New pups for the LP - opinions welcome

[MikeS]

Sorry for the long-winded post...

After playing the LP last night I've had it with the 490R in the neck. This thing is muddy as can be and has way too much bottom end. IMO, nothing sounds worse than ultra muddy low tones. All I can discern from the Gibson website is that the 490R is that it is a PAF based pickup with an alnico 2 magnet with increased upper mids. Beyond that, I don't know where it would fit into the SD tone chart.

Now, the 498T in the bridge produces fairly good tone to my ears. My only complaints might be that it's a tad bright when clean (easily fixed by rolling back the tone knob) and it's not quite tight enough on the bottom end for palm-muted single note riffing. Other wise, the lows, mids, and highs are right where I would like them in this LP. What I know of the 498 is that it's got an alnico 5 magnet, increased input (over what they don't say), and an emphasis on the mids and highs.

Based on what I know of the stock Gibsons, I think I might like the C5 in the bridge and that it might be on par with the 498 in terms of its voicing. Only question is, how articulate is this pup? I want something with a lot of clarity on the bottom without having too high of an output. I also thought about getting another Screamin Demon, since it tears up the single note riffing on my strat, but I kinda wanted to try something different.

Neckwise, I'm leaning towards either the Jazz neck or the PG neck. My only concern lies in the PG neck, worried that it might also have a bit too much bottom end for the neck of a LP (keep in mind that I tend to think that for some reason my LP seems a little darker than most. Maybe it's something in the wood?)

So...
bridge: C5 or Demon
neck: Jazz of PG

Thanks for your patience. Now, any opinions?

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: New pups for the LP - opinions welcome

I go for a set of Pearly Gates or Antiquitys. I don't think you'll have any trouble with to much bass from the PG neck. The Jazz and 59N are excellant neck pickups too and a set of 59's will get you into Clapton's Bluesbreaker Tonal Territory but they do seem to have more bass than the PG, Seth Lover or Antiquity. Lew

 

[Robert S.]

Re: New pups for the LP - opinions welcome

The C-5 isn't as middy or toppy as the 498T and the bottom end is a bit tighter to my ears. The PGn is warmer than the Jazz or 59 in the neck but it is more mid strong than bottom heavy.

Stock production LPs have 300k linear taper pots and changing those out to 500k analog taper pots will help with clarity in that guitar.

I've had the C-5/PGn combo with 500k pots in my #1 LP since Sept 2001 and that sets a record at my house for longest combo in a guitar. While the Antiquity set is a killer vintage combo and the PGs are also very cool, if you want a LP with balls the C-5/PGn combo is hard to beat.

But in all seriousness change out the volume pots. If those 300k pots are under spec it would definately cause the guitar to be murky sounding.

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: New pups for the LP - opinions welcome

The C-5 isn't as middy or toppy as the 498T and the bottom end is a bit tighter to my ears. The PGn is warmer than the Jazz or 59 in the neck but it is more mid strong than bottom heavy.

Stock production LPs have 300k linear taper pots and changing those out to 500k analog taper pots will help with clarity in that guitar.

I've had the C-5/PGn combo with 500k pots in my #1 LP since Sept 2001 and that sets a record at my house for longest combo in a guitar. While the Antiquity set is a killer vintage combo and the PGs are also very cool, if you want a LP with balls the C-5/PGn combo is hard to beat.

But in all seriousness change out the volume pots. If those 300k pots are under spec it would definately cause the guitar to be murky sounding.

Absolutley! I just worked on Woody's Les Paul with 300K pots and changing them to 500K made all the diff in the world! Really opened it up. Lew

 

[mrfjones]

Re: New pups for the LP - opinions welcome

i have to agree with both men so far, change the pots first.

now for pickups. I love my antiquity set in my bluesbird, it replaced a set of 59's which were also very good sounding. I just like the antiquities better. The pearly gates sound amazing also, i highly recommend one at least for the neck position. They have a sizzle about them that these others just don't have. It is like a good texas chili, if you have never had it you might think you don't want to try, but once you have it you have to come back for more. It is a good sizzle not overly hot but just enough to add a good kick. As for bridge pickups i think all of these mentioned are very nice sounding. if you want a hot bridge pickup go with the c5, if you want something more traditional go with the 59 or get a matched set of pearly gates.

 

[MikeS]

Re: New pups for the LP - opinions welcome

My only concern with 500k pots all around is that I might brighten up the 498T more than I want. It's already got a lot of highs, which sound fine under gain, but I'm already rolling back the tone knob to play clean with it. You could say that IMO the 490R and 498T are not bad pickups on their own, I just don't think they are well matched for what I play.

That, plus I want to see what a set of zebras look like in my LP, so the stockers have got to go

Robert, how's that C5 back off in your LP? I don't want to go too hot with either pickup in this guitar. Is it also safe to assume you're using 500k pots with the C5/PGn?

I think I'm going to give the PGn a whirl. Now I just gotta decide on the C5 or a set of PGs.

 

[tiefightertk069]

Re: New pups for the LP - opinions welcome

I just installed a set of PGs in my LP... they replaced a set of 59s. My tone pots are CTS, both reading 514K, with orange drop caps.

They've given me everything I loved about the 59s and fixed everything I didn't like about the 59s when they were in this guitar.
Bridge:
Crunchy, open gain with dynamic range throughout the sweep of tone pot.
Cleans are twangy yet crisp and have the same airy openess.

Neck:
Again, very dynamic range with a gain tone I can't really put into words. It's fat but not flubby, nice harmonic content, and very nice.
Cleans are brighter and more open that the 59 was in this guitar, flatter too but still organic.

With both pickups selected it is one of my favorite clean tones ever.

 

[MikeS]

Re: New pups for the LP - opinions welcome

Where can I get a C5? Who's the preferred online source here? I've typically bought from MF, but they don't carry the C5. Not that I've made up my mind yet, I'm just curious where you can get it.

 

[Robert S.]

Re: New pups for the LP - opinions welcome

I'm betting Lew can come up with a zebra C-5.

The C-5 really isn't any more agressive than the 498T, it's just voiced differently. The cleans of the C-5 are a bit smoother than that of the 498T and I found the C-5 too dark in my Strat with 250k pots. Sometimes I do roll the volume back just a touch for rhythm work and the C-5 has enough juice to stay punchy with the volume backed off just a little to fatten up the tone.

The C-5 and PGn combined is one of the better two pickup tones I've heard in a LP. They complimnt each other nicely.