Neck Pickup Advice For JP #1 Tribute

[skelt101]

Hi folks,
I just got a new Les Paul and want to do a JP #1 Tribute. For me, the bridge position is a No-Brainer, Whole Lotta Humbucker. But what about the neck position? The most obvious answer would be another WLH. However, when the Gibson Custom Shop released their version, they used a Burstbucker 2 with Alnico 3 magnet. Am I correct in presuming the closest offering from SD would be a Pearly Gates bridge model with Alnico 3? What about a Seth Lover and/or '59, both bridge model with Alnico 3? How would these compare to the Gibson Burstbucker 2 with Alnico 3? Would any of these match/not match with the WLH in the bridge? What would be closest to JP's tone? (The only info I've been able to find on his current neck pickup is it's a 1960 PAF...) Thanks for any advice! :headbang:

 

[Demanic]

Re: Neck Pickup Advice For JP #1 Tribute

Why not just get a WLH neck and put an A3 in it?

Sent from my MotoE2(4G-LTE) using Tapatalk

 

[blueman335]

Re: Neck Pickup Advice For JP #1 Tribute

To me, the WLH neck is pretty warm. I wired it for spin-a-split to get more treble out of it, and will also add a 1-meg pot or two.

I'd be tempted by a SethN with an A3 or A4.

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: Neck Pickup Advice For JP #1 Tribute

It would help to know what guitar is being modified.

Buying the same pickup models as a named artiste is no guarantee of matching the artiste's tone unless your guitar has similar acoustic properties to the one that you hope to emulate. Sometimes, the "wrong" pickup can get you closer to your goal.

 

[skelt101]

Re: Neck Pickup Advice For JP #1 Tribute

Why not just get a WLH neck and put an A3 in it?

Sent from my MotoE2(4G-LTE) using Tapatalk

I'm not against that idea. But I was under the impression that the WLH was more of a Duncan original recipe than straight up PAF. Perhaps I'm wrong...

It would help to know what guitar is being modified.

Buying the same pickup models as a named artiste is no guarantee of matching the artiste's tone unless your guitar has similar acoustic properties to the one that you hope to emulate. Sometimes, the "wrong" pickup can get you closer to your goal.

The guitar in question is one of these: http://www.americanmusical.com/Item--i-GIB-LPCSA15-ITNH3. I don't know how it compares to Page's #1 as I, sadly, do not have it on-hand. I do know it weighs a shade under 9 lbs and has the slim taper neck. Just figured that getting similar pickups would be a good place to start. At the moment I may be leaning towards a Seth Lover bridge model for the neck position to balance the output with the WLH...

 

[AZ Picker]

Re: Neck Pickup Advice For JP #1 Tribute

I don't think you need to go with a bridge model to balance with the WLH bridge, if you want to do that, then I say just go with the WLH in the neck too. It's pretty warm as Blueman said, but if you Want to Split coils or series/parallel then it's perfect, still sounds full and powerful just brighter. If you don't want to mess with that I think Blueman is right on with a Seth Neck and A3 or A4. I've got a 59A2 in my LP with a WLH in the Bridge and it's a great combo, but I like a little Brighter neck pickup.

 

[Mincer]

Re: Neck Pickup Advice For JP #1 Tribute

My guess is start with a stock WLH neck, and you can further modify it with a magnet swap if you need to, but probably won't. Another good option is the Seth Lover neck, although it is single conductor, so if you want to do all the fancy splits and stuff, you will have to order it 4 conductor.

 

[JeffB]

Re: Neck Pickup Advice For JP #1 Tribute

The WLH neck is probably a better match to #1 than is the bridge....unless you want those post zeppelin sounds...the wlh bridge is alot hotter, thicker and less clear than a t top (though it does have the brightness and abundance of high midrange similar to a top) and its definitely not in the camp of PAF like as the original double creme in #1.

 

[Aceman]

Re: Neck Pickup Advice For JP #1 Tribute

If you are trying to get it THAT close - you need the guitar in hand for a tonal analysis first.