Those "Folks" at Gibson

M

MVI

New member
Hello,

I've posted here like twice so bear with me while I make a fool of myself again. I've been collecting, and making over Gibson Les Pauls recently, which is actually what brought me to the forum in the first place. Today the masterpiece arrived : a Historic Reissue '59 Standard with figure top. Now Gibson doesn't give these things away, so if you're looking for a great guitar without a trust fund don't get one of these (OK I don't have a trust fund but you get the idea). However, they go to all the work of recreating a work-of-art and then put in their run of the mill 2004 pickups! So, question : do I put in the '59s? (would seem obvious), Seths, Antiquties, or send it back to Gibson for a refund? Opinions?

Thanks!

Whole bunch of Les Pauls with various SDs, various tube amps
 
Re: Those morons at Gibson

Re: Those morons at Gibson

from what i've heard, the 59(b)/Jazz(n) combo seems more popular than 2 59's, since the jazz is more articulate than the 59... don't know much about seths or ants, i reckon lew would be the man for that heh

still, welcome to the forum - i've always thought manufacturers spending a bit more on pickups would make everyone happy, but what you have is a pretty extreme case heh
 
Re: Those morons at Gibson

Re: Those morons at Gibson

Stock it should not sound bad! Afterall BB's are not very bad pickups. Inconsistency of Gibson is remarkable, some are great, whereas other BB's are really quite bad. That's why I'd say be careful maybe the wood is not right.

In order to see if that's the case I'd get a set of antiquities (you can sell/trade them later on) and try your R9 with them ants. If you don't like it with the ants, send the guitar back for repayment and get another R9.

B
 
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Re: Those morons at Gibson

Re: Those morons at Gibson

I'd send it back. You just can't go recreating an oldie without the pick ups! Shameful really shame on Gibson!

However, if you really want to keep this extraordinairy guitar get a set of Antiquties, they'll compliment and maintain the vintage vibe of the guitar. I'd still go for a refund though, you can keep a close eye on ebay for some vintage Gibsons and actually score one with that kinda cash!
 
Re: Those morons at Gibson

Re: Those morons at Gibson

Antiquities. If you dont want to shell out the cash for antiquities (which I doubt considering you've already payed a lot for that guitar and you probably want it to be the best possible), Seth Lovers are a second.
 
Re: Those morons at Gibson

Re: Those morons at Gibson

I used to have a trust fund, now I have a 2001 59 RI LP.

This particular guitar sounded pretty damn good with the 57 Classics and I put off changing the pickups for the first 2+ years I owned it. The reasons being that it sounded pretty good as is and secondly I wanted every chance to be sure I knew what I wanted to do with it as well as what it needed.

Some of the pickups I considered were Antiquities and Seths (with both A-II and A-V magnets) PGs and 59s. I've always had a thing for Jimmy Pages tone and I like the flexability of the JP wiring so I needed 4 conductor pickups. Having a C-5/PNn combo in one LP and an Antiquity set in another I knew I wanted something in between. After talking to Evan a couple of times I settled on the 59s as they are the closest thing SD sells to the JPs without the custom shop price tag.

The 59s were very nice in that guitar but they were just a touch brighter than what I was looking for. The guitar sounded great, no doubt about it but it just wasn't hitting my ear the way I wanted it too. I was looking for some of the warmth and woodiness that I got from the Antiquities but with a bit more snap to it. I didn't want a lot more output, just a little to give the guitar a touch more authority. I also didn't want another hot guitar because I had that in the C-5 loaded LP, as well as a couple of other guitars with a rotating combination of JBs Customs, Distortions and Dimes in them.

Afterall, this was a 59 RI, I didn't buy it to play metal on. I really wanted to keep the throatiness that this guitar already had. I finally got a set of Custom Shop Jimmy Pages and put them in. They are dead nuts on for what I wanted for this guitar. They are slightly hotter than the 59s but not so much that the guitar loses its vintage output openess and feel. They have a little less top and more mids which makes them sound to my ears between a 59 set and the Antiquities tonally. They definately have more character than anything Gibson has made in the last couple of decades.

It really depends on what you are going for with that guitar. The Antiquities and hard to beat for warmth and openess. They are really very musicial and they have a vocal, singing quality that blooms as you play them. Hearing the character of a sustained note open up under your hands can get very addictive. The 59s are tighter and brighter and nail many of the older classic rock tones found in the material recorded in the late 60s and early 70s. Both are fine choices depending on your personal tastes.

