Pups for a Les Paul Custom

[manza]

hello everybody,
I've recently bought a Les Paul Custom Alpine White from 2000 and it's got a Duncan '59 on the neck and a Duncan JB on the bridge.
It sounds good, but I would like to substitute the JB for something warmer..
I've got in mind those pups :

Seth Lover
Custom 5
Custom Custom
Alnico Pro
pearly gates

..but I've never heard them on a LP Custom...
I just would like to have a warm balanced tone to record from pop/rock to hard rock/metal from my Marshall Plexi '69 to my Mesa Recto..
I like the tone produced by sweet sounding pups into aggressive amps...

Any suggestion?
Thx
manza

 

[uOpt]

Re: Pups for a Les Paul Custom

Warmer => APH or Seth. "I like the tone produced by sweet sounding pups into aggressive amps..." ==> classic case for APH. The Seth is more complex and airy.

Custom custom == too dark, C5 = too scooped, not warm. PG = wired sizzle and EQ off, not a LP pickup for my taste.

Duncan Custom == great and does a lot of things but can be hard.

 

[manza]

Re: Pups for a Les Paul Custom

Warmer => APH or Seth. "I like the tone produced by sweet sounding pups into aggressive amps..." ==> classic case for APH. The Seth is more complex and airy.

Custom custom == too dark, C5 = too scooped, not warm. PG = wired sizzle and EQ off, not a LP pickup for my taste.

Duncan Custom == great and does a lot of things but can be hard.

thanks for your answer and explanation. seems that I've got to choose between the Seth Lover and the Alnico Pro, wich is the main difference between those pups?
They match well with the '59 neck?
Thx
Manza

 

[jafo]

Re: Pups for a Les Paul Custom

Joe Perry uses a Seth Lover; Slash uses an A2 Pro. Do you want a kick-ass, edgy, dynamic, sweet classic rock tone or not? Myself, I loathe Slash's tone, but it's probably got a lot to do with EQ, since the A2 Pro sample clips sound great. Anyway, the '59 and Seths are supposed to be genuine PAF recreations, if that helps. Maybe a '59 with an A2 magnet? A lot of guys prefer a matching set with A5 for the neck and A2 for the bridge.

 

[uOpt]

Re: Pups for a Les Paul Custom

thanks for your answer and explanation. seems that I've got to choose between the Seth Lover and the Alnico Pro, wich is the main difference between those pups?

The Seth is unpotted and has a different baseplate. It sounds more open, airy, the APH tighter, more straightforward.

They match well with the '59 neck?
Thx
Manza

Yes, although I have to say that '59s in maple top Les Pauls are over the top for my current taste.

 

[manza]

Re: Pups for a Les Paul Custom

The Seth is unpotted and has a different baseplate. It sounds more open, airy, the APH tighter, more straightforward.


Yes, although I have to say that '59s in maple top Les Pauls are over the top for my current taste.

So for Pop/Rock/Hard Rock maybe the APH would be a better choice?
Is the LP Custom maple top? I Thought it was only mohogany..
Anyway, maybe 2 APH would be the better match..
Thx
Manza

 

[RockStarNick]

Re: Pups for a Les Paul Custom

I'm gonna chime in here, and probably get hated on... but here goes.

What you probably hear as "not warm" about the JB is the upper mid spike. It's a very "present" pickup.

If you like the sound of the 59 in the neck of a Les Paul, I highly reccomend the Custom5 for the bridge of any Les Paul.

I'll agree, that in the bridge of a superstrat, the Custom5 can seem scooped and a little shrill, but in the bridge of a thick sounding, 24 3/4" scale length mahogany Les Paul, I think it sounds **** near perfect. In a Les Paul, the mids of the C5 don't seem scooped to me... they seem neutral. And the highs are there, but never harsh.

Totally different tone than the Custom Custom, or Alnico 2.

I dunno man... with a 59 in the neck, that pickup in a Les Paul, despite sounding great, has massive low end. I feel like a straight up AlnicoII would sound kinda weak in comparison.

Maybe a Custom Custom would suit you well?

Actually, get yourself a Custom Custom, and an alnico5 magnet, and swap them out to see which one you like best. (a5 in a CC turns it into a C5)

 

[hamerfan]

Re: Pups for a Les Paul Custom

Buy an A2 magnet and swap it into the JB, than you have Seymour Duncans personal set in your Custom!

 

[blueman335]

Re: Pups for a Les Paul Custom

I'm gonna chime in here, and probably get hated on... but here goes. If you like the sound of the 59 in the neck of a Les Paul, I highly reccomend the Custom5 for the bridge of any Les Paul.

I'll agree, that in the bridge of a superstrat, the Custom5 can seem scooped and a little shrill, but in the bridge of a thick sounding, 24 3/4" scale length mahogany Les Paul, I think it sounds **** near perfect. In a Les Paul, the mids of the C5 don't seem scooped to me... they seem neutral. And the highs are there, but never harsh.

Depends on what soudn you're going for, vintage or rock. I like a C5 with 250K pots, for a combination of warmth & muscle. For vintage, a '59B with 250K's, or an A2 HB (PGB, A2P, Seth, '57 Classic, etc) with 500K's.

 

[uOpt]

Re: Pups for a Les Paul Custom

So for Pop/Rock/Hard Rock maybe the APH would be a better choice?
Is the LP Custom maple top? I Thought it was only mohogany..
Anyway, maybe 2 APH would be the better match..
Thx
Manza

Only the '57 reissues have a mahogany deck, along with very selected rare models.

The APH is better to drive a complicated rig with lots of blinkenlights and Seths/Antiquities are better for straight rigs with no LEDs. That's my take.

 

[Gearjoneser]

Re: Pups for a Les Paul Custom

I agree with Rockstarnick.

I've tried most of the Duncans in LP's, and the C-5 and Custom sound like they're tailor made for anything from blues to metal. They were Seymour's answer to a hotter PAF.
They go perfect with the 59n too. There's no volume jump or tonal imbalance when you've got something like a C5 or Custom paired with a 59 or Jazz neck.

 

[THE DUG]

Re: Pups for a Les Paul Custom

Ill get some of this...I already posted on another thread but...
Check the myspace page on my sig.
The first song Im comin over IS an 83'Lp custom with a CC in the bridge into JCM800.
Im now into antiquitys.
I like the CC because of the "hot rodded"PAF tone.
59's are cool but seem a bit stiff.I did try 59' with A2 mag and that was cool.
APH seemed a bit too "sweet" for me.
PG's too brite
Seth's are cool too but they are more classic sounding pup's to my ears.

 

[Aceman]

Re: Pups for a Les Paul Custom

I'm just gonna keep it simple - Get another 59. All around great pup, and our amps will have no problem with drive, so no need to get sporty on the output.