Which Pickups?

[epiLP]

Hello im new here and this is my first post. I need some help deciding on which pickups to put in my epiphone les paul. I want that late 50's les paul tone. Like jimmy page, allman brothers, lynyrd skynyrd. I think im going to get a 59' in the neck and a pearly gates in the bridge. Will this give me that tone? Are those in the right positions? Also should i consider a jb in the bridge instead, or maybe a sh55 or cc?

Thanks for all your help,

Brad

 

[ErikH]

Re: Which Pickups?

Seth Lovers, Antiquities, Dual '59's, Pearly Gates in bridge and neck, '59 bridge - Alnico II Pro neck. Lots of options. I like the CC myself but it is a different animal from the ones I just mentioned. It's got more mids to it and is hotter. I love it and it is my favorite bridge pickup. Others will chime in for sure.

 

[baba o'riley]

Re: Which Pickups?

Seth's always worked great for me

 

[Benjy_26]

Re: Which Pickups?

I love the Pearly Gates set in my LP. I had a 59 in the neck position and I found it to be t boomy and bright.

 

[epiLP]

Re: Which Pickups?

can anyone with a 59n and a pgb or ccb or jbb, tell me how it sounds? It is what im looking for? Im reading that alot people like both the 59 and the pg in the neck but if i put the pg in the bridge will it sound well with the 59n?

 

[Stevo]

Re: Which Pickups?

From my experience, the tonal characteristics of the 59n and PGb are quite a bit different; the 59n is much fatter than the PGb. I had issues with that combo, playing live, with a common eq on my amp; it was hard to get a happy medium with my eq settings.
The a2 pickups tend to be less bassy than the 59. A pair of PG pickups match well. My current personal favorite, for classic rock, is the Seth Lover bridge and the a2Pro neck. The outputs are more equal and the a2pro is a bit less bassy than the 59n, therefore the common eq settings are easier to find on my amp.
I like the 59b also, but I find it a bit bright on the top end.

 

[ErikH]

Re: Which Pickups?

I've use the CC in the bridge of my Epi LP now and I love it. I've used the JB in the bridge of an LP and it sounded great. Can't go wrong with either one really but if I was given a choice, I'd take the CC every time.

 

[PFDarkside]

Re: Which Pickups?

If you want vintage LP tone, I don't think you want a JB. Upper mids that do sometimes sound good, but definately not vintage. Seth Lovers, 59's, Alnico 2 Pros, all will work. I think the idea behind all of Duncan's PAF style pickups is that you find a set that works with your guitar and your "idea" of what vintage tone should be. Back in the early PAF days some were hotter, brighter, etc. than others. Do you want a full (some say muddy) neck or a brighter, clearer neck? How about the bridge?

Just a little more info and we should be able to narrow it down. Keep in mind the 21 day exchange policy so if you go with a set of '59s and decide that the neck needs more snap, you can exchange it for a PG...

 

[epiLP]

Re: Which Pickups?

THe tone im looking for is vintage les paul tone. I like the southern rock texas blues sound thats what lead me to the pearly gates and the 59n. Like the sound of a strat but not so thin and maybe a bit more bassy. Will a seth lover in the neck and a pgg in the bridge give me that? I hope this can narrow it down for you guys. Also i have another question about the nickel covers on pickups. Do they make just the cover so i can put them on after i buy the pickup or do i have to buy the pickup with the covers on them? Will any covers fit on them(like the gibson ones)? And will they change the tone or sound of the pickups?

Thanks,
Brad

 

[ErikH]

Re: Which Pickups?

If you want Southern Rock / Texas Blues, you want a full blown PG set, bridge and neck. No question. That set screams Texas Blues.

 

[jonnymangia]

Re: Which Pickups?

I'm into the same music and I went with a PG neck and '59 bridge in my SG. However, now I am thinking of going with a '59 in the neck as well. I play out of my neck alot and need a pup that can sound fat and articulate when playing clean or even with a little crunch. I'm a little concerned about the "boominess" of the '59, but that may actually be an asset in thin-bodied guitar like an SG, whereas it would sound really muddy on a Les Paul.

 

[epiLP]

Re: Which Pickups?

Thanks for all of your help. I think im going with a pg set. I have a question though, can the pg handle modern day hard rock and lots of distortion, will it sound good? And will it sound good for classic rock as well(hendrix, led zep, sabbath,some van halen,ac/dc). And If i get covers does is alter the tone or sound of the pickups?

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: Which Pickups?

Thanks for all of your help. I think im going with a pg set. I have a question though, can the pg handle modern day hard rock and lots of distortion, will it sound good? And will it sound good for classic rock as well(hendrix, led zep, sabbath,some van halen,ac/dc). And If i get covers does is alter the tone or sound of the pickups?

Yes to all of your questions. Regarding the covers, I think they make the pickup sound a little less "present"...a little warmer and less aggressive. Most rockers seem to prefer no covers and most jazzers seem to prefer covers. Hendrix didn't use humbuckers except for the rare occasions when he played his Flying V....but all the other guys you mentioned used pickups similar to the 59 and PG. It's impossible to know what exactly was in Les Pauls from the late 50's but the '57 models were probably alnico 2 like the Seth Lover and PG and the later '59 and '60 models were probably more likely the alnico 5 model paf more like the '59. Any of the Duncan vintage models (Antiquity, Seth, PG, 59 or even the Alnico 2 Pros) should sound spectactular in your guitar, but the 59's will have the biggest and tightest low end, IMO, and be the closest to the 60's pickups Hendrix, Sabbath, Clapton and AC/DC used in thier Gibsons.