Pearly Gates for a LP Custom 3 pup?

[JonTheBass]

Hello Folks, I have a Gibson LP 3 pup Custom - Mahogany & Maple body and Mahogany & Ebony neck.

The bridge pup is not balanced at all well with the neck, volume wise, and I have decided to put some new pups in the old girl.

I want that vintage hot sound for it, so In your experience would a trio of Pearly Gates go well with the ebony neck, etc?

Also would I need a neck or bridge for the middle pup?

Any help mucho appreciated,
Cheers,
Jon.

 

[blueman335]

Re: Pearly Gates for a LP Custom 3 pup?

Youre facing a problem we've dealt with before here. HHH guitars (LP & SG Customs) are gorgeous, but that middle HB is perplexing.

Situation: Many of us are disappointed in how a middle HB sounds, regardless of what kind it is, or if it's high, low, or medium output. The sound quality is significantly reduced from the same PU put in the bridge or neck position. I'm sure there's a scientific reason behind it. Everyone copied the configuration of HSS & HSH. Virtually no one climbed aboard the HHH bandwagon. But there's good news.

Solution: HB-sized P-90's (Phat Cat, P-94, etc)! These give a better tone in the middle position. I've done this on a couple guitars. If I do another HHH, I'll use a HB in the bridge and a Phat Cat in both the neck & middle.

My suggestion would be a PGB/PCN/PGN or a PGB/PCB/PCN.

If you're going to re-do how the pots are wired, there's different ideas on that too:
- Put in a coil cut for the HB's (push-pull for one or both)
- Use Artie's coil swap mod for the bridge & neck HB's (push-pull).
- Use a push-pull to shut off the middle PU, making it faster to get in & out of action.
- Use a blend pot for the neck & middle PU's (shared volume control), and a dedicated volume & tone for the bridge.

 

[JonTheBass]

Re: Pearly Gates for a LP Custom 3 pup?

Hi Blueman335,
Thanks for the excellent advice.

I know this pup conundrum must have been discussed here many times but I couldn't easily find anything from a quick search while at work!

I am liking the sound of PGB/PCN/PGN wired with the blend pot for the neck & middle PU's (shared volume control), and a dedicated volume & tone for the bridge.

Thanks for that, I'm off to look at the SD web site right now!

Rock on ;-]

 

[Aceman]

Re: Pearly Gates for a LP Custom 3 pup?

I still say that this combo:

PG neck
Distortion Neck
Custom Bridge

would work for 3 HB's

 

[bluefrog]

Re: Pearly Gates for a LP Custom 3 pup?

yeah i thing a P90 cd really be fine in any LP neck and so middle
you can get the GFS Dream90 neck for a test it is cheap but so **** cool/good.

PG neck is a killer for any ebony LP for neck position. I swapped my 59N to PGN
- and I am happy with it.

 

[Aceman]

Re: Pearly Gates for a LP Custom 3 pup?

Can't miss with the PG neck, and it is hard to argue with P-90 goodness!

Still, there is the balls to the wall rock factor on three HB's...

 

[JonTheBass]

Re: Pearly Gates for a LP Custom 3 pup?

Anyone got a pic of a 3 HB LP with a Phat Cat in the middle please?

 

[theodie]

Re: Pearly Gates for a LP Custom 3 pup?

I still say that this combo:

PG neck
Distortion Neck
Custom Bridge

would work for 3 HB's

That would be a seriously good combo IMO!

The Demon in the middle may be good also.

 

[Aceman]

Re: Pearly Gates for a LP Custom 3 pup?

Now all I need is another Les Paul with triple buckers to test the theory. And a good divorce attorney!