Which Humbuckers for a Les Paul build?

[Mez Cal]

Re: Which Humbuckers for a Les Paul build?

So after all this great advice what has he bought ?
Will be interesting to see

Im leaning towards the Black Winter set, Invader set---maybe a blackouts pre amp kit? Ive got a bit of time so im not going to rush into a purchase...but i am very excited....this forum is great i look forward to logging in each day

 

[Mez Cal]

Re: Which Humbuckers for a Les Paul build?

Update: its looking like im going with a Duncan Custom bridge and a Custom Hybrid for the neck...im trying to sell one of my JB's to purchase a Black Winter. ....still a few weeks till the gun oil finish will be completed

 

[TVFV]

Re: Which Humbuckers for a Les Paul build?

Update: its looking like im going with a Duncan Custom bridge and a Custom Hybrid for the neck...im trying to sell one of my JB's to purchase a Black Winter. ....still a few weeks till the gun oil finish will be completed

An interesting combo for sure. But I'm curious how you like it. Be sure to come back and tell us how it turned out.

Sent from my Pixel XL using Tapatalk

 

[Mez Cal]

Re: Which Humbuckers for a Les Paul build?

I bought a set of Black Winters. Maybe one more week till the hardware and electronics are installed

 

[Gtrjunior]

Re: Which Humbuckers for a Les Paul build?

I’m looking forward to your review on them.

 

[Mez Cal]

Re: Which Humbuckers for a Les Paul build?

https://youtu.be/65w9-LFMv00

I have been busy playing my new Les Paul- "Zoey"....the clip was recorded on a Samsung Galaxy. ..the Amps (plural) were set to volume 7 on both high gain channels so take the clip with a grain of salt...so far Im really enjoying how easy it is to dial in a classic metal tone as well as a modern metal tone, as well as Sludge and Fuzz out Stoner and Doomy long sustaining chords...the Black Winter is a very rich in saturation tool...great for leads and rythm alike...articulate pick attack in high gain, blooming chords rich in the Mids...rounded top end from the Neck pickup on the clean channel and a convincing 70's sounding Arena Rock mid gain tone....a versitile and great fit in a Mahogony , Maple Cap, Mahogany/Rosewood neck/fretboard -Les Paul Style guitar built to play Metal thru High Wattage, High Gain 2 channel heads with 2 x 4 x 12 speaker cabinets.

I could not be happier with my choice...
My other guitars are as follows
Gibson SG - my #1 with Nazgul and 57'Classic in the Neck position
70's vintage Memphis Les Paul solid Honduran Mahogony / Mahogany /Rosewood neck...heavy aA.F. outfitted with the Duncan Custom and the Full Shred Neck...this one sounds the best and is the easiest to dial in...dunno why?
Ibanez AS73 ( think 335) with a JB and a 57' Classic in the neck...this guitar shreds...soloing has never been easier.
Fender Statocaster, 73' with EMG active humbucker and 2 single coil...dont know which model...came to me setup that way...this guitar is great for soloing and can do it all, Country to Metal and then some...heaviest guitar i have ...a real backbreaker...

The Black Winter Set holds its own very well...makes me play more precisely than the others, the payoff is the beautiful saturation achieved thru a well tuned/intonated instrument.

Chords sound thick and resonant, single note runs are wicked with grain...and chugging the low string alone is fun as hell (a common feature of the Nazgul)

This is THE pickup set for Heavy Metal...and it doesnt need batteries or the need to split to single coil...Black Winters Rule!!!

 

[Mincer]

Re: Which Humbuckers for a Les Paul build?

I am happy the Black Winters worked. I had a feeling they would, due to your detailed preferences.

 

[Karan D. Taktawala]

Re: Which Humbuckers for a Les Paul build?

If your going to play Metal but love doing Pentatonic runs. A hot high output pickup with an Alnico 5 Magnet is going to sound a lot sweeter than any Ceramic based pup.

Coming from a hardcore Vintage output background myself, I've actually been surprised to find that the Pegasus & Alternative 8 have a wonderfully dynamic range which I was actually able to play even blues on at lowest settings and it went full out assault on the higher volumes but with excellent note separation:scared:

The Invader is a more aggressive version of those if your going to wipe blues completely out the picture

 

[KandyMan1990]

Re: Which Humbuckers for a Les Paul build?

I realise I'm late to the party, but for anyone looking for something similar in future, I've had a Distortion in the bridge of one of my guitars for about 11 years now (swapped for an Evolution at one point, hated it and switched back) and would absolutely vouch for it when it comes to your description of gallops, chugging, power chords, single notes etc. Doesn't matter what I plugged in to it always sounded great, and especially awesome when plugged into a high gain tube amp with the volume cranked. I rate the Distortion neck model a bit less, never really did anything for me. Eventually wound up with a Sustainiac in the neck with a Hot Rails along side it which works but it's pushed so far back from where a neck pickup should be that I tend to stick to the bridge pickup on that guitar. I'd agree with an earlier poster though that lower output pickups tend to work better with high gain in terms of dynamics. I've got a shop floor custom 59 neck on its way along with an alnico ii single and JB for bridge which I think should be a pretty good balance to get the heavy the OP has described as well as some more dialled back sounds. Just my 2 pence

 

[Ben1962]

Re: Which Humbuckers for a Les Paul build?

You mentioned the Pegasus and Alt8, two of my favorites myself. Maybe the Pegasus by a whisker, but both are great. I also recently bought a guitar with the Custom5, and I really like that one too. That one has more of a singing quality, great classic rock tones.