Stock Les Paul pups.....

[alouuu]

Ok I have a 2001 Les Paul Standard....does anyone know what kind of pickups they came with.....

2nd question: Do you think it would be a bad idea to change out these pickups? I heard something since they are handwound or something that you shouldnt change them cause they are that good....but I would love to hear how a JB sounds in my gibson...

 

[JOLLY]

Re: Stock Les Paul pups.....

I believe they are the Burstbucker 1 and 2 pickups. It's really up to you if you want to change them. If you like the way they sound then don't. However, if you don't like them then change them. I've changed the one's in pretty much all of mine.

 

[dr.barlo]

Re: Stock Les Paul pups.....

I believe they are the Burstbucker 1 and 2 pickups. It's really up to you if you want to change them. If you like the way they sound then don't. However, if you don't like them then change them. I've changed the one's in pretty much all of mine.

+1.

B

PS. I think 01 standards have 498T bridge 490R neck.

 

[Aceman]

Re: Stock Les Paul pups.....

Everyone (at least a lot of people) are totally down on Gibson pups. So...
#1 Play them for a while! It almost sounds as if you are ready to dump them before you've even had time to get used to them.

- Gibson makes pickups that are decent for most people playing most types of music. Are there pups that might suit your tastes better, sure. But maybe not.

I think a lot of people just change pups because their chops suck and they use the pup for an excuse. Clapton/Lynch/Van Halen/Malmsteen/Gilmore/[insert fave here] could walk into your room, grab the axe (stock pups, junky amp and all) and melt your face off.

#2 Figure out what you need tonewise that you aren't getting from the stock pups. Do you need more/less output, bass, treble, air, balance, grind, butter etc. By saying JB you already told me you want a pup with a more even eq across the board, and higher output. Or do you just need to goose the mid and treble on the amp a bit?

#3 I agree that they are probably 490/498 set. I love my 79 490 pup, but the 498 is just, well, old and tired. Those pups are generally not loved by most. But BB1 & 2's get pretty favorable reviews.

#4 I haven't heard many people say anything bad about a JB. But like I said before, what is it you really want/need?

 

[alouuu]

Re: Stock Les Paul pups.....

Well I've had the guitar for about 4-5 years now. I like the clean sounds coming from it, but not the distortion.

Our drummer has an SG with EMG's in it, and I love the way it sounds coming out of my dual rectifier/1960A cab...it makes me want to make that my main guitar...but I just cant let my love for the les paul go without a fight, this is why im thinkin about changin them out

 

[Kac]

Re: Stock Les Paul pups.....

Well I've had the guitar for about 4-5 years now. I like the clean sounds coming from it, but not the distortion.

Our drummer has an SG with EMG's in it, and I love the way it sounds coming out of my dual rectifier/1960A cab...it makes me want to make that my main guitar...but I just cant let my love for the les paul go without a fight, this is why im thinkin about changin them out

get a JB, and Rock On :13:

 

[JOLLY]

Re: Stock Les Paul pups.....

PS. I think 01 standards have 498T bridge 490R neck.

Yeah, that's what I wasn't quite sure of. I couldn't remember which year they started using the Burstbuckers.

 

[JOLLY]

Re: Stock Les Paul pups.....

I personally don't care for the JB in a Les Paul. Don't get me wrong, it's a great pickup, but it just doesn't suit me personally. I think it's excellent for leads and cuts through the mix brilliantly. However, there's just something about it to me that it lacks on rhythms. I can't really put my finger on it, but it just seems kinda lifeless. Now a Duncan Custom is kind of the best of both worlds. It cuts through the mix on leads and is tight and full and everything in a Les Paul. Just my opinion. Listen to some people's soundclips of songs they've done with different pickups in Les Pauls and that'll help you out.

 

[alouuu]

Re: Stock Les Paul pups.....

I wouldn't mind getting a 311'ish kind of a sound

 

[Mike M.]

Re: Stock Les Paul pups.....

I have a swamp ash Les Paul with the stock pickups. I love the stock bridge pickup myself, but I find the neck pickup to be too droney. This past weekend I replaced the necks stock 300k volume with a 500k and while it made a differance it still was'nt quite enough. I'm going to replace the stock 300k tone pot with a 500k this week to see if that will get me closer.

 

[dr.barlo]

Re: Stock Les Paul pups.....

I have a swamp ash Les Paul with the stock pickups. I love the stock bridge pickup myself, but I find the neck pickup to be too droney. This past weekend I replaced the necks stock 300k volume with a 500k and while it made a differance it still was'nt quite enough. I'm going to replace the stock 300k tone pot with a 500k this week to see if that will get me closer.

I am not too sure but I think that tone pot of yours might already be 500K. The reason why I say this is because all the LP standards I have checked or owned had 300K vol pots and 500K tone pots.

