Pickups for a Les Paul

[TRex]

So im doing a slow but steady list of upgrades for my Eipiphone Les Paul Standard (09"). I am about to put in CTS 500k (all run about 480k to 510k iirc) push pull audio taper pots for a repair and possibly do a complete rewire. I will try and get my hands on a peavey windsor and a decent bass cabinet to replace my Fender G-Dec3 15 before I swap pickups, to give those 57's one last shot.

I mostly play Classic rock, some metal, and hard rock. The current 57 alinco classic and plus in the guitar are a bit "cloudy" sounding. They arnt really articulate or super PAF sounding anyway.

Bands I play a lot of: Led Zeppelin, Cream, Guns N roses, AC/DC, Black Keys, Metallica (not really important), older Green Day (Back when he used humbuckers primarily), and some BB king occasionally.

I guess I'm looking for a ballsier 59', but not so much so that I can't do some classics. I do need it to be a 4 conductor wire model, and I would like to keep it around $150 for the pair if at all possible.

I would like the neck to be a bit more classic sounding, yet not get super muddy or unclear under a bit of gain. I was thinking 59'n, Custom 5, or maybe a Alnico 2 pro.

The bridge need to be better on higher gain levels. I'm not doing really heavy metal or anything, but I do like to be able to do some randy Rhodes stuff without having to back down too much.

I am so far considering a C5, JB, CC, or 59 Custom Hybrid.

I have no real experience with any of these pickups besides youtube demos.

Right now the 59' custom hybrid is my favorite for the bridge, and I am really unsure about the neck.

What are your opinions?

 

[Rand-O-Monium]

Re: Pickups for a Les Paul

Wait for the neck model of the Hybrid?

 

[TRex]

Re: Pickups for a Les Paul

Wait for the neck model of the Hybrid?

That might be an option, I guess will see when that comes

 

[guitarSQUIRELL]

Re: Pickups for a Les Paul

Wait for the neck model of the Hybrid?

When is it supposed to come out?

 

[Falloffthebonetone]

Re: Pickups for a Les Paul

What you described sounds identical to the Whole Lotta Humbuckers, buuuut those are kind of over 150. The 59/custom hybrid is my favorite bridge humbucker, and it does all that stuff plent plenty well so you can go with that too. If you're trying to avoid muddiness, a Jazz in the neck can help with that.

 

[guitarSQUIRELL]

Re: Pickups for a Les Paul

What you described sounds identical to the Whole Lotta Humbuckers, buuuut those are kind of over 150. The 59/custom hybrid is my favorite bridge humbucker, and it does all that stuff plent plenty well so you can go with that too. If you're trying to avoid muddiness, a Jazz in the neck can help with that.

Jazz neck in a mahogany LP? Wouldnt it be too boomy? Its almost to boomy in my ibanez RG. What about the 59 neck?

 

[TRex]

Re: Pickups for a Les Paul

What you described sounds identical to the Whole Lotta Humbuckers, buuuut those are kind of over 150. The 59/custom hybrid is my favorite bridge humbucker, and it does all that stuff plent plenty well so you can go with that too. If you're trying to avoid muddiness, a Jazz in the neck can help with that.

Jazz is cool, but I have heard it was boomy in mahogany bodied LP type guitars. I has a really nice split sound though

Jazz neck in a mahogany LP? Wouldnt it be too boomy? Its almost to boomy in my ibanez RG. What about the 59 neck?

I have heard the same

A 59'n sounds good, but I want to see what else is out there

When is it supposed to come out?

Idk, I heard something about a preview for a member here a few weeks ago I think.

 

[blueman335]

Re: Pickups for a Les Paul

The current 57 alinco classic and plus in the guitar are a bit "cloudy" sounding. They arent really articulate or super PAF sounding anyway.

I'm looking for a ballsier 59', but not so much so that I can't do some classics. I do need it to be a 4 conductor wire model, and I would like to keep it around $150 for the pair if at all possible.

I would like the neck to be a bit more classic sounding, yet not get super muddy or unclear under a bit of gain. I was thinking 59'n, Custom 5, or maybe a Alnico 2 pro.

