What pickups would I find stock on a 1964 Gibson Les Paul custom??

[JohnZAH]

So I have an amazing guitar sitting next to me right now, although It's not mine.
I plugged this thing in earlier and it blew my face off. (not from being high-output, but from having unbelievable tone)

Do you guys have any idea what these pickups would be? They seem like they are wax potted but I don't know for sure.

Thanks!

 

[Gypsyblue]

Re: What pickups would I find stock on a 1964 Gibson Les Paul custom??

From the Vintage Guitars Info page: http://home.provide.net/~cfh/paf.html 1962-1965: Early "patent no." sticker, nickel cover, short magnet, PAF style bobbins ("circle in a square"), redish/copper colored bobbin wire (probably happened in 1963), some point in here bobbin lead wires change to one black and one white, phillips screws on base. Plastic on bobbins more durable and bobbins are flat (PAF style pickups often have bowed pickup bobbins), "L" toolmarks on feet.

Note the last version of the PAF (1961-1962) is basically identical to the nickle plated 1963 Patent# pickup (and on guitars with gold parts, probably as late as 1967 Patent# pickups are equivalent to 1961-1962 PAFs, since Gibson used less gold plated parts and inventories lasted longer). Because the wire color changed around 1963 from purple to a redish/copper color (and some other changes, listed above), technically the 1964-1965 Patent# pickups are different than the 1963 Patent# and late PAF pickups (though the tone is very similar).

 

[the guy who invented fire]

Re: What pickups would I find stock on a 1964 Gibson Les Paul custom??

64 should still be nickel cover pat # sticker pickups.

Very similar to the later PAF pickups, alnico 5 magnets, PAFish wind, etc...

They should not however be potted but migth have been potted in the past to reduce microphonics.

 

[JohnZAH]

Re: What pickups would I find stock on a 1964 Gibson Les Paul custom??

hmmm... that's interesting. Now I'm curious what the dc resistance is on these things. They sounded great with a fairly high gain setting which is the reason I think they're potted.

 

[trevorus]

Re: What pickups would I find stock on a 1964 Gibson Les Paul custom??

hmmm... that's interesting. Now I'm curious what the dc resistance is on these things. They sounded great with a fairly high gain setting which is the reason I think they're potted.

My Seth Lovers sound great with higher gain, and they are unpotted. They do feed back easier though when you let it roll, especially since they are in a sim-hollow.

 

[JohnZAH]

Re: What pickups would I find stock on a 1964 Gibson Les Paul custom??

My Seth Lovers sound great with higher gain, and they are unpotted. They do feed back easier though when you let it roll, especially since they are in a sim-hollow.

good to know. does the wax potting alter the sound of a pickup? I just figured I should use potted pups so I get less feedback but I LOVE the sound of this neck pickup.

And also, How does the seth match up with a hotter bridge pickup like a sh-5?? I might put one in my les paul

 

[astrozombie]

Re: What pickups would I find stock on a 1964 Gibson Les Paul custom??

its a good match, you usually dont want a hot neck pickup, and the seth is very similar to the 59 which i see recommended all the time.

 

[the guy who invented fire]

Re: What pickups would I find stock on a 1964 Gibson Les Paul custom??

non potted pickups can be just fine under high gain...I use antiquities in my les paul, Shawbuckers in my Moderne and PAT # sticker pickups in my ES-335...none of them are potted. The Ants and the Shaws are quite as a mouse, the Pat # pups squeel like a stuck pig...it's all in the wind and how the cover is put on.

The DC on the pickups in the LP/SG are in the 8k range give or take a little.

If you want one pickup like that I happen to have a middle/late 60's Pat # Sticker pickup, chrome cover not nickel and shorter leads (you'd need to add a little to it or have a new lead put on it)...I've got it listed for sale right now...shameless spam I know but you are into the pickup! Reads 7.5k on the nose, great neck pickup!

If you don't want to move on an original 60's Gibson pickup the Duncan 59 is in the ballpark for less money...