I have the JPs in my RI and thats where they will be staying. They are just perfect in that guitar for clean work, blues, hard rock or whatever. I played that guitar out last wednesday night through my Mesa rig and got told no less than ten times after the set how incredible that guitars tone is.

Never sell a guitar because the pickups suck. Pickups are easy and cheap, good wood is hard to come by.
 
Re: Those morons at Gibson

Re: Those morons at Gibson

Robert S. said:
Never sell a guitar because the pickups suck. Pickups are easy and cheap, good wood is hard to come by.
Click to expand...

Words to live by...
 
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Re: Those "Folks" at Gibson

I changed the title of this thread to "folks." Call me a moron: no problem. But remember to be respectful to those who are not here to defend themselves.

Thanks,

- Evan
 
Re: Those "Folks" at Gibson

Why didn't you play the guitar before you laid down all that cash????

If you did, and didn't like it, why did you lay down all that cash????

If you mail-ordered a guitar like that... :smack:

If you are going to lay down that kind of $$$$ for a Paul, drive your ass to a place where you can play it. Before you go ripping out those pickups, think about sending the guitar back and making a trip to a reputable retailer who has plenty in stock for you to test drive (www.wildwoodguitars.com). Odds are, they sent a piece of dead wood to a "pack and ship" dealer and sent the great ones to the great stores.

A dead Les Paul is dead no matter what damn pickups you drop in.
 
Re: Those "Folks" at Gibson

I like the Burstbucker alnico 2 pickups I've tried. I also like the 57 Classics I've owned. Lots of great players use them, Derek Trucks for one. They are not garbage by any means. I think they are the best humbuckers Gibson has made in 35 or 40 years!

But that said I do like the Antiquities better. That's what I'd recommend for your ax.

Truthfully, The Antiquities are pretty much what I recommend for all guitars anymore, whether we're talking single coils or humbuckers.

They are worth every penny, and compared to other boutique humbuckers I've owned the Antiquitys are a steal.

Dollar for dollar the best value I know of.

Lew
 
Re: Those "Folks" at Gibson

What Lew said.

It's kinda like returning a lamp you just bought to the store because you realized the 60w bulb doesn't throw enough light. Do you get a new lamp, or maybe try a different bulb? I think the newer Gibson pups sound pretty good. Yeah, I've heard some that were better than others, but it's all subjective. Replacing pups should be a given when you buy a guitar, whether it's new, used, pricey or inexpensive. If you're happy with what's in it, you can take your wife out for a nice dinner or two, and hopefully she'll forgive you for spending $$ on yet another guitar :burnout:
Ants are great pups, and the best bang-for-the-buck out there, if you're looking for vintage-type tones.
 
Re: Those "Folks" at Gibson

Tweed said:
What Lew said.

It's kinda like returning a lamp you just bought to the store because you realized the 60w bulb doesn't throw enough light. Do you get a new lamp, or maybe try a different bulb? I think the newer Gibson pups sound pretty good. Yeah, I've heard some that were better than others, but it's all subjective. Replacing pups should be a given when you buy a guitar, whether it's new, used, pricey or inexpensive. If you're happy with what's in it, you can take your wife out for a nice dinner or two, and hopefully she'll forgive you for spending $$ on yet another guitar :burnout:
Ants are great pups, and the best bang-for-the-buck out there, if you're looking for vintage-type tones.
Click to expand...

Unless of course the lamp cost $6000 and it voided the warrantee if you replaced the bulbs... :rolleyes:

Dead wood is dead wood and if you are "into" Les Pauls as much as you infer, you should know that.

If the guitar is still returnable, do it. Two different Pauls with the same pickups can sound different. Either you aren't a Les Paul guy or the guitar is a dud. Period.
 
Re: Those "Folks" at Gibson

I haven't heard of too many dead RI's though I am sure they exist.

First thing I would invest in is a totally pro setup and see if it wakes the guitar up. Every guitar and pickup combo has it's sweet spots and a good tech should be able to get it real close. If that doesn't do it for you then I would look at the recommendations here. Don't know the style you play but SD has your back I am sure.
 
Re: Those "Folks" at Gibson

Are you looking for hotter than vintage? If so, I'd recommend a CC/Seth nickelcovered. The CC has better tone and balls than most PAF's, and the Seth neck has sustain and a beautiful lead voice.
 
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