New poster, thinking WAY outside the box!

[biglionfan111]

Greetings everyone. I have a situation I’d like to run by the group for advice.

I have a reverb-find, Epiphone black beauty 3-pickup Les Paul that’s wired 3 volume and 1 tone (the way I like it). It came with aftermarket pickups, one in a “hotshot” ring (or words to that effect), which I’m sure are better than the stock epi’s, but still don’t do it for me. I normally play classic rock and blues. I’m thinking of a Pearly Gates set, but for the middle, I’d like to go out of the box and put in something that’s very sonically different, as I’ll be able to kill its volume when I don’t want to play it. Something a bit more aggressive is fine, but not WAY out there.
I was actually thinking something like a mini-humbucker or even a filter-tron style, but it doesn’t have to be a non-humbucker. If a little surgery has to be done, it’s a 500$ used Epi, so that’s not a deal breaker.

Looking forward to hearing what everyone thinks….

 

[Masta' C]

Re: New poster, thinking WAY outside the box!

Pearly Gates and Les Pauls are a match made in heaven!

If it were me and I was looking for something a little different in the middle, I'd probably go with a humbucker-sized P90 or maybe one of the new SD "Psyclone" pickups, which are a humbucker-sized Filtertron

 

[Demanic]

Re: New poster, thinking WAY outside the box!

Lace Deathbucker. And before you write it off as over the top, it's not just for death metal. It's probably one of the clearest neutral sounding pickups that I've ever heard. It sounds just as good clean or crunchy as it does with over the top distortion. Middle position humbuckers can sometimes sound weird, but I think that it would shine in that slot.

Sent from my Alcatel_5044C using Tapatalk

 

[Aceman]

Re: New poster, thinking WAY outside the box!

OK...with PG's:

A Duncan Distortion neck pup with the height set just right! You will be able to dial in as much balls as you want to boost a lead, fatten up a rhythm, go hard rock, or whatever on either of the other two!

Bonus points - get a tap on the tone knob for it to go for a decent single coil if you want.

 

[Mincer]

Re: New poster, thinking WAY outside the box!

How about a Phat Cat for the middle? It will blend well with the PGs.

 

[Clint 55]

Re: New poster, thinking WAY outside the box!

^ That's what I had in my HHH guitar and it worked famously. I think a mini would work well too.

 

[chadd]

Re: New poster, thinking WAY outside the box!

Way out of the box, Full Shred Neck. Very articulate and lower output, will give you more of a low power PAF vibe than the PG set. The Phat Cat is a cool idea too, I like that one. If you want a hot, thick ummm... tone, then a Custom Custom, maybe?

 

[stevie_bees]

Re: New poster, thinking WAY outside the box!

My first thought was one of the new full-sized Psyclone humbuckers.

 

[Aceman]

Re: New poster, thinking WAY outside the box!

Phat cat is NOT outside the box. It's a super-common middle choice, and a good one IMO. But not what OP was asking for.

 

[biglionfan111]

Re: New poster, thinking WAY outside the box!

Phat cat is NOT outside the box. It's a super-common middle choice, and a good one IMO. But not what OP was asking for.

Thanks everyone! Just to clarify, what I meant by "outside the box", is that I was willing to mix it up with manufacturers and styles. So things like adding a mini or a filtertron toaster or something to that effect. Probably the only thing I don't want is a single coil in there. For something like a phat cat or other 'buckers, the goal here is to be able to flip over to the middle only and have something that's very tonally different than the pearly gates sound.

 

[Mincer]

Re: New poster, thinking WAY outside the box!

A Stag Mag is also a good choice, with a Triple Shot ring.

 

[biglionfan111]

Re: New poster, thinking WAY outside the box!

A Stag Mag is also a good choice, with a Triple Shot ring.

Actually the ring will be the first to go. I thought it was a nice bonus when I got the guitar, but I can't remember what the settings are, and it just doesn't impress me. What's in it right now is an uncovered DiMarzio Steve Vai Evo 2 at the bridge.

