To Change or not to change, that is the question..

[BloodRose]

Ill be honest... I have NEVER had this struggle before... Usually when I get a guitar, I already have an idea of what Im going to put in it for pickups. Except in a very few rare instances where the guitar already has the Duncans in it that I want. When I got my EPI LP 1960 Tribute Plus, I planned to put the Suhr Aldrich bridge I have in it and possibly get an Aldrich neck to go with it. However, I find myself liking the stockers very much... (Gibson 57 Classic neck, Classic Plus bridge) I cant help but think Ill probably like the others better, but maybe not..

I know, I can always swap em and swap em back.. I just have a hard time getting time to do this these days. Anyone able to compare the Aldrich set to the Gibson 57 Classics to be able to give me an idea of what the differences would be?
Its funny, I never like stock pickups, and the 57 Classics dont seem to get alot of love here. But Im digging em.

Im sure Ill have to break down and do it, cuz Ill always wonder...

 

[Shooter.556]

Re: To Change or not to change, that is the question..

Ill be honest... I have NEVER had this struggle before... Usually when I get a guitar, I already have an idea of what Im going to put in it for pickups. Except in a very few rare instances where the guitar already has the Duncans in it that I want. When I got my EPI LP 1960 Tribute Plus, I planned to put the Suhr Aldrich bridge I have in it and possibly get an Aldrich neck to go with it. However, I find myself liking the stockers very much... (Gibson 57 Classic neck, Classic Plus bridge) I cant help but think Ill probably like the others better, but maybe not..

I know, I can always swap em and swap em back.. I just have a hard time getting time to do this these days. Anyone able to compare the Aldrich set to the Gibson 57 Classics to be able to give me an idea of what the differences would be?
Its funny, I never like stock pickups, and the 57 Classics dont seem to get alot of love here. But Im digging em.

Im sure Ill have to break down and do it, cuz Ill always wonder...

I am right where you are with the 57 Classic and Plus in my Signature T.
I keep staying with them and they do 97% of what I want so they stay.. I really wanna hate em because the status quo tells me I need to but I like em..
Honestly after I went with the Fulltone Fulldrive 2 Mosfet it changed my mind.. I was able to lower the gain and add some dirt and the 57s came to life..
I loved them in my Blackstar and my hate started when I bought my EVH 5150iii combo.. I just couldn't get them to sound like they did thru my HT5th 2x10..
Now I fixed that and I'll be keeping my 57s.. They thing about the Adlrich set is while they sound badass you're getting away from everything PAF with them.
They are hot and compressed and you're gonna lose that woody PAF tone.. I am taking my hot JB8 and 59 out of my Studio and going back to PAFs, because I am done with the hot humbucker in a Les Paul thing.. It's not where I wanna be.. The 57s do what I want.. They nail them AC/DC and blues rock tones I want.. I can't imagine my Signature T sounding any better..
My Studio faded came with BB1 and BB2s and I hated them pickups, they were an easy swap.. I put a JB and a 59 in it 3 years ago and never looked back.. Now I am wanting that PAF sound so they are gone..

 

[BloodRose]

Re: To Change or not to change, that is the question..

Thanks for the input!! Yeah, it isnt just wanting to go status quo cuz there is a HUGE amount of dislike for that pickup. I had the Aldrich in a guitar I sold and loved it. I got this guitar with the intent of using the Aldrich in it. I have a LP with a WLH set, so I have my "PAF" style axe there. I have a LP with BK Rebel Yells and as I said, wanted to do the aldrich (perhaps Aldrich set) in this one. But dang, I cant not like these stockers right now.. They scream, they clean up, sound good together. Right now, it seems my only option is going to have to be to buy another guitar for the Aldrich set. hahahaha I wish!!!

 

[Shooter.556]

Re: To Change or not to change, that is the question..

I think it's just a combo of getting the right 57 set in the right guitar.. The QC on them suck compared to Duncans but they get a decent set thru from time to time.
Mine are in a really heavy Les Paul.. 10.3 lbs, I have picked her. She was the heaviest one they had in stock, I was gonna put a Doug Aldrich set in her too but I can't, it nails the AC/DC and Skynyrd tone too well.
I'm just gonna take the heat and keep em..

 

[Masta' C]

Re: To Change or not to change, that is the question..

Exactly...the 57s get a bad rap from time to time, but they are great pickups if your axe compliments them

 

[Synapsys]

Re: To Change or not to change, that is the question..

The only guitar I own with stock pickups is a Gibson LP Traditional!with the 57+/57 set. Really love its sound, but with all my other axes I went the SD route.

 

[stratguy23]

Re: To Change or not to change, that is the question..

57 Classic/57 Classic Plus is a GREAT combination in Gibson-style guitars. Pair that set with a good Marshall, and you have rock gold.

Since the stock set is currently acceptable to you, I suggest giving them significant playing time (at least weeks if not months) so you can get to know them or confirm any issues.

If after, say, 1 or 2 months, you consistently find yourself wanting different behavior out of your pickups in ways that different strings/amp settings can't solve, then yeah, look to change.

But you have a very, very good stock set - the best Gibson offers next to its BB 1/2/3 pairings. Even the lower Gibsons don't get as good a stock set as the Epi Tribute Plus (nor its locking tuners), which make it such a hidden gem.

 

[VinceT]

Re: To Change or not to change, that is the question..

Since the stock set is currently acceptable to you, I suggest giving them significant playing time (at least weeks if not months) so you can get to know them or confirm any issues.

If after, say, 1 or 2 months, you consistently find yourself wanting different behavior out of your pickups in ways that different strings/amp settings can't solve, then yeah, look to change.

^^^this.

Switch off brain, play the guitar, feel what your experience tells you.



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[BloodRose]

Re: To Change or not to change, that is the question..

Yeah, the guitar is really a gem. Good stock pups, locking keys, push pull pots, mallory caps, switchcraft parts instead of the usually chintzy epi stuff, figured top and all that can be had for under $500. (I got mine WAY under that.) I changed the bridge to a Gotoh.

You mentioned that guitar thru a Marshall style amp.. Well, playing mine thru my Splawn and yes, its killer. Ive had it several months. Only thing I have to do is roll the tone off ever so slightly on the bridge pickup and it slays. I will most likely leave it as is because it sounds so da*n good. I just had got it with the intention of putting my Aldrich pup in it. Got a very Unexpected surprise..