LP pickup recommedations

A

arablue

New member
Hello, I have an early 90s Les Paul that Ive refinished and gutted. I bought an RS wiring kit and Im looking for some pickup recommendations. I play instrumental rock that varies from plinky cleans to heavy crunchy scooped sounds. To be honest, I havent had many problems with the regular 490r/498t set but I figured it couldnt hurt to solicit some opinions. Thanks in advance
 
Last edited:
Re: LP pickup recommedations

Not really sure what the RS wiring kit is, but I would venture to say that you couldn't go wrong with a PAF style pickup! I'm sure others may recommend more specific ones, but any aftermarket type would prob be a good upgrade over the stock pickups. If you're going to be doing live playing, a wax potted pickup would probably be best.

I'm waiting on getting my LP Elegant back, was having a Duncan Pegasus put in the bridge and a Saturday Night Special put in the neck. Really interested in seeing how that will turn out! That's my first pickup swap in a LP for me, so I unfortunately don't have any specific pickup models to recommend. I know some people hate them, but the stock 57 classics have been fine for me...I have them in a 59 reissue and that one will always stay stock.

I'm sure a lot of more experienced posters will have a lot of great specific recommendations for you, you'll definitely find a pickup that will satisfy your needs. Best of luck!
 
Re: LP pickup recommedations

A pair of Seth's is a great choice for an LP. Being unpotted gives them a more open, 3D sound, and they're made tight enough that feedback isn't an issue for most players.

The 498T/490R set frustrates a lot of players.
 
Re: LP pickup recommedations

Not knowing what you sound like I can only tell you what I use.

Duncan Pearly Gates, Duncan Custom Shop Pearly Gates and Duncan Slash APH-2.

Don't believe the rubbish some inexperienced players post about PG's being too bright. They're not.

And don't forget to use your tone controls...especially when you solo.

 
Last edited:
Re: LP pickup recommedations

Before you put 490r and 498t apart, try to swap magnets. I did this simple mod, suggeted by other members of this forum, and I am fully satisfy. Now my 2004 lp standard has a killer sound. I have 3 other lp: one completely stock, a classic with 59n and duncan custom and the last one with emg 85/81. Different guitars different flavour. The one I prefer the most is leader with 490r/5 and 498t/8
 
Re: LP pickup recommedations

EmiAba said:
Before you put 490r and 498t apart, try to swap magnets. I did this simple mod, suggeted by other members of this forum, and I am fully satisfy. Now my 2004 lp standard has a killer sound. I have 3 other lp: one completely stock, a classic with 59n and duncan custom and the last one with emg 85/81. Different guitars different flavour. The one I prefer the most is leader with 490r/5 and 498t/8
Click to expand...


In have an A5 in my 490R's, which clears up the mud, and an UOA5 in the bridge, which gives it a more vintage feel, and isn't as high-powered as an A8 (depending on what kind of music you play).
 
Re: LP pickup recommedations

I too was going to suggest a fist full of magnets and see what happens. cheap and easy…especially if you really are ok with 490/498.
 
Re: LP pickup recommedations

blueman335 said:
In have an A5 in my 490R's, which clears up the mud, and an UOA5 in the bridge, which gives it a more vintage feel, and isn't as high-powered as an A8 (depending on what kind of music you play).
Click to expand...
If I tried to swap magnets instead of buying new pickups la because of you blueman :) and ltkojak. I am ok with A8 in bridge position.
 
Re: LP pickup recommedations

I just swapped a 490/498 pair in a studio with Whole lotta humbuckers. Absolutely transformed. In fact, I would probably make the WLH set stock if I were in charge of a guitar company. I love the Seths in my other lp, but they give me a very distinctive, vintage sound. The WLH is, for me, the perfect "does it all" set: cleans are great, lots of harmonics when driven.
 
Re: LP pickup recommedations

By the way, I didn't mind the 490/498 set, but while I liked both pickups individually (more so the 490) I could never dial in my amps for them to both be optimal. When I'd get the perfect smoky sound out of the 490 (which it excels at) it was total icepick on the bridge, and when I got the bridge right, it was mud city on the neck.

EDIT: Might have been due to the amps I use (Fender). Maybe they work better with something more Marshall-y.
 
Re: LP pickup recommedations

voggin said:
By the way, I didn't mind the 490/498 set, but while I liked both pickups individually (more so the 490) I could never dial in my amps for them to both be optimal. When I'd get the perfect smoky sound out of the 490 (which it excels at) it was total icepick on the bridge, and when I got the bridge right, it was mud city on the neck.
Click to expand...


That's the problem a number of players have with them, they're so mismatched. With replacement magnets you can get the EQ's closer, and then get a workable amp EQ for both PU's. Not a bad set then. Still, to put a 498T/490R stock in a $2,000 or $3,000 guitar doesn't seem like the best idea.
 
Re: LP pickup recommedations

blueman335 said:
That's the problem a number of players have with them, they're so mismatched. With replacement magnets you can get the EQ's closer, and then get a workable amp EQ for both PU's. Not a bad set then. Still, to put a 498T/490R stock in a $2,000 or $3,000 guitar doesn't seem like the best idea.
Click to expand...

Oddly enough, they seem to have worked better as the stock pickups in some SGs I've tried. Maybe the lighter guitar allows the bridge to be less muddy when the bridge is EQ'd right.
 
Re: LP pickup recommedations

I have a '59 custom hybrid in the bridge and a '59 in the neck. Some say the whole lotta humbuckers sound great in an LP. Just one of those things that will take experimenting with pups to find whats right for you vs what tonal style youre wanting.
 
Re: LP pickup recommedations

A Custom & Jazz will get you there, too, depending on what the natural EQ of your guitar is. The Custom can get scoopier by changing the magnet to an A5, making it a Custom 5.
 
Re: LP pickup recommedations

Thanks for the replies. My experience has been the stock pickups do sound pretty different, but on the whole they arent bad. I was looking at a hot PAF type pickup for the bridge and something with a little more clarity in the neck but I might try a magnet swap first.
 
Re: LP pickup recommedations

I got the '59 bridge and Jazz neck in my PRS Nick Catanese SE (similar to a Les Paul). I really dig it. Nicely balanced set that leans a bit towards bright.
 
Re: LP pickup recommedations

Rex_Rocker said:
I got the '59 bridge and Jazz neck in my PRS Nick Catanese SE (similar to a Les Paul). I really dig it. Nicely balanced set that leans a bit towards bright.
Click to expand...

I have the same set in a '91 LP Standard. I really like them and they work great for me. I like these two with both clean and high gain amp settings.
 
Re: LP pickup recommedations

voggin said:
Oddly enough, they seem to have worked better as the stock pickups in some SGs I've tried. Maybe the lighter guitar allows the bridge to be less muddy when the bridge is EQ'd right.
Click to expand...

They tend to work in SG's due to the middy nature of the SG for the bridge, combined with the altered neck pickup position making that pickup less muddy.
 
Re: LP pickup recommedations

blueman335 said:
That's the problem a number of players have with them, they're so mismatched. With replacement magnets you can get the EQ's closer, and then get a workable amp EQ for both PU's. Not a bad set then. Still, to put a 498T/490R stock in a $2,000 or $3,000 guitar doesn't seem like the best idea.
Click to expand...

They came stock on Les Paul Customs and the uber-expensive Double Neck too... there probably isn't more then $5 difference in manufacturing a non custom pickup. And why assume the 498T/490R is less?
It's my fav Gibson set.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top