Vintage pickups and high gain amps?

[papersoul]

I wanted to bring something up that was discussed on the Les Paul forum concerning vintage flavored p'ups through high gain amps.

One of the guys was saying how the open and complex tones of vintage pickups tend to be lost on a high gain amp......making them muddy in that situation.

I personally am more concerned with gig situations with a band and not bedroom tones so this worries me and makes me wonder if I should look at pickups that are specifically designed for high gain and stop thinking I can do it with lower output and vintage tones pickups.

What do you all think?

 

[LucidInterval]

Re: Vintage pickups and high gain amps?

Alot of guys here sing the praises of high gain with vintage pups, but I don't have any experience with it.

 

[That90'sGuy]

Re: Vintage pickups and high gain amps?

I think that vintage pups more than hold their own composure under high gain. If you're trying to overdrive an amp easier, hot pups might help, but I prefer vintage. I guess I just like the vintage sound myself. However, I do like playing hard stuff every once in a while and when I do, vintage pups still sound great. I really love my SD Antiquities under high gain.

 

[75lespaul]

Re: Vintage pickups and high gain amps?

I've got a Crate Blue Voodoo 60 which has the reputation of having "too much gain already" and an Epiphone Les Paul with a Duncan 59 in the bridge and an old seventies Dimarzio super II in the bridge. Of course your speakers have a lot to do with it too--I'm running a 4-12 with Eminence Legend speakers and a 2-12 with a Vintage 30 and G12H30 just so you have an idea.

While the 59 doesn't distort as much as the JB I have in a "real" Les Paul, it still distorts great and is EXCEPTIONALLY clear. I can hear every note I play as opposed to my LP custom which has Dimarzio super distortions and that's a perfect name because all I hear is distortion and no string seperation.

While I wouldn't use (that's just me) the 59 over the JB to play, let's say Godsmack, it would still pull off the job and sound great. Through my high gain amp it really gets the old vintage sounds. The Duncan pickups I feel have made my amp change from an acceptable Marshall/Mesa wannabe into a great, great amp.

Hope this helps.:smoker:

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: Vintage pickups and high gain amps?

I think vintage pickups sound great through high gain amps...I don't know what whoever said that on the LPF is talking about. IMO, hot humbuckers wound to 14K and beyond are the ones that get muddy and overly compressed sounding...not vintage pickups. I use them, and have fun with them, but very overwound pickups are not generally what I prefer. The list of virtuosos who used vintage or moderate output pickups through high gain amps could go on and on: EVH, SRV, Joe Satriani, etc. Lew

 

[59paul]

Re: Vintage pickups and high gain amps?

I agree with ya, Lew !!! I've never used " High Gain ", but I do use Some Vintage, and some moderate output Pickups. Whenever I hear someone using a High Gain amp with High Output Pickups, it just sounds like " Mush ". No definition.

 

[BornToShred]

Re: Vintage pickups and high gain amps?

Depends on what you're going for.

If you want that "METAL!!!" chainsaw distortion, then high output pups (invader etc.) thru a high gain amp (read: Mesa Rectumfrier) are the way to go.

If you want tone, then that's a whole other story...

 

[papersoul]

Re: Vintage pickups and high gain amps?

Thanks guys, interesting stuff. The guys was basically saying that he thinks something along the line of an EMG 85 or 81 would be best with a high gain amp if using lots of gain. Maybe a passive designed for high gain as there are a few.

Personally I tend to use medium output pickups in my Duncan C-5 or Rio grande BBQ which I find to be a tad less than a JB. I believe the C-5 is a little over 14k and the BBQ 12.5.....but I know there is a lot more to the pickup output than the resistance.

 

[JOLLY]

Re: Vintage pickups and high gain amps?

I think vintage pickups sound great through high gain amps...I don't know what whoever said that on the LPF is talking about. IMO, hot humbuckers wound to 14K and beyond are the ones that get muddy and overly compressed sounding...not vintage pickups. I use them, and have fun with them, but very overwound pickups are not generally what I prefer. The list of virtuosos who used vintage or moderate output pickups through high gain amps could go on and on: EVH, SRV, Joe Satriani, etc. Lew

I couldn't agree with you more

 

[papersoul]

Re: Vintage pickups and high gain amps?

Maybe I should have given my Burstbucker Pros more time. but, man I couldn't
vibe with them at rehearsal....like I was always fighting to tame treble or something and couldn't get the fat pinch harmonics I could from the Rio BBQ or Duncan C-5. It was like there was serious beef missing. Funny though because a friend saw us do a gig with my stock LP and he said DO NOT change those pickups. Go figure. Maybe I'll install them in another guitar for comparison.

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: Vintage pickups and high gain amps?

I couldn't agree with you more

Well I knew you'd agree Jolly...you get a monster rock tone with those Duncan Jazz pickups! :burnout: Lew

 

[Lee_M.]

Re: Vintage pickups and high gain amps?

A good PAF type pup through my SLO-100 is sweet, sweet music to my ears. The clarity and definition is tremendous.