The bridge need to be better on higher gain levels. I'm not doing really heavy metal or anything, but I do like to be able to do some randy Rhodes stuff without having to back down too much.

I am so far considering a C5, JB, CC, or 59 Custom Hybrid.

I have no real experience with any of these pickups besides youtube demos.

Right now the 59' custom hybrid is my favorite for the bridge, and I am really unsure about the neck.

What are your opinions?

There certainly are those of us that are underwhelmed by '57's, for the same reasons you mentioned. I've got some Epi LP's and have tried a number of Duncan's in them:

Neck
- I like '59N's in SG's, but they can be boomy/bassy in LP's.
- JazzN's are bright and clear, but don't have as much character as PAF's.
- A2P's are one of my favorites. They have a full sound, and a sharper, more aggressive high end than PGN's.
- Seth's are one of the great PAF's. Look for a used set?

Bridge
- CC's (SH-11) are known here for being pretty warm in the average LP, too warm for many players. Great reports of them in Strats though.
- JB's are hit or miss in mahogany, a debate that's been going on for decades (moderators and police have had to break up fights). They can work well in LP's, or they can occasionally bomb out.
- C5's (SH-14) are on the thin and bright side, but an LP's fat body fills in some of that.
- Customs (SH-5) are nice in mahogany if you're playing a lot of metal. Not a good choice for classic rock and blues.
- My first choices are Seth's, WLH's, and A2P's.

 

[guitarSQUIRELL]

Re: Pickups for a Les Paul

There certainly are those of us that are underwhelmed by '57's, for the same reasons you mentioned. I've got some Epi LP's and have tried a number of Duncan's in them:

Neck
- I like '59N's in SG's, but they can be boomy/bassy in LP's.
- JazzN's are bright and clear, but don't have as much character as PAF's.
- A2P's are one of my favorites. They have a full sound, and a sharper, more aggressive high end than PGN's.
- Seth's are one of the great PAF's. Look for a used set?

Bridge
- CC's (SH-11) are known here for being pretty warm in the average LP, too warm for many players. Great reports of them in Strats though.
- JB's are hit or miss in mahogany, a debate that's been going on for decades (moderators and police have had to break up fights). They can work well in LP's, or they can occasionally bomb out.
- C5's (SH-14) are on the thin and bright side, but an LP's fat body fills in some of that.
- Customs (SH-5) are nice in mahogany if you're playing a lot of metal. Not a good choice for classic rock and blues.
- My first choices are Seth's, WLH's, and A2P's.

What would you say to the '59/ Custom Hybrid bridge and the A2P in the neck? would that make a good combo or would the output of the 2 clash in volume levels?

 

[TRex]

Re: Pickups for a Les Paul

There certainly are those of us that are underwhelmed by '57's, for the same reasons you mentioned. I've got some Epi LP's and have tried a number of Duncan's in them:

Neck
- I like '59N's in SG's, but they can be boomy/bassy in LP's.
- JazzN's are bright and clear, but don't have as much character as PAF's.
- A2P's are one of my favorites. They have a full sound, and a sharper, more aggressive high end than PGN's.
- Seth's are one of the great PAF's. Look for a used set?

Bridge
- CC's (SH-11) are known here for being pretty warm in the average LP, too warm for many players. Great reports of them in Strats though.
- JB's are hit or miss in mahogany, a debate that's been going on for decades (moderators and police have had to break up fights). They can work well in LP's, or they can occasionally bomb out.
- C5's (SH-14) are on the thin and bright side, but an LP's fat body fills in some of that.
- Customs (SH-5) are nice in mahogany if you're playing a lot of metal. Not a good choice for classic rock and blues.
- My first choices are Seth's, WLH's, and A2P's.

Well I'm glad I am not alone here

I am really feeling the Alinco 2 pro or the 59'n. The Seth Lovers set looks great, but I don't think I'll be able to afford that.

I often find myself boosting the mids on my amp settings when I'm using my 57 neck, so a more flat eq of the A2P might be exactly what I need.

