SH-14..overkill in a Les Paul???

Janglin_Jack

Janglin_Jack

New member
First, I have a variety of Les Pauls and HB style guitars. So this is splitting hairs to some extent. I have mainly used Seth Lovers, Pearly Gates, 57 Classics, Burstbuckers in my guitars. At one time, I used a Custom Custom in the bridge in one of my Les Pauls. Overall I remember liking the PU for Overdrive, but seems to me there was to much mid content for cleans.

My question is this, I have an AII Pro neck and a Custom 5 SH-14 laying around in boxes. I forget where I got them, but was interested in putting them into a Les Paul. How will an Alnico II Pro neck and SH-14 match? I play a variety of rock from Creedence, to Stones, to AC/DC to Aerosmith. Black Keys to the Doors....Skynyrd. We do a few Reggae songs etc. Your general bar rock band.

Will these two match well together for Classic Rock, etc?? If a SH-14 is like a 59 on steroids, wouldn't it be better to just get a 59?? Not sure if I need a med/high output bridge when PAF style have served me well. I know I can test it out, but not sure if I want to yank my 57Classic to try it out or just sell it. Tell me what I am missing.

Mike
 
Re: SH-14..overkill in a Les Paul???

Go ahead and try it. You can even take advantage of the exchange policy to try a different pup if you don't like it if you buy it new.
 
Re: SH-14..overkill in a Les Paul???

I had a Dimebucker with a Pearly Gates Neck in my Les Paul for several years. They got along just fine. Ive also had my Gibson 500T/496R set in there, and currently have my Black Winter set in it.

So I say go for it! :smokin:
 
Re: SH-14..overkill in a Les Paul???

I used to use a Custom 5 in my Dean Soltero (very LP like guitar), and it was my favorite bridge pickup in that guitar. I had it paired with a '59n. It's not as hot sounding as it seems, it's a great sound for classic rock.
 
Re: SH-14..overkill in a Les Paul???

A C5 and A2P is a good combo. If you want less output and more texture in the bridge, try an UOA5 in the C5.

A '59 is going to be bright and thin in the bridge and boomy in the neck.

Sell the '57, it's not as good as the Duncan's you have.
 
Re: SH-14..overkill in a Les Paul???

Thanks for the replies everyone!!! I will give the AIIPro neck and SH-14 bridge a go. I have done a couple magnet swaps before, but what exactly is an un-oriented A5?? Will search to see what I can find.

BTW Blueman335, I have seen your responses about A8. I have some Ibanez Super 70s in my Aritst from 1981 and I think those are A8!!! Love those PU.

Mike
 
Re: SH-14..overkill in a Les Paul???

Both are great LP pickups. Balance them with height adjustment, and you'll have a perfectly versatile Les Paul.
 
Re: SH-14..overkill in a Les Paul???

Janglin_Jack said:
I have done a couple magnet swaps before, but what exactly is an un-oriented A5?? Will search to see what I can find.
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Addiction FX is where most of us get our magnets, big selection, low prices. He was the first dealer to sell them to the forum (that I know of), and I was the first guy to buy them from him and put them in a PU, which was a C5 in an LP. Wow, it sounded great. Richer and warmer than an A5, with a lot more texture and dynamics. After that, the dam broke and a lot member started trying them in all kinds of bridge and neck HB's and P-90's. Very useful magnet. It sounds like a cross between and A2 and an A5.
 
Re: SH-14..overkill in a Les Paul???

I did one of my first magnet swaps on a custom I had in an sg. I put a a5 magnet in, an old Gibson rough cast from a 50's p90. at the time no one was as savy about magnets as we are now so I thought a5 was a5. that c5 paired with a pgn neck was a magical combo in the sg
 
Re: SH-14..overkill in a Les Paul???

Well, the guitar sounded really good. The C5 excels with the rock stuff. I got nice sounds by rolling back the volume and tone controls. I think the AIIPro is a cool sounding PU, but I felt like it is too smooth and dark. Need some bite, (like PGates or something). I felt like I was missing a good clean sound with both PU on. It was just a little dark sounding overall. I think I will try a different neck PU.

My other options for Neck PU are 57 Classics, PGates Bridge PU, 59 Bridge PU. What do you think would match best...I am leaning toward the PGates Bridge. Will it be too hot as it is a bridge PU??

Mike
 
Re: SH-14..overkill in a Les Paul???

I think you may want to buy a brighter neck pup than any of those, or at least try an A5 in the 57.

Or, you can set up your amp so the neck pup is bright enough then just take your bridge with the tone control. Nobody ever uses the things...they're great.
 
Re: SH-14..overkill in a Les Paul???

I've not tried a Pearly Gates bridge in the neck position but the A2Pro you have in now definitely has more bite than the PGn or the '57, in my experience at least. The PGb seems to be quite different in character though and my fave bridge pup in a Strat.
 
Re: SH-14..overkill in a Les Paul???

formula73 said:
I think you may want to buy a brighter neck pup than any of those, or at least try an A5 in the 57.
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+1. Unless you want a huge difefrence in EQ between PU's, you may not be thrilled with a '57 or PGN in the neck. Both would be more workable with a brighter magnet.
 
Re: SH-14..overkill in a Les Paul???

soulforger said:
I've not tried a Pearly Gates bridge in the neck position but the A2Pro you have in now definitely has more bite than the PGn or the '57, in my experience at least. The PGb seems to be quite different in character though and my fave bridge pup in a Strat.
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The PGb in the neck works well. It has more then enough high end and can take your head of if not careful even in the neck position. Has a prominent strong midrange but the low end can get out of control if you pile on too much bass. It's a thick sounding pup in the low end and that can be good or bad depending on your rig and taste.
 
Re: SH-14..overkill in a Les Paul???

blueman335 said:
+1. Unless you want a huge difefrence in EQ between PU's, you may not be thrilled with a '57 or PGN in the neck. Both would be more workable with a brighter magnet.
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I have not swapped magnets in '57s but did try the PGn with a rough cast A3, which improved it, for my taste. In the end though it didn't last. I have wanted to try an A4 '59n, I did like it ('59n) with an A2.
 
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Re: SH-14..overkill in a Les Paul???

Rockstar216 said:
The PGb in the neck works well. It has more then enough high end and can take your head of if not careful even in the neck position. Has a prominent strong midrange but the low end can get out of control if you pile on too much bass. It's a thick sounding pup in the low end and that can be good or bad depending on your rig and taste.
Click to expand...

My experience with PGN's is in LP's, where they just don't have much high-end, same with '57's. I get noticeably more high-end in the neck slot from A2P's and Seth's (and haven't needed to swap mags in those two). Of these 4 models, the bridge versions are all on the warm side (for PAF's), except PGB's, which are surprisingly bright to many players (as oft commented on here).
 
Re: SH-14..overkill in a Les Paul???

blueman335 said:
Addiction FX is where most of us get our magnets, big selection, low prices. He was the first dealer to sell them to the forum (that I know of), and I was the first guy to buy them from him and put them in a PUP.
Click to expand...

Didn't we used to buy magnets from John Wymore (I think that was his name...it's been a few years since he went out of business and my mind is forgetting a bit lately). He was a forum member who had a store.
 
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