Pickup recommendations for Gibson Les Paul Standard?

P

Pentatomic

New member
Hi guys/gals,
Long time reader, first time poster here. I have a '94 Gibson Les Paul Standard with a SD '59 in the neck and a Gibson 498T in the bridge. They do the job, but I'm not really digging the sound from either. My LP is my go to "rawk/metal" guitar and I need it to do just that.

I want the neck to be butter smooth; good for clean sound but with that "woman tone".

I want the bridge to be a balls out screamer, good for pinch harmonics and face melting distortion. I'd like to stay with a more traditional look, though ( no blades, huge poles, etc.)

I've owned a couple of Duncan pickups, the 59 and JB, in other guitars and wasn't really happy with the sound. They were good pickups, just not the sound I'm looking for. I've been looking into the Alnico II in the neck and a 500T for the bridge, but would really like to hear what you guys think.
 
Re: Pickup recommendations for Gibson Les Paul Standard?

Woman tone is also a matter of the tone capacitor and pot, though the pickup is certainly a notable part of the equation. The other guys here on SDUG will have to address the pickup choice for screaming. I don't use that sound, currently. ;-)
 
Re: Pickup recommendations for Gibson Les Paul Standard?

Pentatomic said:
Ok, certainly. I'm not sure what kind of pots are in there now, but they feel pretty loose so I'm probably due for new ones.
Click to expand...

if they are the stock Gibson ones, they should be 500k tone and 300k volume pots. Id put some CTS 500k pots for the volume, or just get the RS gtr works 50's wiring kit and put it in there
 
Re: Pickup recommendations for Gibson Les Paul Standard?

don't get the custom for metal bro, believe me when i tell you it sucks ass. GREAT pickup for rock tones, I think it sounds fantastic for GNR stuff, gnarly sounds.

bad for metal. I'm pulling mine out of my LP standard and I'm going with a duncan distortion. I'll let you know this week how it sounds. Also, for the neck I have the jazz and it's great. Wouldn't change it for the world. I highly recommend it.
 
Re: Pickup recommendations for Gibson Les Paul Standard?

...also, there are some "woman tone" wiring kits around that use .022uF for the bridge and .015uF for the neck. (Cheaper just to pick the caps separately yourself though.) The explanation on another forum for using different values is that with the lower cap value on the neck, when the tone is almost turned all the way down, the resulting frequency curve ends up with a slight boost @500hz, more so than with the standard .022uF cap.
 
Re: Pickup recommendations for Gibson Les Paul Standard?

beaubrummels said:
...also, there are some "woman tone" wiring kits around that use .022uF for the bridge and .015uF for the neck. (Cheaper just to pick the caps separately yourself though.) The explanation on another forum for using different values is that with the lower cap value on the neck, when the tone is almost turned all the way down, the resulting frequency curve ends up with a slight boost @500hz, more so than with the standard .022uF cap.
Click to expand...

Maybe my definition of "woman tone" is a bit off. I see now that this is usually achieved with the tone all the way down. I like that sound, as well.

I was thinking more of something along the lines of Slash meets Santana thick, liquid like tone with a ton of sustain.
 
Re: Pickup recommendations for Gibson Les Paul Standard?

theycallmegio said:
don't get the custom for metal bro, believe me when i tell you it sucks ass.
Click to expand...

What!!!!:eyecrazy::smack:

No way dude. Custom kicks major ass. especially in a LP. I do like the distortion a lot. different animals. DD is more intricate and shreds more. Custom is f**king huuugee sounding. big fat chords and huge bottom end for chugging. I prefer the DD for icy death metal riffs but my opinion is for a LP, custom sounds way better to me.

My fav is my custom/JB hybrid with ceramic mag. keeps the huge sound of the custom but adds a real grinding and shredding sound to it.. that my friends is heavy metal bliss to me
 
Re: Pickup recommendations for Gibson Les Paul Standard?

theycallmegio said:
don't get the custom for metal bro, believe me when i tell you it sucks ass. GREAT pickup for rock tones, I think it sounds fantastic for GNR stuff, gnarly sounds.

bad for metal. I'm pulling mine out of my LP standard and I'm going with a duncan distortion. I'll let you know this week how it sounds. Also, for the neck I have the jazz and it's great. Wouldn't change it for the world. I highly recommend it.
Click to expand...

Very informative when you don't even say what you find wrong with the Custom for metal. For an example, you may dislike its compression and amount of mids, but the OP happens to want that compression and amount of mids.

Regarding the OP's question, the Alnico II Pro in the neck would be perfect, and I recommend getting the Custom. The Custom series is all the same wind, different magnet, so you can use the generous exchange policy if bought new from an authorized dealer, or if you are comfortable with the idea you can swap the magnets (Custom Custom is A2, Custom Five is A5, Custom is ceramic etc). You So not have to be stuck to just those magnets either. You see all the different types of magnets at Addiction FX. Magnet swapping though will void the warranty though, but is a very simple thing to do.
 
Re: Pickup recommendations for Gibson Les Paul Standard?

1. WCR Godwood & Crossroads
2. Gibson BB3 & 57 Classic
3. Gibson 57 Classic Plus & 57 Classic
4. Seth Lover Set
5. Pearly Gates Set
 
Re: Pickup recommendations for Gibson Les Paul Standard?

Pentatomic said:
I was thinking more of something along the lines of Slash meets Santana thick, liquid like tone with a ton of sustain.
Click to expand...

Keep the 490R/498T, but you need to change their magnets.

My "All'rounder Whisperer™" mag combo will do just what you're asking for:

A4 neck, A8 bridge.

Just use the search function for all the info needed to source the mags and use You Tube for the dozens of videos on mag swapping.

HTH,
 
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