software

Hi guys..

i recently installed the Hot Rodded Humbucker Set on my lespaul standard and im not too sure about its new sound..

at first i was shocked and horrified but after tweaking the pick-up height and playing it for a little while im getting more used to it..my main concern is a sort of quot;quackyquot; quality to the tone and the piercing highs of the JB.. i had read about the treble issue on the JB before but i didnt think it would be a problem on a les paul standard.

the Jazz in the neck sounds quite nice but leaves something to be desired... it has a very nice clear tone but lacks abit of character i feel

Im considering a Custom/Custom Custom/Custom-5/pearly gates in the bridge

im looking for a glassy clarity but with plenty of warmth. and a big fat distorted tone (the JB is abit shreddy)... the 498T stock pick up had a good distorted tone.

can someone shed some light on those aforementioned pickup choices for my guitar or maybe make new suggestions??? thanks~!

I don't understand why you've changed the Stock pups, in fact that they're from Gibson.
Anyway, i play a Duncan Distortion in the bridge of my Epiphone LP.
It's even more aggressive, especially on the top end, and I also had a problem with the harsh highs. I considered replacing it with a JB, but i experimented a bit and lowered the highs on my amp and pulled back the tone control. And now I got the problem quite good resolved.
You might try this because imo the JB is a great pup und you shouldn't give it up that fast. With a bit of experimenting you might get every sound out of this up. I mean there is experience and enhancement of over 30 years in it.

Try a 250K pot with the JB...

Using A 250 in the tone pot is a good idea.
WHAT AMP do you use?

I personally think the CC is a tad lacking in clarity and screamin' harmonics in a Les Paul, BUT it does have a fat mid cutting vibe that gets thru a band much like a JB. You might like the Pearly for the scream but it has a bite on top you might dislike as you do the JB. If you like clarity and fullness and are NOT looking for huge mids then go Custom 5.

Since you like that Gibson 498 and you like the mean distorted tone, if you enjoy the feel of Ceramic mags, I would say you should go SD Custom.

Thanks for that olin! I'm also thinking in the vein of a custom 5... im really not familiar of the ceramic sound, the only ceramic mag equipped guitar ive ever played is my les paul gem which i installed a SD SP90-3 custom in the bridge.. but ive only had it in there for about a month so im not sure

I read some of your past posts about the dimarzio virtual PAF humbuckers,,
now i am also considering them.. i want clarity and character... ive got clarity alright with the SD's in there now but its really lacking some sort of mojo... the jazz neck is quite good though, but again lacking character.. i just feel that im not bringing the best out of my guitar

Oh and about the amp... I use is Laney VC50 2x12 combo... it uses 6L6s and 12ax7's i think.. its a very very trebley amp.. which is why im finding it hard to deal with this JB!

when i plug into my band mates LC30 it sounds alot better..

Another idea im thinking is about getting an EQ pedal so i can shape the tone more,,

theres something about these pickups (the JB and the Jazz)...
theyre very good and stuff but in a way they sound quite quot;genericquot;.. but good... a good generic.

kind of like
jeniffer aniston
or
a honda accord

not
angelina jolie
or
an NSX

its something u'd recommend for the middle aged guy who plays guitar a few hours a week as a hobby (learning songs he got tabs for from the internet) but is into it enough to be seeking better tone out of his epiphone lespaul/PRS SE

i think my point has been illustrated.