Unhappy With Les Paul Sound

[Fiesta Red]

I have had Alnico 2s in it for about a month, maybe less. There is something missing and I can't put my finger on it. I have had Fralins, Darkbursts, a 57 classic, a 59, a JB, and the Alnicos in this guitar and I am still searching. The 59 and the APH sounded the best, but something still isn't right, Maybe something a little darker? I was listening to the sound samples and was thinking perhaps Seth Lovers? The sample of the Seths dirty sounds the best out of all of them.

The guitar already has the RS kit with the 500K pots.

-Mark

 

[ColdHit]

Re: Unhappy With Les Paul Sound

What kind of sound you're looking for?

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: Unhappy With Les Paul Sound

Sure...try the Seth Lovers. If you're after vintage '58 paf tone it doesn't get better than the Seth Lovers IMO.

If you like nickel covers get a set of Seths...if you like exposed black or zebra coils it's hard to go wrong with Pearly Gates in a Les Paul.

Both are '58 style alnico 2 humbuckers.

If you want hotter than '57 or '58 vintage pafs, the Duncan Custom reminds me of a 59B but with more output and more mids.

I've been using one with a PGn and loving it!

Lew

 

[Fiesta Red]

Re: Unhappy With Les Paul Sound

Sure...try the Seth Lovers. If you're after vintage '58 paf tone it doesn't get better than the Seth Lovers IMO.

If you like nickel covers get a set of Seths...if you like exposed black or zebra coils it's hard to go wrong with Pearly Gates in a Les Paul.

Both are '58 style alnico 2 humbuckers.

If you want hotter than '57 or '58 vintage pafs, the Duncan Custom reminds me of a 59B but with more output and more mids.

I've been using one with a PGn and loving it!

Lew

I think the Custom is a bit darker than the other pickups I have had in it, and can go balls out due to the ceramic magnet, but can it do the semi-distorted stuff in an LP well? I have one in an alder bodied strat and I love it.

Also, are the Seths any Darker than the Alnico 2s or the 59?

-Mark

 

[the guy who invented fire]

Re: Unhappy With Les Paul Sound

Mark: Both the Seths and the PG's have a little less true treble that an Alnico II pro. The PG does have the upper mid spike that you read about but it has less actual treble than the A2Pro...the A2Pro has that chimey bell like top that people seem to love or hate. Another great pickup is the Antiquity's...

What exactally are you shotting for?

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: Unhappy With Les Paul Sound

I think the Custom is a bit darker than the other pickups I have had in it, and can go balls out due to the ceramic magnet, but can it do the semi-distorted stuff in an LP well? I have one in an alder bodied strat and I love it.

Also, are the Seths any Darker than the Alnico 2s or the 59?

-Mark

Alnico 2 pickups seem to have smoother treble and less of a glassy edge to the highs than alnico 5 pickups. The 59 is an alnico 5 pickup. Probably has less mids but more bass and treble than the alnico 2 AIIPro.

The ceramic magnet Duncan Custom is not dark or dull at all...very nice highs but not focused to an ice pick sharp focolpoint. The highs are dispersed and very ear friendly.

The Duncan Custom is like a beefed up 59B but with more output and more midrange. The Custom 5 is similar to the Custom but lacks the mids of the Custom, IMO, and the highs are steelier in the C5. I prefer the Custom over the Custom 5.

Whenever a pickup cover is put on a pickup I think it tends to modify some of the prescence of the treble frequencies so "yes" the Seths might seem to be a little warmer than similar uncovered alnico 2 pickups like the AIIPro or PG.

Lew

 

[bryvincent]

Re: Unhappy With Les Paul Sound

what kind of LP do you have? and into what amp?

 

[martinsixstringcustoms]

Re: Unhappy With Les Paul Sound

Mark,

Do yourself a favor and try some Seth's. I just put a set in my R8 (also using the RS Kit - True Tone), and they sound unbelievable! I did take off the covers, but even before that, I had no noticable microphonic issues. They are quickly becoming my fav SD pup.

Matt

 

[Mike M.]

Re: Unhappy With Les Paul Sound

Maybe the problem isn't with any of the pickups but rather in the value of the pot's you're using. Since you said, "maybe something a little darker" you might think about trying some 300K pots instead of the 500K's for the bridge volume and tone, if you have'nt already tried that. I found 500K's to be too much for my LP's bridge spot. I've got 300K's for the bridge volume and tone and 500K's for the neck pickup in mine. Balances out great.

