Opinions on Bridge Upgrade in a Les Paul Traditional Pro

Re: Opinions on Bridge Upgrade in a Les Paul Traditional Pro

Update: After removing the harsh stock capacitor and replacing it w/an orange drop, I slapped the Perpetual Burn back in.

I don't know if this is going to be the be all/end all setup, I might eventually try something else. But, for now, I am totally satisfied. For people who think the SH4/JB might be a little too hot, too harsh or not heavy enough on the bottom end, I would highly recommend it.

Hot enough to really make your preamp respond, has a chunky bottom end, very smooth top end (not too "spiky") and a nice mid-range that really makes harmonics pop out. Ran though my Peavey Ultra Plus, I have the gain on about 3.5 (or about 11 o'clock or so) and it's still just crushing distortion, w/massive chugging palm mutes, and sings for single note pull-offs etc...
 
Re: Opinions on Bridge Upgrade in a Les Paul Traditional Pro

jc74868 said:
For people who think the SH4/JB might be a little too hot, too harsh or not heavy enough on the bottom end, I would highly recommend it.
Click to expand...


Depends on what you're aiming for. If you want a PAF sound, a JB isn't a very good recommendation. If you're playing hard rock and metal, then a JB might be what you want.
 
Re: Opinions on Bridge Upgrade in a Les Paul Traditional Pro

I play in a Skynyrd tribute band and a Ted Nugent tribute band and I have JBs in both my Les Pauls. The JB really nails the
Classic Rock tones. It to me is the greatest pickup ever made. The 35th Anniversary JB with the rough cast AlNiCo 5 is even better.
 
Re: Opinions on Bridge Upgrade in a Les Paul Traditional Pro

I sent a 59 into the custom shop to be JB wound with a rough cast as well.
 
Re: Opinions on Bridge Upgrade in a Les Paul Traditional Pro

I actually like the tone from the JB in Studio quite a bit. I think I might experiment w/it a little though. Might actually try a different .022 cap on it (can't recall what they, some kinda Russian PIO, I think. Maybe an orange drop on it too)...or I might try a .027, just to experiment. Just something to take the edge off of it a little.
 
Re: Opinions on Bridge Upgrade in a Les Paul Traditional Pro

I run .022 PIO in both my Les Pauls I use JB and 59 in both with raw nickel covers I use Texas Hot Antiquity in my Strat with 500k pots and a Fender Pure Vintage .1 wax and foil cap.

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Re: Opinions on Bridge Upgrade in a Les Paul Traditional Pro

I have an '08 LP Traditional that I use for everything from clean picking to thrash, so I needed something that had medium-ish output and balanced tone. My personal preference is for a chewy midrange sound with lots of harmonic content.

I'll tell you what I did, and I'll tell you what else I'd try if I wasn't so satisfied with what I did. :)

What I did:

Neck - shop custom wax-potted Seth Lover

Bridge - BroBucker

What else I could have tried:

Whole Lotta Humbucker set.... because man, they sound fantastic. This demo:

 
Re: Opinions on Bridge Upgrade in a Les Paul Traditional Pro

Yeah. I have the WLH in another LP. I think it's about the best pickup I've ever encountered
 
Re: Opinions on Bridge Upgrade in a Les Paul Traditional Pro

middy, clanky, nasally, shrill, etc...

A buddy if mine as a LP Trad Pro that had these same sound qualities with the BB3. He let me have it for bit (not to keep, would be nice) and the problem was the setup. The neck was too straight, action too low and it just choked the sustain and resonance of the guitar. So, I did a setup on it and got it ringing great. After that was taken care of I messed with the pickup height and pole pieces. I can't remember exactly how the poles were finally adjusted but I'm sure I finally ended up with them being the same as the string radius at that point. It made a noticeable difference. It became a fat and sustaining beast. He still has it and loves how it sounds now.
 
Re: Opinions on Bridge Upgrade in a Les Paul Traditional Pro

I had all those problems but the guitar was set up properly. Tried numerous pickups and finally changed the terrible factory capacitor on the bridge side. Sounds awesome now. Even the BB3 might rock bow but I haven't tried it again.
 
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