One little les Paul in a world filled with so many pickups...
- Thread starter JohnZAH
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LtKojak
New member
Re: One little les Paul in a world filled with so many pickups...
My tried'n'true mag combos are the following:
1. The "Vintage Whisperer™" : A3 neck/UOA5 bridge
2. The "All'rounder™" : A4 neck/A8 bridge
3. The "Smooth Vintage Whisperer™" : A3 neck/A2 bridge
And as tradition teach us, OUA5/UOA5, A2/A2 and A4/A4 are excellent choices in all PAF-type winds.
As a personal choice, I stay away from A5 mags altogether.
HTH,
My tried'n'true mag combos are the following:
1. The "Vintage Whisperer™" : A3 neck/UOA5 bridge
2. The "All'rounder™" : A4 neck/A8 bridge
3. The "Smooth Vintage Whisperer™" : A3 neck/A2 bridge
And as tradition teach us, OUA5/UOA5, A2/A2 and A4/A4 are excellent choices in all PAF-type winds.
As a personal choice, I stay away from A5 mags altogether.
HTH,
JohnZAH
New member
Re: One little les Paul in a world filled with so many pickups...
Hey thanks for the input. I was hoping you would chime in!
Are your combos with 59s or just any set? I haven't considered the alnico 3 yet but I've heard the a4 is nice. I haven't particularly liked alnico 8 so far but I haven't tried it with anything paf output.
Hey thanks for the input. I was hoping you would chime in!
Are your combos with 59s or just any set? I haven't considered the alnico 3 yet but I've heard the a4 is nice. I haven't particularly liked alnico 8 so far but I haven't tried it with anything paf output.
blueman335
Mojo's Minions
Re: One little les Paul in a world filled with so many pickups...
+1. The stock A5's in '59's work in some guitars, but are usually boomy in the neck slot of LP's and 335's. '59B's are known for being pretty bright and thin. Kojak's mag swaps (above) fix all those issues in '59's, and any other PAF needing a tweak.
+1. The stock A5's in '59's work in some guitars, but are usually boomy in the neck slot of LP's and 335's. '59B's are known for being pretty bright and thin. Kojak's mag swaps (above) fix all those issues in '59's, and any other PAF needing a tweak.
JohnZAH
New member
Re: One little les Paul in a world filled with so many pickups...
I've heard great things about that mag combo!
how does the alnico 8 like PAF's? what kind of sound would it present?
thank you to everyone who has chimed in so far.
I've heard great things about that mag combo!
how does the alnico 8 like PAF's? what kind of sound would it present?
thank you to everyone who has chimed in so far.
JohnZAH
New member
Re: One little les Paul in a world filled with so many pickups...
it looks like I might be able to snag a Pearly Gates bridge pretty cheap so I might use that with a 59 neck.
that should be a pretty good combo. I saw a video of that set in a Les Paul and it seemed very balanced.
it looks like I might be able to snag a Pearly Gates bridge pretty cheap so I might use that with a 59 neck.
that should be a pretty good combo. I saw a video of that set in a Les Paul and it seemed very balanced.
AudioWonderland
New member
Re: One little les Paul in a world filled with so many pickups...
Or, just get 59b and a PGn and call it a day. Don't over think things.
The PG tightens up the low end and give the top end a little more bite compared to a 59n. I like the bigger bottom of the 59b myself for the bridge slot. If i need to tame the top a little I just go with 250k or 300k pots for that spot.
I know the "common knowledge" is that the 59b is thin and/or bright. I say it just isn't so when you are talking about a Les Paul.
Or, just get 59b and a PGn and call it a day. Don't over think things.
The PG tightens up the low end and give the top end a little more bite compared to a 59n. I like the bigger bottom of the 59b myself for the bridge slot. If i need to tame the top a little I just go with 250k or 300k pots for that spot.
I know the "common knowledge" is that the 59b is thin and/or bright. I say it just isn't so when you are talking about a Les Paul.
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blueman335
Mojo's Minions
Re: One little les Paul in a world filled with so many pickups...
Disagree on a couple points. In my experience, PGN's are warmer than, and have less high-end than '59N's. That's attributable in no small part to the magnet, as A5's are the brightest alnico, A2's are the warmest. I've had to swap mags in my PGN's to get enough treble out of them. With the stock A2's I find them too rounded and smooth on top, which is not an issue with '59N's.
With a couple 250K's, '59B's have the treble under control and the mids are more prominent, but with 500K's like the vast majority of HB guitars have, '59's are very bright, even in LP's. They're the brightest, thinnest PAF I've heard, and I have a number of kinds of PAF's. It stands to reason that a low wind PAF with an A5 and 500K's isn't going to be a warm bridge PU no matter what guitar it's in.
Disagree on a couple points. In my experience, PGN's are warmer than, and have less high-end than '59N's. That's attributable in no small part to the magnet, as A5's are the brightest alnico, A2's are the warmest. I've had to swap mags in my PGN's to get enough treble out of them. With the stock A2's I find them too rounded and smooth on top, which is not an issue with '59N's.
