Re: Burstbucker Pros too hot and sharp for Epi Elitist - Tips?

MickGael

New member
Re: Burstbucker Pros too hot and sharp for Epi Elitist - Tips?

Hey Folks,

This is my first post. :bigok:

I recently picked up an Epiphone Elitist Les Paul. Like the guitar, but the pickups seemd a bit blah.

I tried swapping them out with a pair of Gibson Burstbucker pros. I've only had them in there a day or so, but I'm not happy with the tone. So far, I'm finding it way too hot and just too bright and stabby. Very little body, and not as much warmth and thickness. The detail is so present its almost distracting (kind of scooped).

One of my other guitars is a Chinese-made Gretsch Electromatic. Fantastic guitar (if the Chinese-made ones sound and play this good, what do the US made ones sound like?). I adore the sound of the TV Jones pickups: warm, open, good detail (not to much, not too little) and a wonderful sparkle that is never piercing.

Any suggestions for a pickup that shares some of the characteristics I'm looking for?

Thanks :)
 
Re: Burstbucker Pros too hot and sharp for Epi Elitist - Tips?

Re: Burstbucker Pros too hot and sharp for Epi Elitist - Tips?

Hmm...Warm, smooth, with lots of body, not too hot humbucker...try a set of Seth Lovers, maybe Alnico II Pro's or if you want to go all the way a set of Antiquiuty's. If youi do a search on the forum you will get lots if idea's about what folks here think about those (and other) Duncans. Good luck and welcome to the forum!
 
Re: Burstbucker Pros too hot and sharp for Epi Elitist - Tips?

Re: Burstbucker Pros too hot and sharp for Epi Elitist - Tips?

Burstbuckers are not particularly hot pu's. Sounds like you have them too close to the strings, especially the bridge.

I do understand the bright/stabby thing though, a common complaint about them. I'll second the Seth Lovers or Alnico 2 Pros. Antiquities if you can afford them.
 
Re: Burstbucker Pros too hot and sharp for Epi Elitist - Tips?

Re: Burstbucker Pros too hot and sharp for Epi Elitist - Tips?

antiquitys will give you warm round and sweet with a little less output than the bb pros
 
Re: Burstbucker Pros too hot and sharp for Epi Elitist - Tips?

Re: Burstbucker Pros too hot and sharp for Epi Elitist - Tips?

Burstbuckers are not particularly hot pu's. Sounds like you have them too close to the strings, especially the bridge.

I do understand the bright/stabby thing though, a common complaint about them.

Agreed. Myself and others have found the BB Pros sound best low. Try lowering the neck pup to just below the pup ring and the bridge pup just above the ring and see how it sounds. I'm actually putting them back in mine with an RS Electronics Treble Tamer kit (CTS pots, Hovland caps).
 
Re: Burstbucker Pros too hot and sharp for Epi Elitist - Tips?

Re: Burstbucker Pros too hot and sharp for Epi Elitist - Tips?

Thanks for such speedy replies, folks! Very helpful :)
 
Re: Burstbucker Pros too hot and sharp for Epi Elitist - Tips?

Re: Burstbucker Pros too hot and sharp for Epi Elitist - Tips?

A quick follow-up:

I dropped the pickups down quite a bit, and the volume (though still hot) is more reasonable.

The neck pickups sounds a bit better (though it still feels a bit hyped, though not as "relaxed" as I would like).

The bridge still sounds nasal to me, and still quite stabby with strong harmonic overtones. But the aspect of the tone I really don't care of in the bridge is a pronounced "nasal" quality ((sounds like 800hz to 1Khz range maybe?).

So, a follow-up question if y'all don't mind:

Can you suggest a bridge pickup that is not so "nasal" yet still open, balanced, with a rounder attack? I 'spect the models you've already suggested may fit that bill, but figured I'd ask. :)

Thnx
 
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