New pickup help...

Re: New pickup help...

I personally would say 59/custom hybrid or Dimarzio Norton in your bridge. 59/custom hybrid is great for cleans, OD and distortion. I have played higher gain stuff thatn Metallica with one

Research the Dimarzio Norton a little, you might like it

I personally would get a balanced EQed PU in that guitar. Thats just me tho
Especially if versatility is what you want
 
Re: New pickup help...

Would any set suit my needs better than a 59n and a 59/Custom Hybrid bridge?
 
Re: New pickup help...

Gerr said:
Hmm, had not considered the Demon. The DC Resistance is 10K, which places it closer to the 8K of most vintage/PAF pups and it's even less than the 59/Custom Hybrid I am considering. Will have to research it as I don't know much about it.

And yes, I have a good amp, a Blackstar 5W tube combo(HT-5C) and have a good Tube Overdrive pedal on the front of it, Hardwire CM-2.
Click to expand...
If you get your drive from the amp and pedal, having a little lower pickup output keeps the clarity of the notes and gives you more options. The Demon differs from true PAF style as they tighten up quite nicely.
 
Re: New pickup help...

Here are some of the other sets I have researched and my general opinion on them...

WLH set - sounds interesting, but worried that a set designed around an older style PAF might not be the best thing for me.

59n/59b - very tempting, but worried it's not hot enough and too similar to my current set.

PGn/PGb - same as the 59 set, and even more so as it has the same A2 magnets my current BB1/2 have.

Jazz/JB - great for 80's hard rock and light metal, but is it too hot for 70's classic rock and AC/DC?

Slash set - too modern, not enough PAF crunch needed for classic rock?

Demon - a lot of reviews say it works better in a Strat than a LP.

Customs - any of them are likely to be too hot. C5 might not be, but it's scooped mids might not work well for classic rock.


For my needs, which I can ballpark as...
40% AC/DC
30% Misc 80's Rock
20% Misc 70's Classic Rock
10% Metallica

For my Les Paul played through a fairly high gain Blackstar 5W tube combo amp, can any of those above sets or any other ideas do better than the 59n & 59/Custom Hybrid? I know that's a very open ended question that can be answered a thousand ways, but still worth asking.

I know I can play with magnets, and a 59n(A4) & 59b(A8) or PGn(A4) & PGb(A8) set does sound interesting, but probably sticking with stock for now.
 
Re: New pickup help...

Hey dude, I would go your 2nd choice the 59/custom set, if the Distortion Sh-6 is too hot the Duncan Custom Sh-5 is one step down in hotness and a 59 Sh-1 in the neck is just the classic thing to do. The Pearly Gates in the neck has a bit more fuzz to it compared to the 59. There the only passive pickups I have, you could also think about a 59/Custom 5 set? my passive sets are Distortion set, 59/Duncan Custom, Pearly Gates/Duncan Custom and Cool Rails/Hot Rails/Distortion the last one is a S-S-H setup there all great to play the music you like.
 
Re: New pickup help...

with your musical formula:
40% AC/DC
30% Misc 80's Rock
20% Misc 70's Classic Rock
10% Metallica
and 5watt amp I would definitely stay firmly in the PAF spec range (59,WLH,PG,Slash,AII,Jazz,Seth)
The only Humbucker out of that range I would even consider is the SH-5, but probably not. most definitely not the Demon, Custom5, or Hybrid.
 
Re: New pickup help...

I think I will go with the 59n & Custom set for the following reasons...

1. I would prefer to error on the side of too hot as it's easier to turn down the gain or back off on a pup than to add gain or a boost.
2. The 59 is a very popular PAF style pup found in many Les Paul guitars and seems to be a tad bit hotter than other PAF style pups.
3. Even with a ceramic magnet, the Duncan Custom is often called a "hot-PAF" pup able to go from vintage PAF tones to light metal.
4. After reading a lot of reviews, I have seen this set recommended more times than other sets for my style of music and my equipment.
5. Both pups are very customizable when you change magnets, especially the Custom as I can convert that to a CC, C5, or even a C8.
6. Kojack, a very knowledgeable and well respected member, says a 59n with an A4 and a Custom with an A8 is his favorite all around set.

I am sure other sets would likely give me the sound range I want, including the WLH set, Jazz/JB set, Slash's set, 59n & 59/Custom Hybrid set(my 2nd choice), as well as other misc combos of pups. But from my research, it appears that the set I picked would give me the largest musical range with a focus on where I want it, plus a lot of magnet upgrade options.

Thanks for everyone who helped, never realized there were so many ways to reach the same goal...:eyecrazy:
 
Re: New pickup help...

Gerr said:
says a 59n with an A4 and a Custom with an A8 is his favorite all around set.
Click to expand...

I would take anything someone says as their "favorite" with a grain of salt. Some like chocolate and some like vanilla. What works for one doesnt work for everybody. A country players favorite pups for his tele may not work for you ya dig?
 
Re: New pickup help...

Didn't base my choice on his opinion. Plus his favorite set is modified, I plan on staying with stock unless I don't like the sound. Just nice to know that I have options and that someone really likes one of those options.
 
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