Suggestions: Les Paul Standard PUs

[rivera213]

Re: Suggestions: Les Paul Standard PUs

Thanks for that elaborate explanation, Rivera213! It helps! I've been thinking about the Custom in the bridge position. I'm just worried that it might have too thin/shrill a top end. Other than that, one only hears good things about it here. How does it directly compare to the Distortion, specifically in the top end and also in the ways it sounds clean? Under distortion, do single notes have a singing quality to them?

No probs, call me Steve- it's easier.

I don't think the Custom has a shrill top end. It's not like the DiMarzio Evolution in that respect (the Evo has a very shrill top-end so if you mean does it sound like that then NO is the answer. ).

As for the Custom vs Distortion comparison, it's really ALL down to preferance but i would rather the Custom in the bridge since it's bass is less aggressive than the Distortion's in my experience. Both are awesome pickups so i think you'll need to somhow try them in the bridge position of the same guitar to compare yourself. I'm sure if you were to do a poll on here Custom vs Distortion, it'd be roughly half and half.

I like Michael Angelo Batio's neck tone which has an aggressive quality to it (listen to the clip of his MAB sig pickup on the Dean Guitars site). It sounds similar to the Distortion but with a slightly looser low end (I think it was based on the DiMarzio Super Distortion which isn't as tight as the Duncan Distortion).

Both the Custom and Distortion have excellent single-note definition even under extreme distortion. I wouldn't say there is a "singing" quality to the Custom pickup (others may disagree), I think the JB has a singing quality, but it isn't a bland pickup by any means.

But, I really suggest you do an A vs B test with these pickups if possible to see for yourself since your opinion may completely differ from mine.

I had the C5 in my Gibson SG. I thought it was okay, but not my favourite kind of sound.

The C5 really doesn't shine in a SG for some reason. In a GLP though, it's an awesome pickup for me.

Well, I am playing metal (not exclusively, that's why I also need clean and crunchy tones) but certainly no fast staccato riffs. Still, I like a tight sound for those chunky palm mutes.

Well I would rule out the JB personally since it isn't as tight as I would like. The Custom and Distortion are both tight enough even for staccato riffs but the JB isn't IMO.

I'd really like a PU that plays out the LP's strengths, i.e. low-mid growl. I prefer dark sound over brightness, but of course it still needs to cut.

Well a GLP is a 22-fret, all-mahogany set neck guitar and will therefore have a dark quality to the neck position naturally.

Both the Custom and Distortion enhance the GLP natural tonal characteristics.

I'd go for the Custom bridge/Distortion neck based on the tone you're looking for, but you really need to try for yourself before going for it. The Distortion bridge may be more up your street.

 

[uOpt]

Re: Suggestions: Les Paul Standard PUs

The Custom starts very cold on clean picking and gets warmer than most pickups under certain kinds of gain and hard play.

That definitely confuses the hell out of those who categorize pickups by the EQ

 

[Gearjoneser]

Re: Suggestions: Les Paul Standard PUs

My first suggestion is to always play with the height on your current pickups, and see if you can get them dialed to perfection.

If not, the next move would be keeping your neck, and auditioning the Alt8 and DD in the bridge.

Lastly, Stevo's suggestion of C5 or Custom in the bridge, and Jazz Bridge in the neck are two good ones. Any combination of those, or the 2 you already own is good.
The Jazz B in a LP's neck is a beautiful thing.

 

[sombersoul]

Re: Suggestions: Les Paul Standard PUs

OK, a little update. I decided to have the guitar exchanged. While it is true that the quality of the binding probably doesn't affect the tone or overall playability, it personally bothers me. It is just shoddy craftsmanship. This shouldn't happen in $$$$ dollar guitar. I know that I wouldn't be happy knowing about these flaws. I can always put my own scratches on the guitar, but out of the box, I think, it should have no major flaws. A maple top which sits too high above the binding for me is not a minor flaw anyway. Unfortunately, I cannot just go to the shop and test new guitars. This one was ordered over the Intenet. There are two reasons for this: 1 .I have no good music store in my vicinity; 2. The Silverburst model is only available through one store in Europe.

@ uOpt: The neck is ok! But it is bigger than I thought a 60s slim-taper would be. I always used to think that the neck of my EP SG-400 is a slim-taper. Perhaps it is an ultra-slim taper. Anyway, I realize that there is variation in neck sizes even in the same model line.

Now for the ample pickup suggestions (thanks, guys!):
Naturally, I'm very curious about the Custom. Been reading so much about it. And I also read ALL the threads about DD vs. Custom. Not that it helped me much in my decision-making process. :9:

The thing is this: I can't just swap around PUs any time I want. This is because I'm not into the technical side of things. I don't even possess a soldering iron (and wouldn't know how to use it anyway). It's not that I doubt that I could learn this. But I would simply like an experienced tech to install my PUs, especially into an expensive instrument. Maybe you can understand this.

Now, I'm still leaning towards the DD in the bridge. But I remember the reason why I had it removed from my SG Standard in the first place was the sterile-sounding clean tone. Well, it was usable, no doubt! But it wasn't full or organic. The Alt8 is much better in this respect. But listening to old recordings, I also notice how the Alt8 has a more pronounced mid-spike (not harsh, but just very present and clear), whereas the DD sounds darker and beefier. So I don't know if I should try the Alt8 in my GLP (when I have a new one). Also, I don't really need such a high-output either. I play through a 6505 head after all. Maybe I'm even looking for an Alnico pickup with the quality and tightness of the DD but organic cleans.

In the neck I want to try a PG, since I've been reading how sweet it is in a GLP. And I have it in my SG-400, so I know how it sounds.

But I'm sure that even if I settle on PU combination, I will try other combinations eventually. And for this, I now have a good list to work through. Jazz, Custom, you name it. Maybe even the C5 again.

 

[papersoul]

Re: Suggestions: Les Paul Standard PUs

The 60s neck always felt way too thin to me so I have the 50s neck on all my LPs.

The C-5 is good but found it gets lost when you are not the only guitarist in the band due to the lack of mids, this can cause your LP to get lost fast! As much as I like Duncan, I had to go elswhere for this - the Wolfetone Timbrewolf. My other LP has a Guitar Force Erupter in it - 9.1k Alnico II(best LP pickup I have yet to hear, I was afriad the PG would be too low output).

My BB Pros are taking a break out of my LP, although they do best adjusted lower than others.

 

[Yngwiestein]

Re: Suggestions: Les Paul Standard PUs

Antiquities! I played a set for the first time on Sunday and they are incredible. Trust me when I tell you this.