Looking for pickup recommendations

[mikeyphys]

I have an Epiphone Les Paul and current pickups are the Invader (bridge) and the SH-2 (neck).

I'm finding the Invader a little too honky/muddy for my tastes these days. I'm using clean tones a lot more and it really isn't cutting it for me anymore. I've had a coil cut switch for years and that definitely helps but just not enough.

So what I need is something that can still deliver a big sound, but can do brighter cleans. I will probably still coil cut but would be great if I didn't have to use it single coil just to get it a little brighter. It probably doesn't have to be as powerful as the Invader either. I can always turn the gain up on my pedals if needed.

It'd be great if anyone has any ideas of a good pickup to consider or any input at all.

Cheers

 

[Synapsys]

Re: Looking for pickup recommendations

59 or 59/Custom hybrid?

 

[Mincer]

Re: Looking for pickup recommendations

I have an Epiphone Les Paul and current pickups are the Invader (bridge) and the SH-2 (neck).

I'm finding the Invader a little too honky/muddy for my tastes these days. I'm using clean tones a lot more and it really isn't cutting it for me anymore. I've had a coil cut switch for years and that definitely helps but just not enough.

So what I need is something that can still deliver a big sound, but can do brighter cleans. I will probably still coil cut but would be great if I didn't have to use it single coil just to get it a little brighter. It probably doesn't have to be as powerful as the Invader either. I can always turn the gain up on my pedals if needed.

It'd be great if anyone has any ideas of a good pickup to consider or any input at all.

Cheers

Look at the Custom. It is bright, and splits well. It is still a high output pickup, but has a vastly different EQ than the Invader (sort of an upside down EQ...scooped).

 

[zionstrat]

Re: Looking for pickup recommendations

Here's an unusual alternative- It's clear, but crunches incredibly well and easily covers everything from clear blues to light metal-

They position it as a modern PAF and the bridge is only K Ohms: 8.5, so you might think it's Pearly Gates territory (and I am a pearly gates fan).

https://www.musiciansfriend.com/accessories/railhammer-hyper-vintage-humbucker-pickup#productDetail




But coming from an Invader, I imagine you want more punch than a PG and this pup blows me away for beautiful, sparkling clean and clear, but it gets tight and heavy when crunched- I've currently got it tapped for a kind of tele like bridge as well and I have no idea how they fit all of this into one pup-

If you haven't seen it, it's 1/2 rail and 1/2 poles and I've heard that the design is where the versatility comes from, but I understand very little of the theory.

However, I only have experience with the bridge pup on a Reverend double agent and I do believe that wood and scale length have a big impact, so you would want to do some research to see if any of these have made it into LPs.

No worries if this isn't for you, but I'm hoping to hear others that have experienced this pup in different builds because its probably the best pup I have ever used to go from clean to heavy with no real compromise.

 

[mikeyphys]

Re: Looking for pickup recommendations

Thanks loads for the suggestions.

To begin with, I though maybe the SD Seth Lover, purely because I was thinking, a vintage output pickup might be a better starting point.

I've since looked at the '59 custom hybrid, sadly I can't find any demos with the coil cut and as usual, most of the videos on youtube for the pickups I want to hear are demo'd by people who just shred endlessly for 6 minutes. I did find some clean sounds though and it's a lot more of what I'm looking for.

I'll check that link from Zionstrat later, I'm definitely intrigued though!!

Ultimately, I know the sound I'm after probably begins with a Fender guitar, but I'm poor so if I can get close enough by only spending £80 on a pickup then that's good enough for now. haha.

Thanks again!!