Hey guy's... new to the forum, I am looking for some new PU's for my Epiphone Les Paul standard. I'm really happy with the guitar even though it's not a Gibson. I'm looking for something that will give me great lead tone such as Santana, Gary Moore, Slash and such but would also like to chunk out some heavy riffs like AC/DC, Metallica and such. I'm not asking for too much am I ? My gear is a Kustom Defender head, a Pevey half cab and an older Zoom multi effects (Zoom 3030) I feel like my tone is somewhat musshy and is just falling short of what i am looking for, I would like to soar with the eagles but my playing might be more like clucking with the chickens lol. Any help would be gratefully appreciated thanks. :smack:
Looking for monster tone
- Thread starter Rmaxxx
- Start date
Re: Looking for monster tone
Hey! Welcome to the forum! Your clucking like a chickens made me laugh.. Im so there bro...
Epis can be excellent, so glad you are happy with it. But, their pups can definately lack clarity.. (mushy) You are asking for a pretty broad spread from santana to metallica. Id say to go with either the Custom or custom 5. The custom will give you a good rock tone and alot of versatility. The c5 will have alittle more warmth (smoothness) and alittle more bottom end.
Pearly gates neck is good too, but im not sure it'll give you the beef you want.
Neck, Id say either a PGn, a 59n (big and round tone) , or an AIIP. The AIIP will give you a big singing neck tone. (you mentioned Slash and it's what he uses)
Hey! Welcome to the forum! Your clucking like a chickens made me laugh.. Im so there bro...
Epis can be excellent, so glad you are happy with it. But, their pups can definately lack clarity.. (mushy) You are asking for a pretty broad spread from santana to metallica. Id say to go with either the Custom or custom 5. The custom will give you a good rock tone and alot of versatility. The c5 will have alittle more warmth (smoothness) and alittle more bottom end.
Pearly gates neck is good too, but im not sure it'll give you the beef you want.
Neck, Id say either a PGn, a 59n (big and round tone) , or an AIIP. The AIIP will give you a big singing neck tone. (you mentioned Slash and it's what he uses)
Chickenwings
Alnico 6/8
Re: Looking for monster tone
a2 pros.
maybe a2 slash set?
or for more agression and balls in the bridge:
pg or a2p neck and custom custom bridge.
a2 pros.
maybe a2 slash set?
or for more agression and balls in the bridge:
pg or a2p neck and custom custom bridge.
Re: Looking for monster tone
Screamin Demon in the neck will give great clarity and smooth lead tones like Santana. The Pearly Gates would also be a great choice for the neck, but it isn't quite as articulate as the SD.
I'm not much of a Custom fan...a bit too harsh sounding for my taste. That being said, my favorite Custom is with an A8 magnet.
My suggestions for the bridge would be: '59, Screamin Demon, possibly A2Pro or Pearly Gates.
Screamin Demon in the neck will give great clarity and smooth lead tones like Santana. The Pearly Gates would also be a great choice for the neck, but it isn't quite as articulate as the SD.
I'm not much of a Custom fan...a bit too harsh sounding for my taste. That being said, my favorite Custom is with an A8 magnet.
My suggestions for the bridge would be: '59, Screamin Demon, possibly A2Pro or Pearly Gates.
Re: Looking for monster tone
Thanks for all the good stuff guy's I like hearing the common thread through all the replies. Technic is the key at times i can do no wrong but yet at others i'm all thumbs. Maybe i should put some money into another guitar rather then expect it all from one. The custom PU's or pearly gates sound like they could be the direction i want to go in but will see. Time for lots of money and experimentation i suppose the only way to killer tone is through trial and error.:fing2:
Thanks for all the good stuff guy's I like hearing the common thread through all the replies. Technic is the key at times i can do no wrong but yet at others i'm all thumbs. Maybe i should put some money into another guitar rather then expect it all from one. The custom PU's or pearly gates sound like they could be the direction i want to go in but will see. Time for lots of money and experimentation i suppose the only way to killer tone is through trial and error.:fing2:
F
Funkfingers
Guest
Re: Looking for monster tone
I'm going to be slightly rude here and say that the simplest and least expensive way to improve your tone will be to drop the Zoom from your rig.
The Kustom Defender should be capable of a good Angus/Malcolm crunch. More extreme gain can be obtained via an analogue overdrive or distortion pedal. (Gary Moore favoured the original Marshall Guv'nor. Scooped tones will require a pedal with multi-band tone controls.)
Based on my experience with an MIJ Tokai LP, I suggest Seymour Duncan Pearly Gates (neck/rhythm) and Custom (bridge/treble) pickups. I also recommend upgrading the pots. These would enable you to govern the amplifier overdrive saturation from the guitar's volume controls.
Alternatively, if you are mad about Malcolm Young, go for TV Jones Filter'Tron style pickups. Some variants are available in the regular "Gibson" humbucker size.
I'm going to be slightly rude here and say that the simplest and least expensive way to improve your tone will be to drop the Zoom from your rig.
The Kustom Defender should be capable of a good Angus/Malcolm crunch. More extreme gain can be obtained via an analogue overdrive or distortion pedal. (Gary Moore favoured the original Marshall Guv'nor. Scooped tones will require a pedal with multi-band tone controls.)
Based on my experience with an MIJ Tokai LP, I suggest Seymour Duncan Pearly Gates (neck/rhythm) and Custom (bridge/treble) pickups. I also recommend upgrading the pots. These would enable you to govern the amplifier overdrive saturation from the guitar's volume controls.
Alternatively, if you are mad about Malcolm Young, go for TV Jones Filter'Tron style pickups. Some variants are available in the regular "Gibson" humbucker size.
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Chickenwings
Alnico 6/8
Re: Looking for monster tone
A SH5 Custom in the bridge will cover all of that territory and more for you. Neck pup you can go 59/Pearly Gates/AII Pro/Jazz, whatever suits your flavor. If you want a smokier, thicker, syrupy bluesly lead tone, I would shy away from the Jazz for the neck though. Great pup, just not for that.
A SH5 Custom in the bridge will cover all of that territory and more for you. Neck pup you can go 59/Pearly Gates/AII Pro/Jazz, whatever suits your flavor. If you want a smokier, thicker, syrupy bluesly lead tone, I would shy away from the Jazz for the neck though. Great pup, just not for that.
TSE
New member
Re: Looking for monster tone
+1 for the Custom. Very mag swap friendly if you find you're not into ceramic mags. It does very well with ceramics tho.
+1 for the Custom. Very mag swap friendly if you find you're not into ceramic mags. It does very well with ceramics tho.
blueman335
Mojo's Minions
Re: Looking for monster tone
+1. Custom 5 (SH-14) in the bridge; if that's too bright or too scooped, put in an A8 or UOA5 magnet.
In the neck, a PGN (big sound with lots of mids and rounded highs) or a '59N (lots of treble and bass, with scooped mids) are excellent.
BTW, I've got some Epi LP's myself, love 'em.
+1. Custom 5 (SH-14) in the bridge; if that's too bright or too scooped, put in an A8 or UOA5 magnet.
In the neck, a PGN (big sound with lots of mids and rounded highs) or a '59N (lots of treble and bass, with scooped mids) are excellent.
BTW, I've got some Epi LP's myself, love 'em.
Gplayerzzz
New member
Re: Looking for monster tone
Put a eq in your effects loop first. That makes a huge difference.
Put a eq in your effects loop first. That makes a huge difference.