Which PU for Hard Rocking Les Paul?

S

Squealer

New member
Hey Guys,

I'm from Germany and just bought a new unbelievable Tokai Les Paul. The stock PU's are crap so i wanna change 'em.

I thought about Seymours Sh-5 or SH-6...

I play music like Slash, Metallica, THE CULT, Backyard Babies, Steve Stevens, Motley Crue, Motorhead, Ozzy and so on...

The PU should work with Drop tunings too, so maybe i shouldn't buy an vintage PU. I already got a Häussel (best german pickup builder!!!) vintage in my other Gibby Les Paul - sounds great, but now i want something other.

I play an old marshall built back in 73. You know the specs of the guitar (Mahogany, Rosewood....)

please help me with my decision...
 
Re: Which PU for Hard Rocking Les Paul?

I'd say that an Alnico II Pro in the neck and a Custom in the bridge will cover most of the styles you mentioned.
 
Re: Which PU for Hard Rocking Les Paul?

hi,

thanks...

i mentioned the sh-5 and the sh-6 but if you think anotherone would do the job better just tell me!!!

or would you say "a custom would ne good" if i hadn't made a suggestion, too?
 
Last edited:
Re: Which PU for Hard Rocking Les Paul?

The Custom 5 and Custom are the best 'rock pickups' for a LP, in my opinion.....and I'm a big LP/Marshall kinda guy. You're always safe with a 59 neck. If you want a more vintage sound, then a Seth set is great too.
I think Billy Duffy uses a Custom/59 into vintage Marshalls, and he always sounds kickass live. Out of all the Customs, the C-5 has the best clarity and sounds really good on clean and highgain. The CC sounds better with lower overdrive, and the Custom sounds best with superheavy tones.
 
Re: Which PU for Hard Rocking Les Paul?

I've got Antiquites in my one LP, and I use it for any rock, metal or blues. I love the way they sound for just about anything. :smoker:
 
Re: Which PU for Hard Rocking Les Paul?

Benjy_26 said:
I'd say that an Alnico II Pro in the neck and a Custom in the bridge will cover most of the styles you mentioned.
Click to expand...

Welcome Squealer!!

I concur with this prescription. :22:

The SH-5 Custom IS hard rock, and if you already have something vintage in your other LP this will give you the contrast. :beerchug:

In the neck position the '59 will give you brighter top end but also more bass. The A2Pro has softer bass but also softer highs - smooth tone.
 
Last edited:
Re: Which PU for Hard Rocking Les Paul?

Mmmmm -lots of options here. My call:
Bridge- Definitely Distortion
Neck- Your choice: A2P, 59, Pearly Gates (From fattest to brightest)

Let's face it -most of what you play is heavy duty, and the Marshall is old. Kick it hard with the distortion!
 
Re: Which PU for Hard Rocking Les Paul?

hey,

thanks for your help!!!

i heard and read that billy duffy plays JB's in his Les Pauls...but i don't mind - seems like the CUSTOM is the better choice for me! :6:

i already played a '59 in the neck of my Gibby and i didn't like it!!! It's too muddy for my taste - i can't really hear what i'm playing! not articualte enough...

what else should i try for neck?

i also played the distortion but i thought it sounds too "big", maybe too much output - so you can't really hear what you're playin'! JUST IN MY OPINION! :chairfall

see ya
 
Re: Which PU for Hard Rocking Les Paul?

i play the same kinda stuff.
backyard babies, old hellacopters motorhead, etc and i use the cc in the bridge w/ bogner amps. but i feel anything goes w/ that kinda stuff.
it's more attitude.
i mean the last time i saw byb nicke had stock lp customs and a soldano head while dregen played his usual 335s into fender heads.

as long as it's got energy (and no dimarzios are involved) it should sound fine.
 
Re: Which PU for Hard Rocking Les Paul?

Squealer said:
hey,

thanks for your help!!!

i heard and read that billy duffy plays JB's in his Les Pauls...but i don't mind - seems like the CUSTOM is the better choice for me! :6:

i already played a '59 in the neck of my Gibby and i didn't like it!!! It's too muddy for my taste - i can't really hear what i'm playing! not articualte enough...

what else should i try for neck?

i also played the distortion but i thought it sounds too "big", maybe too much output - so you can't really hear what you're playin'! JUST IN MY OPINION! :chairfall

see ya
Click to expand...


I play the harder rock stuff, and use an Alnico 2 Pro for the neck. Great pickup, more defined, and not as woofy or bassy as the 59.

-Mark
 
Re: Which PU for Hard Rocking Les Paul?

Fiesta Red said:
I play the harder rock stuff, and use an Alnico 2 Pro for the neck. Great pickup, more defined, and not as woofy or bassy as the 59.

-Mark
Click to expand...

Me too. The APH-1n is one of my favorite neck pickups.
 
Re: Which PU for Hard Rocking Les Paul?

The Pearly gates will match the custom in the bridge better than ANY pickup! Great sounding pickupto have in the neck position since you said the 59 was a bit muddy for your tastes!

Custom Bridge, Pearly gates in the neck....nuff said!!!!
 
Re: Which PU for Hard Rocking Les Paul?

Definitely the Custom in the bridge. It blows me away every time I use it. It chugs hard, screams on cue, and allows for a huge range of sound.
 
Re: Which PU for Hard Rocking Les Paul?

What is the most important part of the EQ spectrum for singing leads? Mids or lo mids?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top