PAFs for an Epi Les Paul Goldtop

Stratosphere

New member
I'm going to replace the stock pickups in my Epiphone LP Goldtop and while I was set on the Dimarzio VPAFs I'm now tempted by the Seth Lover SH-55 so I'm not sure what to get... what do you guys think of these options?:

Dimarzio VPAFs
Seymour Duncan Seth Lover
Seymour Duncan '59
Seymour Duncan Antiquity Humbuckers
 
Re: PAFs for an Epi Les Paul Goldtop

what kinda LP tone are you going for? ... makes a difference

and be sure to keep the stock pups sso that you can have the option to reinstall them and keep the good pups if you ever decide to sell the axe
 
Re: PAFs for an Epi Les Paul Goldtop

tone4days said:
what kinda LP tone are you going for? ... makes a difference

and be sure to keep the stock pups sso that you can have the option to reinstall them and keep the good pups if you ever decide to sell the axe
+1

It depends on what you want to play. The seth lovers are great blues and classic rock pickups. I have never tried them on really high gain, so I can't comment on that.
 
Re: PAFs for an Epi Les Paul Goldtop

i guess the nice thing about starting with a seet of '59s is that you can always trade up with the 21 day guarantee to seths or ants if the 59s dont float your boat
 
Re: PAFs for an Epi Les Paul Goldtop

Thanks... I guess I should have added that I'm into classic rock sounds - I don't really play jazz or super heavy metal stuff. I use it with a VOX AC-30 (brilliant channel). I have been thinking (dreaming?) about building a JTM-45 as a project at some point too...
 
Re: PAFs for an Epi Les Paul Goldtop

Try a Pearly Gates neck/Custom Custom bridge :bigthumb:

OR a Phat Cat neck/APH Pro bridge :32:
 
Re: PAFs for an Epi Les Paul Goldtop

O.K. I think I've gotten it narrowed down...it's going to be either the Seth Lovers or Antiquities...any reasons to chose one over the other? Price is not really an issue as they are almost the same.
 
Re: PAFs for an Epi Les Paul Goldtop

I love the Seths and the '59's. Everyone should have at least one set of both of those pickups. I haven't tried the Antiquities, so I can't comment on those.
 
Re: PAFs for an Epi Les Paul Goldtop

I'll agree with T4D, lots of PAF tones out there.

Here's my generic SD PAF breakdown, hope it helps.

Antiquity---A pup that is hand made by Seymour or MJ that has been artificially aged. The magnet has been degaussed and the cover has been distresses along with the screws so as to appear vintage. Everything is done to make these pups as close to an original that you would buy from a collector that was out of a guitar that was played everyday and gigged with. They have complex mids and are smooth. They are available in A2 or A5 magnet varieties. Vintage 2 Conductor Wire

The 59---The 59 is the quintessential A5 PAF (patent applied for) pup. Imagine getting in a time machine and going back to 1959 and swiping a brand new A5 pup from the Gibson factory in Kalamazoo and bringing it forward to today. They have found most homes in many neck slots. It has symetrical coils and lots of quack. It has thumping bass, a scooped mid, and cutting highs. Vintage 2 Conductor Wire

The Seth Lover---This pup is as true to the original as can be. This pup is unpotted and comes standard with a gold, or nickel pup cover. It has an A2 magnet and has good quack and fair mids. For this pup imagine going back in time to 1955 and grabbing one of the very first PAF's before they debuted in the LP's. This pup is warm and creamy, but can also get bright with the tone knob on 10. Vintage 2 Conductor Wire

The Alnico 2 Pro---The warmest of the Duncan PAF line. It has symetrical coils and is a modern take on the A2 PAFs. It has round bass and smooth treble, it also has lots of mids to make the guitar really sing. It will warm up the coldest or shrillest of guitars. The most well known Alnico 2 Pro user is Slash of Velvet Revolver and GNR. Standard 4 Conductor Wire

Pearly Gates---The PG is the hottest of the Duncan PAF line. It has asymetrical (mismatched) coils and an A2 magnet. The mismatched coils give this particular pup its rude personality. It has a frequency push in the Presence/Cut knob frequency band. This is the "Sizzle" PG owner talk about. It has the most mids of the Ducan PAF line and is also the hottest. Its patron is Billy Gibbons of ZZ Top. Standard 4 conductor Wire

The Jazz---The jazz is the pup that bridges the gap between Vintage and Modern pups. Its output is at or around the vintage level. Don't let the name fool you this pup is very versatile and smooth. It has an A5 magnet and is very widely used in the neck slot. It is articulate regardless of the tuning as well. This pup negociates cleans or overdrive very well. Standard 4 Conductor Wire

Luke
 
Re: PAFs for an Epi Les Paul Goldtop

Thanks Luke I read this rundown on another thread - it was very helpful.

Antiquities in A5? Are those a custom order?
 
Re: PAFs for an Epi Les Paul Goldtop

Stratosphere said:
Thanks Luke I read this rundown on another thread - it was very helpful.

Antiquities in A5? Are those a custom order?

I *think* it would be a shop floor custom. Call MJ at the custom shop and ask. If you want a PAF a5 style pickup, the Brobucker is the shiznitz. It is hotter than the other Duncans mentioned though.
 
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Re: PAFs for an Epi Les Paul Goldtop

Let it be known that I love the '59.
 
Re: PAFs for an Epi Les Paul Goldtop

Stratosphere said:
Thanks Luke I read this rundown on another thread - it was very helpful.

Antiquities in A5? Are those a custom order?

They are the Antiquity II. IIRC they are the same winding, but have a A5 magnet.

Luke
 
Re: PAFs for an Epi Les Paul Goldtop

Stratosphere said:
Wow those must be new...I haven't seen them on the website.

Actually I don't think it does. IIRC (maybe even correcting what I said earlier), you would have to special order one. I believe Lew did that with an a5 Antiquity that he ordered from the Custom Shop.
 
Re: PAFs for an Epi Les Paul Goldtop

They're in the SD catalog.

They are just called the Antiquity II humbuckers.

Luke
 
Re: PAFs for an Epi Les Paul Goldtop

Now (Duh) I just found out about the Vintage Blues Set (SH1 '59s). With both pickups for $125 this seems to be a very reasonable price! O.K. so in the clips I've heard don't seem to have quite the depth/character of the Seths, but for the price I think maybe I could live with that...
 
Re: PAFs for an Epi Les Paul Goldtop

Stratosphere said:
Now (Duh) I just found out about the Vintage Blues Set (SH1 '59s). With both pickups for $125 this seems to be a very reasonable price! O.K. so in the clips I've heard don't seem to have quite the depth/character of the Seths, but for the price I think maybe I could live with that...

The mids are going to be more complex with the Seths, and there will be more of them.

Lots of guys like a set of 59s, let your ears guide you.

Luke
 
Re: PAFs for an Epi Les Paul Goldtop

I have never tried them- but how about the EVH pickups?

They are alnico 2 pups... and i heard only good things about them..
 
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