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Hi there!
I've got a Les Paul Classic '01 mod. I want to change the bridge pickup as I think it is too bright for my taste. (I actually like the neck pickup!).
I was thinking about the Custom, Pearly Gates or the PAF' 59.
I've tried the JB mod. and found too bright as well.
Any help or other suggestions are welcome.
My music style is classic rock/ Southern rock.

Welcome to the board.

Try a Custom Custom first if you're existing pup is too bright. It's a very mid-focused pickup for the bridge, no ice pick through the forehead type highs. It's got good balance, but it is mid-heavy. It is my personal favorite pickup.

If that CC doesn't float your boat, take advantage of the SEymour Duncan quot;No Suckquot; policy. If you're in the States, you have 21 days to exchange your pickup from date of purchase for something else. In this case, if you didn't like the CC, I'd say try the Custom 5 or the Alnico 2 Pro. But there are a lot of choices. If your dealer refuses to participate in this policy, just call the Tech Support line and they'll help you exchange it for something you like better.


Originally Posted by StringmachineHi there!
I've got a Les Paul Classic '01 mod. I want to change the bridge pickup as I think it is too bright for my taste. (I actually like the neck pickup!).
I was thinking about the Custom, Pearly Gates or the PAF' 59.
I've tried the JB mod. and found too bright as well.
Any help or other suggestions are welcome.
My music style is classic rock/ Southern rock.Welcome to the Forum.

I think the Custom or '59 will be fine. The PG will be too bright IMO.

For Southern rock/Classic rock, my choice would be the Seth Lover model or an Antiquity. Those or the '59 will be closer to what was used by the Allman Bros., etc and the Classic rock/British Blues guys as well.

Good luck,

Jeff

Thanks for the replys.
I live in Norway, and none of the dealers here participate in the exchange program.
But I got some new ideas here.
Thanks again!

For warm PAF tone look at the Alnico 2 pro. It will warm the coldest guitar. It also has great string to string balance and you can hear very note even with distortion.

Woah a dude in Norway who listens to southern rock, I guess us southerners did SOMETHING right.

I can post a general pup breakdown you'd like.
Luke

Hi there, Luke Duke!
You certainly did somehing right! I love the sound of Allman, Lynyrd, Gov't Mule etc.
They kick some serious ass!


Originally Posted by StringmachineHi there, Luke Duke!
You certainly did something right! I love the sound of Allman, Lynyrd, Gov't Mule etc.
They kick some serious ass!

Warren Haynes uses an Antiquity in one of his guitars,

For a Duane Allman sound I'd go with either Seth Lovers, or 59's. For a D!ckey Betts sound Seths

Skyryrd, wow with three guitarist it just depends what you want to do. Now days Gary Rossington is a JB user, I think a jazz in the neck. Collins tone with his explorer kind of makes me think of a JB tone or maybe a C5, it had a bit of a compressed sound.

What the crap I'll post you my pup breakdown here in a few, that should help you out quite a bit, especially since you only get one try at this.

Luke

Antiquity---A pup that is hand made by Seymour or MJ that has been artificially aged. The magnet has been degaussed and the cover has been distresses along with the screws so as to appear vintage. Everything is done to make these pups as close to an original that you would buy from a collector that was out of a guitar that was played everyday and gigged with. They have complex mids and are smooth. They are available in A2 or A5 magnet varieties. Vintage 2 Conductor Wire

The 59---The 59 is the quintessential A5 PAF (patent applied for) pup. Imagine getting in a time machine and going back to 1959 and swiping a brand new A5 pup from the Gibson factory in Kalamazoo and bringing it forward to today. They have found most homes in many neck slots. It has symetrical coils and lots of quack. It has thumping bass, a scooped mid, and cutting highs. Vintage 2 Conductor Wire

The Seth Lover---This pup is as true to the original as can be. This pup is unpotted and comes standard with a gold, or nickel pup cover. It has an A2 magnet and has good quack and fair mids. For this pup imagine going back in time to 1955 and grabbing one of the very first PAF's before they debuted in the LP's. This pup is warm and creamy, but can also get bright with the tone knob on 10. Vintage 2 Conductor Wire

The Alnico 2 Pro---The warmest of the Duncan PAF line. It has symetrical coils and is a modern take on the A2 PAFs. It has round bass and smooth treble, it also has lots of mids to make the guitar really sing. It will warm up the coldest or shrillest of guitars. The most well known Alnico 2 Pro user is Slash of Velvet Revolver and GNR. Standard 4 Conductor Wire

