Vintage humbuckers for 59 Epi Les Paul

[jklarsen]

Hello,

I am looking for some vintage woody warm humbuckers for my LP.

I want to have that really deep, warm and woody sound for blues, Jimmy Page, Gov't Mule over to latest Monstermagnet southern rock.

I hope my strange choice of words makes sense.

I have been looking at antiquity but i can't find any B-M-T info, and was looking at the Alnico II Pro, but am not sure if they are to weak in the bass?

Any tips will be greatly appreciated.


Best...Jan

 

[IanBallard]

Re: Vintage humbuckers for 59 Epi Les Paul

You can't beat a set of '59s if you aren't sure. Through a good amp, they'll cover whatever tones you want. If you aren't totally happy with that stock tones, you can tweek them with new magnets and get a whole new tone. Put an A4 mag in the neck to get rid of potential boominess and put an A8 in the bridge to give it more balls and mids.

 

[jklarsen]

Re: Vintage humbuckers for 59 Epi Les Paul

How does the 59 compare to the alnico II Pro?

 

[IanBallard]

Re: Vintage humbuckers for 59 Epi Les Paul

It's a slightly hotter wind and uses an A5 magnet. I played a Les Paul with A2P's in it and it was OK but didn't leave any lipstick on my collar at the end of the night, if you know what I mean. I just mention the '59 because it's a good, affordable option for a guitar like yours' (aside from the name '59) and the wind is very adaptable to different magnets if you want to tweak tones. Very versatile for the music you are into. Although you can't lose either way. If you aren't brave enough to mess with magnet swaps, consider that the A2P will have more midrange presence and the '59 will give you more bass and a little more treble response. It really depends more on your amp's tonal range and your typical preferred settings than anything else. If your amp is more "midrangy" and spongier in the bass, like an EL34 type amp, the '59 would balance nicely. Conversely, if you're using a 6L6 flavored amp, the A2P might balance well.

 

[jklarsen]

Re: Vintage humbuckers for 59 Epi Les Paul

Thank you for the tips.

How does the Antiquities fit in to the 59 and AP2?

 

[jklarsen]

Re: Vintage humbuckers for 59 Epi Les Paul

Also how does the duncans compare to the Burstbucker?

 

[Aceman]

Re: Vintage humbuckers for 59 Epi Les Paul

A good old fashioned set of 59's will do you right!

 

[FuseG4]

Re: Vintage humbuckers for 59 Epi Les Paul

Also how does the duncans compare to the Burstbucker?

burstbucker 1 and 2 seem to me like they're a little brighter and weaker feeling than 59s. The BBs have a little more sizzle.

The BB3 for me feels like a thinner version of the Pearly Gates bridge.

 

[albertg]

Re: Vintage humbuckers for 59 Epi Les Paul

Are the SD Vintage Blues set both 59's??

This set is selling for $130 new from MF. I was considering them for a 2000 LP Classic through EL84 and 6v6 tube amps. I'm looking for good clean tones through to say ZZ Top level distortion. The stock pups in this guitar are too hot for versatility. I also have an assortment of mags A2 A4 and A8 to play with.

 

[Chocol8]

Re: Vintage humbuckers for 59 Epi Les Paul

Thank you for the tips.

How does the Antiquities fit in to the 59 and AP2?

The ants seem to have a little more higher end detail but are not brighter or more treblely, it just seems more complex. I would actually say the ants are less mid scooped than the 59 but they are also more microphonic. The Ants react to the amp when you crank it up giving great feedback assisted sustain and rich harmonics. If you push too far into metal teritory with high power amps they may squeal but mine have no issue doing ZZ Top and then some. Based on your first post I would guess you would like them. You might also want to add the Seth Lovers to the list. They will be closer to the Ant than the 59.