for a neck pickup for an Epiphone Les Paul

weepingminotaur said:
Consider the Sentient. Very articulate vintage-output pickup that will give you plenty of note definition and can keep up with any bridge.
Click to expand...

Yep was about to chime in on it!! Have Alnico II pro, 59's both with the Stock A5 and A4, Dimarzio liquifier , several Carvins and a PRS VB in guitars and 2 with the Sentient.
The Sentient is dead on what you are describing full but not muddy, clear articulate but still tight focused and singing under gain. Splits amazingly well and have one paired with a 59/Custom hybrid had a Alt 8 in that guitar and a Perpetual Burn. Works well with another humbucker in full mode but in particular with the Hybrid is flat jaw dropping for cleans and country feel twang stuff!! The Sentient has become my all time favorite neck bucker for a versatile set up bar none.
Sentient and Hybrid together split running my little Boogie Subway Rocket only effect is a Boss CS 3. This is a neck pickup that also SLAYS under very high gain for metal and sings for the blues so--.
 
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Re: Looking for a neck pickup for an Epiphone Les Paul

Got a Seth neck and a Pearly Bridge. They sounded great, I took them out for some experiments but they'll probably go back in. I think a Pearly Gates neck would probalbly work as well.
 
Re: Looking for a neck pickup for an Epiphone Les Paul

Frebnedzo said:
Got a Seth neck and a Pearly Bridge. They sounded great, I took them out for some experiments but they'll probably go back in. I think a Pearly Gates neck would probalbly work as well.
Click to expand...

Get those puppies back in there!
 
Re: Looking for a neck pickup for an Epiphone Les Paul

Agree with 59 and pg in general, but when I hear strat like on an lp I think 'firebird'.

Of course, I am often thinking firebird... If you search my threads, I bet 25% are fbirds.

The reason I love them is they are thick and snappy because the magnets are within the coils unlike traditional hums.
I solo off of the neck pup much of the time so punch and articulation are very important to me.

Of course, FBs are mini/p90 sized, but we used to wind an humbucking sized version for Lps.

Not custom winding anymore, but there are lots of winders that can make this one if you're interested in experimenting.

A little off track, if you had been looking for warm with more punch, I would have suggested an inexpensive pup... GFS mean 90 is a great p90 in a humbucking size and for 49 bucks, everyone should try one at some point and you're going to have the soldering gun out anyway, eh?


Sent from my SM-G960U1 using Tapatalk
 
Re: Looking for a neck pickup for an Epiphone Les Paul

357mag said:
I tried the Jazz once and I hated it. That pickup is way too clean. I'm gonna go with a '59. I remember the last Les Paul I had I stuck a '59 in it and it ended up working fairly good. If I find it's too boomy then I will change it.
Click to expand...

OMG!! Are you kidding me?!
You specifically asked for clean in your first post..." I know what kind of neck sound I'm after. I'm looking for definition and articulation. Something along the lines of a Strat neck sound. Fluid and distinct".

You also said..."I don't want an overly bassy fat and distorted tone". The 59 has a reputation of being boomy (bassy) in the neck of a Les Paul.

And then less than 1/2 hour after your first post asking for help selecting a neck pup, you get a really good suggestion which you immediately reject and let us know you've selected a pup...the one which fits the description of what you DON'T want.
 
Re: Looking for a neck pickup for an Epiphone Les Paul

357mag said:
I believe the '59 works well in some Les Pauls and in others it is a bit boomy. I will find out. The problem with the Pearly Gates is it's too expensive.
Click to expand...

If cost is the only deciding factor, we could suggest any number of pups. But then why did you list "tone" criteria in the first place as if THAT were important, when it really only comes down to $$?
 
Re: Looking for a neck pickup for an Epiphone Les Paul

Adieu said:
Pearly or a Demon with a coil tap maybe
Click to expand...

Although a Demon with a coil tap would be an excellent choice, that would be a custom shop order. The OP already said he doesn't even want a PG because of the cost. Maybe you didn't read that post?
 
Re: Looking for a neck pickup for an Epiphone Les Paul

GuitarDoc said:
OMG!! Are you kidding me?!
You specifically asked for clean in your first post..." I know what kind of neck sound I'm after. I'm looking for definition and articulation. Something along the lines of a Strat neck sound. Fluid and distinct".

You also said..."I don't want an overly bassy fat and distorted tone". The 59 has a reputation of being boomy (bassy) in the neck of a Les Paul.

And then less than 1/2 hour after your first post asking for help selecting a neck pup, you get a really good suggestion which you immediately reject and let us know you've selected a pup...the one which fits the description of what you DON'T want.
Click to expand...

YES! This is what I want to see in a forum! MORE PLEASE!
 
Re: Looking for a neck pickup for an Epiphone Les Paul

I think in your first post you have described the Jazz exactly!
 
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