Trying to find the right vintage output pickup

[Jedidew]

So I have an Epiphone G-400 worn cherry model, and I'm looking to replace the bridge pickup. I play blues, classic rock, metal, and nearly every type of rock and roll in between. I'm looking for a hot-but-vintage sounding pickup, and I just wanted to hear some opinions on some models that are in the ballpark for what I'm looking for, seeing as I can't afford to purchase a bunch of models for the sake of experimentation. I want to hear some thoughts from those who have played the Slash signature APH (I know, I know. Every fanboy on the planet asks about these, but he has a cool tone that rides a line between vintage and modern. His sig's are made to the specs of the ones in his '59 replica, and are just a tad more than the regular APH-1's). I'd also like to hear some thoughts about the tone and versatility of the Antiquities, the Seth Lovers, or ANY other pickups that have a cool, authentic sounding vintage tone that handles a little bit of gain pretty well. Opinions are appreciated

-Dewey

 

[tonello]

Re: Trying to find the right vintage output pickup

I can't see you going wrong with any of the Custom line. Maybe a Custom 5 is more what you're looking for.

The Seth Lovers are pure vintage style pickups. They have no wax potting underneath the covers, so you could get feedback when you kick it into overdrive. The Antiquities are just regular (insert specific pickup name) that have been aged in a shop rather than aging them properly overtime in your own guitar. They sound the same as the regular pickups, and cost a ton more.

I really thing the Custom 5 is more in the ballpark for you.

 

[Jedidew]

Re: Trying to find the right vintage output pickup

I can't see you going wrong with any of the Custom line. Maybe a Custom 5 is more what you're looking for.

The Seth Lovers are pure vintage style pickups. They have no wax potting underneath the covers, so you could get feedback when you kick it into overdrive. The Antiquities are just regular (insert specific pickup name) that have been aged in a shop rather than aging them properly overtime in your own guitar. They sound the same as the regular pickups, and cost a ton more.

I really thing the Custom 5 is more in the ballpark for you.

Thanks for the info! Didn't know that about the antiquities. I'm relatively new to the world of pickup shopping, as I've been playing for only 3 or 4 years now. I've got 2 Epiphones and a B.C. Rich, and I just wanna get some better sound out of them. (Especially the B.C. Rich Thing plays great, but the pups are total ****..). Normally I have a "if it's not broke, don't fix it" attitude, but I really can't help but notice that my stock pickups are lacking when I play them live. Thanks again, I'll definitely look into the Custom 5!

 

[Chickenwings]

Re: Trying to find the right vintage output pickup

I'm looking for a hot-but-vintage sounding pickup, and I just wanted to hear some opinions on some models that are in the ballpark or ANY other pickups that have a cool, authentic sounding vintage tone that handles a little bit of gain pretty well. Opinions are appreciated

Pearly Gates.

 

[Chickenwings]

Re: Trying to find the right vintage output pickup

I'm looking for a hot-but-vintage sounding pickup, and I just wanted to hear some opinions on some models that are in the ballpark or ANY other pickups that have a cool, authentic sounding vintage tone that handles a little bit of gain pretty well. Opinions are appreciated

Pearly Gates.

 

[Chickenwings]

Re: Trying to find the right vintage output pickup

sorry about double post. this new forum is messing with me

 

[Jedidew]

Re: Trying to find the right vintage output pickup

Pearly Gates.

Think so? I've heard mixed reviews on those, but I haven't heard them either. I had a friend tell me they're outrageously bright and don't clean up very well. I'm all for proving him wrong though Have you played them?