You could check it with your multimeter after soldering the connections off the existing gibson tone pot.

B

 

[Mike M.]

Re: Stock Les Paul pups.....

I am not too sure but I think that tone pot of yours might already be 500K. The reason why I say this is because all the LP standards I have checked or owned had 300K vol pots and 500K tone pots.

You could check it with your multimeter after soldering the connections off the existing gibson tone pot.

B

Hmmm. I know I recentley read somewhere that Gibson uses 300k pots on all LP Studios for volume and tone. But, maybe you're right. I'll have to check.

 

[bryvincent]

Re: Stock Les Paul pups.....

Yeah, that's what I wasn't quite sure of. I couldn't remember which year they started using the Burstbuckers.

2002. BB V( later called BB Pro) on USA Standards. basically BB 1 & 2 with alnico V magnets.

 

[Young Angus]

Re: Stock Les Paul pups.....

Definitely play them for a while before you decide to get rid of them.

Ive got an '03 standard (i think its '03) and it came with BB pros and ive been playing them for a while, and only now that ive finally got my main rig sorted out by getting a decent delay unit happening (ive been playing totally dry with no delay for ages) i really like them...for now anyway. So im not getting rid of them yet, although if ive got some money lying around in the future i might experiment with something else.

But play them heaps before you decide, otherwise you will be getting rid of something you might grow to really love and it would be a waste of money...but one can never have enough pickups

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: Stock Les Paul pups.....

If you like the way they sound then don't. However, if you don't like them then change them. I've changed the one's in pretty much all of mine.

Perfect answer. If you like what you're hearing then leave 'em alone. If you don't, change 'em. The JB sounds excellant in Les Paul guitars...it'll be louder and push your amp into overdrive more easily than what you have now. Plus you'll be able to split it into a great sounding single coil if you replace one of your tone controls with a push/pull pot. Lew

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: Stock Les Paul pups.....

My '02 Les Paul Historic ('59 RI) has standard shaft 500K pots stock. But the Les Paul Studios I've worked on did have 300K pots and also required special long shaft pots as they are mounted to a steel grounding plate inside the control cavity. Lew

 

[papersoul]

Re: Stock Les Paul pups.....

Since you have played your stock LP for a number of years - you should have a good idea of what you want/like/don't like. Use that as a starting point to changing your tone. Do you want smoother? Fatter? Hotter? Darker? Brighter?

Your LP has the 498T bridge and 300k volume pots according to Gibson and all people I know who work on LPs. The BB Pros started in the Standards in 200.

I know some great choices are the Duncan C-5, Custom, Pearly Gates, JB, and the Rio Grande BBQ. Start with Duncan and return and swap if you don't like the tone. Worry about pots after you dial in the pickup character you like. his works best for me as well.

Every guitar is different. My buddy has a late 80s LP Standard with those pickups and another has a new Studio with those as well. They both sound great live!

I have an '03 Standard and with the bridge bucker at about 3/32" and the tone knob rolled to 8 - she sounds great! I question why I want to try other pickups! For me, since I like what I hear in my LP, I think I would try a C-5 or Custom since they are the closest in EQ and balcance to my BB Pro bridge to my ear. Maybe smoother. But, the stock Gibsons can be pretty aggressive and hotter than the number show.

Good luck!

 

[dr.barlo]

Re: Stock Les Paul pups.....

My '02 Les Paul Historic ('59 RI) has standard shaft 500K pots stock. But the Les Paul Studios I've worked on did have 300K pots and also required special long shaft pots as they are mounted to a steel grounding plate inside the control cavity. Lew

I like the long shafts but hate that metal plate in the control cavity. Took mine out.

Then I measured the resistance values of the pots, and saw that on my 95 LP standard the vol pots both measured below 300K, like 275K and 260K. They are good (audio) pots, now I am using them on a custom strat with the surfers. The tone pot I remember was like 500K. But I am not %100 sure, gotta measure it when I go homw. Still keep them in my drawer. But one thing is for sure, the tone pots in that 95 LP of mine were linear not audio. Thus, not for me!

B

 

[Curly]

Re: Stock Les Paul pups.....

I agree with the Good Doctor!

after only a couple days with my new Goldtop, I honestly don't care for the linear taper pots. Who's idea was that? It seems a bit contrary to the idea of "historically accurate"

 

[Jeff5]

Re: Stock Les Paul pups.....

Ok I have a 2001 Les Paul Standard....does anyone know what kind of pickups they came with.....

2nd question: Do you think it would be a bad idea to change out these pickups? I heard something since they are handwound or something that you shouldnt change them cause they are that good....but I would love to hear how a JB sounds in my gibson...

What do your ears tell you? If you like your stock pups keep them. If not, experiment. Duncans are great pups and offer lots of variety. The pup definately depends on the guitar/wood you have, your amp, and what styles of music you play.