Steve Jones Sex Pistols Black Les Paul Custom (Staple Pickups) vs. White LP Humbucker

[AlnicoV]

Curious what some of you prefer, his tone with the Les Paul Custom with Staple Pickups or the White LP Custom with humbuckers?

Seems like when watching him play the black one back in the '70s he utilized the bridge pickup rather than the neck, so that glorious Staple pickup really isn't heard, just the bridge P90. Love P90s but wonder how it would be with his Staple engaged. Then the Custom in white, he used the bridge all the time too but it's a humbucker. Wonder why live on some songs he used the black and some white.

I'm not comparing him playing the white LP in recent years compared to the black in the '70s but the '70s white vs black LP because in recent years he's gone almost all heavy metal with the Marshall amps and Super Distortion pickups. In the '70s it was Fender TR and some distortion, I think MRX, and that's it. Now it's way too heavy sounding for my taste although I did enjoy seeing them live in 2003 at the Greek in Hollywood.

What's your thought on the black vs white, or staple vs humbucker.


Thanks

 

[Wattage]

Re: Steve Jones Sex Pistols Black Les Paul Custom (Staple Pickups) vs. White LP Humbu

Dig Jonesy's sound no matter what he's using. Only album I would image he used the neck pup on would be the Mercy album. I doubt the black LPC was still around then. Though I guess maybe The Professionals period could've been a lot of the black LPC.

IIRC the first reunion tour he used one of Billy Duffy's JCM heads and a sparkle top LP for the most part, just sounded like the more modern version of himself.

 

[AlnicoV]

Re: Steve Jones Sex Pistols Black Les Paul Custom (Staple Pickups) vs. White LP Humbu

Wattage, thanks for the input on the subject. I like how his playing harkens back to the days of the '50s. Maybe he doesn't do rockabilly licks very often but he did take from the Chuck Berry school of music. You can hear it.

My fave player ever is Franny Beecher who was with Bill Haley's Comets after Danny Cedrone died. Beecher played the 1955 Black Les Paul Custom with Staple Magnet. He used flatwounds. Amazing tone he had. I met him a couple of times but now he has passed. He was cool to talk to.

About Steve Jones, some say he kept the original White Custom, some say McClaren sold it off after the band disbanded. But at least in later years he purchased more Les Paul Customs in white that look just like the original one.

By the way Cook and Jones, or was it just Jones, was on a few of Joan Jett's early releases. I used to have the tape, I forgot maybe it was her debut. I like Jones work and like I say not sure if Cook was on it but I think he was.

 

[AlnicoV]

Re: Steve Jones Sex Pistols Black Les Paul Custom (Staple Pickups) vs. White LP Humbu

I also like his cousin Mick Jones. I just love his guitar parts that he comes up with. Some say they were the Led Zepplin of punk. Not a fan of Zep but I know what they mean about The Clash.

Okay I know, I know Mick Jones and Steve Jones aren't cousin but they they have the same last name so what the heck. Mick Jones took most the '90s off and only about 10 years ago started to play again. I see him sporting a Tele these days. He doesn't look or sound right with the Tele but he's Mick Jones so that's okay.

I like "Train In Vein" live -

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eNot47WRBFk&nohtml5=False

 

[Wattage]

Re: Steve Jones Sex Pistols Black Les Paul Custom (Staple Pickups) vs. White LP Humbu

Cook and Jones did play on some of Joan's early stuff, they are on the original version of ILRnR and a few others.

Vid is the Blackhearts, it's out of sync so it's hard to watch but it's the C&J version. On a side note I did a gig last night with Ricky Byrd from the Blackhearts, nice guy and a killer player.

 

[Wattage]

Re: Steve Jones Sex Pistols Black Les Paul Custom (Staple Pickups) vs. White LP Humbu

Steve has sold a few white Customs as the original :jester:, I don't know if he ever got the original one back I know he was trying to. It was originally Sylvain Sylvain's, Malcolm took off with it at the end of the Dolls and gave it to Steve to use.

He also had a Firebird, a Jr and a Special in the Pistols, I don't know if they are on anything but live recordings?

When I saw Chequered Past he was still using, both a TR and heroin. He OD'd that night so they did the show without him but his rig was on stage and it had the "guitar hero" front so it could have been the original. I was dying to see him up close but no luck. I did meet him a few years later and gave him a bunch of **** about it LOL, he was super cool, had a blast talking with him. It was right when Mercy came out. I don't know if you dig the Professionals or Neurotic Outsiders but it's some of the coolest **** he did. I am a huge fan of his in case you couldn't tell Another album he is all over is the first Buckcherry album



Here's another Jonesy band, not so well known

 

[AlnicoV]

Re: Steve Jones Sex Pistols Black Les Paul Custom (Staple Pickups) vs. White LP Humbu

Wattage, thanks for the info. I have the debut John Jett and the Blackhearts cassette and I really like that one and although I have not listened to it in awhile since it's on cassette I always liked the tracks Cook and Jones was on. Thought it was cool they were on it.

I do like The Professionals. I knew of the Neurotic Outsiders when they formed but don't know much of their music. The Professionals was pretty much straight forward rock 'n roll as if it would have progressed had the '60s had not occurred. That's my thought on it. I need to buy those CDs by The Professionals.

I don't like humbuckers, at least in terms of tone when I am playing but on record some sound good and Steve Jones does sound great with the white Les Paul with humbuckers. Slash too, Mick Jones and a few others but for the most part humbuckers are lackluster in terms of tone, they are just powerful. P90s and ALNICO V Staple pickups much better in my thoughts and opinion.

The video of the other Jonesy but less known band I have seen videos of on YouTube, like when they played Rio. I think that band and later bands he did play in are a bit too "heavy" for my taste. It's the Sex Pistols and Professionals with the Twin Reverb driven is the sound I really like.

The best utilized Les Paul Custom with Staple pickups ever. Franny Beecher, the late, but the best. This is what hooked me on the Staple pickups (along with Scotty Moore). I was glad to see that late in The Sex Pistols he used one of these Staple Les Pauls and with The Professionals.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bpbKSBry8RQ

 

[AlnicoV]

Re: Steve Jones Sex Pistols Black Les Paul Custom (Staple Pickups) vs. White LP Humbu

I listen sometimes to Jonesy's Juke Box and sounds like he doesn't like to tour or play out, that he does on occasion. Of course if The Sex Pistols had a good offer from a promoter for a tour I'm sure he'd do it. I think he was mentioning that some members are up to it and some aren't so it's hard to get everyone on board. I guess Lydon and PiL are doing more shows and he's busy with that.