NGD: Les Paul for pro-typing pickups

[MacBradley]

Re: NGD: Les Paul for pro-typing pickups

I think the amber knobs pop on that blue top. Point/counterpoint with the chrome hardware and the blue top. Nice grain pattern too. That thing screams for a WLH set.

Half of me loves them haha. I'll just have to see in in person. A WHL would be fitting, but I'll be making my own set for this guitar. Underwound PAF (similar to Burtbucker 1) with an Alnico 3 for the neck, and I'm not sure on the bridge yet. It IS a prototype guitar, so I'll probably start really experimenting with some 43 or 44 AWG pickups. I've always like the Custom 5, so maybe I'll attempt to wind something in that tonal ballpark.

 

[eclecticsynergy]

Re: NGD: Les Paul for pro-typing pickups

IMO the biggest benefit of the quick-change cutout is that one could have a bunch of insert blocks with pickups already mounted, and swap 'em out for comparisons from one set to another in a matter of seconds. This would be a genuine advantage. Huge. It's amazing how much our ears can readjust over the course of even five minutes. Add the fact that when it comes to tone, preconceptions are pretty much inevitable and we sometimes (often?) tend to hear what we want to, and fifteen-second switches back & forth could be a real game-changer. Brilliant!

PS: How about silver knobs?

 

[MacBradley]

Re: NGD: Les Paul for pro-typing pickups

It showed up a day early!! In person I'm really digging the amber knobs. I think they'll stay. I also wound the pickups for it last night. The covers don't get here until Friday though. Here's the pickups I made for it.

Bridge Pickup:
- 16k with A8 magnet centering two coils wound with 43 AWG slug side and 44 AWG screw side, with a C8 magnet replacing the spacer on the screw side. It should be an interesting experiment!

Neck Pickup:
- 6.4K (2.8K + 3.6K) offset coils with an A3 magnet.

 

[blueman335]

Re: NGD: Les Paul for pro-typing pickups

IMO the biggest benefit of the quick-change cutout is that one could have a bunch of insert blocks with pickups already mounted, and swap 'em out for comparisons from one set to another in a matter of seconds.

If you decide you like a PU in your test guitar, how is that PU going to sound in a guitar mounted without the quick-change cutout?