Preferences for "classic" yet flexible Epiphone Les Paul Standard Pro pickups

[zvsmedia]

Preferences for "classic" yet flexible Epiphone Les Paul Standard Pro pickups

I'm adding a Epiphone Les Paul Standard Pro to my studio's line-up for the "I want that classic Les Paul sound" crowd. I'm looking for a set of pickups that will do that but also hopefully have some flexibility with being able to do more modern sounds like metal (a secondary goal but I'd sacrifice some "authenticity" to get there).

It comes with a ProBucker 2 in the neck and a ProBucker 3 in the bridge.

Any suggestions appreciated, including whether I should wait and see how the ProBuckers do - I get the impression I won't get that suggestion here

Thanks!

 

[Masta' C]

Re: Preferences for "classic" yet flexible Epiphone Les Paul Standard Pro pickups

Re: Preferences for "classic" yet flexible Epiphone Les Paul Standard Pro pickups

My first thought was that you should wait and listen to the stock pickups.

Those Probuckers have gotten rave reviews and dumbfounded many people in blind-fold tests.

I'd check them out before jumping the gun and potentially wasting money...

 

[blueman335]

Re: Preferences for "classic" yet flexible Epiphone Les Paul Standard Pro pickups

Re: Preferences for "classic" yet flexible Epiphone Les Paul Standard Pro pickups

My first thought was that you should wait and listen to the stock pickups.

Those Probuckers have gotten rave reviews and dumbfounded many people in blind-fold tests.

I'd check them out before jumping the gun and potentially wasting money...

+1. Put them thru their paces and see what you like and don't like about them. That'll give us an idea on where to head next.

 

[TroyBaer]

Re: Preferences for "classic" yet flexible Epiphone Les Paul Standard Pro pickups

Re: Preferences for "classic" yet flexible Epiphone Les Paul Standard Pro pickups

FWIW, the Epi Probucker 2/3 set is actually pretty good. They beat the pants off the Gibson 57 Classics IMHO.

 

[zvsmedia]

Re: Preferences for "classic" yet flexible Epiphone Les Paul Standard Pro pickups

Re: Preferences for "classic" yet flexible Epiphone Les Paul Standard Pro pickups

+1. Put them thru their paces and see what you like and don't like about them. That'll give us an idea on where to head next.

Glad to hear they're so well received. It's hard to balance what a client might like against what I want, which comes second, but still...

Epiphone is really putting out some great products these days. I recently picked up an SG 400 Pro with the Alnico Classic pickups and was really pleased. I definitely channeled my inner Angus the day it arrived.

Thanks for the advice!

 

[blueman335]

Re: Preferences for "classic" yet flexible Epiphone Les Paul Standard Pro pickups

Re: Preferences for "classic" yet flexible Epiphone Les Paul Standard Pro pickups

FWIW, the Epi Probucker 2/3 set is actually pretty good. They beat the pants off the Gibson 57 Classics IMHO.

Absolutely. I'd take Probuckers over Gibson '57's any day. '57's are good quality, but the wind is terrible, the worst of any PAF I've owned. Dull high end and muddy tones. Like with the original 1950's PAF's, some sound great, and some are a big let down. '57's seem to be patterned after a particularly poor example.

 

[blueman335]

Re: Preferences for "classic" yet flexible Epiphone Les Paul Standard Pro pickups

Re: Preferences for "classic" yet flexible Epiphone Les Paul Standard Pro pickups

Epiphone is really putting out some great products these days. I recently picked up an SG 400 Pro with the Alnico Classic pickups and was really pleased. I definitely channeled my inner Angus the day it arrived.

+1. I own, have owned, and have played many Epi's from the last 20 years. The ones from the last several years are my favorites. Better quality PU's, tuners, and pots, and much more consistently made than the Korean ones.

 

[Mincer]

Re: Preferences for "classic" yet flexible Epiphone Les Paul Standard Pro pickups

Re: Preferences for "classic" yet flexible Epiphone Les Paul Standard Pro pickups

I am all for waiting and seeing what you don't like about them. Sometimes we get an idea of what want to get, well before we even hear or play the guitar in question, and it can turn out to be totally different than what we thought.

 

[blueman335]

Re: Preferences for "classic" yet flexible Epiphone Les Paul Standard Pro pickups

Re: Preferences for "classic" yet flexible Epiphone Les Paul Standard Pro pickups

I am all for waiting and seeing what you don't like about them. Sometimes we get an idea of what want to get, well before we even hear or play the guitar in question, and it can turn out to be totally different than what we thought.

Right. You have to have a starting point, to know where you are now, before you know where to go next.

 

[Mincer]

Re: Preferences for "classic" yet flexible Epiphone Les Paul Standard Pro pickups

Re: Preferences for "classic" yet flexible Epiphone Les Paul Standard Pro pickups

I have wasted a lot of money on thinking I knew what a guitar sounded like before I got it.

 

[blueman335]

Re: Preferences for "classic" yet flexible Epiphone Les Paul Standard Pro pickups

Re: Preferences for "classic" yet flexible Epiphone Les Paul Standard Pro pickups

I have wasted a lot of money on thinking I knew what a guitar sounded like before I got it.

