The Convert
New member
I have an Epiphone Les Paul Standard and have decided to tweak it for a range of Heavy Metal rhythm. I like to say I'd like to get as close to the range from KK Downing to James Hetfield as I can, but the vintage metal is more important to me than the thrash.
For hard rock and metal I pay through a modded Marshall DSL half-stack with a pair of DSL15Hs and two pairs of matched Celestions (G12EVH and G12H30). Other than the drive channel I use a Blackstar HT-DISTX and an EVH 5150 OD.
Not wanting to play active pups (for various reasons--this is already way too long), and reading and listening to various pups and suggestions, I settled on first trying a SD JB for the bridge. Fed Ex is sending that my way now.
So, the questions I have are about the neck pup. On LPs, I'm not always in love with neck pups when overdriven, which is why I've sort-of de-prioritized it for now. BUT, I DO want to find a good matching pup for this purpose and I also want to know what I'll have in the meantime. That all in mind, here we go:
1) So I'll know in a couple days, but can anyone tell me what to expect when I've got the JB bridge and that low-end Epi "Classic Alnico HB" paired? Will the middle position be dominated by the bridge output? Will there be a gigantic gain drop moving from bridge to neck? Will I probably wind up treating this like a singe pup guitar till the neck is improved?
2) I've seen some of the general recommended pairings with the JB for the neck. I think the Jazz is a common recommendation. But for Metal Rhythm specifically, what would you recommend.
3) Also, if you play metal rhythm, how do you find you use each of your pups differently? Certain pieces demand certain tones, would be my personal short answer, but I'm thinking there might be some other ideas.
Thanks so much to everyone for your advice and the benefit of your experience!
-The Convert
For hard rock and metal I pay through a modded Marshall DSL half-stack with a pair of DSL15Hs and two pairs of matched Celestions (G12EVH and G12H30). Other than the drive channel I use a Blackstar HT-DISTX and an EVH 5150 OD.
Not wanting to play active pups (for various reasons--this is already way too long), and reading and listening to various pups and suggestions, I settled on first trying a SD JB for the bridge. Fed Ex is sending that my way now.
So, the questions I have are about the neck pup. On LPs, I'm not always in love with neck pups when overdriven, which is why I've sort-of de-prioritized it for now. BUT, I DO want to find a good matching pup for this purpose and I also want to know what I'll have in the meantime. That all in mind, here we go:
1) So I'll know in a couple days, but can anyone tell me what to expect when I've got the JB bridge and that low-end Epi "Classic Alnico HB" paired? Will the middle position be dominated by the bridge output? Will there be a gigantic gain drop moving from bridge to neck? Will I probably wind up treating this like a singe pup guitar till the neck is improved?
2) I've seen some of the general recommended pairings with the JB for the neck. I think the Jazz is a common recommendation. But for Metal Rhythm specifically, what would you recommend.
3) Also, if you play metal rhythm, how do you find you use each of your pups differently? Certain pieces demand certain tones, would be my personal short answer, but I'm thinking there might be some other ideas.
Thanks so much to everyone for your advice and the benefit of your experience!
-The Convert
