software

Well, let's see if I can get some answers here. I recently bought a Fender DRRI. Perfect amp for my needs as I jam in the basement. The amp sounds great with my Telecaster. Just a great full, clear, clean and rounded tone. Not so great with my Les Paul, though. My guitar is the swamp ash Studio model with the stock 490R neck and 498T bridge pickups which I've been thinking of changing anyway. The neck pickup really isn't too bad but if I had to describe the bridge pickups in two words it would be quot;too thickquot; and I think I need a pickup that's not so high in output. The high end lacks presence and the mids seem a bit too much. They're the kind that seem to really grind on your ears. Really kinda bothersome. I need something that's clearer with a lower output and seems to have a bit of overall presence to it without being ice-pickey. I'm open to any and all suggestions. Thanks.

Being on the SD forum, I'd suggest a stock '59 model, but at the moment I'm happy with an old DiMarzio PAF in the bridge position. But it's a Tokai Love Rock with mahogany body and maple top, so it might not work in your swamp ash Studio.

That upper midrange spike in the 498T doesn't work for me either. Makes it sound tinny.

My recommendation is to look at getting a set of vintage-output Duncans - choose from '59s, Pearly Gates, Alnico II Pros, Seth Lovers or Antiquities.

If you don't want something very bright in the bridge position I would give the '59s a miss.

A2Ps and Seths would probably both be good choices. They meet your criteria of lower output and high-end presence without sounding ice-pickey. Personally I have a slight preference for the Seths over the A2Ps. To me they sound smoother, fuller and more responsive. When I A/B them the A2Ps sound a little sterile by comparison.

I just received a pair of Ants this morning that I am going to try - expect a report later this weekend.

Haven't tried PGs. People rave about them in Lesters, but I understand they do have some top-end 'sizzle'.

Seths get my vote, but I reserve the right to switch allegiance to Ants!

I got a set of Antiquity's in my LP. Warm sounding pickup. I love them.
Check them out:
from : localhost//website...html#humbucker

Thanks for the replies. Keep them coming!

Been doing a lot of reading and I believe I'm going to try the Alnico II Pro set. I could be dead wrong but I think they might be a bit smoother in the mids compared to the Seth Lover set. If wrong then I guess I'll then try the Seth's. Where's the best place to order and what value caps and pots are recommended? Thanks.

The DR is a 22 watt amp and turned up to any volume over 3 or 4 it gets muddy with humbuckers. I love my DR's and own two of them...but I play my Strats and Teles through them, not my Les Paul. I play my Les Paul through my 40 watt Super Reverb with four 10's. With humbuckers, it takes more output than 22 watts to get a clean loudish tone.

Really, I think that is the issue here...not so much the pickups.

But if you want some pickups with less bass, the Seth Lovers, Antiquitys, Pearly Gates or Alnico 2 Pro's are what I'd recommend.


Originally Posted by LewguitarThe DR is a 22 watt amp and turned up to any volume over 3 or 4 it gets muddy with humbuckers. I love my DR's and own two of them...but I play my Strats and Teles through them, not my Les Paul. I play my Les Paul through my 40 watt Super Reverb with four 10's. With humbuckers, it takes more output than 22 watts to get a clean loudish tone.

Really, I think that is the issue here...not so much the pickups.

But if you want some pickups with less bass, the Seth Lovers, Antiquitys, Pearly Gates or Alnico 2 Pro's are what I'd recommend.

Lew, I agree with you 1,000%. The Deluxe does sound best with single coil pickups for a clean tone. But I thought it would'nt hurt to try something a bit more on par to single coils, like some low output humbuckers. I'll tell you what though, with a pedal this amp screams!! Before I left for work this afternoon I hooked up my Tonebone Hot British pedal and turned the amp up to 6. The tone was just UN-real. You could easily do any song with that setup that required a Marshall type tone. Do you have the pickups you mentioned in stock, per chance?