 

[Chickenwings]

Re: Trying to find the right vintage output pickup

yeh. i have them in my 335. They are the 4th set of pups that have been in there and they are staying.
The bridge is kinda bright, but its a sweet tone - and i'm a fat bass addict. It seems to have a kind of grind in the upper mids that makes your amp or dirt box sound a bit cruchier than it really is. Very cool indeed.
The neck is deep and warm.
"Outrageously bright" sounds like bull**** to me tho - maybe the sort of thing someone might say if they been reading a lot of internet forums and not actually playing them. The SD jazz and 59's both have more treble (mainly because of the a5 magnets methinks). Maybe if you are going for a mega high gain death metal sound, then any vintage A2 paf is going to sound a little thin, not just a PG. Any other tone from clean to hard rock, the PG can do in style.
Cleans? Yes lovely. I'm pretty choosy about my clean sounds cos my main thing is jazz.
Essentially, if you cant make em sound good, you probably cant make anything sound good.
Maybe they are not the right pickups for teenagers cranking metallica riffs thru a line 6 spider, or a peavey bandit with a boss metal core pedal. But if you have good touch, good ears and a nice amp, then they are superb.

 

[Jedidew]

Re: Trying to find the right vintage output pickup

I really would like to try out the Pearly Gates, or hear one played. Its hard to find youtube videos that do justice to the sound quality of pickups (or to find one that isn't a teenager cranking the gain ;P). I'll definitely have to look into it some more. I don't really use a lot of gain, even when occasionally playing heavier stuff. As far as gain goes in general, I like to let the amp handle all that. I find that I prefer the sound of a low gain pickup and more gain from the amp as opposed to a pickup that has a bunch of gain. Sounds more "real", I guess, if that makes any sense. I still want something that has relatively loud and clear output though. Always nice to hear a jazz guy's opinion on cleans, as most jazz players I've encountered are as picky about cleans as I am with breakup

 

[Jedidew]

Re: Trying to find the right vintage output pickup

I love your GIF, by the way. haha

 

[blueman335]

Re: Trying to find the right vintage output pickup

I've upgraded PU's on a bunch of Epi's, SG's included. Seymour makes a selection of vintage-type HB's, I have all of them and here's my take on them:

Seth's - Duncan's best PAF and one of the best, most authentic you can find anywhere. Unbalanced coils and unpotted, so you get great open, airy tones. Feedback is rarely an issue. The A2's give them lots of dynamics and texture, full, rich tones. The bridge is fairly warm, and the neck has enough cut to it.

Antiquities - Basically an aged Seth. As I see it, the problem is that A2's don't have a lot of treble or output at full strength and when they're aged (degaussed) those are reduced even further. I replaced the magnets in mine: UOA5 in the bridge to get some treble and cut, and and A3 in the neck for more treble while keeping the big-sounding mids. With Seth's, I haven't needed to swap magnets.

'59's - The A5 magnets give them a sharper high end, scooped mids, and a prominent, tight low end. In some guitars, like LP's and 335's, they can be bassy/boomy in the neck slot, however, this is not an issue in SG's. Bright, clean, clear sound, without as much flavor and character as the other four mentioned here. Howver, that also means it'll take more gain before getting muddy.

PG's - Even though it has an A2 magnet, the bridge is sharper than many people would think it would be; the neck is warm with a rounded top and lots of mids. It has it's fans, but I suspect that some of them haven't tried the others listed here. To me, the bridge is bright and thin, and the neck pretty mellow. I much prefer Seths and A2P's.

A2P's - Technically not a true PAF, but similar. A2 magnet. Has a warmer, fuller bridge tone, and a neck with a little more treble and bite compared to PG's. The Slash bridge is wound slightly hotter, but the regular A2P bridge is great. No need to spend the extra money on a slight difference that you may or may not be able to hear.

 

[tubecrunch]

Re: Trying to find the right vintage output pickup

I've had the same experience as Gibson175. Pearly gates has always been easy for me to work with. Sounds great split too. Consider adding a push/pull pot. The a2p I tried seemed bright. Also, part of slash's secret ingredient in his tone is running through lots of cable... I have an easier time getting close to his sound with pg bridge. I'm less a fan of the pg neck.

 

[Chickenwings]

Re: Trying to find the right vintage output pickup

i dunno if blueman was having a dig at me or not, but i should say that ive not tried seths or antiquities for the record.