To all the LP playing brethern here (or anyone for that matter) I am considering a new bridge pickup in my trusty Les and curious what folks are happy with.
I have a 57 Classic Plus in there now which I feel is just OK but not that inspiring. I am probably in more of the vintage PAF tone camp, a little hot is fine but definitely no modern-high output stuff for me.
Anyone play a SD Seth Lover or Pearly Gates in the bridge? Other thoughts and opinions are appreciated. All makes and models cool. :)
Not really pedal related I know but I like folk's honest opinions here. Thanks.
I've got an SD '59 (SH-1) in the neck and an SD JB (SH-4) in the bridge and I'm pretty happy with it. My luthier recommended either that or a set of Sheptone Tributes, but the Sheptones were out of my price range at the time. Perhaps they're worth trying?
Was thinking of trying these one day... (I have no experience with them)
http://www.stewmac.com/Pickups_and_Electronics/Pickups/Electric_Guitar/Golden_Age_Parsons_Street_Humbuckers.html
Josh
I've used the Dimarzio breed before and I am currently using a Seymour Duncan Custom 5 which I really like. Don't know if these are higher output than you are looking for.
I have a set of Bare Knuckle Pickups mules in my LP and they sound awesome.
They are quite low output, but that results in being able to get nice clean tones as well as being able to dish the dirt ;D
You can't really go wrong with Bare Knuckle pickups (other than the arse clenching high price).
A Duncan 59 or Pearly Gates would work well. Both are vintage output. I've got a Spalted Tele (mahogany body and neck, maple cap) with a 59 in the neck and a PG in the bridge, and it sounds great.
Pearly Gates in the bridge of a Les Paul sounds great.
What is it about the 57 Classic Plus that you don't like? I thought the 57 Classic and Plus are vintage PAF types with the Classic being a little hotter.
Dave
Quote from: raulduke on January 29, 2015, 12:22:27 PM
I have a set of Bare Knuckle Pickups mules in my LP and they sound awesome.
They are quite low output, but that results in being able to get nice clean tones as well as being able to dish the dirt ;D
You can't really go wrong with Bare Knuckle pickups (other than the arse clenching high price).
I evaluated a Les Paul for a potential trade and it had BK Mules installed. They were very nice pickups. The bridge is quite bright, which will appeal to some and not to others, but I liked it. The neck was less bright, but not muddy at all. I thought the neck was quite fantastic, actually.
I have a set of Peter Florence Voodoo pickups as well that are very nice. They are also Low Output and a bit brighter in tone. Very nice sounding. Going by aural memory (which is not typically all that reliable with humans), I think I liked the Voodoo bridge better and the BK Mule neck pickup better. My one beef with the Voodoo is that I had to work a bit harder for pinch harmonics than usual. With enough gain, it gets there, however.
For the next one, I might try a PAF style with a bit more output for the bridge. I'm really curious about the Wolftone pickups.
Quote from: 96ecss on January 29, 2015, 03:55:39 PM
Pearly Gates in the bridge of a Les Paul sounds great.
What is it about the 57 Classic Plus that you don't like? I thought the 57 Classic and Plus are vintage PAF types with the Classic being a little hotter.
Dave
To my ears the classic 57 plus bridge emphasize a lot of lower mids and lacks some clarity overall. I would characterize it as being to dark for my tastes.
Also It measures out at 9k but I feel like it pushes harder than a 13k pickup I have. I think it would work well in a very bright guitar for harder rock/metal.
I would try a Pearly Gates in its place. I think you'll like it.
Dave
BKP Mules are a very nice pickup to put in LP, kind of a super PAF... got bite, sounds wide, lots of string definition under gain, very responsive to playing dynamic. Love those!
+1 brucer. Had a JB bridge and loved the pickup. Still 70s kinda thing there..
I put a Nazgul and Sentient combination in my 8 string.
Different application though.
Yes those BK Mules sound nice in demos. May be a bit rich for my blood though.
Lots of good options to think about for sure.
I haven't played them, but Zhangbuckers have been getting nice reviews and the pricing is pretty decent.
Quote from: blearyeyes on January 29, 2015, 08:19:05 PM
+1 brucer. Had a JB bridge and loved the pickup. Still 70s kinda thing there..
I have a JB in the bridge of one of my SG's and in the bridge in my Flying V. Great pickup. He said he was into vintage PAF though, so that's why I didn't recommend a JB.
Dave
There are also Oil City pickups, who are based in the UK.
They have a large range of pickups, including vintage style PAF-a-likes.
Prices are very reasonable (around £50 for a single pickup).
http://oilcitypickups.co.uk/index.html (http://oilcitypickups.co.uk/index.html)
I've used a Pearly Gates in the bridge of my Les Paul for fifteen years, and replaced the original Pearly Gates with another Pearly Gates after I popped a coil while cleaning dead skin cells out of the holes on the top (don't do this). I've tried an Antiquity and a Custom 5, but always returned to the Pearly Gates. I've also extensively played, although not owned, a 498T, classic 57, and a Dimarzio Tone Zone in Les Pauls. I couldn't live without the Pearly Gates. It's got more high end snap then the other Seymours I mentioned, and it can cover pretty much all styles well imho.
Quote from: gtr2 on January 29, 2015, 12:01:08 PM
Was thinking of trying these one day... (I have no experience with them)
http://www.stewmac.com/Pickups_and_Electronics/Pickups/Electric_Guitar/Golden_Age_Parsons_Street_Humbuckers.html
Josh
I picked up a Epi-LP second hand that I think has these in it. I like them, they definitely sound better than a stock Epi, and it sure sounds how a vintage LP w/ PAF's should sound - with not much high end. That said, I don't think they're in the same league as the other PU's in this thread, and probably not what the OP is interested in. But for someone looking for to upgrade an Epi, I don't think you'll be disappointed.
Another Seymour Jeff Beck fan here. I have the setup in both my Lado Falcon and cheapo Hamer Standard (Explorer) of JB in the bridge and a 59 in the neck. Perfect combo. In my Hamer Anniversary the stock pickups were JB bridge and Seth Lover PAF in the neck. The PAF is so detailed and rich that I'd really like to find out what an SL bridge (if they even make one) would sound like.
Quote from: gordo on January 31, 2015, 12:57:04 AM
Another Seymour Jeff Beck fan here. I have the setup in both my Lado Falcon and cheapo Hamer Standard (Explorer) of JB in the bridge and a 59 in the neck. Perfect combo. In my Hamer Anniversary the stock pickups were JB bridge and Seth Lover PAF in the neck. The PAF is so detailed and rich that I'd really like to find out what an SL bridge (if they even make one) would sound like.
I have used a JB over the years (and still have one in the pile) and really it just doesn't do it for me. I tried it already in this particular LP and it really had poor definition and to much output for me. It does sound good in certain guitars though for sure.
I may give the Pearly Gates a shot. It seems to have a love/hate thing as some folks say it is to thin and treblely. Others say its the balls.