Pickups for all mahogany Les Paul Special Faded

[mule]

Hello all. Looking for opinions. I am currently using a '59 set in this guitar. I find the neck to be too muddy for clean and overdriven tones. On the SD sound samples, I was really struck by the dirty bridge tone of the Seth Lover. None of the others have that vintage, hollow honk. I also thought the bright breathiness of the Jazz pickup sounded best for clean and dirty. I'm curious how this combo would sound in my guitar since it is most likely a darker guitar acoustically than the one used in the SD sounds samples. Thanx! :newbie:

 

[frankencat]

Re: Pickups for all mahogany Les Paul Special Faded

Cool guitar and welcome to the forum! I just bought an all mahogany Agile AL-2500 LP copy, the one without the maple cap, and I have 59 neck and a PG bridge that I'm gonna try in it. I figure these are pickups with good high end response so they will probably work well in that guitar. A set of '59's or PG's would be great too. I havea normal spaced PG bridge that I may put in the neck if the '59n doesn't work out. The Jazz/Seth combo sounds cool too but I would try a '59 or PG before the Seth. Just my opinion. Let us know what you end up with. Peace -Frank

 

[theodie]

Re: Pickups for all mahogany Les Paul Special Faded

The Jazz will be good but, The Pearly gates will be even better in the neck in my opinion.

 

[Benjy_26]

Re: Pickups for all mahogany Les Paul Special Faded

Pearly Gates set would rule in thtat axe.

 

[Old Ghost]

Re: Pickups for all mahogany Les Paul Special Faded

I suggest a set of SD SH-1 '59's.

 

[badco33]

Re: Pickups for all mahogany Les Paul Special Faded

The Phat Cats are also a great option for adding a little spark to a naturally dark sounding guitar. I have a Les Paul studio that is a bit dark sounding. I tried several different neck humbucker options- PG, seth, 59 but all sounded a little too dark and muddy in that guitar even with 500k pots. I went with a Phat Cat neck and now it is perfect. It's smooth sounding with the perfect blend of mids and top end spark. It's paired with a Custom 5 and I'm real happy with that combo but I might get around to trying the phat cat bridge someday.

 

[mule]

Re: Pickups for all mahogany Les Paul Special Faded

Thanx for the suggestions guys. Keep 'em comin'.

 

[MCG]

Re: Pickups for all mahogany Les Paul Special Faded

One more vote for a Pearly Gates set. I had a PG in my SG and replaced it with a Seth. The Seth is noticeably fatter, and might be too much in an all mahogany LP. While the PG's have a nice cut with full body to them.

MCG

 

[mule]

Re: Pickups for all mahogany Les Paul Special Faded

Hmmm, you guys are makin' me think now. The Pearly Gates do sound nice on the sound samples. The dirty bridge seems to have some of the hollow quality that I like in the Seth but a bit more "grindy" as opposed to the "boxy in a good way" tone the Seth has. No one thinks the PG set would be too bright in this guitar? I do want a bright sound but not an icepick in my ears.

 

[skynyrdlover1]

Re: Pickups for all mahogany Les Paul Special Faded

pearly gates neck & 59 bridge!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[PRG]

Re: Pickups for all mahogany Les Paul Special Faded

That's wierd, I played one of these all-mahogany LP specials all Saturday afternoon. With the stock p'ups, it was clean and bright (through a clean and bright amp, albiet). Unplugged, it had a nice honk to it. I'm betting the PG set would be excellent for it, though a Custom bridge would give it some oomph!

 

[Travis]

Re: Pickups for all mahogany Les Paul Special Faded

I hate bright pickups and I've got a PG set in my Hamer Special FM. The maple top is nice and thick, too. If it's not too bright for me, they should work just fine in an all mhogany guitar.

 

[luckypablo]

Re: Pickups for all mahogany Les Paul Special Faded

I have got an all mahogany Les paul Custom from 78(only year they made them I believe) and all I can say is don't get an Alnico II neck because there are no mids. Way too much low end. I got a JB in the bridge, but I can't really recommend that either, high end as no feel. I'm following this post because I think I have the same problems as you.

 

[frankencat]

Re: Pickups for all mahogany Les Paul Special Faded

OK, I just tried a '59n and PGb combo in mine and while it sounds decent, I personally think the '59 is too muddy for the neck and the PG is too bright for the bridge. I am thinking maybe a Jazz neck and a '59b would be the ticket for this guitar. I already ordered a A2Pn and a C5b last week but I am not sure what I am going to use these for at this point. Man, too many pickups. Watch for the big sale

 

[frankencat]

Re: Pickups for all mahogany Les Paul Special Faded

Wow, I just had a thought... What if I switched the '59n and the PGb around? Hmmmmm.....

 

[MattPete]

Re: Pickups for all mahogany Les Paul Special Faded

PGn with a Seth (maybe a Custom) bridge.