The crossroads!! What pickup!?!
- Thread starter Andy.tech
- Start date
Mr. B
New member
Re: The crossroads!! What pickup!?!
I agree with Jeremy and Blueman. The guitar you have is not worth sinking much money into. If you want to upgrade the pickups and get something that sounds pretty good, look for a set of used Epiphone pickups out of a G-400 (SG). They will say G-400 onthe back. Those pickups sound way better than what you have and sometimes you can find them on Ebay for 12-25 dollars for the set. Take the nickel covers off. It makes them much clearer. I have used them for several student guitars when they wanted an upgrade, but couldn't afford Dimarzios or Duncans.
I agree with Jeremy and Blueman. The guitar you have is not worth sinking much money into. If you want to upgrade the pickups and get something that sounds pretty good, look for a set of used Epiphone pickups out of a G-400 (SG). They will say G-400 onthe back. Those pickups sound way better than what you have and sometimes you can find them on Ebay for 12-25 dollars for the set. Take the nickel covers off. It makes them much clearer. I have used them for several student guitars when they wanted an upgrade, but couldn't afford Dimarzios or Duncans.
Mr. B
New member
Re: The crossroads!! What pickup!?!
On more thing. It does not matter if you were playing a Top-of-the-line Les Paul Supreme, it is going to sound like crap through headphones. A small modeling amp like a Vox VT or Fender Mustang can be played at very low volumes and is a huge improvement to what you are using.
On more thing. It does not matter if you were playing a Top-of-the-line Les Paul Supreme, it is going to sound like crap through headphones. A small modeling amp like a Vox VT or Fender Mustang can be played at very low volumes and is a huge improvement to what you are using.
jammertom
Member
Re: The crossroads!! What pickup!?!
That's a cool enough guitar for now, Andy...certainly better than what I started with. But, I think I agree with the guys who are suggesting that you maybe don't spend too much on upgrades. How 'bout this?...I have an honest-to-goodness APH1B that's homeless. If you PM me an address, I'll mail it on Monday. You can get a couple CTS 500K pots, a premium jack and an orange drop cap from Guitar Fetish and you'll be a good part of the way there. I might have a 59 neck around too, but I'll have to dig around for it. The APH is sitting on the arm of my recliner with your name on it, if you want it...
Tom
Edit...my bro' got the 59N off me a while back, so I don't have it anymore. Maybe another forum brother here has a decent neck pup they would like to pay forward? My APH offer still stands...no strings attached (well, maybe a set of DRs or Ernies)...
That's a cool enough guitar for now, Andy...certainly better than what I started with. But, I think I agree with the guys who are suggesting that you maybe don't spend too much on upgrades. How 'bout this?...I have an honest-to-goodness APH1B that's homeless. If you PM me an address, I'll mail it on Monday. You can get a couple CTS 500K pots, a premium jack and an orange drop cap from Guitar Fetish and you'll be a good part of the way there. I might have a 59 neck around too, but I'll have to dig around for it. The APH is sitting on the arm of my recliner with your name on it, if you want it...
Tom
Edit...my bro' got the 59N off me a while back, so I don't have it anymore. Maybe another forum brother here has a decent neck pup they would like to pay forward? My APH offer still stands...no strings attached (well, maybe a set of DRs or Ernies)...
Last edited:
Chickenwings
Alnico 6/8
Re: The crossroads!! What pickup!?!
Sure upgrade the pickups.....
but only as long as you have a better amp than the one in the picture.
There is no point pouring good beer into a leaky bucket.
Sure upgrade the pickups.....
but only as long as you have a better amp than the one in the picture.
There is no point pouring good beer into a leaky bucket.
Andy.tech
New member
Re: The crossroads!! What pickup!?!
Hey thank you!! I'm gonna look those up on youtube!!
Hey thank you!! I'm gonna look those up on youtube!!
Andy.tech
New member
Re: The crossroads!! What pickup!?!