 

[Mincer]

Re: New poster, thinking WAY outside the box!

With the right pickup, the ring is magic. To know what the switches do, check out the manual.

 

[Masta' C]

Re: New poster, thinking WAY outside the box!

Thanks everyone! Just to clarify, what I meant by "outside the box", is that I was willing to mix it up with manufacturers and styles. So things like adding a mini or a filtertron toaster or something to that effect. Probably the only thing I don't want is a single coil in there. For something like a phat cat or other 'buckers, the goal here is to be able to flip over to the middle only and have something that's very tonally different than the pearly gates sound.

Well, then I stick by the PG - Psyclone (filtertron) - PG recommendation. No need to part from the typical humbucker format or modify the body of the guitar to get the sound you're after and Duncan makes everything you need.

 

[biglionfan111]

Re: New poster, thinking WAY outside the box!

With the right pickup, the ring is magic. To know what the switches do, check out the manual.

LOL, no, I have that, I mean I look, play, then put it up for a few months while I'm playing something else and then can't remember the @#$# settings when I take it down again. Just like on my Gretsch. "Which one of these is the damn tone knob again?"

 

[Clint 55]

Re: New poster, thinking WAY outside the box!

Uh wat

 

[PFDarkside]

Re: New poster, thinking WAY outside the box!

LOL, no, I have that, I mean I look, play, then put it up for a few months while I'm playing something else and then can't remember the @#$# settings when I take it down again. Just like on my Gretsch. "Which one of these is the damn tone knob again?"

I’ve never used one, but I think it’s pretty simple. Switches in is standard, switches out is parallel, switches pointed to one coil or the other is split to that coil.

However, I agree, with standard wiring you make sure all the pots are pushed down and turned up, then just the switch is selecting your pickup. There’s no easy to identify “standard” setting on the Triple Shots.

 

[ItsaBass]

Re: New poster, thinking WAY outside the box!

A delete plate would truly be "outside the box," and the best option IMO. The way those three-humbucker Gibsons are wired makes the middle pickup fairly useless, and all it does is add weight and possibly get in the way of your picking.

Any third pickup there would not be outside the box. Any three-pickup combination you can cobble together from existing pickups is by no means "out there" IMO.

You have to decide if you want a stronger pickup there or a weaker one.

If stronger, a '59/C Hybrid might be nice. They have a hot PAF vibe, without going into truly high output territory (which would be too much to balance with PGs).

If weaker, think about a DiMarzio EJ Custom. Gretsch mini-humbucker tone in a full-sized humbucker package. Duncan makes nothing like it on the standard production line, unfortunately. They don't make a "cooled off" full-sized humbucker.

 

[freefrog]

Re: New poster, thinking WAY outside the box!

Thanks everyone! Just to clarify, what I meant by "outside the box", is that I was willing to mix it up with manufacturers and styles. So things like adding a mini or a filtertron toaster or something to that effect. Probably the only thing I don't want is a single coil in there. For something like a phat cat or other 'buckers, the goal here is to be able to flip over to the middle only and have something that's very tonally different than the pearly gates sound.

Late to the party but…


Did you think to wire your mid pickup out of phase? An independent volume is really interesting with OOP.


Unless you wire some beefy mid HB in parallel rather than in series... As a matter of fact, a SH4 or DiMarzio Super Distortion in parallel would have a DCR and inductance really close to those of a Filter’Tron and would sound accordingly... but would still deliver loads of power once in series (it mustn’t be a too bad idea if we consider this: http://www.whocollection.com/pete's_.htm ).


About Filter'Tron's and what their specs might give in mid position, I've a few observations to share on request: feel free to PM me if needed.


Regarding Mini's, I would favor a Firebird style PU. Mini's with screw poles are less versatile and might generate unclear tones in mid position for some technical reasons that I'll also explain on request. I lack of time for that right now and don't want to make this answer too long...


Good luck in your quest and be happy whatever you choose.