Pickups for smartwood lespaul

[Jarrodheadley]

New to the forum.
I'm a producer and mixer with about 7 git fiddles.
2 guitars I want to upgrade is the Zack Myers and a swamp ash smartwood les Paul.
Neither sound good with stock pickups. Done a lot of research and kind of landed on the Seth lovers for the Zack Myers which I'll be picking up tomorrow. (Unless someone shows me why not)
The les Paul is a different story.
If it was a mahogany body, that would be relatively easy to decide. I've never dealt with swamp ash in a les Paul before. I'm searching for that classic les Paul sound with a lot of body but not the typical muddyness. Also looking for clarity and relative brightness but not thin. I'd be using the guitar mostly for worship, blues, classic rock and indie rock. Don't need metal tones. I have designated guitars for that. Suggestions are appreciated.
Thanks guys.

 

[eclecticsynergy]

Re: Pickups for smartwood lespaul

I'd suggest a 59N, with a 59/Custom hybrid at the bridge. To me, relative brightness without being thin describes the Hybrid pretty well. It's strong enough to have a nice singing lead voice, without being so hot that you'd need to redial your settings when changing guitars. That's handy if you switch during the course of a set. If the guitar were especially prone to boominess, maybe a JazzN at the neck instead. But the 59N is a true classic and I've used it in quite a few Les Pauls over the decades without any trouble with mud. I'm beginning to feel that may be a problem that applies mostly to high-gain payers. And my gut feeling is that a swamp ash LP is likely to be fairly snappy and not too boomy.

 

[SJ318]

Re: Pickups for smartwood lespaul

Hi,
I can confirm what eclecticsynergy said about the 59/Custom Hybrid. I have two. I have a chambered basswood Strat.
Oddly, that particular guitar is very dull unplugged. The Hybrid wakes it up and I can play quite loud with it and it still stays
very clean if I choose. It can really go high boost or gain with any decent pedal and keep it's note separation.
From all I've read here the 59n is a very popular choice for the neck. Many choose to swap mags and use an UOA5, or an A4,
As many say they experience boominess otherwise, I guess that isn't the case with eclecticsynergy, so either way, that is a verified great choice for neck.
Steve Buffington

 

[Mincer]

Re: Pickups for smartwood lespaul

I've always been curious about the Smartwood LPs. Actually, not even the 'green leaf' full-body ones, but the thinner ones with the South American woods I can't pronounce from a few years earlier. A swamp ash LP is not ever going to sound like mahogany, due to a very quick attack. I'd try to soften it with a pickup that has A2 magnets. An Alnico II Pro set will do it, although I am not sure any pickup will get it to sound like a typical LP- I'd enjoy it for what it is.

 

[Jarrodheadley]

Re: Pickups for smartwood lespaul

I'd suggest a 59N, with a 59/Custom hybrid at the bridge. To me, relative brightness without being thin describes the Hybrid pretty well. It's strong enough to have a nice singing lead voice, without being so hot that you'd need to redial your settings when changing guitars. That's handy if you switch during the course of a set. If the guitar were especially prone to boominess, maybe a JazzN at the neck instead. But the 59N is a true classic and I've used it in quite a few Les Pauls over the decades without any trouble with mud. I'm beginning to feel that may be a problem that applies mostly to high-gain payers. And my gut feeling is that a swamp ash LP is likely to be fairly snappy and not too boomy.

Thanks man. What do you think for the bridge? I like body and clarity but hate muddy and thin. Also, are these great for cleans and crunch?

 

[Jarrodheadley]

Re: Pickups for smartwood lespaul

I've always been curious about the Smartwood LPs. Actually, not even the 'green leaf' full-body ones, but the thinner ones with the South American woods I can't pronounce from a few years earlier. A swamp ash LP is not ever going to sound like mahogany, due to a very quick attack. I'd try to soften it with a pickup that has A2 magnets. An Alnico II Pro set will do it, although I am not sure any pickup will get it to sound like a typical LP- I'd enjoy it for what it is.

Honestly the stock pickups make the guitar sound the opposite of what I want. Muddy on the bottom and a bit thin on the top. Lol. I love how resonate it is though.

 

[eclecticsynergy]

Re: Pickups for smartwood lespaul

Thanks man. What do you think for the bridge? I like body and clarity but hate muddy and thin. Also, are these great for cleans and crunch?

Hybrid for the bridge and 59N at the neck. Both good for clean and crunch, and both have a nice lead voice too.

