"The" Classic Les Paul Pickup?

[Billy Gibbons]

Wondering what you guys would think that the perfect pickup is for that classic LP tone heard on so many records is.

I play things like ZZ Top, Zep, GnR, etc.

I've looked at things like the Seth Lover and Pearly Gates set from Seymour Duncan, and PAF 36th from Dimarzio, but I'm open to any and all suggestions, such as BKP and Gibson.

Thanks for the advice!

 

[MetalManiac]

Re: "The" Classic Les Paul Pickup?

You are the first pure bonehead Ive ever seen , I mean EVER, in 10 years who names himself directly after a rockstar. Hope your happy. Congrats.

 

[Rockstar216]

Re: "The" Classic Les Paul Pickup?

Don't you own like one of the most Iconic LPs of all time along with your own set of Sig pups?

But in all seriousness either of those pups will deliver great tone Just depends on the flavor your looking for.

 

[Billy Gibbons]

Re: "The" Classic Les Paul Pickup?

You are the first pure bonehead Ive ever seen , I mean EVER, in 10 years who names himself directly after a rockstar. Hope your happy. Congrats.

Thanks for the helpful advice. I appreciate it.
You are aware that this is just a username, and not my real name?
I assume your name isn't really Metal Maniac, is it?

I like ZZ Top. I couldn't think of a user name. Boom. It's not rocket science.
There's no need to make assumptions of who I am, considering you have no idea who I am.
I don't know you, and I don't make accusations about your intelligence.

 

[MetalManiac]

Re: "The" Classic Les Paul Pickup?

I'm just surprised they let you register with that name. Or maybe you had to add a space or two? Whats next, someone with a Seymour Duncan or Joe Bonomassa handle? Wierd , someone had to do it eventually. Your the someone.

 

[Chickenwings]

Re: "The" Classic Les Paul Pickup?

You can ignore Metal Maniac. He's trying to be funny in his own way. You will get to work him out over time- he takes the role of the village idiot mostly. Welcome to the forum.
Anyway - back to your pickups question.
Even if your username wasn't Billy the G, i'd still recommend the same thing based on the sounds you want:
get some pearly gates.

 

[blueman335]

Re: "The" Classic Les Paul Pickup?

Seth's! The original and best PAF for LP's. While PG's work well in some guitars, in LP's I find the neck a little too dark and the bridge too bright. Seth's don't have that issue.

 

[Christopher Caruana]

Re: "The" Classic Les Paul Pickup?

PG's or to go the extra mile, get some antiquity buckers from the custom shop

 

[Billy Gibbons]

Re: "The" Classic Les Paul Pickup?

You can ignore Metal Maniac. He's trying to be funny in his own way. You will get to work him out over time- he takes the role of the village idiot mostly. Welcome to the forum.
Anyway - back to your pickups question.
Even if your username wasn't Billy the G, i'd still recommend the same thing based on the sounds you want:
get some pearly gates.

That's what I figured. Oh well.

Thanks for the recommendation. That's what I was leaning towards.

 

[Rockstar216]

Re: "The" Classic Les Paul Pickup?

as much as I like the PGs I would recommend you go with the seths for the truly classic vintage tone. I have to agree with Blue man the PGn can be a bit dark with not enough treble.

 

[Billy Gibbons]

Re: "The" Classic Les Paul Pickup?

Hmm... How do the Antiquity and Seths compare?

The thing I'd be worried about is feedback from the Seths (are the Ants potted? I can't remember)
and too loose of a bass response in my fairly dark LP.

Just thought of the Whole Lotta Humbucker as well.

Too many pickups, not enough Les Pauls.

 

[ExplorersRock]

Re: "The" Classic Les Paul Pickup?

Hmm... How do the Antiquity and Seths compare?

The thing I'd be worried about is feedback from the Seths (are the Ants potted? I can't remember)
and too loose of a bass response in my fairly dark LP.

Just thought of the Whole Lotta Humbucker as well.