Pearly Gates---The PG is the hottest of the Duncan PAF line. It has asymetrical (mismatched) coils and an A2 magnet. The mismatched coils give this particular pup its rude personality. It has a frequency push in the Presence/Cut knob frequency band. This is the quot;Sizzlequot; PG owner talk about. It has the most mids of the Ducan PAF line and is also the hottest. Its patron is Billy Gibbons of ZZ Top. Standard 4 conductor Wire

The Jazz---The jazz is the pup that bridges the gap between Vintage and Modern pups. Its output is at or around the vintage level. Don't let the name fool you this pup is very versatile and smooth. It has an A5 magnet and is very widely used in the neck slot. It is articulate regardless of the tuning as well. This pup negociates cleans or overdrive very well. Standard 4 Conductor Wire

The Custom Series---The Custom Series is all one pup configuration but with different magnets. The coils are symmetrical and the pups come with Standard 4 Conductor wire

Custom---The Custom is a PAF kicked up a few notches. This pup gets its aggressive edge from its Ceramic magnet. This pup has lots of grind with good treble and midrange. It also has ample bass for palm mute playing.

Custom Custom---The Custom Custom is a midrange heavy pup that lends itself to leads and warming bright guitars. This pup gets its huge midrange from the Alnico 2 magnet. I has smooth bass and treble. Essentially it is an overwound A2 PAF.

Custom 5---The Custom 5 is a pup with an EQ very identical to The 59. It has thumping bass, scooped mids, and cutting treble. Like the 59 it is a bright pup that will liven up dark guitar, but the bass can be overwhelming in a bassy guitar, or the the treble overwhelming in a trebly guitar.

JB---The JB is in a class of its own. There is really no other pup like it. It has fair bass and lots of treble. This particular pup has a large upper mids spike that allow it to cut through the mix like no other. It can be heard on countless recording especially throughout the 80's. Lots of people like to pair it with a Jazz or 59 in the neck. In bright guitars it is usually soldered to a 250k pot just like the original Seymour made 30 years ago.

This is a very generic breakdown that matched up to what a guy was looking for yesterday.

As far as components go I'd recommend getting in the CTS 500K pots and orange drop caps. The roll off on good pots and caps is fantastic! I personally do not like anything but 500K pots in mahogany bodied guitars. It makes the pups sound muffled and overly dark.

For a guitar that has a muddy neck and a bright bridge you might want to consider doing what I did and put an A5 mag in the neck and an A2 mag in the bridge. I put a Jazz in the neck of my Heritage 150 and a JB in the Bridge. I was like Jolly and it just wasn't right for me. It seemed shrill clean and piercing dirty. The neck in the meantime sounded fine. So I sent back my JB and ordered a Alnico 2 Pro for the bridge. I got it a little over a month later (ordered it in dbl. creme so I had to wait) and slapped it in. It sounds great!!! The neck is articulate and the bridge has great balance and . Everything I wanted. So I guess what I'm saying is don't be afraid to be unorthodox.

Luke

Thanks again.
I'm thankful that I found this site. Lots of help allready.

I Love Southern Rock Too! I Had A 59' In The Bridge Of My Les Pauland It Was To Bright,then I Bought A Set Of Seth Lovers And I Haven't Looked Back.i Think They Are Awsome!!

I'll just add that on the main site, the Antiquity is referred to as quot;like a well-worn '50s humbucker as originally designed by Seth E. Loverquot;

AFAIK, they come with A2 mags (like the Seths) - an A5 Antiquity would be a custom order, or a magnet swap by the user.

I really like the APH II for the bridge. Nice and warm, but still retains articulation. Seths or Antiquities would be my next choice. I personally think that 59's are too bright.

If you're interested in pickups other than Duncans, try a Rio Grande BBQ. It's a medium output Alnico 5 pickup with a nice bass and midrange response, and rolled back treble. It's a good choice if you want a warmer sound without resorting to Alnico 2 pickups.

Ryan

Definitely PG's!

B

if you want a little more sizzle and bite in the mids,go with the pearly.if you want more bark and growl,go with the seths and if you want more smooth and even,go with the alnico II pro.Jason

I think the Pearly Gates is going to be too bright in the bridge position. A lot of people like the PG in the bridge of a Les Paul, but if what you have in there right now is too bright for you, I don't think the Pearly Gates would be a step in the right direction.

Ryan

I think Custom (SH-5) in bridge and Pearly Gates in Neck position would give the tone..

There are probably lots of quot;tonequot; freaks out there!
I like the response so far.
Think I would have to try the following pickups:
- Custom Custom
- Seth Lover
- Alnico II Pro
Thanks for the help so far!!