Opinion on pups for my Les Paul

[dvanburen]

I just got a Les Paul Standard with a quilt maple top and rosewood board. I love the guitar but I would like some opinions on what bridge pickup to put in it.

I play metal and hard rock. Also bluesy type rock. Mainly aggressive styles.

I've also got an Ibanez S classic with mohogany body and bolt on mohogany neck with rosewood board. I had a duncan custom in the bridge and jazz in the neck. I loved the combo. The custom in this guitar was big, huge, fat, warm and punchy.

Im not sure what pups were in the Les paul. Guitar center guy told me it was burstbucker pros. When I pulled the pups out, the back of them were BB1 and BB2 respectively in the neck and bridge so Im not sure now. I liked the tone a lot out of them especially the neck. But the bridge just was not aggressive enough for me so I decided to swap some pups around.

The Ibanez is a thinner body style than the les paul with no maple top. When I put the custom in the les paul it sounded less sustained and very trebley compared to when it was in the ibanez. Almost too much high end. Still a good sounding pup but I thought it was going to be very different than it turned out. I was actually somewhat dissapointed because the custom was one of my favorite sounding pickups in that Ibanez and now it's not.

My les paul has the quilt top which could alter the sound like that, also this is the newer les paul with the chambered body which will alter the sound a bit.

Is there a better alternative to get the sound I want? Ive also got a duncan distortion which I like but Im not sure this will work for me in the les paul. Maybe someone can convince me otherwise.

What other pickups can should I consider to get that raw, fat huge sound that I am used to?

BTW.. I loved the huge bottom end and fat tone and sustain with the custom. Is it weird that I am not getting this sound out of the les paul?

any opinions would be welcomed. thank you

[Christopher Caruana]

Bridge: custom 8
Neck: '59

[dvanburen]

thanks for that.. I was gonna ask about the custom 8. I was prepared to hear that response for some reason.

[Christopher Caruana]

Or maybe the '59 custom hybrid for the bridge

[dvanburen]

I must also add that when the custom was in the ibanez it had no chrome cover on it. when I put it in the les paul, I put chrome covers on it and had to raise the poll pieces a good bit.. would this have made a big difference?

[Christopher Caruana]

They do make a difference, but shouldn't have made a drastic one. Most likely the maple cap on the les paul is making the biggest difference. Do you know what kind of volume pots are in your LP? Could change them to 300k pots if the custom was too bright

[jimlp]

I just got a Les Paul Standard with a quilt maple top and rosewood board. I love the guitar but I would like some opinions on what bridge pickup to put in it.

I play metal and hard rock. Also bluesy type rock. Mainly aggressive styles.

I've also got an Ibanez S classic with mohogany body and bolt on mohogany neck with rosewood board. I had a duncan custom in the bridge and jazz in the neck. I loved the combo. The custom in this guitar was big, huge, fat, warm and punchy.

Im not sure what pups were in the Les paul. Guitar center guy told me it was burstbucker pros. When I pulled the pups out, the back of them were BB1 and BB2 respectively in the neck and bridge so Im not sure now. I liked the tone a lot out of them especially the neck. But the bridge just was not aggressive enough for me so I decided to swap some pups around.

The Ibanez is a thinner body style than the les paul with no maple top. When I put the custom in the les paul it sounded less sustained and very trebley compared to when it was in the ibanez. Almost too much high end. Still a good sounding pup but I thought it was going to be very different than it turned out. I was actually somewhat dissapointed because the custom was one of my favorite sounding pickups in that Ibanez and now it's not.

My les paul has the quilt top which could alter the sound like that, also this is the newer les paul with the chambered body which will alter the sound a bit.

Is there a better alternative to get the sound I want? Ive also got a duncan distortion which I like but Im not sure this will work for me in the les paul. Maybe someone can convince me otherwise.

What other pickups can should I consider to get that raw, fat huge sound that I am used to?

BTW.. I loved the huge bottom end and fat tone and sustain with the custom. Is it weird that I am not getting this sound out of the les paul?

any opinions would be welcomed. thank you

Each guitar is different and the ***** is that you do not know what a pickup will sound like in a particular guitar until you actually try it, it's a great way to burn through a lot of cash chasing a sound/tone. That being said my friend has a Distortion in a 1974 LP Custom and it sounds big and fat with a bit of bite on the highs, you already own it so try it as it will not cost you anything.

