Medium gain bridge pickup with a tight bottom end for a Les Paul

[Gallery]

New here, first post. I've been an SD user for years and I'm surprised it's taken me this long to sign up. Many of my guitars have been upgraded to various vintage output Duncans. But, now I'm looking for something with a little more bite.

I have a Les Paul Studio that I want to use primarily for Hard Rock and Metal. Here's what I'm looking for:

1. Medium Gain - Used mostly for hard rock and metal, but also some higher gain blues
2. Tight bass response for palm muting - no muddy bottom end
3. PAF character - Still love the honk and clarity of a PAF and would like to retain some of that tone
4. Clarity - I want to hear all of the note in a chord, no mud
5. Focused mids - I'm not one to scoop the mids

My LP Studio currently has Duncan Antiquities. I'm moving these to my 335. It's not overly dark or bright. I'd say it's about average for a Les Paul. I find they are dark in general, but this one is no darker than the others I've owned or played.


I'm currently considering

1. Duncan Custom: SH-5
2. Duncan Custom 5: SH-14


I will probably pair it with an Sh-1 '59 or Pearly Gates in the Bridge to still get PAF cleans.


Any opinions on those two pickups or other recommendation?

 

[Lampy H]

Re: Medium gain bridge pickup with a tight bottom end for a Les Paul

59/Custom Hybrid fits the bill perfectly.

 

[SoundAt11]

Re: Medium gain bridge pickup with a tight bottom end for a Les Paul

I haven't tried the 59/Custom Hybrid, but all 5 points describe the SH-5 Custom and it's practically meant for a Les Paul. I've never heard it get muddy. So many classic rock sounds were either a PAF or a Super Distortion in a Les Paul through a cranked Marshall. To me, the Custom really splits the difference between those two models.

 

[Falloffthebonetone]

Re: Medium gain bridge pickup with a tight bottom end for a Les Paul

59/custom hybrid totally. I also recommend you look into the Perpetual Burn. The Custom is pretty hot. The Custom 5 isn't as powerful but has a pretty big midrange dip. The Custom 8 sounds dead on right there but I have never tried it and I'm not sure how comfortable you are with changing your magnets.

 

[Diego]

Re: Medium gain bridge pickup with a tight bottom end for a Les Paul

The Screamin' Demon might suit you. Maybe.

The high-end response is not that sweet, a bit more grainy and defined than other "vintage" choices. But that makes it a very tight pickup. No mud anywhere and it excels at distorted chords.
And the mids are a bit neutral, not scooped and definitely not boosted. The output is medium, too.
So it seems to be sort of ehat you're after.

Just throwing it out there.

 

[Aceman]

Re: Medium gain bridge pickup with a tight bottom end for a Les Paul

59/Custom Nybrid, or BroBucker.

/Thread

 

[VHTJay]

Re: Medium gain bridge pickup with a tight bottom end for a Les Paul

S-Deco fits the bill.

 

[blueman335]

Re: Medium gain bridge pickup with a tight bottom end for a Les Paul

Getting everything you want from one PU isn't going to be easy. The '59/Custom fits all your requirements except for the scooped mids part. Both parent coils have scooped mids (in no small part from the A5 magnet), and the highly unbalanced coils (4.2K vs 7K) reduce some of the humbucker effect, which means single coil sound (more treble and less mids). It's a bright PU and on the thin side. I prefer my hybrids with warm magnets to fill in the of the loss in midrange. However, the '59/Custom can give you everything you want with a mag swap.

The SH-14 is advertised to be a 'PAF on steroids', but it doesn't sound like a PAF, and it's pretty midscooped. Most of the other suggestions are bright and clear, and thin on mids, except for the SH-5, which isn't at all PAF-like. The C8 (SH-5 with an A8 magnet) has some great qualities you're looking for, but again, isn't particularly PAF-sounding.

For hard rock and metal with a stock PU, a SH-5 may be your best choice.