Hey Tom, thanks so much, im gonna look up what APH are haha sorry I just know how to play im not to intelligent when it comes to hardware :smash:
Hey Tom, thanks so much, im gonna look up what APH are haha sorry I just know how to play im not to intelligent when it comes to hardware :smash:
Andy.tech
New member
Re: The crossroads!! What pickup!?!
yea I'll get to the amp eventually, I can definitely hear the difference when I'm on my buddies Marshall or at the bar but I see it this way for now..... If I can make myself sound halfway decent using this amp its gonna sound way better when I do it for realz!!
yea I'll get to the amp eventually, I can definitely hear the difference when I'm on my buddies Marshall or at the bar but I see it this way for now..... If I can make myself sound halfway decent using this amp its gonna sound way better when I do it for realz!!
Rex_Rocker
Well-known member
Re: The crossroads!! What pickup!?!
I used to have an Epiphone Les Paul Special II. One of the older models with a maple/alder plywood body.
Quite honestly, and kinda surprisingly, it did not sound bad! It did not sound like a Les Paul at all, but it was bright, snappy, sustained well, and was pretty loud acoustically. The pickups were hot and bright and useable too, IMO.
It was the tuners that were complete poo poo and the guitar would not stay in tune for 5 minutes. I would look at upgrading those first if you want to upgrade your guitar. JMO.
I used to have an Epiphone Les Paul Special II. One of the older models with a maple/alder plywood body.
Quite honestly, and kinda surprisingly, it did not sound bad! It did not sound like a Les Paul at all, but it was bright, snappy, sustained well, and was pretty loud acoustically. The pickups were hot and bright and useable too, IMO.
It was the tuners that were complete poo poo and the guitar would not stay in tune for 5 minutes. I would look at upgrading those first if you want to upgrade your guitar. JMO.
Andy.tech
New member
Re: The crossroads!! What pickup!?!
Hey Thanx, yea the person before me actually changes out the tuners, he gave me the originals too but I doubt ill be reinstalling those. So far I haven't had any tuning issues. But thanx for the suggestion.
Hey Thanx, yea the person before me actually changes out the tuners, he gave me the originals too but I doubt ill be reinstalling those. So far I haven't had any tuning issues. But thanx for the suggestion.
954rockinturtle
New member
Re: The crossroads!! What pickup!?!
You know up pickups may help some.But you know all this stuff,It's really all about the player making to work.I was Pat Travers guitar tech for 8 years,and would watch pickup any guitar plug in ant amp and tweak it and make it some great.Ok take for instance Leslie West from Mountain played a played a Les Paul Jr.(one pickup)Steve Clark of Def Leopard played a Gibson Special.The Green Day Gibson LP Jr.Your friend at the bar with nodded cheap guitar.You get the idea,tweak it and make it work, bro.Just make sure the neck is good and plays easy,so you can play your best! Rock On,Dude!
Sent from my LG-D631 using Tapatalk
You know up pickups may help some.But you know all this stuff,It's really all about the player making to work.I was Pat Travers guitar tech for 8 years,and would watch pickup any guitar plug in ant amp and tweak it and make it some great.Ok take for instance Leslie West from Mountain played a played a Les Paul Jr.(one pickup)Steve Clark of Def Leopard played a Gibson Special.The Green Day Gibson LP Jr.Your friend at the bar with nodded cheap guitar.You get the idea,tweak it and make it work, bro.Just make sure the neck is good and plays easy,so you can play your best! Rock On,Dude!
Sent from my LG-D631 using Tapatalk
Rex_Rocker
Well-known member
Re: The crossroads!! What pickup!?!
Ah! So then you probably have a pretty solid guitar by now, then.
allbutromeo
New member
Re: The crossroads!! What pickup!?!
The nice thing about GFS is you can get both pickups, a bridge and tailpiece for less than a set of Duncans. The pups won't be as good as the Duncan's but they will be an improvement over the stock Epi's. A Fat Pat or VEH in the bridge and Classic II in the neck would give you a good set up.
