Which pickup combo for my Les Paul?

Which pickup combo for my Les Paul?

  • 59/Custom Hybrid + 59

    Votes: 11 52.4%

  • 59/Custom Hybrid + PG

    Votes: 10 47.6%

  • Rob Option

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • Total voters
    21
Chuck_Norris

Chuck_Norris

New member
59/Custom Hybrid + 59

or

59/Custom Hybrid + Pearly Gates

The guitar is a typical Les Paul. Mahogany body and neck, rosewood fretboard, maple cap, 22 frets. It's very resonant and well-balanced sounding (perhaps some emphasis on the midrange).

I'm going to use it for blues, hard rock and metal so versatility is required. Now it's loaded with some unpotted and covered PAF clones that are perfect for blues but squeal like there's no tomorrow when used with high(er) gain so this time, I'm definitely looking for some wax-potted pickups.

The 59/Custom Hybrid seems perfect for my purposes so I definitely want to give it a shot once it's available but I'm not sure about the neck position. The 59 is an obvious candidate and I love it for metal leads in 24.75" guitars but there are so many people raving about the PG that I've decided to make a little poll.
 
Re: Which pickup combo for my Les Paul?

I'm a blues player and the stock PGN is too smooth and rounded on top for me in LP's; I put an A3 in mine to get some bite. With the stock mags, I think a '59N won't get muddy as fast for the harder stuff you're playing.
 
Re: Which pickup combo for my Les Paul?

The PGn does everything beautifully - clean rhythm, midgain rhythm, and soloing.
The 59n does one thing beautifully IMO - soloing.
 
Re: Which pickup combo for my Les Paul?

I voted for the PGn simply becuz I already have '59n in other Les Paul. The '59n is warm and leans towards the bass side. The PGn should be more open with emphasis on mids.
 
Re: Which pickup combo for my Les Paul?

For blues and classic rock yes. I don't know about a PGN for metal. It's pretty warm clean, and with a ton of distortion, I don't see that there'd be much clarity at all. At least a '59N would still be able to cut thru on top.
 
Re: Which pickup combo for my Les Paul?

blueman335 said:
For blues and classic rock yes. I don't know about a PGN for metal. It's pretty warm clean, and with a ton of distortion, I don't see that there'd be much clarity at all. At least a '59N would still be able to cut thru on top.
Click to expand...

You may also look at the APH-1. Slash has no trouble playing metal with that pu in a Les Paul.
 
Re: Which pickup combo for my Les Paul?

Strat111 said:
You may also look at the APH-1. Slash has no trouble playing metal with that pu in a Les Paul.
Click to expand...

My A2PN is clearer and sharper than my PGN (at least before I put an A3 in the PGN). Maybe it's the way I have the guitars set up.
 
Re: Which pickup combo for my Les Paul?

I usually use the neck pickup for soloing and cleans and never use it for rhythm. The PGn is too rounded on top? Hmm... Looks like the 59n is the way to go then. I know it's pretty hard to find something than can cover such different styles and I don't expect to find something that works perfectly for everything. It's just that I'm not yet ready to turn my LP into a metal monster :)
 
Re: Which pickup combo for my Les Paul?

I've used the PGn, AII Pro, Full Shred, 59 and Jazz in the neck. I tend to really like A2s in the neck as I like a thicker, smoother tone, and don't shred as much with the neck, so I steer towards the PGn and AII Pro. However, the Jazz is simply fantastic if you shred a lot with the neck pup and just a great all around neck pup period. The full shred neck and 59 neck were my two least favorites. The 59 seemed too boomy on the lows and the full shred, while focused and great for fast leads, didn't have enough thickness or fullness for my taste.
 
Re: Which pickup combo for my Les Paul?

The best all-arounder p'up combo is an A4 '59n /A8Custom bridge.

IME, it's the one combo that'll do from squeaky cleans to flat-out obnoxious Hardcore metal just as well.

HTH,
 
Re: Which pickup combo for my Les Paul?

Voted PG, but a 59/jazz hybrid neck would be great too. Its a little more complimentary with the hybrid bridge.
 
Re: Which pickup combo for my Les Paul?

I have almost no experience with the PGn and only heard it once in a live situation. The dude was playing some pretty sweet blues with it and his tone was fantastic. But it kinda bothers me that Blueman described it as "too smooth and rounded". I like smooth but some clarity and articulation needs to be there for sweeps and shreds :)

Little question for Blueman: Did you use it with 250k or 500k pots?
 
Re: Which pickup combo for my Les Paul?

Personally, the PGn is the best stock HB for that position I've heard - of course everyone hears/plays differently.
 
Re: Which pickup combo for my Les Paul?

Chuck_Norris said:
I have almost no experience with the PGn and only heard it once in a live situation. The dude was playing some pretty sweet blues with it and his tone was fantastic. But it kinda bothers me that Blueman described it as "too smooth and rounded". I like smooth but some clarity and articulation needs to be there for sweeps and shreds :)

Little question for Blueman: Did you use it with 250k or 500k pots?
Click to expand...

PGN with 500K's, like all my neck PU's. It has a lot of midrange, which gives it a big sound, but's light on treble, so there's not much bite or cut. kind of warm. For me, in my guitar (LP Std), it was too smooth on top. An A3 has a good deal of mids, but more treble; an UOA5 would also be a good choice.

But, there's plenty of guys here that like the PGN stock. You could get one and swap mags if it's too smooth for you. Another option is a JazzN, which has more treble, but without the sometimes boomy low end of a '59N.
 
Re: Which pickup combo for my Les Paul?

blueman335 said:
PGN with 500K's, like all my neck PU's. It has a lot of midrange, which gives it a big sound, but's light on treble, so there's not much bite or cut. kind of warm. For me, in my guitar (LP Std), it was too smooth on top. An A3 has a good deal of mids, but more treble; an UOA5 would also be a good choice.

But, there's plenty of guys here that like the PGN stock. You could get one and swap mags if it's too smooth for you. Another option is a JazzN, which has more treble, but without the sometimes boomy low end of a '59N.
Click to expand...

These days I actually favor the stock Jazz N over a 59...I've tryed the PGN and just never warmed up to it? Alot of people do love the PGN though!

The 59N is normally just too boomy in the lows!
 
Re: Which pickup combo for my Les Paul?

I vote 59 for the neck. I didn't really care for the PG when I had it in the neck of my LP. It was just all mids and only mids, and I just didn't like it. I LOVE 59s! I put them in the neck of everything.
 
Re: Which pickup combo for my Les Paul?

For my money, I haven't found a better all around neck pup than a plain old 59n. The boominess never bothered me because, like some of the other guys here, I only ever use it for leads. The bright highs stand out more than the boomy lows.
 
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