 

[El Supremo]

Re: Medium gain bridge pickup with a tight bottom end for a Les Paul

The Screamin' Demon might suit you. Maybe.

The high-end response is not that sweet, a bit more grainy and defined than other "vintage" choices. But that makes it a very tight pickup. No mud anywhere and it excels at distorted chords.
And the mids are a bit neutral, not scooped and definitely not boosted. The output is medium, too.
So it seems to be sort of ehat you're after.

Just throwing it out there.

Another vote for the Demon. Tight and percussive bottom end with great clarity under gain.

 

[orpheo]

Re: Medium gain bridge pickup with a tight bottom end for a Les Paul

Parallel Axis III. The Blues saraceno is PERFECT for what you want.

yes, it's a buttugly pickup but the tone. bro, the tone. <3 It's one of my favorite pickups ever.

 

[Snake Aces]

Re: Medium gain bridge pickup with a tight bottom end for a Les Paul

Parallel Axis III. The Blues saraceno is PERFECT for what you want.

yes, it's a buttugly pickup but the tone. bro, the tone. <3 It's one of my favorite pickups ever.

After watching your demo of one in the LP you built I have to agree!

 

[51501984]

Re: Medium gain bridge pickup with a tight bottom end for a Les Paul

OP what amp and or pedals are you using ? I don't go crazy on palm mutes but my ears are really picky when it comes to tight bass vs flub so I always use a OD pedal from the TS family set as a clean boost (vol up , gain down) and 99% of the time it tightens up the low end on any pickup I use , just something to think about. If your stickng with Duncan's I'd recommend the 59/Custom Hybrid

 

[Gallery]

Re: Medium gain bridge pickup with a tight bottom end for a Les Paul

OP what amp and or pedals are you using ? I don't go crazy on palm mutes but my ears are really picky when it comes to tight bass vs flub so I always use a OD pedal from the TS family set as a clean boost (vol up , gain down) and 99% of the time it tightens up the low end on any pickup I use , just something to think about. If your stickng with Duncan's I'd recommend the 59/Custom Hybrid

I mostly play through a Friedman JJ100 an occasionally through a Marshall 2204. I rarely use a pedal for gain.

 

[51501984]

Re: Medium gain bridge pickup with a tight bottom end for a Les Paul

I mostly play through a Friedman JJ100 an occasionally through a Marshall 2204. I rarely use a pedal for gain.

Well you wouldn't be using the pedal for gain but even set as a clean boost it is gonna gonna add a little gain and saturation depending on where you set the volume. But if flub is not a problem currently then there's probably no need for the pedal to tighten things up

 

[sedawkgrep]

Re: Medium gain bridge pickup with a tight bottom end for a Les Paul

Breed neck. In the bridge. Yes indeed.

 

[Demanic]

Re: Medium gain bridge pickup with a tight bottom end for a Les Paul

I'll say Custom 5.

 

[JOLLY]

Re: Medium gain bridge pickup with a tight bottom end for a Les Paul

I would say a Jazz Model, but I guess it's more low output than mid output. However, it fits all of your description.

 

[Aceman]

Re: Medium gain bridge pickup with a tight bottom end for a Les Paul

Jolly raises a great point. WHy the mid output?

What amp are you using, and with/without dirt boxes???? If you have enough amp, why worry about output.

 

[51501984]

Re: Medium gain bridge pickup with a tight bottom end for a Les Paul

Jolly raises a great point. WHy the mid output?

What amp are you using, and with/without dirt boxes???? If you have enough amp, why worry about output.

See post #13

 

[Gallery]

Re: Medium gain bridge pickup with a tight bottom end for a Les Paul

Jolly raises a great point. WHy the mid output?

What amp are you using, and with/without dirt boxes???? If you have enough amp, why worry about output.

I have another guitar with Burstbucker 2 & 3 and the higher output nails the sound that I want from my LP. So I guess I want something like a Burstbucker 3 with maybe slightly tighter bottom end and wax potted.