software

I know, you all get asked this a LOT...

I have a Gibson Les Paul Studio with Gold Hardware.

I want to have a more PAF kind of sound, and I want GOLD covers.

I like playing with higher gain, as loud as much as I can get away with.

I want a neck pickup that has decent mids, and little to no mud. I want a bridge pickup that has a bit of push to it - similar to the 498T, but less muddy, and more organic, clear, and quot;3Dquot; if possible =)

I'd like to try the Seth Lovers - but I'm fearful of unpotted pups and how I like to play with high gain.

American Musical Supply seems to stock a few models with Gold Covers, so that's where I'll likely get them.

My style is mostly in the grain of AIC/Jerry Cantrell, Ozzy's various guitarists.Also, I have a Gibson LP 68 Custom that I may install whatever pickups I decide on, once I put them through my test-bed Studio =)

Thank you for any input!

I've gone through several pickups for my Les Paul Studio; I've tried the Custom, the Custom-5, and the Custom-Custom. They're all the same pickup with different magnets. They're all impovements over the stock Gibson pickups, but I don't consider my search to be over. Each pickup had its good points and its bad points. They all have a good amount of output, but they eq curves are different. Right now I'm using the Custom-Custom. Plenty of mids with nice clear, round highs.

Most people are going to suggest the JB. I haven't tried it so I can't comment on it. I'll probably give it a try some time though.

P.S. Welcome to the forum Kannibul!


Originally Posted by January_EmbersI've gone through several pickups for my Les Paul Studio; I've tried the Custom, the Custom-5, and the Custom-Custom. They're all the same pickup with different magnets. They're all impovements over the stock Gibson pickups, but I don't consider my search to be over. Each pickup had its good points and its bad points. They all have a good amount of output, but they eq curves are different. Right now I'm using the Custom-Custom. Plenty of mids with nice clear, round highs.

Most people are going to suggest the JB. I haven't tried it so I can't comment on it. I'll probably give it a try some time though.

P.S. Welcome to the forum Kannibul!Thanks!

I was reading through a few of the threads, and came across where a bunch of people were talking about the 59 model.

I had an epiphone LP that I had a Duncan Custom (SH-5) in the bridge and a 59-model in the neck. It sounded lots better than stock, but wasn't really a tone I was after - the Custom came across a bit bright, but that could have been the guitar too...

Anyhow, thanks for the info

I was here way back before this version of the forum, back when I got the Custom and 59 model. This forum is pretty helpful

Here's an excerpt from my extensive review of all the Custom series pickups: The regular Custom was rather bright (which I didn't like), but it had a strong, muscular tone to it. Sounded great with hard rock-ish stuff, but not so good with mid gain type of stuff. The Custom-5 sounded the darkest to my ears (which I liked) but also the thinest. Playing on the higher strings didn't sound very good at all, but on the middle and lower strings, it was nice and clear and the top end was more rounded off than the Custom. The Custom-Custom sounded just a touch brighter than the C-5 (I think its because of the extra mids) and the mids also seemed a tad bit chunkier and grainier. I didn't notice much difference in the bass, but the treble was absolutely to die for. Nice and smooth and sweet, but still present. It was quite a bit thicker than the C-5 and little bit thicker than the Custom.

Overall, like I said, they're all great pickups, it just depends on what you're looking for. I suggest that anyone that has any of the Custom series tries them all out. They're all somewhat similar in voicing (to my ears at least), but obviously have their own flavors. I think my ideal pickup lies somewhere between the CC and the C-5. I would want the darkness and clarity of the C-5 with the sweet treble and mids of the CC.

Hope that helps a little. Hopefully someone else will chime in soon and give some good suggestions.

My Seth is in a semi-hollow body, and even at very high gain settings it doesn't feedback in an uncontrollable manner. I was really worried about that being a problem too, but as it turns out the wax potting doesn't seem to make quite as much of a difference (for pickup sqealing) as most people think. . .