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I have left a message with alex at sd, about replacing my gibson les paul classic pickups. I thought i'd ask for a few opinions around here

After a rehearsal the other day, the first with my new les paul i totally decided that the gibson 500t/496r do not suit my playing style.

The problems i found with the gibson pickups are:

output, way too hot for me
eq, 500t too trebley getting near harsh with my setup 496r muddy and a little unresonsive
overall dont quite sound as nice as my other seymour loaded guitars

See these may work ok with a vintage marshall head but not with my laney gh100l.

What i'd like is a cross between a little 59' in my tele (heavy ash), original parallel axis in my frankenstrat style guitar (basswood)and something a little less bright than the jb in my yamaha pac usa2. The eq curves and outputs are nearly correct in those guitars

I like the alnico pro2 humbucker in the neck in my tele (with 250k pots) great for smooth singing liquidy tone for me, its either that or a 59' in my les paul neck.

What could you suggest?
Many Thanks

Andy

Andy, I had the same concerns you have with your Classic pups. I tried lowering the 496R and the 500T quite a bit a that helped, but the 500T was still on the harsh side for my styles of playing. I lived with them for quite some time, and then made the switch to Duncan '59s. Much better and a good all 'round pickup. Yes, you can get some muddy sounds from the neck pup, but if you adjust it correctly and then dial in your tone using the amp's eq; you should get rid of the mud. My Classic is completely stock other than the pups now.

Classicplayer

i'm worried that the output of a standard 59' bridge will be to low to match with the a2ph neck.

I dont think i need any pickup hotter than a JB, which i find hot already.


Originally Posted by andybowersi'm worried that the output of a standard 59' bridge will be to low to match with the a2ph neck.

Not at all. I use the 59B with a PG neck which has similar or slightly more output than the APH-1.

The 59B is not a low output pickup! It's the Duncan pickup that most closely resembles what Clapton had in his '60 Les Paul amp; '64 SG and what Eric Johnson and Larry Carlton have in thier early 60's Gibson ES-335. It rocks!

you could try a Jazz bridge, i have one and used it in the bridge for a bit, but unfortunatly i have not got enough guitars to have one as a lower output as i play metal. i really need another guitar cos i dont want to play metal all the time but its what i do most.


Originally Posted by LewguitarNot at all. I use the 59B with a PG neck which has similar or slightly more output than the APH-1.

The 59B is not a low output pickup! It's the Duncan pickup that most closely resembles what Clapton had in his '60 Les Paul amp; '64 SG and what Eric Johnson and Larry Carlton have in thier early 60's Gibson ES-335. It rocks!

Lew is good, Lew is wise! 1

I lowered the gibson pickups quite a lot, they sounded better in rehearsal on sunday but i'm still gonna replace em.I think i'm gonna go for alnico pro 2 humbucker in neck and am seriously considering a screamin demon for the bridge as i would like a med output pickup but with more growl than the neck position (and have been listening to the lynch mob 92' cd today ).Just to add:

Alex from SD has just returned my enquiring email, he asked if i have considered the sh-14, i think i better have a look in to that as well.

A set of Pearly Gates would do you right.