 

[JohnZAH]

Re: What pickups would I find stock on a 1964 Gibson Les Paul custom??

non potted pickups can be just fine under high gain...I use antiquities in my les paul, Shawbuckers in my Moderne and PAT # sticker pickups in my ES-335...none of them are potted. The Ants and the Shaws are quite as a mouse, the Pat # pups squeel like a stuck pig...it's all in the wind and how the cover is put on.

The DC on the pickups in the LP/SG are in the 8k range give or take a little.

If you want one pickup like that I happen to have a middle/late 60's Pat # Sticker pickup, chrome cover not nickel and shorter leads (you'd need to add a little to it or have a new lead put on it)...I've got it listed for sale right now...shameless spam I know but you are into the pickup! Reads 7.5k on the nose, great neck pickup!

If you don't want to move on an original 60's Gibson pickup the Duncan 59 is in the ballpark for less money...

How much are you asking for the pickup??

Also, would you say that a 59, seth lover, or gibson 57 classic is better?

 

[GuitarDoc]

Re: What pickups would I find stock on a 1964 Gibson Les Paul custom??

I think the '59 is a great pup. Very clear and articulate, not muddy. So is the Seth. I'm not so sure about the '57 in the bridge, I've only had it in the neck.

For my taste the '59 is a little bit too scooped and bright, but an A8 made it perfect. The UOA5 was also a big improvement. But most players love the '59 as is.

 

[richard parker]

Re: What pickups would I find stock on a 1964 Gibson Les Paul custom??

1964 ?

 

[JohnZAH]

Re: What pickups would I find stock on a 1964 Gibson Les Paul custom??

I think the '59 is a great pup. Very clear and articulate, not muddy. So is the Seth. I'm not so sure about the '57 in the bridge, I've only had it in the neck.

For my taste the '59 is a little bit too scooped and bright, but an A8 made it perfect. The UOA5 was also a big improvement. But most players love the '59 as is.

Yeah I would likely use one of those for the neck with something a little hotter in the bridge. I like duncans most but the 57 has my attention because it is pretty bright. I'd prefer the neck to not be so woofy.

BTW doc, would a duncan custom be too hot to pair with one of those vintage style buckers in the neck?

 

[the guy who invented fire]

Re: What pickups would I find stock on a 1964 Gibson Les Paul custom??

...would a duncan custom be too hot to pair with one of those vintage style buckers in the neck?

Not at all...you yourself are running an alnico II Pro and a Custom 5 set...thats about the same in terms of output.

 

[JohnZAH]

Re: What pickups would I find stock on a 1964 Gibson Les Paul custom??

Not at all...you yourself are running an alnico II Pro and a Custom 5 set...thats about the same in terms of output.

Ok good because I already bought the custom ha

 

[Barron1]

Re: What pickups would I find stock on a 1964 Gibson Les Paul custom??

Aren't they T-tops?

 

[AlexR]

Re: What pickups would I find stock on a 1964 Gibson Les Paul custom??

T-tops come in after the company is sold to Norlin, which is in the late 60's.

 

[the guy who invented fire]

Re: What pickups would I find stock on a 1964 Gibson Les Paul custom??

T-tops come in after the company is sold to Norlin, which is in the late 60's.

T-Tops hit in mid to late 1965...Norlin bought Gibson in 1969.

 

[Edgecrusher]

Re: What pickups would I find stock on a 1964 Gibson Les Paul custom??

I'm confused or maybe my les paul history isnt so good. I thought they went to the Les Paul with an SG shape in 61? They took the Les Paul name off in 63... So what Les Paul was made in 64?

 

[the guy who invented fire]

Re: What pickups would I find stock on a 1964 Gibson Les Paul custom??

I'm confused or maybe my les paul history isnt so good. I thought they went to the Les Paul with an SG shape in 61? They took the Les Paul name off in 63... So what Les Paul was made in 64?

Early 64 SG's still said Les Paul Model...

Not that it matters too much what the guitar is...any Gibson with humbucking pickups in 1964 would have the early Pat # sticker pickups in it.

 

[Edgecrusher]

Re: What pickups would I find stock on a 1964 Gibson Les Paul custom??

Yeah but my question isnt about the pickups. If its a SG shaped les paul then all well and good I was just curious as to what it actually is.