Something rocking for a Les Paul??

BloodRose

Professional Scapegoat
I have a few LPs/LP type guitars. I have a variety of pups in them:
Main LP has a WLH set
Burny has a Rebel Yell set
EPI has Gibson 57 Classics in it. (bought with intention of swapping pups, but like the stockers)
Soltero has Dean's Mountain of tone and Nostalgia pups.

Anyhow, after playing with Gibson Dirty Fingers, Id like to put something hotter in one. (prolly the Epi) But not sure what to go with. I dont want something overly compressed. Was thinking of going possibly in a classic vein such as a Duncan distortion bridge, (?) neck, or a Dimarzio Super D in the bridge, (?) neck. Any suggestions? Am open to suggestions, but thats where my thought process is.
Im normally not a Dim fan, but like the Super D in the EPi Ace Frehley I once had. Cant really remember how it sounded as it was long ago, only that I liked it.

Also, what neck pup ya think? Have alot of Jazz's and 59s in use already.. Possibly a Pearly or???

Thanks!
 
Re: Something rocking for a Les Paul??

Was thinking of going possibly in a classic vein such as a Duncan distortion bridge
I dont want something overly compressed.
Then the Duncan Distortion is out.

Dimarzio Super D in the bridge
I dont want something overly compressed.
Then the Dimarzio Super D is out.

I'd consider the 59/Custom Hybrid and Alnico II Pro or Pearly Gates in the neck.
 
Re: Something rocking for a Les Paul??

I have a few LPs/LP type guitars. I have a variety of pups in them:
Main LP has a WLH set
Burny has a Rebel Yell set
EPI has Gibson 57 Classics in it. (bought with intention of swapping pups, but like the stockers)
Soltero has Dean's Mountain of tone and Nostalgia pups.

Anyhow, after playing with Gibson Dirty Fingers, Id like to put something hotter in one. (prolly the Epi) But not sure what to go with. I dont want something overly compressed. Was thinking of going possibly in a classic vein such as a Duncan distortion bridge, (?) neck, or a Dimarzio Super D in the bridge, (?) neck. Any suggestions? Am open to suggestions, but thats where my thought process is.
Im normally not a Dim fan, but like the Super D in the EPi Ace Frehley I once had. Cant really remember how it sounded as it was long ago, only that I liked it.

Also, what neck pup ya think? Have alot of Jazz's and 59s in use already.. Possibly a Pearly or???

Thanks!

Something hotter, but not compressed?

You want the BW. Trust me. It's somewhat in the classic vein too, within the invader/JB/distortion family IMO. :)

And make it a set. [emoji106]


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Re: Something rocking for a Les Paul??

59/Custom + Jazz
78 Model + Seth
Pearly Gates set

Plenty of other combos, I just haven't tried enough to recommend more.

BW neck is very good, it's very clear and even. BW bridge I wouldn't recommend for the same reason. It's flat without character. All the character has to come from the amp. But that was my experience in a Les Paul Studio.
 
Re: Something rocking for a Les Paul??

Also, what neck pup ya think? Have alot of Jazz's and 59s in use already.. Possibly a Pearly or???
The Sentient is another good neck pickup, but it sits in between a Jazz and a 59. I figured something with an A2 would make a good alternative.

Since the 78 was mentioned, I'd also do a little research into the BroBucker and S-Deco.
 
Re: Something rocking for a Les Paul??

Custom bridge/59 neck is my recommendation for any Paul.

I have one of these in one of my Charvels.. Great pickup, but was thinking something alil hotter for this application..
I have a Custom 8 /59b in my Explorer and its bad a$$, but again thinking alil hotter and looking for something diff from 59b or Jazz in the neck
 
Re: Something rocking for a Les Paul??

Im normally not a Dim fan, but like the Super D in the EPi Ace Frehley I once had. Cant really remember how it sounded as it was long ago, only that I liked it.

Hmmm...SuperD in a Les Paul? How might that have sounded???? Any KISS record before 1990? Perhaps KISS ALIVE?!?!?!?!? Dumb@$$....:lmao:



I'm gonna say go for the Custom. Screams, loud, booty for days, tight, loud....and can still turn down to SuperD or classic levels. Sort of...
For the neck, I notice an absence of Pearly Gates.
 