The nice thing about GFS is you can get both pickups, a bridge and tailpiece for less than a set of Duncans. The pups won't be as good as the Duncan's but they will be an improvement over the stock Epi's. A Fat Pat or VEH in the bridge and Classic II in the neck would give you a good set up.
Andy.tech
New member
Re: The crossroads!! What pickup!?!
Hey thanks!! My thought exactly, I mean I dont think I'm near those guys but I think I'm pretty ok haha!! But yea after modding will it be te best guitar ever? Probably not but I think itll be something even more enjoyable to play than now (and I have to say I do have fun with this guitar, I didn't realize it was that much lighter than other Les Paul's) Like I said in the beginning that dude was super happy with his modded "cheapo" guitar and after 2 years of playing the same guitar its still his favorite! So if I can get that I'll be happy!! And I think if your happy with your stuff you tend to progress and grow more. But again thank you!!
Hey thanks!! My thought exactly, I mean I dont think I'm near those guys but I think I'm pretty ok haha!! But yea after modding will it be te best guitar ever? Probably not but I think itll be something even more enjoyable to play than now (and I have to say I do have fun with this guitar, I didn't realize it was that much lighter than other Les Paul's) Like I said in the beginning that dude was super happy with his modded "cheapo" guitar and after 2 years of playing the same guitar its still his favorite! So if I can get that I'll be happy!! And I think if your happy with your stuff you tend to progress and grow more. But again thank you!!
Andy.tech
New member
Re: The crossroads!! What pickup!?!
Yea the only think that he changed was the tuners, but I do like how it sounds just need to do the rest of the stuff cause every so often the pickups will go in and out but only after a while of playing (like 1 1/2- 2 hours straight) but that's why the dude got rid of this guitar. The funny thing is he went to the store and bought the same Special II model except the Slash edition with amp he said he really likes how these guitars sound.
Yea the only think that he changed was the tuners, but I do like how it sounds just need to do the rest of the stuff cause every so often the pickups will go in and out but only after a while of playing (like 1 1/2- 2 hours straight) but that's why the dude got rid of this guitar. The funny thing is he went to the store and bought the same Special II model except the Slash edition with amp he said he really likes how these guitars sound.
954rockinturtle
New member
Re: The crossroads!! What pickup!?!
Sent from my LG-D631 using Tapatalk
Peace bro,it will work.You'll be fine for now or forever! Tube amps do sound better to me more warm.But if not tweak It the best you can.
Sent from my LG-D631 using Tapatalk
Rex_Rocker
Well-known member
Re: The crossroads!! What pickup!?!
If you really really absolutely want to swap the pickups, I don't see anything wrong with it. I'm pretty sure you can find a used JB/Jazz set for cheaper than a new set of GFS pickups. I agree with the others that say that good pickups will be more rewarding through a silghtly better amp, though.
I doubt it's the actual pickups that are the issue here. I'd say it's probably faulty pots or switch. Mine cut out too when I flicked the switch unless I tapped on it. They don't exactly put the highest-quality heavy-duty electronics in there, I'm afraid.
If you really really absolutely want to swap the pickups, I don't see anything wrong with it. I'm pretty sure you can find a used JB/Jazz set for cheaper than a new set of GFS pickups. I agree with the others that say that good pickups will be more rewarding through a silghtly better amp, though.
Andy.tech
New member
Re: The crossroads!! What pickup!?!
Thanks Bro! Its funny you say that cause the amp we practice with is an older Marshall tube amp! But yea in the future (way in the future) that'll be my next purchase, I just think getting the guitar all dialed in is more important haha!!
Thanks Bro! Its funny you say that cause the amp we practice with is an older Marshall tube amp! But yea in the future (way in the future) that'll be my next purchase, I just think getting the guitar all dialed in is more important haha!!
