New Pickups for a les paul copy, what would you suggest

[zenmaster]

Ok, so I want to replace both humbuckers in my les paul copy, what would you guys (and gals?) suggest??

I play everything except for county, so I want something versatile, and I don't want to spend anything outrageous, cuz I'm saving for a computer for college also

so what pickups and for which position

[Fikealox]

I'd be looking at a Screamin' Demon bridge, Jazz neck, but then I like low-medium output pickups.

[gilles27]

got any particular sound you're aiming for? might help us out a little...

[blueman335]

Les Pauls are great with a pair of '59's. Check eBay for used ones, usually around half price.

[super rad stuff]

Les Pauls are great with a pair of '59's. Check eBay for used ones, usually around half price.

they're also great with a jazz set if you think your guitar has too much low end

[vbf]

I've got a Gibson Les Paul with a JB in the bridge and Jazz in the neck. The JB is a nice pup but a bit bright for my liking. The Jazz sounds a little dark. I'm fixin' to replace the pups in another Les Paul with a 59 in the neck and Custom 5 in the bridge.

[Nagarajah725]

I'd say the custom 5 excels very well on the bridge if you're looking for versatility. It has a nice defined tone that doesn't get all nasally when you're playing a variety of styles. A 59n should go well with that too.

[gibson175]

59s are a great pair for any les paul copy. Or if you are broke, then the GFS vintage 59s are also excellent pickups (more mids, less clarity and bass).
Either will make most guitars better and are really versatile. Just get a pair of neck and bridge pups.

[Jocelyn]

Like every one said a 59 set or 59 Custom 5 set.... or Pearly gates set..

[Robert S.]

C5/Pearly Gates(n) is my personal favorite.

[Uk Ant]

What kinda copy is it?

If money is tight tonerider make some good pups that are a bit cheaper than SD's, but if you are going down the Seymour route (and why wouldn't you), the custom 5 is a good place to start in the bridge, 59 or a Jazz in the neck, as suggested above.

[Gunny47]

My personal favorite for Lesters (besides antiquities) is the Pearly Gates/Custom Custom combo. Such a smokin set, but the JazzN/59B is cool too.

[Eamonn]

DiMarzio VPAF's are the probably the best non-boutique HB's. Very in-expensive too.

[zenmaster]

thanks all,
in terms of sound..

For the bridge, I want to be able to reach a kill em all, type of level of distortion at least, but I can always add more distortion outside the amp, right now it sounds similar to a tele thats had an HB installed, and I like how it can cut through the song for solos, but its kind of muddy and just a bit too trebly, so something with detail, maybe something close to what slash uses, I know he uses duncans not sure what type

I guess the neck pickup im leaning towards something I can use for alot of my blues songs and probably all of my clean tones, I probably run it with a tube screamer, or just straight through an amp with maybe a booster

I hope thats not too specific, thanks again

[zenmaster]

oh and in regards to what kind of copy, its an epiphone standard, but I think it's from before recently when they started to spin out so many more copies and the quality went down a little, because I have a friend who also owns one and mine plays, sustains, and sounds nicer

[Diocletian]

I was going to suggest an Alnico II Pro bridge anyway. Then I see you want a Slash tone - he uses the Alnico II Pro so you want one of those at least, in the bridge.
For the neck, Slash also uses an A2Pro, I love the 59 there myself. You want it for a lot of cleans though, so maybe the Jazz would be better.

Like you, I have an Epiphone, a Black Beauty with three pickups - an Alnico II Pro bridge, Phat Cat middle and '59 neck. It sounds amazing.

[Simon_F]

I find the '59n too bass-heavy in a Les Paul.

I'd recommend....

Pearly Gates set - versatile slightly beefed-up PAF tone. Covers most bases.

For higher output hard rock and metal a Custom is great in the bridge. With either a PG (sizzly PAF, well balanced) or Jazz (more modern, clear, articulate) in the neck.

[Laughing Kookaburra]

For the neck, Slash also uses an A2Pro, I love the 59 there myself. You want it for a lot of cleans though, so maybe the Jazz would be better.

I tend to agree. I've used both the 59n, and Jazzn. For blues solos, I'd go w/the 59n, but for overall clean playing, solos and chord work, I'd go for the Jazz n. It is more articulate than the 59n in terms of chords, and still sounds decent for solos.

[Benjy_26]

First off, what kind of amp(s) are you playing through?

That'll be a big factor in determining what pickups to get.

[Thunder]

AII PRO SET. Sounds great with a TS9.