What would make a Les Paul crunch like a Wolfgang?

[Rorschach]

Is there any way to get that dark, raunchy distorted tone - with harmonics and palm mutes just jumping out at you - with a Les Paul Studio?

I've tried a bunch of pickups, including the JB, SH-5, and the Dimebucker... The Dime was the best in the crunch department, but lacked life and warmth in a bad way. It needn't be overly hot like a Peavey Wolfgang is, but just crunchy and with lots of character (a la Alnico magnets) :scratchch

 

[doctadre]

Re: What would make a Les Paul crunch like a Wolfgang?

Does the studio have a maple top? Some of it has to do with the body shape, and thickness. I just got a PRS singelcut 250, and started A-Bing it with my Roman Quicksilver. The PRS, an lp shape, is thicker, darker, and has a wider range in harmonics. The Quicksilver has that crunchy attack, is a thinner body of course, and is brighter in general (maple neck).


I figured the SH 5 would solve u problem, but if it hasnt, then try the other 2 custom models (custom 5 and custom custom). Give the Pearly gates a shot, or even the Crazy 8.

It may just be the size and thickness of the guitar that makes the crunch tougher to get. Try adding treble in ur amp settings, I found that to help a lot.



Good luck!


Dre

 

[blueman335]

Re: What would make a Les Paul crunch like a Wolfgang?

When I want a high output crunch, I use a C5 with 250K pots, which take off some treble & play up mids, paired with a '59N or JazzN in the neck with 500K's. You get the warmth & color of alnicos, with a raw, powerful bridge. If you really want to get wild, you could put an A8 in the C5.

 

[ErikH]

Re: What would make a Les Paul crunch like a Wolfgang?

My first thought when I hear Crunch and Les Paul is the DiMarzio Super Distortion. Other than that, can't help ya.

The two guitars are so different it'll be very difficult, if not impossible, to get that exact crunch. Body wood, neck, construction, scale, pickup mounting method, bridge, everything is different between the two.

You can get crunch, but it won't be Wolfgang crunch.

Your amp will also influence the crunch factor too.

 

[Rorschach]

Re: What would make a Les Paul crunch like a Wolfgang?

It may just be the size and thickness of the guitar that makes the crunch tougher to get.

The two guitars are so different it'll be very difficult, if not impossible, to get that exact crunch. Body wood, neck, construction, scale, pickup mounting method, bridge, everything is different between the two.

That might be the case... I'm sure it has a lot to do with the Wolfgang having the maple neck and the 25.5" scale, and the Floyd of course.

I just prefer the Les Paul over other guitars, and that neck P/U tone, nothing can touch. :cool2: But there's never been a bridge pickup tone that I absolutely loved from that guitar. It just sounds too "soft," for lack of a better term.

I'll probably give the magnet swapping thing a shot with the Custom.

 

[jmh151]

Re: What would make a Les Paul crunch like a Wolfgang?

My first thought when I hear Crunch and Les Paul is the DiMarzio Super Distortion. Other than that, can't help ya.

The two guitars are so different it'll be very difficult, if not impossible, to get that exact crunch. Body wood, neck, construction, scale, pickup mounting method, bridge, everything is different between the two.

You can get crunch, but it won't be Wolfgang crunch.

Your amp will also influence the crunch factor too.

+1 on the Superdistortion. After that, the Dimarzio Evolution, which in my opinion sounds like a Superdistortion with more presence.

 

[Rorschach]

Re: What would make a Les Paul crunch like a Wolfgang?

When I want a high output crunch, I use a C5 with 250K pots, which take off some treble & play up mids, paired with a '59N or JazzN in the neck with 500K's. You get the warmth & color of alnicos, with a raw, powerful bridge. If you really want to get wild, you could put an A8 in the C5.

Hmmm... 250K pots and Alnico 8... That's an original idea

As for the neck 'bucker, I like the stock Gibson more than the Duncan varieties I've heard. It's really really dark and fat. The bridge p/u is rubbish though.

 

[Kosh Naranek]

Re: What would make a Les Paul crunch like a Wolfgang?

Try a Screamin Demon.

What I really think is the issue here is the construction and the particular piece of wood that was used.

I have a Hamer Monaco Eleite Mahogany, which is pretty much built like a LP though the body shape isn't exactly the same. It has a mahogany top instead of maple, which I believe is also the way the LP studio is made.

My Monaco Elite Mahogany has a pair of Duncan 59's. I never would have guessed because the bridge pickup sounds all snarly, aggresive and crunchy like a Screamin Demon.

I also have a Hamer Artist Korina, also with a pair of 59's. It sounds nothing like the Monaco Elite Mahogany. Some chunks of wood just have the right resonant properties that when they get made into guitars, they sound amazing. It's a good argument for actually playing a guitar before deciding the buy, rather than buying online.

 

[Quicksilver689]

Re: What would make a Les Paul crunch like a Wolfgang?

Hmmm... 250K pots and Alnico 8... That's an original idea

As for the neck 'bucker, I like the stock Gibson more than the Duncan varieties I've heard. It's really really dark and fat. The bridge p/u is rubbish though.

