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Anyone have experience with a Custom Custom in the bridge of a Les Paul? I recently played a Godin LG Signature series with a Custom Custom that was specially designed by SD for Godin, and I really liked the warm tone it had. Not shrill or piercing, just smooth. The Custom Custom should sound similar in my Les Paul, right?

I was thinking about an Alnico 2 Pro in the neck to warm up my leads without making them muddy. I am looking for something that can give me a nice bluesy tone but still handle growling rock tones as well. Does the A2P sound like a good choice, or is there another pickup that would better suit my needs?


Originally Posted by Big BlueAnyone have experience with a Custom Custom in the bridge of a Les Paul? I recently played a Godin LG Signature series with a Custom Custom that was specially designed by SD for Godin, and I really liked the warm tone it had. Not shrill or piercing, just smooth. The Custom Custom should sound similar in my Les Paul, right?

I was thinking about an Alnico 2 Pro in the neck to warm up my leads without making them muddy. I am looking for something that can give me a nice bluesy tone but still handle growling rock tones as well. Does the A2P sound like a good choice, or is there another pickup that would better suit my needs?

Hey Big Blue, WELCOME TO THE FORUM!!!

Custom Custom---The CC is a normal SD pup that you can order from any dealer. It is warm and thick with smooth highs and lows. It has a very large low mids spike that drives your amp very well

In my Heritage 150 (LP style and vintage LP build) I have a Jazz in the neck and an Alnico 2 Pro in the bridge. It actually makes for a great combination. The A2 pups are warm and smooth. Being PAF style the A2P has a slightly scooped mids, but it has more midrange than the 59 Seth or Jazz.

Wait for Scott F to answer you post he has the exact set up you are talking about in his R8 LP.

Luke

I think that'd be a great combo. My Hamer Monoco came with a nickel covered Custom Custom in the bridge and a covered Custom in the neck. Loved the CC but the Custom was to hot for my tastes and not clear enough as a neck pickup.

I needed a nickel covered neck pickup so I went with a Seth Lover.

But if I had been wanting an uncovered neck pickup I'd have gone with a Pearly gates or A2Pro.

Lew

Exactly what I wanted to hear guys! Thanks! I've been playing my LP with stock pickups since 1993, and I have been dying to make a change. I'll see what Scott F says about it, but I think I'll be happy with the CC and A2P.


Originally Posted by LewguitarI think that'd be a great combo. My Hamer Monoco came with a nickel covered Custom Custom in the bridge and a covered Custom in the neck. Loved the CC but the Custom was to hot for my tastes and not clear enough as a neck pickup.

I needed a nickel covered neck pickup so I went with a Seth Lover.

But if I had been wanting an uncovered neck pickup I'd have gone with a Pearly gates or A2Pro.

Lew

Lew, being you're the stratman I completely forgot about your Hamer!

Big Blue you can order your pups with covers too just to hit on what Lew said about covers. I ordered my pups with double creme bobbins and pup covers. Paying for the covers is the only way to get the dbl creme due to dimarzio's trademark.

Luke

I was thinking about the zebra pickups. My LP is a trans wine red finish w/ a pick guard, and I think the zebras would look good. I've had chrome covers for 12 years and am looking for something different.


Originally Posted by Big BlueI was thinking about the zebra pickups. My LP is a trans wine red finish w/ a pick guard, and I think the zebras would look good. I've had chrome covers for 12 years and am looking for something different.

I'm all over different! I would have straight up white bobbins in a Black Beauty if I still had one. Zebras or Dbl. Creme would look good...of course if it was me I'd go dbl creme.

Luke

I have a CC in my epi LP. Love it! Crunchy, buttery highs, powerful(enough...not a monster). It's my go to Led Zep guitar. I match it with a PG neck, which I think is kinda cool - pumped mid bridge and scooped mid neck. They combine in the both on position for some very cool sounds.

I have used the CC and APH in a LP and they are a great combo. Go For it!!!!
BTW, Zebra is a wonderful choice!!!!!!!

What about Alnico 2 Pros in the neck and bridge? Advantages / disadvantages over a CC in the bridge?

What kind of amp do you play through?

Go for the zebra CC/APH. It's one of those combos that does no wrong in a LP.
My Pauls have C-5/59 and CC/Seth, all nickel covered. I love'em both, since the first combo is more 'open' sounding, like a 59 set, only with a hotter bridge. The CC/Seth set is basically the same as the CC/APH, which has a bit more warmth, with no chance of ice pick highs, since the top end is softer under the fingers and sweet.

What kind of amp do you play through?

I have a Crate V series VFX5112 (50 watt, EL34 tubes, 12quot; Celestion). I use an Ibanez Tube Screamer for my overdrive, usually with a low gain and high volume setting on the pedal. Any Other effect I need is built into my amp, and outside of the 3 reverb effects, I don't use any of them that often.

Blue, The A2P is a warm bridge pup but has less output than the CC. It has more lows and highs, but still has good mids. The CC is essentially an overwound A2P. The most famous patron being Slash.

Luke

I use a CC and a Jazz neck in my PRS CU22... But, I love the AnII neck...
It is a such a very sweet warm tone, with out being dull in anyway.
I only leave the Jazz in there because I need an almost Strat rhythm tone.
My CC sounds best with the volume pot turned slightly down with no bleed cap.
I put a .001uf bleed cap on the Jazz so it sounds very chimey turned down also.
I may have to try that with the AnII neck also... It may sound very good that way also.

Sonny - are you some kinda voodoo priest resurrecting the dead?

It depends on the sound of the Les Paul.

I have a CC in a mid 90's Les Paul Studio. It's a bright guitar, especially for a Les Paul. The CC is the perfect pickup in that guitar.

I've tried a CC in other Les Paul's and didn't care for it. Granted, these guitars were a lot warmer sounding. The rolled off top end and lack of tight bass in the CC wasn't a good match in a warmer Gibson.


Originally Posted by Luke DukeBlue, The A2P is a warm bridge pup but has less output than the CC. It has more lows and highs, but still has good mids. The CC is essentially an overwound A2P. The most famous patron being Slash.

Luke

Thanks Luke for mentioning Slash. Big Blue, first, welcome to the party!!
Second, CC is a good choice for a warm, smooth sound. AIIPros in both positions is what Slash uses and you know how that sounds!
Ive used a combo in my LP of a pickup similar to a CC in the bridge and an AlnicoIIpro in the neck and I got all kinds of compliments of how warm and sweet the guitar sounded. I recently changed the bridge pup to something with alittle more attitude, but left the AIIp in the neck.. It just sings!!