The 59 should sound classic and I have heard it has a decent split sound. I just need to make sure I get the 4 conductor model.

Is there a good sound example of a JB sounding bad in a LP, I have seen posts about that but never a sound file or video

 

[Falloffthebonetone]

Re: Pickups for a Les Paul

Jazz boomy in mahogany? Never heard that. 59 has more bass and will be boomier than the jazz.

 

[TRex]

Re: Pickups for a Les Paul

Jazz boomy in mahogany? Never heard that. 59 has more bass and will be boomier than the jazz.

I remember hearing that from some forum a while back when I was looking at the HRH set.

 

[Progbusters]

Re: Pickups for a Les Paul

i've read on mylespaul that epiphone LP's are mostly combinations of mahogany-ish asian wood called Nato, and then alder, and some thin top layers. Not a one slab piece of mahogany.

 

[Falloffthebonetone]

Re: Pickups for a Les Paul

I remember hearing that from some forum a while back when I was looking at the HRH set.

Like blueman said, the thing's bag is brightness. Even the Duncan website recommends it for mahogany bodies.

A2 pro is a great suggestion, and can be easily converted to a Jazz with a magnet swap if you don't like it and want more brightness and output.

 

[Snake Aces]

Re: Pickups for a Les Paul

Jazz is the exact opposite of boomy in a mahogany body 24.75" scale guitar like a LP. The Jazz is the clearest, most articulate neck humbucker I have ever used and it is my choice go-to neck humbucker for a warm guitar.

 

[blueman335]

Re: Pickups for a Les Paul

Is there a good sound example of a JB sounding bad in a LP

When things go south with a PU, a guy's first reaction is to yank them, and not record clips. I've been reading members posts and colorful descriptions of JB/mahogany fails for 10 years now. In all fairness, sometimes JB's sound great in mahogany and LP's. Just hard to predict.

 

[Edgecrusher]

Re: Pickups for a Les Paul

i've read on mylespaul that epiphone LP's are mostly combinations of mahogany-ish asian wood called Nato, and then alder, and some thin top layers. Not a one slab piece of mahogany.

This is actually a good thing to bring up for the army of "No JB's in mahogany!" camp around here. The woods used in Epi LP's tend to be both lighter in weight and tone than the african mahogany that gibson uses now for standard LP's and is different again from the honduran mahogany of the R9's and other custom shop runs and vintage LP's.

 

[TRex]

Re: Pickups for a Les Paul

i've read on mylespaul that epiphone LP's are mostly combinations of mahogany-ish asian wood called Nato, and then alder, and some thin top layers. Not a one slab piece of mahogany.

I thought only the older Chinese ones where made of other woods. Mine is Indonesian

Edit: it's solid Nato, which is just a slightly lower quality mahogany. Same stuff my acoustic is made of besides the top and fingerboard.

Like blueman said, the thing's bag is brightness. Even the Duncan website recommends it for mahogany bodies.

A2 pro is a great suggestion, and can be easily converted to a Jazz with a magnet swap if you don't like it and want more brightness and output.

Sounds great. After a few clips of ann Alnico 2 pro neck, it sounds great.

If it doesn't sound right, what other manes should I try? The Jazz is A5 right?

 

[Edgecrusher]

Re: Pickups for a Les Paul

I thought only the older Chinese ones where made of other woods. Mine is Indonesian

Mahogany is a trade name, many VERY different woods are traded under it. They cant all be lumped into the same category. Pretty sure though the indonesian epis were either nato or toona... both these woods are sometimes sold as things like "eastern mahogany" or "chinese mahogany" when neither of them are even vaguely related to real Swietenia macrophylla mahogany.

 

[guitarSQUIRELL]

Re: Pickups for a Les Paul

Jazz is the exact opposite of boomy in a mahogany body 24.75" scale guitar like a LP. The Jazz is the clearest, most articulate neck humbucker I have ever used and it is my choice go-to neck humbucker for a warm guitar.

Would the Jazz pup have that nice, warm, bluesy sound when playing lead notes like my clip below in my signature?