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Hello out there, I have a 2004 Epiphone LP Custom Ebony, gold h/w.
I would like to upgrade the humbuckers.

I play lots of different stuff but I would like a set (neck/bridge) that are a bit quot;meanerquot; than what came standard with my gear.

Would you guys/gals be so kind as to reply with some suggestions?

Thanks!!

Dazzle

welcome to the board

hmmm .. 'meaner' is a tough adjective to translate into a recommendation ... any idea of a famous guitarist whose tone you can compare to what you are aiming for?

i bet that the Jazz / JB set would be 'meaner' for sure ... also a PG set would be cool too

remember, with duncan's 21 day return policy, you can try any of them and return them to try something else instead if they arent exactly what you had in mind

what kind of amp/effects will you be using with the Epi?

good luck
t4d

My amp is a Crate GLX65 with 16DSP's, and I primarily play through a Digitech GNX4 workstation...I don't play live, I just play for myself and record.

I do like Dan Donegran's sound with Disturbed for that type of music, quot;mean/dark/heavy with an edgequot;.

Love Creed's guitarists sound, thinking of others....Godsmack's Guitarist for sure, but I do like alternative musical range like blues, so as long as the combo could be decent/good in a modified clean setting that would be ideal.

Hope this helps

Thanks!!

Welcome to the forum! I agree with T4D in that the JB/Jazz combo is pretty hard to beat in any guitar for nearly any genre of music.

Thanks for the reply, I notice they do not come in a covered style like the ones in my EpiLP, I like the gold covers on mine. Is the cover transferrable or do I need to buy aftermarket covers for the SD pups?

JB/Jazz as T4D mentioned.

May I suggest (oh, Vanna)......(curtain draw).....the Custom Custom with either an Alnico II Pro, Pearly Gates or Jazz in the neck.

Warmoth sell the pickups with the covers so they must be available somewhere.It's not really something i know a lot about actually,sorry.

GuitarElectronics.com also sell them with covers, and cheaper than warmoth.

I think I've decided to go SH-5 Custom in the Bridge spot and an SH-10 Full Shred in the neck position....what do you think of that as a combination?

I can get them both in Gold for $89.95/ea

I was just about to say go for a custom in the bridge.

and I would suggest buying from Blackrose customs or Lew's Guitars , they are both forum members here, and get AMAZING praise interms of custom service and that kind o' stuff.(when it come for me buying my first Duncan, one of 'ems gonna be gettin' my money)


Originally Posted by Nite_Maresz_25I was just about to say go for a custom in the bridge.

and I would suggest buying from Blackrose customs or Lew's Guitars , they are both forum members here, and get AMAZING praise interms of custom service and that kind o' stuff.(when it come for me buying my first Duncan, one of 'ems gonna be gettin' my money)

I'm with Alex here, I'd get my Duncan's from Lew or Blackrose. Both of them will treat you right, and it's a breeze returning pups you don't like.

Also I say give the Custom a whirl as well. To get that angry, snarling sound you need a higher output pup, the custom is like a PAF that just got done getting getting bored out 30 over. Has a great low end chunk to it. The JB is a good decision if you want a singing lead sound. Here is my often posted Luke Duke Generic Pup breakdown:

Antiquity---A pup that is hand made by Seymour or MJ that has been artificially aged. The magnet has been degaussed and the cover has been distresses along with the screws so as to appear vintage. Everything is done to make these pups as close to an original that you would buy from a collector that was out of a guitar that was played everyday and gigged with. They have complex mids and are smooth. They are available in A2 or A5 magnet varieties. Vintage 2 Conductor Wire

The 59---The 59 is the quintessential A5 PAF (patent applied for) pup. Imagine getting in a time machine and going back to 1959 and swiping a brand new A5 pup from the Gibson factory in Kalamazoo and bringing it forward to today. They have found most homes in many neck slots. It has symetrical coils and lots of quack. It has thumping bass, a scooped mid, and cutting highs. Vintage 2 Conductor Wire

The Seth Lover---This pup is as true to the original as can be. This pup is unpotted and comes standard with a gold, or nickel pup cover. It has an A2 magnet and has good quack and fair mids. For this pup imagine going back in time to 1955 and grabbing one of the very first PAF's before they debuted in the LP's. This pup is warm and creamy, but can also get bright with the tone knob on 10. Vintage 2 Conductor Wire

The Alnico 2 Pro---The warmest of the Duncan PAF line. It has symetrical coils and is a modern take on the A2 PAFs. It has round bass and smooth treble, it also has lots of mids to make the guitar really sing. It will warm up the coldest or shrillest of guitars. The most well known Alnico 2 Pro user is Slash of Velvet Revolver and GNR. Standard 4 Conductor Wire

Pearly Gates---The PG is the hottest of the Duncan PAF line. It has asymetrical (mismatched) coils and an A2 magnet. The mismatched coils give this particular pup its rude personality. It has a frequency push in the Presence/Cut knob frequency band. This is the quot;Sizzlequot; PG owner talk about. It has the most mids of the Ducan PAF line and is also the hottest. Its patron is Billy Gibbons of ZZ Top. Standard 4 conductor Wire

The Jazz---The jazz is the pup that bridges the gap between Vintage and Modern pups. Its output is at or around the vintage level. Don't let the name fool you this pup is very versatile and smooth. It has an A5 magnet and is very widely used in the neck slot. It is articulate regardless of the tuning as well. This pup negociates cleans or overdrive very well. Standard 4 Conductor Wire

The Custom Series---The Custom Series is all on pup configuration but with different magnets. The coils are symmetrical and the pups come with Standard 4 Conductor wire

Custom---The Custom is a PAF kicked up a few notches. This pup gets its aggressive edge from its Ceramic magnet. This pup has lots of grind with good treble and midrange. It also has ample bass for palm mute playing.

Custom Custom---The Custom Custom is a midrange heavy pup that lends itself to leads and warming bright guitars. This pup gets its huge midrange from the Alnico 2 magnet. I has smooth bass and treble. Essentially it is an overwound A2 PAF.

Custom 5---The Custom 5 is a pup with an EQ very identical to The 59. It has thumping bass, scooped mids, and cutting treble. Like the 59 it is a bright pup that will liven up dark guitar, but the bass can be overwhelming in a bassy guitar, or the the treble overwhelming in a trebly guitar.

JB---The JB is in a class of its own. There is really no other pup like it. It has fair bass and lots of treble. This particular pup has a large upper mids spike that allow it to cut through the mix like no other. It can be heard on countless recording especially throughout the 80's. Lots of people like to pair it with a Jazz or 59 in the neck. In bright guitars it is usually soldered to a 250k pot just like the original Seymour made 30 years ago.

Hope that helps!

Luke

The Custom is awesome in a Les Paul for a mean rock sound. It cuts through, but at the same time all the frequencies are well balanced - just the right amount of everything. It also cleans up very nicely. Very versatile well balanced hot pickup. I have a Custom paired with an Alnico II Pro in a Les Paul - they work great together.

Hey thanks for all the great feedback, this is a tremendously awesome forum.
I've asked Kevin at Blackrose to order me the SH5 Custom Bridge in gold and the SH10 full shred neck in gold and a TP6 tail piece rather than the standard stopbar, which I've been told is a quot;mustquot; upgrade.

Before I submit the old visa, can someone give me a final thought on this combo....? It seems that from searches the SH10 Full Shred doesn't get alot of pub...don't know if it is just not used much or what but I loved the sound of it on the website....

Love to hear back from anyone who has used the Full Shred in the neck...

TIA