+10000 on using an A8 magnet in your bridge PU - if you have a good sounding bridge PU now but find yourself in the "...yeah, but I wish it had..." phase, try a mag swap with one of your existing pickups to help save some $. If you don't have that pickup yet, might I suggest a Crazy 8, or depending on its' availability (as it's a brand new PU for this year), SD's new Alternative 8. Also, although it's a ceramic PU, you could alternatively try a PATB-2 and do a mag swap in it for an A8 - which would still come in cheaper than paying $160+whatever for a new Crazy 8, unless you find a seller that is...

 

[Quicksilver689]

Re: What would make a Les Paul crunch like a Wolfgang?

Slightly OT, but - on the subject of it being an EVH-inspired guitar, I read in another thread this a.m. that some are speculating that EVH actually used stock Super 70 PU's in his Ibanez Destroyer on the 1st two VH albums - which were apparently coincidentally loaded with A8 mags.....if that is indeed true, that is very cool! :headbang:

 

[Rorschach]

Re: What would make a Les Paul crunch like a Wolfgang?

Slightly OT, but - on the subject of it being an EVH-inspired guitar, I read in another thread this a.m. that some are speculating that EVH actually used stock Super 70 PU's in his Ibanez Destroyer on the 1st two VH albums - which were apparently coincidentally loaded with A8 mags.....if that is indeed true, that is very cool! :headbang:

It's so weird, the way something is recorded with a crapola guitar through a broken amp, that goes on to become a legendary tone that can't ever be duplicated :nervous:

I'm not actually a big EVH fan at all. The Wolfgang was a gift, and just by chance, it turned out to be one of my favourite axes (and it's the Korean one)!

+10000 on using an A8 magnet in your bridge PU - if you have a good sounding bridge PU now but find yourself in the "...yeah, but I wish it had..." phase, try a mag swap with one of your existing pickups to help save some $.

I actually got rid of the LP and the pickups some time ago. I'm considering another LP Studio these days.

What's the deal with the Crazy 8? I've read about it in other posts, but I wasn't around when that came out.

 

[Rorschach]

Re: What would make a Les Paul crunch like a Wolfgang?

It's a good argument for actually playing a guitar before deciding the buy, rather than buying online.

You're right. My LP might have not been a particularly nice slab of mahogany (it was a maple top BTW). The next time I'm going to be playing every LP I can get my hands on before I pick one.

Somebody mentioned the amp... It's a Marshall TSL 2x12 combo. I usually run a Boss SD-1 in front.

 

[doctadre]

Re: What would make a Les Paul crunch like a Wolfgang?

Since the scale length does affect the tension and tone, and the LP is a shorter scale than the wolfgang, try using a heavier gauge of strings, and have ur tech increase the tension on the strings. It will add to the crunch in a big way.



Dre

 

[Benjy_26]

Re: What would make a Les Paul crunch like a Wolfgang?

You basically want to make your LP thinner sounding to get into Wolfie territory.

Try the Demon, 59, Jazz and the Phat Cat to get you where you want to go.

 

[Quicksilver689]

Re: What would make a Les Paul crunch like a Wolfgang?

What's the deal with the Crazy 8? I've read about it in other posts, but I wasn't around when that came out.

From my posting in a diff thread yesterday:

I don't have any measurements, but I can definitely 2nd what SD themselves say about it here: "Imagine if you and your buddies got together and designed the perfect pickup. That's the Crazy 8. It was designed by the tone freaks on the Seymour Duncan User Group Forum in 2007. The result is a high-output, high-energy rock pickup built with the patented Parallel Axis bobbins for better sustain. It's our first pickup ever to use an Alnico 8 magnet."

For me, it is definitely the perfect bridge pickup, bar none! Some say it's like a '78 on steroids with an Alnico8 magnet, but I couldn't say because I've never knowingly tried a '78. It is definitely a high output, high energy rock pickup though, but very unique in that regard. The combination of the A8 mag and parallel axis bobbins likely has a lot to do with this. It's high output, but never harsh or sterile. The highs sear, but never go shrill. Low end is still tight yet punchy, and mids are present but never overbearing. Take the best qualities of a ceramic mag, eliminate the shrill highs, and add in the alnico benefits and you essentially have the perfect bridge pickup IMHO.

Ascension has some really good example sound clips of the Crazy 8 he sold me while he still had it installed in an ash-bodied Washburn MG100 - sounds great here too! Listen to them here:


http://soundclick.com/share?songid=5588496
http://soundclick.com/share?songid=5590361

This should give you a good overall idea of what it's like...

 

[Rorschach]

Re: What would make a Les Paul crunch like a Wolfgang?

This should give you a good overall idea of what it's like...

Hey, thanks! There are plenty more clips on the Soundclick page. The Crazy 8 is an intriguing pickup for sure.

I'll wait until the Alternative 8 clips surface; but those two are the main contenders right now.

 

[hanumanlangur]

Re: What would make a Les Paul crunch like a Wolfgang?

What value pots do you have in the Les Paul, and which bridge pickup do you have in it currently? I find that if I'm not getting good crunch, that it's often because the bridge tone is too dark in the first place.

 

[Quicksilver689]

Re: What would make a Les Paul crunch like a Wolfgang?

Hey, thanks! There are plenty more clips on the Soundclick page. The Crazy 8 is an intriguing pickup for sure.

I'll wait until the Alternative 8 clips surface; but those two are the main contenders right now.

Glad I could be of help.....also bear in mind (as many others here have said) that you can more cheaply just buy an A8 magnet and swap it into any pickup just to try it.....good luck!