Pickup for an Gibson Les Paul HP

[stupendous silly]

I am looking for mainly a bridge pickup for a Gibson Les Paul Traditional 'High Performance' , I hope there are people here aquainted with the HP guitars of Gibson, because I think they are somewhat peculiar. I changed the stock Classic 57s first to Bare Knuckles Abraxas, then the BK Blackdogs, and to be fair both were huge improvements in tone over the Classics. I initially thought the guitar was 'too bright'. Now I think it is dark and screechy. Black Dogs gave it a thicker sound, but the top-end is still harsh, and now I find the bridge sound 'nasal'. Possibly I need something both softer and more open, still with good midrange. I suspect it will need to be an Alnico 2 but I am open to other suggestions. Loved the Pearly Gates demo with the SG on this site. Maybe something fatter in that line will do? Thanks in advance.

 

[Derpottsie]

Re: Pickup for an Gibson Les Paul HP

Pearly Gates in the Les Paul might not be a bad choice. I went with the 59/custom hybrid to get a bolder and more rounded tone out of my SG. Its soft when I need it and aggressive if I get in on the strings a little bit. Just a fat and thick tone with complete control. But I'm not sure how that would translate over into a les paul. I just needed to cut down on the screeching highs I was get in the stock pickup and get a more tight bass sound. 59/custom is something to look at

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-J320A using Tapatalk

 

[stupendous silly]

Re: Pickup for an Gibson Les Paul HP

Pearly Gates in the Les Paul might not be a bad choice. I went with the 59/custom hybrid to get a bolder and more rounded tone out of my SG. Its soft when I need it and aggressive if I get in on the strings a little bit. Just a fat and thick tone with complete control. But I'm not sure how that would translate over into a les paul. I just needed to cut down on the screeching highs I was get in the stock pickup and get a more tight bass sound. 59/custom is something to look at

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Thanks for the reply, I believe 59/Custom hybrid must be a great pickup, but I would hesite to get an Alnico 5 after Bare Knuckle Black Dogs, I believe it could again be too gritty on this particular guitar. Nor do I think a Pearly Gates would do. I need something on the soft side but also full sounding. I don't think this is typical Les Paul tone I am getting with this High-performance model.

 

[stupendous silly]

Re: Pickup for an Gibson Les Paul HP

Someone please tell me a little about A2pro and the Slash model, whether either might work in this case, and which better. Never been a fan of Slash tone, but I have this guts feeling it might work in this particular occasion.
Also sorry for flooding the site with my issues but I need solutions for multiple guitars, and I succeeded in some others so it is not an endless obsession thing.

 

[The JEM Ghost]

Re: Pickup for an Gibson Les Paul HP

Someone please tell me a little about A2pro and the Slash model

You just named the pickups I had in mind for your guitar and tonal needs!! The Alnico II will be softer sounding compared to the Pearly Gates, it has less bite, less treble and upper mid range respons. Your guts feeling is on the spot if you ask me, try the Alnico II (or Slash model if you like) and I think you'll hit the jackpot! :fing2:

 

[Mincer]

Re: Pickup for an Gibson Les Paul HP

The Alnico II Pro and Slash have a slightly nasal sound in a balanced sounding guitar. The sound isn't open, like a regular PAF. But it certainly doesn't sound screechy. It is a great LP sound, but probably one best used with clean-to-hard-rock levels of overdrive.

 

[stupendous silly]

Re: Pickup for an Gibson Les Paul HP

You just named the pickups I had in mind for your guitar and tonal needs!! The Alnico II will be softer sounding compared to the Pearly Gates, it has less bite, less treble and upper mid range respons. Your guts feeling is on the spot if you ask me, try the Alnico II (or Slash model if you like) and I think you'll hit the jackpot! :fing2:

Thanks a lot for the encouragement, much appreciated...

 

[stupendous silly]

Re: Pickup for an Gibson Les Paul HP

The Alnico II Pro and Slash have a slightly nasal sound in a balanced sounding guitar. The sound isn't open, like a regular PAF. But it certainly doesn't sound screechy. It is a great LP sound, but probably one best used with clean-to-hard-rock levels of overdrive.

'Nasal' is something I dont think I will like Mincer, it may be one thing I don't like about Slash's tone... thanks for pointing out... you have any other suggestions given my circumstance?... the original A2pro could be more open sounding than the Slash model?