[Christopher Caruana]

In my experience, the distortion is very aggressive, it's also a pretty got pickup because of the double thick ceramic mag. But give it a try. You'll never know until you give it a go!

[Flint Stone]

My recommendation:

Neck: - '59
Bridge - '59/Hybrid

I think these pickups will get you where you need to go (pot replacement may be necessary) but you won't be stuck there either. I like a guitar that is somewhat versatile, you may not.....

[hamerfan]

My recommendation:

Stay with the BB1 if you really like it and put a Duncan Distortion in the Bridge. This is the step up from Duncan Custom towards Heavy Metal Heaven.
I like the Custom8 too but its more on the Hair Metal side - so to speak.

[Jeff5]

I play metal and hard rock. Also bluesy type rock. Mainly aggressive styles.

I had a duncan custom in the bridge and jazz in the neck. I loved the combo.

For those styles, (I play the same styles mostly) you will love that combo even more in an LP. Custom in an LP = R A W K.

[mwalluk]

Here's some personal favortie combos that worked well for me.....

Screamin Demon (b) / Pearly Gates (n)
Distortion (b) / Full Shred (n)
JB (b) / 59' (n)
A2P (b) / A2P (n)

[tonello]

maybe a Custom5. That should pull back on some of the brightness from the maple top. The Jazz should work in there without a change in mags. Good luck.

[verbotenco]

JB/ 59 seems to be the ultimate combination to me, in a Les Paul guitar, especially suited for hard rock.

[Aceman]

I need a better definition of what you mean by "Aggressive"

And jeebus guys - he can't stand the highs in a Custom in that axe. No way he'll dig the Distortion.

I think a BB2 should be about about Pearly Gates Aggressive (Whatever Aggressive means???). What amp?

I think you might want to consider some medium output pups. This LP sounds perhaps very bright. And also - check the pots...

I like a nice screaming ceramic with 300k pots! 500k, not so much.

Also - might consider a Super Distortion.


I have to agree though - try mag swaps first. Did wonders for my JB...

[dvanburen]

I actually really like the distortion about the same as the custom. both are my favorite pups for rock and metal. but it is too much in this particular guitar. I already tried both in the les paul. Im actually starting to like the custom after messing with eq. but ultimately, I think I have made the decision to try the custom 8. I already ordered the alnico 8 mag and will swap it out in the custom.

My main amp is an old style block letter 5150 by the way.

this leads me to my next question. I also have a 59n in my ibanez that I swapped the A5 mag out for an A2 because of boominess. I have the jazz neck now in the LP. I really love the jazz but I think the 59 sounds more natural to me. Jazz will always be one of my favorite neck pups but it has a particular sound to it. Not bad by any means, just its own sound. Would you guys keep the A2 in the 59 or swap it out with something like an A4 UOA5 or put the A5 back in? The reason I ask this is that, to my ears, the pickups that I have pulled out of the ibanez and put into the LP dont sound as thick. Again, not necessarily bad jus different.

I dont think I was totally clear earlier. I dont use the neck pickup for high gain or distortion really. It is only going to be for cleans. I like natural, airy and dynamic cleans (dont we all). I would only use mild crunch on the neck pickup if I just want to get a thicker dirtier sound. but mostly cleans.

I mainly use my bridge pup and I want it to be really heavy if I need it to. Must be very responsive. tight low end is important because of palm mute stuff. lots of hammer ons and single not stuff. But power chords must be huge. My pet peeve though is that notes cannot get lost with each other. I had more of this problem with the custom than the distortion. Not real bad, just enough to want a little better out of a pickup

I love the mid range and articulation of the distortion. And I love the huge bottom end and shear power of the custom. Both have this high end sear though that must be tamed to my ears. I have tried a JB and liked the tone but the bottom end was not there to me. did not work for my style. and from all of the research that I have done online (particulary this forum, which is my favorite) it sounds like the Custom 8 will fit my bill perfect

Ultimate question: ?

59 neck (which magnet?)
Custom 8 bridge

perfect combo for me in my new LP/ ? How bout some descriptions on the magnets for the 59?

Thanks guys

[Aceman]

As I always say - LEs Pauls vary guitar to guitar, considerably sometimes.

Get a bright piece of mahog, with brighter maple, and less than warm rosewood, and ZING!

You got a screamer.

But werd on Custom/Distortion as faves!

[Aceman]

Hmmmmm -

Distortion / Custom hybrid???? anyone