 

[the guy who invented fire]

Re: Unhappy With Les Paul Sound

Mark,

Do yourself a favor and try some Antiquity's. Christian put a set in his R8, and they sound unbelievable! Plus Christian is the man and want to be just like him when I grow up! If you want to stay in the circle of trust get Antiquity's!

Matt

Listen to Matt!

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: Unhappy With Les Paul Sound

Mark: Both the Seths and the PG's have a little less true treble that an Alnico II pro. The PG does have the upper mid spike that you read about but it has less actual treble than the A2Pro...the A2Pro has that chimey bell like top that people seem to love or hate. Another great pickup is the Antiquity's...

What exactally are you shotting for?

Thanks for the comparism Christian...I have the least experence of all with the AIIPros. I tried the AIIPro neck humbucker briefly and liked it, but then went right back to the PGn again. I prefered the PGn.

Lew

 

[martinsixstringcustoms]

Re: Unhappy With Les Paul Sound

Listen to Matt!

You need serious help bro! :laugh2:

 

[martinsixstringcustoms]

Re: Unhappy With Les Paul Sound

 

[the guy who invented fire]

Re: Unhappy With Les Paul Sound

Thanks for the comparism Christian...I have the least experence of all with the AIIPros. I tried the AIIPro neck humbucker briefly and liked it, but then went right back to the PGn again. I prefered the PGn.
Lew

I like the Alniso II Pro and I have it (with a CC) in one of my guitars but to be honest I much prefer the tone of the PGn...in fact as soon as I get off my lazy arse Im gonna swap both of those pickups out of that guitar...a PG in the neck and Im still not sur about the bridge but I might go back with a CC.

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: Unhappy With Les Paul Sound

Try a Duncan Custom, Christian!

You know, I tried the Antiquity and liked it alot but found that I liked the Seth Lovers a little bit more.

I thought the Antiquitys were a little warmer than the Seths and I guess I liked the highs better from the Seth Lovers...

The Seths seemed fresher, livlier and clearer...but still very ballsy.

Lew

 

[ColdHit]

Re: Unhappy With Les Paul Sound

Thanks for the comparism Christian...I have the least experence of all with the AIIPros. I tried the AIIPro neck humbucker briefly and liked it, but then went right back to the PGn again. I prefered the PGn.

Lew

I agree with this. I think PG's are the perferct combination with a LP. I just sounds Classic.

 

[Fiesta Red]

Re: Unhappy With Les Paul Sound

what kind of LP do you have? and into what amp?

I actually have two LPs that I am struggling with. The first is a 2003 Standard -- that is the one I wrote about. The second is a 2004 LP Custom with A Darkburst in the bridge and a Crossroads in the neck. Great sounding pickups, but again, something missing.

I play through a Marshall TSL.

-Mark

 

[the guy who invented fire]

Re: Unhappy With Les Paul Sound

Try a Duncan Custom, Christian!
You know, I tried the Antiquity and liked it alot but found that I liked the Seth Lovers a little bit more.
I thought the Antiquitys were a little warmer than the Seths and I guess I liked the highs better from the Seth Lovers...
The Seths seemed fresher, livlier and clearer...but still very ballsy.
Lew

I have tried the Custom in the past but as buckers go I really just prefer the soft songy quality of Alnico II. The guitar in question is great for slightly more modern/hot rodded PAF tones but I grow tired of the A2Pro in the neck now and then...

 

[bryvincent]

Re: Unhappy With Les Paul Sound

I actually have two LPs that I am struggling with. The first is a 2003 Standard -- that is the one I wrote about. The second is a 2004 LP Custom with A Darkburst in the bridge and a Crossroads in the neck. Great sounding pickups, but again, something missing.

I play through a Marshall TSL.

-Mark

try raising your tailpiece up to the point that the string angle is the same as the string angle at the headstock. i had to raise mine about 11/32"(total change of height from TP completely down) to get the sound i want(also i change the TP to a lightweight aluminum one). or try topwrapping. believe it or not it can change the tone and feel of your guitar.

 

[david kornblatt]

Re: Unhappy With Les Paul Sound

i think for great les paul tone two harmonic design z-90s and tone kit with wires going to the middle lug on tone pots is the way to go