Too many pickups, not enough Les Pauls.

There are MANY good choices and I think you've touched on most if not all of them. I've never owned Seths, but I have a set of Ant's in a strat. They're not potted and so far I haven't had any feedback issues. Beware, the degaused magnet does decrease the output and that guitar tends to be quieter than the rest of my entourage. To me they can be a tad bright, but again mine are in a strat. The bass response is looser due to the Alnico 2 mag, but I have no complaints. Honetly not too flubby as A2-equipped-HBs go.

I just installed the Whole Lotta in another strat and I dig 'em. Very balanced and more of a rock-tone to me than "classic" LP. I think that would be the Seths and Ants. Sorry that I don't have this stuff in an LP. I'm waiting to get glossed one of these days as "Humbuckers-in-a-Stratologist".

 

[Billy Gibbons]

Re: "The" Classic Les Paul Pickup?

There are MANY good choices and I think you've touched on most if not all of them. I've never owned Seths, but I have a set of Ant's in a strat. They're not potted and so far I haven't had any feedback issues. Beware, the degaused magnet does decrease the output and that guitar tends to be quieter than the rest of my entourage. To me they can be a tad bright, but again mine are in a strat. The bass response is looser due to the Alnico 2 mag, but I have no complaints. Honetly not too flubby as A2-equipped-HBs go.

I just installed the Whole Lotta in another strat and I dig 'em. Very balanced and more of a rock-tone to me than "classic" LP. I think that would be the Seths and Ants. Sorry that I don't have this stuff in an LP. I'm waiting to get glossed one of these days as "Humbuckers-in-a-Stratologist".

Thanks for the insight.
So far the PG set and WLH set are top on my list.

 

[Myaccount876]

Re: "The" Classic Les Paul Pickup?

Lindy Fralin Pure PAF or Bare Knuckles Mule, Riff Raff, or Black Dog?

 

[MetalManiac]

Re: "The" Classic Les Paul Pickup?

I'm sorry for being rude last night.

Seth Lover is the classic PAf.

 

[LtKojak]

Re: "The" Classic Les Paul Pickup?

It just doesn't get more "Classic" than the set from the man that created the Humbucking p'up: Seth Lover.

HTH,

 

[SFW]

Re: "The" Classic Les Paul Pickup?

I would say that for the style of music that you listed, either the Pearly Gates set if the Alnico Pro Slash set. I've owned both if these sets. They both sound great. I personally prefer the Slash set.

 

[j9fd3s]

Re: "The" Classic Les Paul Pickup?

i recently switched from a PG bridge and 59 neck in my epiphone les paul to a set of Seth lovers, and i think i'm in love. the thing that has turned out to be a surprise is how the volume affects the tone, all the way up it sounds like a normal humbucker, but as you start turning it down it changes, about 5 on the bridge pickup sounds a lot like the solo from dy'er mak'er, and then going further down it gets really quacky and weird, which is really awesome.

compared to the PG the lovers have a little less high end, but that makes them a little easier on the ear too and, i've noticed i've turned the amp volume up a little.

so overall the guitar just sounds huge and its very happy (i'd say bright, but its more like its positive)

 

[mojosman]

Re: "The" Classic Les Paul Pickup?

We can toss out ideas, but your ear knows what you want to hear. The problem with pickups are that you can't try them on like a pair of pants. The problem is you may buy a set and still not have found what you seek. Look at all the major and boutique pickup sellers and check out their demo stuff on youtube, See what catches your ear. I just bought Pearly Gates (*as of now still not installed) for my Les Paul. I was close to buying either Fralin pure PAFS, or D. Allen P-51 Mustang pickups. Both sound sweet as hell. Good luck.

 

[Gearjoneser]

Re: "The" Classic Les Paul Pickup?

Most of the good pickups have already been mentioned, and I've tried and liked just about all of them.

But if I had to dial in a Les Paul today, I'd order a Whole Lotta Humbucker bridge and a Pearly Gates neck.