+1. Many of us get surprises.

 

[Masta' C]

Re: Preferences for "classic" yet flexible Epiphone Les Paul Standard Pro pickups

Re: Preferences for "classic" yet flexible Epiphone Les Paul Standard Pro pickups

Guilty here, as well.

 

[zvsmedia]

Re: Preferences for "classic" yet flexible Epiphone Les Paul Standard Pro pickups

Re: Preferences for "classic" yet flexible Epiphone Les Paul Standard Pro pickups

I've been pretty lucky in that regard, though I tend to choose pickups *then* a guitar that would be a good platform for them. In this case I have to guess what other people might like before having met them. From the races on the Probuckers I think my job is probably done. And it pains me to say this but pickups with a good rep are probably more important than what they actually sound like for this specific need. The nice thing about Duncans is that the brand has a great rep. Now if my guitar would only come into stock...!

 

[astrozombie]

Re: Preferences for "classic" yet flexible Epiphone Les Paul Standard Pro pickups

Re: Preferences for "classic" yet flexible Epiphone Les Paul Standard Pro pickups

I have a set of Gibson Burstbuckers in my Les Paul that I would happily sell to you, you can listen to them here.



HEY NO JUDGEMENT IT'S JUST A CLIP OF ME FOOLING AROUND

I find them to be extremely versatile!!

 

[Masta' C]

Re: Preferences for "classic" yet flexible Epiphone Les Paul Standard Pro pickups

Re: Preferences for "classic" yet flexible Epiphone Les Paul Standard Pro pickups

Why would he want to change his Probuckers out for your Burstbuckers? Not really an "upgrade" if you ask me, since the Probuckers, for all intents and purposes, ARE Burstbuckers. Just sayin'

 

[blueman335]

Re: Preferences for "classic" yet flexible Epiphone Les Paul Standard Pro pickups

Re: Preferences for "classic" yet flexible Epiphone Les Paul Standard Pro pickups

Why would he want to change his Probuckers out for your Burstbuckers? Not really an "upgrade" if you ask me, since the Probuckers, for all intents and purposes, ARE Burstbuckers.

They're similar, but not the same. BB's would be an upgrade, but if he's happy with the stock Probuckers, why change them?

 

[Aceman]

Re: Preferences for "classic" yet flexible Epiphone Les Paul Standard Pro pickups

Re: Preferences for "classic" yet flexible Epiphone Les Paul Standard Pro pickups

While I have not officially actually played/listened to pro buckers seriously….

ALWAYS try the stock pickups, and for a couple of weeks/months, not hours. Your ear may react to change badly at first. Doesn't mean the change was bad - just a change. Kind of like expecting Pepsi, then getting Coke. Not what you expected so yuck. But Coke is pretty good too….

That said, i have read about pro buckers and they are well liked. And as mentioned, aren't they really just BB's?!?!?!?!?! Which I have played many times and love!….

But, in my "studio" Les Paul for classic Les Paul sound? There is no such thing.

Classic Page/Zep: Whole Lotta Humbuckers
Classic Gibbons/ZZ: Pearly Gates
Classic Classic: Seth Lovers
Classic Slash/GnR: A2P's
Classic Late 70's hot rodded: JB/Jazz
Classic Frehley/Kiss: Dimiarzio SuperDistortion
Generic Classic: 59's

Which "classic are you talking about? Those are all very different and all very classic.

Which

 

[zvsmedia]

Re: Preferences for "classic" yet flexible Epiphone Les Paul Standard Pro pickups

Re: Preferences for "classic" yet flexible Epiphone Les Paul Standard Pro pickups

Which "classic are you talking about? Those are all very different and all very classic.

And that's the million dollar question really, because it's not about pleasing me but more mid-life crisis guy trying to recapture his youth by starting a band, etc.

My plan now is to give the the Probuckers a shot. I think I can make my clients happy by having a Les Paul with decent pickups available then steering them to other guitars that have the pickups you mentioned (I have most of them).

Thanks for all the great advice. I wasn't expecting "try the factory pickups" as this user group has such a great reputation for innovation but that suggestion points even more strongly to the quality of the group.

 

[blueman335]

Re: Preferences for "classic" yet flexible Epiphone Les Paul Standard Pro pickups

Re: Preferences for "classic" yet flexible Epiphone Les Paul Standard Pro pickups

I wasn't expecting "try the factory pickups" as this user group has such a great reputation for innovation but that suggestion points even more strongly to the quality of the group.

The innovation comes in when you what to change the sound of your existing PU's. That's where we have a bag of tricks. But they're the most useful once the existing PU's in the guitar are evaluated for strengths and weaknesses.

 

[zvsmedia]

Re: Preferences for "classic" yet flexible Epiphone Les Paul Standard Pro pickups

Re: Preferences for "classic" yet flexible Epiphone Les Paul Standard Pro pickups

Quick follow-up for Google posterity: I think the Probuckers will serve me very well for what I need. They've been getting good feedback (no pun) from clients. So instead, I used that budget for a pair of Pearly Gates for another Epi Les Paul and *I'm* blown away.

Thanks for the advice!