looking for combination for this les paul

R

Rleague

New member
Thinking APH II neck and Custom C5 Sh-14 Bridge?
In a les paul? would it match decently?
Maple top mahogony back/Ebony fretboard,mahog neck


The pickups I had in it when I bought the les paul stock were 59n / Jb bridge:
With my set up the 59 Neck is too bassy and woofy sounding yet to bright as well in this particular les paul, and I don't care for the sound of the JB either. Too bright, and bland sounding (too hot doesn't clean up very well).

pickups I have tired: Sh-14 Custom 5 bridge (which I had in a les paul studio and liked very much, but it was solid mahogony with rosewood fretboard, mahog neck) < The Custom 5 SH-14 would be the BEST pickup ever to me if it had a touch more mid range flavor.< everything else is perfect about it! Just wish it had a tad more mid range!


any thoughts?

J
 
Re: looking for combination for this les paul

Aren't you a big Rio BBQ fan? Could always do another Rio?

You could check out the WCR Shredder. It is like a JB with smoother mids and a bigger bottom. I do love the JB however, just different animals.

You could also try an overwound C-5 through the Custom shop. Gearjoneser has this and loves it.
 
Re: looking for combination for this les paul

I also have a WCR Shredder in the bridge of my Les Paul. It's a fantastic pickup for what you are looking for. I have Duncan Pearly Gates in the neck and it's a perfect match with the Shredder.
 
Re: looking for combination for this les paul

If you want to stick with Duncans, I'd go with a Pearly Gates in the neck and bridge. I too had the 59/JB comb in my LP STD and had the same problems with that combo that you do. I then isntalled the PG set and haven't looked back.

If you want a slighty more polite, creamier all around tone than the Pearly's, a set of Seth's would be great as well.
 
Re: looking for combination for this les paul

The 59N is to bassy and to bright to your ears? OK: the Alnico 2 Pro neck is a great choice...less bass, smoother highs and a little more mids than the 59N.

The JB is to bright and bland to your ears? OK: the C5 sounds just as bright to me, maybe even brighter...so I'd suggest a pickup with more mids. Either the Duncan Custom, which has strong bass, mids and treble...or the Custom Custom which has strong singing mids and smoother treble and a little less bass than either the Custom, C5 or JB.

Since the Alnico 2 Pro and CC are both alnico 2 pickups, I think they'd make a very nice set in your guitar. And they are voiced similarly so finding one volume and tone setting on your amp that sounds great with both pickups will be easier to achieve.

Lew
 
Re: looking for combination for this les paul

I'm starting to think the C-5/Jazz is one of the best LP combos for classic and modern rock.

I'm a fan of a lot of Duncan humbuckers like all the Customs, Seths, Antiquities, 59's, but the best pickup I've ever owned is the one I made at UGD. Exactly what the doctor ordered.....a C-5 with enhanced mids, by overwinding it a bit to 15.3. It sounds like an exact cross between a C-5 and CC. I'd put it up against Customs with any magnet, including A3 and A4, which I've also tried.
 
Re: looking for combination for this les paul

Gearjoneser said:
I'm starting to think the C-5/Jazz is one of the best LP combos for classic and modern rock.

I'm a fan of a lot of Duncan humbuckers like all the Customs, Seths, Antiquities, 59's, but the best pickup I've ever owned is the one I made at UGD. Exactly what the doctor ordered.....a C-5 with enhanced mids, by overwinding it a bit to 15.3. It sounds like an exact cross between a C-5 and CC. I'd put it up against Customs with any magnet, including A3 and A4, which I've also tried.
Click to expand...

I really like the Jazz N in double cutaway guitars...like the Hamer Sunburst or Custom Archtops. Because they're a double cutaway the neck/neck joint is not as stiff as in a single cutaway Les Paul and the result is less bass and lower mids. So the alnico 5 Jazz N or 59N makes up for that and results in a fatter tone than with an alnico 2 pickup.

But in a single cutaway guitar,even if the scale length is the same, the neck is shorter and stiffer and the guitar has a thicker deeper tone than a double cutaway guitar. I find the Jazz N and 59N to have more bass than I need and so I use alnico 2 pickups in my own Les Paul.

But it's all good! The Jazz N and Custom 5 is a great combo too...in a single cutaway Les Paul or any solid body.

Lew
 
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Re: looking for combination for this les paul

Gearjoneser said:
I'm starting to think the C-5/Jazz is one of the best LP combos for classic and modern rock.

I'm a fan of a lot of Duncan humbuckers like all the Customs, Seths, Antiquities, 59's, but the best pickup I've ever owned is the one I made at UGD. Exactly what the doctor ordered.....a C-5 with enhanced mids, by overwinding it a bit to 15.3. It sounds like an exact cross between a C-5 and CC. I'd put it up against Customs with any magnet, including A3 and A4, which I've also tried.
Click to expand...

+1. I've got that combo in my Les Paul Custom which is wired with the Jimmy Page layout and I love it! My LP has a mahogony body, maple top, ebony fingerboard and a MAPLE NECK, which is what I love most about it and why I think it works so well with the C5/Jazz combo.
 
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