Re: Something rocking for a Les Paul??

The Custom Custom is a very good pickup and more classic in nature than the ceramic version. You could always try a preamp to get more output.

The Pearly Gates would be a heavenly match for it :newangel:

You liked the Dirty Fingers but not enough to put it in a guitar? I'm confused
 
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Re: Something rocking for a Les Paul??

I am for something in custom family too. Custom custom and Alnico pro (or a pearly gates). Or a regular custom and a 59. Full shred and sentient (jazz should be better but I don't like it, it seems sterile to my ears).

If you want something for a different vendor, take a look to emg retroactive super 77.

And why not a superdistortion and a paf pro (obviously both double cream)?
 
Re: Something rocking for a Les Paul??

Lol he says he already has the custom and he wants something hotter. So why are you guys telling him to get the custom or 59/custom?

If you want it hot but classic, go with the JB or Distortion. For the neck, Pearly would be great or the Phat Cat.
 
Re: Something rocking for a Les Paul??

Any hotter pickup will compress the signal when it hits the input of an amp. To get uncompressed sound, you have to go lower in output. Are dynamics important, or just power? You sort of have to just pickup one. There are some pickups that mostly achieve both, but never entirely. I'd look for hotter pickups that clean up well with the volume control (and still sounds good), which doesn't leave many:

Black Winters
Pegasus/Sentient

Do you want a hotter/uncompressed pickup for the neck, too?
 
Re: Something rocking for a Les Paul??

DiMarzio Transition set; Titan set if you want more modern or you're leaning more toward metal.
 
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Re: Something rocking for a Les Paul??

My first PRS SE Singlecut came with a Distortion as the bridge pickup. I liked it...especially into my Klon KTR or TS808.

I don't normally play with a super saturated "modern" tone. I'm a blues guy...not a metal guy. But it had a cool tone and was a lot of fun.

I have a pair of Seth Lovers in that guitar now and those suit me much better.

But I think for a guy looking for a hot, modern tone the Distortion is a pretty cool pickup. And when the honeymoon is over you can pretty much turn it into a JB with just a magnet swap to an A5. Or into an A2 JB or UOA5 JB or RCA5 JB.

As for the neck pickup, I can only recommend what I like: PGn, Seth n or 59n.
 
Re: Something rocking for a Les Paul??

The Custom Custom is a very good pickup and more classic in nature than the ceramic version. You could always try a preamp to get more output.

The Pearly Gates would be a heavenly match for it :newangel:

You liked the Dirty Fingers but not enough to put it in a guitar? I'm confused
Not a big fan of the Custom Custom.. Too middy for my liking and maybe too smooth..??
I was saying I have Dirty Fingers in a V I just bought.. And like it, thats why Im thinking something hotter in this LP..

Hmmm...SuperD in a Les Paul? How might that have sounded???? Any KISS record before 1990? Perhaps KISS ALIVE?!?!?!?!? Dumb@$$....:lmao:



I'm gonna say go for the Custom. Screams, loud, booty for days, tight, loud....and can still turn down to SuperD or classic levels. Sort of...
For the neck, I notice an absence of Pearly Gates.

I know the Super D was Ace's go to.. Its just been years since I played one and not sure if Id like it for more modern heavy stuff too.. Not playing alot of Kiss.
Yes, Pearly for the neck is pretty high on my list

My first PRS SE Singlecut came with a Distortion as the bridge pickup. I liked it...especially into my Klon KTR or TS808.

I don't normally play with a super saturated "modern" tone. I'm a blues guy...not a metal guy. But it had a cool tone and was a lot of fun.

I have a pair of Seth Lovers in that guitar now and those suit me much better.

But I think for a guy looking for a hot, modern tone the Distortion is a pretty cool pickup. And when the honeymoon is over you can pretty much turn it into a JB with just a magnet swap to an A5. Or into an A2 JB or UOA5 JB or RCA5 JB.

As for the neck pickup, I can only recommend what I like: PGn, Seth n or 59n.

I may try this distortion I have at the house... just that its red... Im thinking PGn, as I have ALOT of 59s in other guitars.. And Jazz's in others and the Jazz's almost seem too sterile or not enuff tude..

Thanks for the input all!
 
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