 

[Mincer]

Re: Pickup for an Gibson Les Paul HP

Well, the A2P still has that nasal sound in any guitar I've tried it in (I have a few in very different guitars). You might like a more 'open' pickup...one without as many mids. A Pearly Gates or even a Saturday Night Special has highs, but also nice mids, too.

 

[stupendous silly]

Re: Pickup for an Gibson Les Paul HP

Well, the A2P still has that nasal sound in any guitar I've tried it in (I have a few in very different guitars). You might like a more 'open' pickup...one without as many mids. A Pearly Gates or even a Saturday Night Special has highs, but also nice mids, too.

Incidentally I was thinking the SNS could be my ideal Les Paul pickup if I had a more typical sounding Les Paul. I will consider it again though, thanks.

 

[AZ Picker]

Re: Pickup for an Gibson Les Paul HP

I've got a 2012 traditional, and I threw a bridge with the titanium saddles (Like your HP) and while I do love the tighter response compared to the standard bridges, it does up the "zing" factor considerably. So much so that when I Took the 57 classics out and put in the Whole Lotta humbucker set, the bridge pickup was just too darn harsh. Switching the bridge back helped although I like the titanium saddles... I'm guessing with the titanium saddles AND nut, you are getting twice that effect.. so A5 paf types might get a little harsh, good news is, a2 pickups will sound tighter in the bass side, more like an A5, but still have smoother highs. I moved onto the Saturday Night Special set and it pretty much solved the too bright bridge issue, and the neck is very clear but still warm, and good treble bite with the volume rolled back a bit. The Slash set has fat highs too, and more and tighter bass than the Pearly gates or Seth set( I love all of these don't get me wrong, I need more guitars!!)

 

[stupendous silly]

Re: Pickup for an Gibson Les Paul HP

I've got a 2012 traditional, and I threw a bridge with the titanium saddles (Like your HP) and while I do love the tighter response compared to the standard bridges, it does up the "zing" factor considerably. So much so that when I Took the 57 classics out and put in the Whole Lotta humbucker set, the bridge pickup was just too darn harsh. Switching the bridge back helped although I like the titanium saddles... I'm guessing with the titanium saddles AND nut, you are getting twice that effect.. so A5 paf types might get a little harsh, good news is, a2 pickups will sound tighter in the bass side, more like an A5, but still have smoother highs. I moved onto the Saturday Night Special set and it pretty much solved the too bright bridge issue, and the neck is very clear but still warm, and good treble bite with the volume rolled back a bit. The Slash set has fat highs too, and more and tighter bass than the Pearly gates or Seth set( I love all of these don't get me wrong, I need more guitars!!)

Thanks alot for the input, it is spot on, titanium parts are exactly the problem IMO, I intend to change the saddles but don't know what to (maybe brass?). I may open another tread for that.
I am presently trying to compare the Antiquity and Seth Lover with the Saturday Night Special and A2 pro. SNS seems right for the job, but I was quite decided on an alnico 2 humbucker for the smoother highs. In the sound samples Seth sounds more open/less nasal than A2 pro and still with stronger mids than Antiquity bridge to my ears, how do you think about that? Is there a sense in sticking with Alnico 2 instead of Alnico 4 for this guitar?
I don't want to hijack you though, these questions are for all of you gentlemen, thanks again in advance.

 

[stupendous silly]

Re: Pickup for an Gibson Les Paul HP

By the way, I may seem overscrupulous but I will be ordering the pickup(s) from abroad, so I want to score at first shot. Thanks for bearing with me.

 

[Darg1911]

Re: Pickup for an Gibson Les Paul HP

That Ti nut can be replaced with a Graphtech if so desired. Graptech has a "drop-in" Tusq XL replacement for the Gibson zero fret nuts.

 

[stupendous silly]

Re: Pickup for an Gibson Les Paul HP

That Ti nut can be replaced with a Graphtech if so desired. Graptech has a "drop-in" Tusq XL replacement for the Gibson zero fret nuts.

Thanks for the input, but I believe that drop-in nut of Graphtech works only on the 2015 models, not the 'High Performance' models of 2016-17. Nut is no big concern though, I arranged a Luthier to make and install a bone nut. Saddles are more critical, are the traditional Les Paul saddles brass? Lets get back to pickups before the tread is moved though