Pickups ideas for Epiphone Les Paul Studio?

[tce44]

Might be picking up a used Epiphone Les Paul Studio and gonna do some mods to it.
Any recommendations for pickup swap? or keep what's in it?
I play a lot of oldies/classic rock,Beatles,Stones,CCR,Elvis,60s/70s ,etc so need nice clean sound.
But able to jump to some heavier ,VH,ZZtop,etc once in awhile.
Thanks.

 

[Securb]

Whole Lotta Humbucker set can cover that territory with ease.

 

[Mincer]

I say keep what's in it for a little while at least so you have a better idea of what it sounds like, and where you want it to go. It might be fine, or it might need an EQ adjustment...but you gotta sit with it for a while first.

 

[tce44]

Yeh that's what Im thinking,keeping the originals for a bit.
Heard some good things about epiphone pickups, mostly the newer ones .

 

[jeremy]

i had a set of 59s in my last epi les paul and it was a great sounding guitar, the wlh is a good choice too. like dave said, play it for a while with the stock pups to get a feel for it before ya start swapping things.

 

[Chistopher]

Bluesbucker neck Super Distortion bridge is a combo I've been getting into lately. P90 sound outta the neck and a fat gritry rock sound from the bridge.

 

[Mincer]

Yeh that's what Im thinking,keeping the originals for a bit.
Heard some good things about epiphone pickups, mostly the newer ones .

Once you know what the pickups and guitar sound like, you might dig them, or think 'man, these need more low end for lower tunings' or 'my guitar gets lost in the mix of the band'. Who knows...but those types of things can be corrected by pickups. You just have to know what direction you want to go, or else it is a shot in the dark. Pickups that work for one guitar might be the worst thing for another.

 

[ehdwuld]

my Epi came with the Probucker set
vintage low wind with A2 magnets
once adjusted for height, they sound great to me
and I have not thought again about changing them

 

[strat dude]

I can say I don’t hate the newer Epiphone pickups, but in my Epi LP I put a 59 in the bridge and a SM -1 (vintage mini humbucker) with an adaptor ring in the neck. And the guitar and that combo are both here to stay.

 

[Securb]

I say keep what's in it for a little while at least so you have a better idea of what it sounds like, and where you want it to go. It might be fine, or it might need an EQ adjustment...but you gotta sit with it for a while first.

I have to disagree here. If the Epiphone comes with Burstbuckers or a 489T/490R set it should get him there. However, the guitar might come with many pickups, including the '57 Classics, which will not be the best choice for the poster's heavier music choices. They will be serviceable but I think a set like the WLHs would get him over the top.

 

[ehdwuld]

I have to disagree here. If the Epiphone comes with Burstbuckers or a 489T/490R set it should get him there. However, the guitar might come with many pickups, including the '57 Classics, which will not be the best choice for the poster's heavier music choices. They will be serviceable but I think a set like the WLHs would get him over the top.

I agree
until the OP has the guitar in hand
it is impossible to tell what he has

they may be the Alnico Classic pickups or one of the wide range of horrible pickups Epi used back int he day
or they could be already swapped with something unknown

lets find out

once you have the guitar in hand
look at the back of the pickup and let us know

heck someone may have already gave you a JB/JAZZ set
or some Dimarzio set

or some cheap GFS set that sounds awesome as well

 

[tce44]

Im looking for one about 5-10 years old 2014-2019 with older head stock.
I know newer ones have Alnico Classic PRO Humbuckers in them,not sure what pickups before that.

 

[Mincer]

Im looking for one about 5-10 years old 2014-2019 with older head stock.
I know newer ones have Alnico Classic PRO Humbuckers in them,not sure what pickups before that.

Get them, and look at the sticker on the back. But really, just plug them in and see if you like the sound or not.

 

[beaubrummels]

If it were me:

Covered Pearly Gates set
or
Uncovered Whole Lotta Humbucker set
or
Saturday Night Special set
or
Jazz set

 

[Aceman]

Might be picking up a used Epiphone Les Paul Studio and gonna do some mods to it.
Any recommendations for pickup swap? or keep what's in it?
I play a lot of oldies/classic rock,Beatles,Stones,CCR,Elvis,60s/70s ,etc so need nice clean sound.
But able to jump to some heavier ,VH,ZZtop,etc once in awhile.
Thanks.

First, play it for a few weeks. Adjust the pickups to their best state (Height, poles, dial in the amp too). Last Epiphone I bought still has the stock pickups, and they are staying.

Then...if there is an issue, define it. Too hot, too mild, too much/little bass/mids/treble, etc... Then come back and ask the question. All you'll get now are people's favorite pickups for a Les Paul or the music you listed.

That said...no reason a set of basic 59's wouldn't do the job. The variations from CCR to VH - that's the amp and pedals. Which we'll ask about if you really need different pickups.


[Edit]. LOL - I jumped right to my response then read all the others. Clearly I was not needed here!

 

[tce44]

Great ideas & suggestions,I'll keep everyone posted.