With a couple 250K's, '59B's have the treble under control and the mids are more prominent, but with 500K's like the vast majority of HB guitars have, '59's are very bright, even in LP's. They're the brightest, thinnest PAF I've heard, and I have a number of kinds of PAF's. It stands to reason that a low wind PAF with an A5 and 500K's isn't going to be a warm bridge PU no matter what guitar it's in.
Re: One little les Paul in a world filled with so many pickups...
Agree that the '59 is a very bright and thin sounding pup in the bridge. It needs 250k pots, &/or A2 or A8 magnet.
But I've never felt that the PGn didn't have enough brightness. It's true that it is fuller/warmer/rounder sounding than a '59, but it is still pretty bright IMO. However, I'm not saying that I don't love the PG in the neck position. The PG and Demon are two of my favorite neck pups.
Agree that the '59 is a very bright and thin sounding pup in the bridge. It needs 250k pots, &/or A2 or A8 magnet.
But I've never felt that the PGn didn't have enough brightness. It's true that it is fuller/warmer/rounder sounding than a '59, but it is still pretty bright IMO. However, I'm not saying that I don't love the PG in the neck position. The PG and Demon are two of my favorite neck pups.
F
Funkfingers
Guest
Re: One little les Paul in a world filled with so many pickups...
I have a PRS Chainsaw bridge/Treble position humbucker. Any suggestions for what to have in the neck/Rhythm position to complete a pair that I shall name The Hoarse Whisperer?
I have a PRS Chainsaw bridge/Treble position humbucker. Any suggestions for what to have in the neck/Rhythm position to complete a pair that I shall name The Hoarse Whisperer?
F
Funkfingers
Guest
Re: One little les Paul in a world filled with so many pickups...
Is that Alnico 9 or nine magnets?
You've given me an idea. Slice up several magnets into little squares. Different Alnico formulation under each string.
Is that Alnico 9 or nine magnets?
You've given me an idea. Slice up several magnets into little squares. Different Alnico formulation under each string.
blueman335
Mojo's Minions
Re: One little les Paul in a world filled with so many pickups...
You can't cut them that small, and they wouldn't keep a charge at that size either. Back to the drawing board.
You can't cut them that small, and they wouldn't keep a charge at that size either. Back to the drawing board.
blueman335
Mojo's Minions
Re: One little les Paul in a world filled with so many pickups...
Maybe. I have all 5 of Duncan's PAF types, and even with mag swaps couldn't get my PG's (in an LP Std) sounding the way I wanted, and ended up selling them. In stock form, the neck is pretty warm and mellow, and the bridge is brighter than you'd think with it having an A2. But other people here like their PG's.
I didn't see where you said what kind of music you're playing, but if you want to go the PAF route, Seth's are the best-sounding Duncan PAF; which Seymour co-designed with Seth Lover, the guy who invented humbuckers for Gibson in the 1950's. It's as authentic as you can get. I think it's safe to say that there's very few players who have had both Seth's and PG's, and prefer PG's over Seth's.
Maybe. I have all 5 of Duncan's PAF types, and even with mag swaps couldn't get my PG's (in an LP Std) sounding the way I wanted, and ended up selling them. In stock form, the neck is pretty warm and mellow, and the bridge is brighter than you'd think with it having an A2. But other people here like their PG's.
I didn't see where you said what kind of music you're playing, but if you want to go the PAF route, Seth's are the best-sounding Duncan PAF; which Seymour co-designed with Seth Lover, the guy who invented humbuckers for Gibson in the 1950's. It's as authentic as you can get. I think it's safe to say that there's very few players who have had both Seth's and PG's, and prefer PG's over Seth's.
JohnZAH
New member
Re: One little les Paul in a world filled with so many pickups...
I play rock and blues rock. Sometimes with a nasty clean and sometimes fairly saturated but my amps can do the heavy lifting so I just want a great set for the LP that will sound classic and versatile.
I know the Seth's are great but I've never personally tried them out. Would the Seth bridge sound "thinner" than either the 59 or PG?
Thanks for the input!
I play rock and blues rock. Sometimes with a nasty clean and sometimes fairly saturated but my amps can do the heavy lifting so I just want a great set for the LP that will sound classic and versatile.
I know the Seth's are great but I've never personally tried them out. Would the Seth bridge sound "thinner" than either the 59 or PG?
Thanks for the input!
LReese
Sausage Gravy
Re: One little les Paul in a world filled with so many pickups...
How about a split coil hum bucker al a:
with a humbucker sized split coil, must be room to put 15 or so of dem litter buggers in the middle.
How about a split coil hum bucker al a:
with a humbucker sized split coil, must be room to put 15 or so of dem litter buggers in the middle.
Mr 9finger
Digitally Challenged
Re: One little les Paul in a world filled with so many pickups...
You do realize you're on a pickup forum right?
You do realize you're on a pickup forum right?