fwiw... I just recently put in a PG set into my Greco LP, and the guitar now instantly sounds like Govt Mule (Haynes has a few other tones on other projects, e.g. ABB)! The tone that comes to mind is the one on the opening chords to the Mule's song "High and Mighty." I was amazed, given I have simple gear: VS Open Road > Pearl Drive > Classic 30 + ext cab with Weber Blue Dog ceramic.
With my other SD pickups (Seths, Antiquity, A2P) my preference is to bring down the bridge tone knob to 5. For the PG set, I have to set it lower - 2.5 to 3. So long as the pot works properly, the added brightness the PG's are known for is not an issue.
The A2P bridge would be a warmer-sounding alternative, with rounded highs which never get ear-piercing. To my ear tho, the tone is more modern, hi-fi sounding, instead of vintage-y....
Hope that helps with your decision.
WOW! You have the tone almost OFF! You should make sure to use 300K pots all around if you like it dark.
+1. That's why I use 250K's on my bridge HB's and P-90's (500K's on the neck).
A guitar pickup is a transducer. It can only bring out what is there in the wood and, to some extent, the metal of the hardware.
If you play enough Les Pauls, you will find that they are all slightly different from each other. This is why Lucid, Jolly, Aceman and others feel it necessary to own several of them. I currently own two. (This number could go down as well as up ... but it probably won't!)
Hi. I just got myself a practically new Epi Dot a week ago; also a natural fin. with mahogany neck. So I decided to revisit this thread.
papersoul, I'm surprised you're still on the fence about the PG's. As I've expressed in my previous post, I'm pretty ecstatic about how my PG set works in my LP; so I won't be moving them to my Dot any time soon. So for now I can only imagine how much more a semi-hollow's warmth can enhance the PG's inherent sound.
The PG's displaced a pair of Antiquities; so the latter set will be going into the Dot in a month or two when a luthier friend can get down to it. Am justifying the pairing (to myself) this way: the LP with PG's for full-on raunchy, and the Dot with Ants for jazzy, bluesy to crunch...
Would be great to hear about what you finally install in your Dot. Best of luck with it.
I decided to get a Duncan PG neck pickup and Wolfetone Marshallhead MKII Alnico II pickup for the bridge.
I am wondering if changing the pots will make much difference? Anyone tried just changing the pots on these? Much change?
No. I keep them stock expect for the PU's, and adding 250K's on the bridge. PU's do more to upgrade the tone than everything else put together.
I thought the stock volume pots were already 300K. I hear some people changing the bridge and TP.
OK...what about if I want maximum clarity and definition while retaining a decent PAF vibe? I am about ready to do this and down to the 59, PG or Dim. 36th Anniversary.
Do you guys feel Duncans are as good as boutique pickups?