The Hybrid to me is a near perfect combination of a little extra clarity and a little extra drive. Not so much treble that it's harsh, and not so much output that it requires changing all your settings. Good detail, not thin, and very responsive. The 59N is a longtime favorite of mine and many others; it takes well to many different designs and woods. Also handles various magnet swaps remarkably well if necessary, as SJ318 has said. It's bright enough for nice lead tone & good definition when turned down, yet substantial enough that it doesn't thin out too much when you roll it back. And it still has a certain vintagey looseness to it. Not muddy, except possibly in a boomy axe and I think with swamp ash that's unlikely.

I'm not an expert on swamp ash, but I know it's more often seen in bolt-ons; a swamp ash LP is an odd bird. The descriptions that often come up in conjunction with it are lively and slightly scooped. The Hybrid has rich enough mids that I feel it'd be a good match, and IMO the 59N's character ought to suit it well also.

For a warmer, gentler sound & feel, Mincer's suggestion of the A2Pro set is a good one too. (BTW, Mincer has made another good point: for classic Les Paul tone, you really want a conventional Les Paul.)

Still, you'll have the A2 territory well covered with Seths in the PRS. I think A5 pickups would help contribute a little more bite & beef to your tone palette. And IMO the Hybrid and 59N should be a good fit.

 

[audiocheck]

Re: Pickups for smartwood lespaul

New to the forum.
I'm a producer and mixer with about 7 git fiddles.
2 guitars I want to upgrade is the Zack Myers and a swamp ash smartwood les Paul.
Neither sound good with stock pickups. Done a lot of research and kind of landed on the Seth lovers for the Zack Myers which I'll be picking up tomorrow. (Unless someone shows me why not)
The les Paul is a different story.
If it was a mahogany body, that would be relatively easy to decide. I've never dealt with swamp ash in a les Paul before. I'm searching for that classic les Paul sound with a lot of body but not the typical muddyness. Also looking for clarity and relative brightness but not thin. I'd be using the guitar mostly for worship, blues, classic rock and indie rock. Don't need metal tones. I have designated guitars for that. Suggestions are appreciated.
Thanks guys.
��

Okay, so if I researched the right guitar, your Swamp Ash LP also has a Maple neck?

If so this les paul should have a super scooped tone? lots of highs and deep lows when unplugged?

So as suggested AP2, should fit your request. If you feel the need to add some more mids, maybe the Custom or Custom Custom?

 

[Mincer]

Re: Pickups for smartwood lespaul

I kinda thought it would need mids, too.

 

[Jarrodheadley]

Re: Pickups for smartwood lespaul

Okay, so if I researched the right guitar, your Swamp Ash LP also has a Maple neck?

If so this les paul should have a super scooped tone? lots of highs and deep lows when unplugged?

So as suggested AP2, should fit your request. If you feel the need to add some more mids, maybe the Custom or Custom Custom?

Yes. Unplugged it's a bit scooped but it's not crazy scooped.

 

[Jarrodheadley]

Re: Pickups for smartwood lespaul

Hybrid for the bridge and 59N at the neck. Both good for clean and crunch, and both have a nice lead voice too.

The Hybrid to me is a near perfect combination of a little extra clarity and a little extra drive. Not so much treble that it's harsh, and not so much output that it requires changing all your settings. Good detail, not thin, and very responsive. The 59N is a longtime favorite of mine and many others; it takes well to many different designs and woods. Also handles various magnet swaps remarkably well if necessary, as SJ318 has said. It's bright enough for nice lead tone & good definition when turned down, yet substantial enough that it doesn't thin out too much when you roll it back. And it still has a certain vintagey looseness to it. Not muddy, except possibly in a boomy axe and I think with swamp ash that's unlikely.

I'm not an expert on swamp ash, but I know it's more often seen in bolt-ons; a swamp ash LP is an odd bird. The descriptions that often come up in conjunction with it are lively and slightly scooped. The Hybrid has rich enough mids that I feel it'd be a good match, and IMO the 59N's character ought to suit it well also.

For a warmer, gentler sound & feel, Mincer's suggestion of the A2Pro set is a good one too. (BTW, Mincer has made another good point: for classic Les Paul tone, you really want a conventional Les Paul.)

Still, you'll have the A2 territory well covered with Seths in the PRS. I think A5 pickups would help contribute a little more bite & beef to your tone palette. And IMO the Hybrid and 59N should be a good fit.

Thanks man. I'll check out those pups.

 

[eclecticsynergy]

Re: Pickups for smartwood lespaul

I believe the Smartwoods had mahogany necks, regardless of the various top woods. I could be mistaken in that though.