Which Pickups for Les Paul?

S

Schappy

New member
I have a ten year old Les Paul Classic.

I am looking to replace the bridge pickup and maybe the neck as well.

The bridge(500T) is way too muddy and one dimensional.

I am looking for a versatile pickup that doesn't sound compressed and splits well. I would like it do metal when necessary but that is not my primary focus.


Ive narrowed it down to a few even though I havent heard any of them. Thats why I need your input.


1) JB
2) 59
3) DMZ Norton
4) DMZ Tone Zone
5) SD Custom


Please include good neck P/U combo as well.
 
Re: Which Pickups for Les Paul?

If the 500T is muddy then the Tone Zone probably won't work. Of the ones you have listed I would say try the Custom with a Pearly Gates neck. Cool LP combo.
 
Re: Which Pickups for Les Paul?

Full Shred... It's not as it's name states... it's the same output as a Duncan Custom... similar to the Custom 5 in EQ... has great treble, OK bottom end, perfect mid-range sound in a les paul, and not overly hot.... very great sounding especially for downtuning.... it's worth looking into... I use it in my Les paul, and it's GREAT ! Way better than the JB I had in it before, The JB sounded bad even with a 300K volume/tone pot.. had WAYYYY too much of a treble/high-mid range thing going on, and the bass was loose.... the Full Shred moderatly scooped mids (but not too scooped) and smooth treble response. You could put a neck model shred in the neck also, or a 59 would probley go well (but i'd recommend a 1 meg vol pot, because some think it's too muddy in the neck)

Good luck
 
Re: Which Pickups for Les Paul?

JB-Splits well and can do metal. Very versatile.

59'-PAF style and can do metal with gain. Also very versatile. If put in the neck the 'muddiness' can be removed with tweaking and the right caps.
 
Re: Which Pickups for Les Paul?

If the 500T is too mudy then Im not sure what to tell you...does the guitar have 500k or 300k pots?? A 500T is a top end screamer to my ears...

The Duncan Distortion is pretty toppy and sounds great split but it is a little compressed, not too much...the 59 is more open sounding but lacks the output of most of the other pickups you mentioned...
 
Re: Which Pickups for Les Paul?

Custom 5/Pearly Gates is a really good LP combo.

The bridge pickup has the right amount of heat with clarity....like a beefed up 59 bridge. Or somewhat in between a 59B and Custom.

The PG neck is a pleasing sounding neck pickup for rhythm and lead.....whereas the 59n sounds beautiful for soloing, it's a tad bulky for rhythm playing...when the volume is at 10.

Truthfully, almost every Duncan combo sounds great in a LP. You'll just hear small nuances in the tones that are different from pickup to pickup.

The Custom series is a good place to start for a rockin LP tone....especially since you can swap out the magnets to dial it in. The Custom wind is right at the point where it's clear, but just beginning to compress. Any hotter than that, and you get muddiness.....such as the 500T or hotter.
 
Re: Which Pickups for Les Paul?

Maybe muddy isnt the right description for the 500T in my guitar. It is just too over the top.
 
Re: Which Pickups for Les Paul?

C5 - versatile and classic
Custom - nice clean tone but really shines with hard rock, mean punch
CC - nice definition but very midrangy in a Les Paul
Seth Lover - great mids, classic, low output, versatile, Thin Lizzy, Zepplin
JB - another nice one for hard rock - a little edgy in a Les Paul, good or bad depending on you...

My favorites today:
Seth Lover, C5, Custom

Lots of pickup demos if you click on the link in my signature
 
Re: Which Pickups for Les Paul?

Schappy said:
Is the C5 overly bassy in a Les Paul?
Click to expand...
No, it is pretty balanced - it does not color your guitar/amp tone as much as other pickups might. Some people like that, some don't. I happen to think it is a good thing.
 
Re: Which Pickups for Les Paul?

If your interested in the C5, you def have to take a look at the Full Shred, its the same wind and magnet as the C5, but the 12 hex pole screws give it slightly less bottom, and a smoother sound IMO...
 
Re: Which Pickups for Les Paul?

Rule out the Custom and the C5, they are compressed. Cant say much about the DMZ.

My 1999 Classic Plus now has a Seth Lover Neck (no Cover, A5 magnet) and a Brobucker in the Bridge.
I would go with a 59N and a JB. Great over all combo - if you want the neck split too, you should look into the JazzN.

BTW: the best split sound from a Humbucker so far was with JB. I liked the JB8 more as humbucker but the split sound was a little mellow.
 
Re: Which Pickups for Les Paul?

I like the C5/Custom recs - just depends how hard you rock when not doing metal. Custom if most other playing is rock/hard rock.

PG neck with either of those.


Although...maybe A JB/Jazz fan here.


500T Muddy? That thing is a Distortion in disguise almost. Me thinks some investigation as to the settings on the amp or pup adjustment is order. Or we are just Gibson bashing out of reflex (which is fun, but not always approapriate.)
 
Re: Which Pickups for Les Paul?

I stated in an earlier post maybe muddy isnt the best description. Its too over the top and not articulate enough. Ive had it for 12 years and it just doesnt do it for me.
 
Re: Which Pickups for Les Paul?

What SD duncan p/u would the 500T sound most like with A5 magnets instead of ceramic?
 
Re: Which Pickups for Les Paul?

the guy who invented fire said:
If the 500T is too mudy then Im not sure what to tell you...does the guitar have 500k or 300k pots?? A 500T is a top end screamer to my ears...

The Duncan Distortion is pretty toppy and sounds great split but it is a little compressed, not too much...the 59 is more open sounding but lacks the output of most of the other pickups you mentioned...
Click to expand...

+1. I've never had a 500T/498T sound muddy, both are normally bright. I also think a '59 pair is great in a LP, especially for clarity with no compression.
 
Re: Which Pickups for Les Paul?

The 500T has a ceramic mag, I believe. I've been auditioning pickups since removing that, and nothing has sounded great. I'm trying one more thing then taking a page from blueman's book and swapping mags into the 500T.
 
Re: Which Pickups for Les Paul?

Haha, every time I see a thread titled "les paul pickups", I think: just get a pearly gates set and be done with it. There isn't a person here who will call the PGb dark, and yes it can do metal if you have the right amp (Jolly posted a few clips a while back demonstrating this). Seriously versatile, undeniably les paul, sweet and snarly, beauty and the beast. That is the pearly gates set.
 
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