Niloy63
New member
Review/Pics of my Les Paul w/ NEW P'ups (Custom/PGn), Pots (Dual Coil Split), & Caps
I thought I'd try to further contribute to this forum by doing a review of my LP that I modded the electronics on last month. It has new P'ups (Custom/Pearly Gates neck), Pots (w/ dual coil split), and Caps.
Let's start of with a couple pictures of the new pup's and covers installed:
Now for the review:
PGn Split Coil: The cleans are out of this world. I personally consider it the best clean tone I've heard/played on a Les Paul to date. But I honestly don't see myself using the PGn split with gain. Not that it's bad. But I much prefer this p'up unsplit with gain.
PGn Unsplit: It produces some INCREDIBLE lead tones under high gain. And of course, arguably, it is THE mid gain crunch pick up for some Texas blues rock... dare I say, 'holy grail?' (not pure blues, but blues ROCK... with the obvious example of Mr. Gibbons).
Custom Split Coil: To be honest, I didn't like this setting for the most part. Granted, I was able to garner some cool sounds with a few effects pedals, but I don't see myself using this on a regular basis. In fact, I'm sure it'll be the rare occasion that I use it.
Custom Unsplit: Just the way a cold, freshly squeezed lemonade hits you on a hot summer day, this p'up will bite hard, but it'll feel great and taste amazing all the way down! For all of you forum members that keep saying, "it gives a tight low end," you weren't kidding! I really love the palm muting on this thing. It really brings out that tightness I hear so much about. It doesn't sound like an active EMG decimating your face with machine gun fire. And that's not to say that I don't like EMGs at all... just that it should be used a bit more sparingly rather than constantly (in my humble, amateur opinion, of course). I find the palm muting in the Custom to be relatively musical, at least compared to some of the other high output pickups out there. I can feel the tone embellish the staccotoed notes with clear precision. This p'up almost seems to me that it was made for a LP.
Dual Coil Split Wiring Harness (from MartinSixStringCustoms):
*Custom CTS 500K Tapered Tone Pots (Split), Custom CTS 500K Tapered Volume Pots, .022 Bridge Cap, .015 Neck Cap*
I was extremely ignorant to what changing these electronics could do for a guitar until now. The bump from 300K to 500K Volume pots alone made a HUGE difference. I can finally use a fine touch to the volume control, unlike the stock 300K Linear Vol Pots where 2/3 of the knob control was utterly useless. Between the new Pots and the Caps, my Les Paul's tone certainly "opened up."
I like the engraved neck chrome cover! But I'm still on the fence b/w the stock chrome covers with pole holes (is it bad that every time I read or think think 'pole holes,' I laugh up a storm? :33: lol) or these aftermarket ones.
OVERALL: I am VERY pleased with the outcome of the new electronics. I feel like I finally tapped into the guitar's potential. With the four coil settings, it seems like I unknowingly designated each one of them to a particular type of playing:
[1] Split PGn - Cleans
[2] Unsplit PGn - Solos (High Gain) & dirty blues tone (Mid Gain)
[3] Split Custom - Background ambiance/lead fills (effects Pedals, i.e., flanger)
[4] Unsplit Custom - Rhythm (HIGH GAIN), occasional leads that requires more treble (High Gain)
If you ask me, "Do you recommend this setup in a Les Paul?", I'd probably respond with, "This is the only combo of electronics that I'd promote in a Les Paul." LOL I'm definitely NOT saying that there aren't other phenomenal pickup combos out there. Just that for my palate, as far as Gibson Les Pauls are concerned, I believe (extra emphasis on "believe" lol) I've found my favorite p'up combo and electronic setup.
I think that covers it. lol Feel free to ask any questions or disagree with me if you'd like.
I thought I'd try to further contribute to this forum by doing a review of my LP that I modded the electronics on last month. It has new P'ups (Custom/Pearly Gates neck), Pots (w/ dual coil split), and Caps.
Let's start of with a couple pictures of the new pup's and covers installed:
Now for the review:
PGn Split Coil: The cleans are out of this world. I personally consider it the best clean tone I've heard/played on a Les Paul to date. But I honestly don't see myself using the PGn split with gain. Not that it's bad. But I much prefer this p'up unsplit with gain.
PGn Unsplit: It produces some INCREDIBLE lead tones under high gain. And of course, arguably, it is THE mid gain crunch pick up for some Texas blues rock... dare I say, 'holy grail?' (not pure blues, but blues ROCK... with the obvious example of Mr. Gibbons).
Custom Split Coil: To be honest, I didn't like this setting for the most part. Granted, I was able to garner some cool sounds with a few effects pedals, but I don't see myself using this on a regular basis. In fact, I'm sure it'll be the rare occasion that I use it.
Custom Unsplit: Just the way a cold, freshly squeezed lemonade hits you on a hot summer day, this p'up will bite hard, but it'll feel great and taste amazing all the way down! For all of you forum members that keep saying, "it gives a tight low end," you weren't kidding! I really love the palm muting on this thing. It really brings out that tightness I hear so much about. It doesn't sound like an active EMG decimating your face with machine gun fire. And that's not to say that I don't like EMGs at all... just that it should be used a bit more sparingly rather than constantly (in my humble, amateur opinion, of course). I find the palm muting in the Custom to be relatively musical, at least compared to some of the other high output pickups out there. I can feel the tone embellish the staccotoed notes with clear precision. This p'up almost seems to me that it was made for a LP.
Dual Coil Split Wiring Harness (from MartinSixStringCustoms):
*Custom CTS 500K Tapered Tone Pots (Split), Custom CTS 500K Tapered Volume Pots, .022 Bridge Cap, .015 Neck Cap*
I was extremely ignorant to what changing these electronics could do for a guitar until now. The bump from 300K to 500K Volume pots alone made a HUGE difference. I can finally use a fine touch to the volume control, unlike the stock 300K Linear Vol Pots where 2/3 of the knob control was utterly useless. Between the new Pots and the Caps, my Les Paul's tone certainly "opened up."
I like the engraved neck chrome cover! But I'm still on the fence b/w the stock chrome covers with pole holes (is it bad that every time I read or think think 'pole holes,' I laugh up a storm? :33: lol) or these aftermarket ones.
OVERALL: I am VERY pleased with the outcome of the new electronics. I feel like I finally tapped into the guitar's potential. With the four coil settings, it seems like I unknowingly designated each one of them to a particular type of playing:
[1] Split PGn - Cleans
[2] Unsplit PGn - Solos (High Gain) & dirty blues tone (Mid Gain)
[3] Split Custom - Background ambiance/lead fills (effects Pedals, i.e., flanger)
[4] Unsplit Custom - Rhythm (HIGH GAIN), occasional leads that requires more treble (High Gain)
If you ask me, "Do you recommend this setup in a Les Paul?", I'd probably respond with, "This is the only combo of electronics that I'd promote in a Les Paul." LOL I'm definitely NOT saying that there aren't other phenomenal pickup combos out there. Just that for my palate, as far as Gibson Les Pauls are concerned, I believe (extra emphasis on "believe" lol) I've found my favorite p'up combo and electronic setup.
I think that covers it. lol Feel free to ask any questions or disagree with me if you'd like.
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