Pickup change and tone in a Gibson Les Paul

[Rob_Rover]

I have recently bought a Gibson Les Paul Standard Faded and I'm thinking about changing the pickups since I don't quite like the Burstbucker Pros that it came with.
I had an Epiphone Les Paul with APH-1 Alnico II Pro in both neck and bridge and I really liked the tone in that guitar.

So I'm thinking of putting a pair of APH-1 Alnico II Pro in my Gibson now and would like to know what that change would do to the tone compared to the original Burstbucker Pros? And also compared to the Epiphone LP, which had an alder body (to the mahogany body in the Gibson)?

 

[blueman335]

Re: Pickup change and tone in a Gibson Les Paul

I have recently bought a Gibson Les Paul Standard Faded and I'm thinking about changing the pickups since I don't quite like the Burstbucker Pros that it came with.
I had an Epiphone Les Paul with APH-1 Alnico II Pro in both neck and bridge and I really liked the tone in that guitar.

So I'm thinking of putting a pair of APH-1 Alnico II Pro in my Gibson now and would like to know what that change would do to the tone compared to the original Burstbucker Pros? And also compared to the Epiphone LP, which had an alder body (to the mahogany body in the Gibson)?

Before you spend the money to replace the current PU's, try swapping magnets. The BBP's have A5's which are bright, and the A2P's have A2's which are very warm with heavy mids & rounded highs. It's probably the characteristics of the A2's that you like so much.

Remember that no two pieces of wood are the same (grain, density, mineral content, etc) & that what works in one guitar may not work in another, so A2P's in your Gibson LP may or may not work as well as they did in your Epi LP. Which is all the more reason to use magnets & pots to tweak your tone. You get instant results swapping magnets, and don't have to wait a week to get something shipped to you...and then find out it doesn't quite sound the way you thought it would. Save yourself the expense & frustration.

 

[Yngwiestein]

Re: Pickup change and tone in a Gibson Les Paul

There is nothing wrong with the Burstbucker Pros! Keep them! U just gotta get used to them. Try recording and playing at rehearsal and see how good they cut through. I don't really like a2 as much in Les Pauls because they already sound so warm and buttery. If you REALLY insist on changing it, at least try what blueman said! If not, here are some excellent recommendations people sent me before:
Seth Lovers
Pearly Gates
WCR Goodwood
Dimarzio Paf Pro

 

[blueman335]

Re: Pickup change and tone in a Gibson Les Paul

If A2's are a bit too "buttery" & warm, A3's have a bit more treble & sparkle. Maybe you'd want an A2 in the bridge & an A3 in the neck. There's also A4's & A8's. I can usally get the tone I want by trying a different magnet or two. As long as you start with a high-quality PU as a foundation, you can do a lot.

 

[Rob_Rover]

Re: Pickup change and tone in a Gibson Les Paul

Thanks for your comments. What you wrote about density etc was part of why I asked the question in this forum as I understand that it will effect the sound a lot. I was thinking that the mahogany body in the Gibson perhaps would contribute to a even sweeter tone, but of course it could turn out the other way too.

I have been playing quite a lot since I got my Gibson and I think that the Burstbucker Pros are a bit on the bright side, I miss the warmness that you mention above.

I have no knowledge of swapping magnets in a pickup. Is it complicated and where do you buy the magnets? I live in Sweden btw, and I have tried to find a place that sell magnets but without any luck.

 

[blueman335]

Re: Pickup change and tone in a Gibson Les Paul

I have been playing quite a lot since I got my Gibson and I think that the Burstbucker Pros are a bit on the bright side, I miss the warmness that you mention above.

I have no knowledge of swapping magnets in a pickup. Is it complicated and where do you buy the magnets? I live in Sweden btw, and I have tried to find a place that sell magnets but without any luck.

With BBP's, I'd use 250K pots (as I do with any A5 bridge PU), and that will warm them.

Check Wymore Guitars.com & see what you can work out for shipping magnets to you. There's old threads on this forum, and online pics about magnet swapping. Very easy. From loosening strings to re-tuning, it takes 10 or 15 miuntes. You can try a few magnets in a night if needed, and get an improved tone.

 

[uOpt]

Re: Pickup change and tone in a Gibson Les Paul

I'd just go ahead.

The APHs come out great in many situations and they have high resell value, so if you really don't like them they are easy to ditch.

Opening a pickup and changing the magnet ruins the resell value and can make them microphonic. Since you can sell the BBs at a higher price than the APHs cost used I don't think that's a good plan. Opening pickups for magnet changes should be done if you want to experiment a lot, not if you want to make one move.

Myself, I like the APH in the bridge an an Antiquity in the neck when it comes to PAFs sounds in a LP.

 

[Rob_Rover]

Re: Pickup change and tone in a Gibson Les Paul

I'd just go ahead.

The APHs come out great in many situations and they have high resell value, so if you really don't like them they are easy to ditch.

This is a good point. The APH pickups in Sweden cost about twice as much as in the US so I don't think that it would be any problems getting my money back if I'm not satisfied with them.
So I think I'll order the pickups from the US and try them out.
I appreciate your inputs though, I'll get back with a report when I've got the new pickups.