Best Neck Pickup??

[MRAvery]

Can anyone suggest a neck pickup replacement for my Les Paul Classic? The Burstbucker ‘61 is a little too dark and muddy for me. Thanks.

 

[poor man's burst]

Before considering changing pickups, have you checked the pots resistance (300kohms or 500kohms)?
Also, a pickup (specially the neck pickup) too close to the strings can sound muddy. If not already done, you can try to lower the pickup height, as well as adjust the balance between strings using the polepieces screws.

 

[RJLII]

I have a factory Burstbucker in the neck of my '07 R8 and when adjusted properly it's very articulate and not dark/muddy at all. My '04 R7 LPC has Classic '57s and even though it's an all mahogany body and neck it's a bit brighter. I'd try some adjustments first. Perhaps your specific guitar is on the darker side of the tone range. It happens. If that's the case a pot switch to 500K as PMB suggests above could make a difference.

 

[Any Name You Wish]

What amp are you playing through?

 

[c_wester]

Also are you adjusting your ampifier?

Here are some simple stuff to do.
Put a Nobels odr-1 in the chain or a Catalinbread RAH.

You can massage the problem but seldom fix it completly as that would require wood change.

A old school bright amp might help also.

 

[Tollywood]

Can anyone suggest a neck pickup replacement for my Les Paul Classic? The Burstbucker ‘61 is a little too dark and muddy for me. Thanks.

How about a set of Gibson Custombuckers? I have them in my R7 and they are wonderful.

 

[MRAvery]

Before considering changing pickups, have you checked the pots resistance (300kohms or 500kohms)?
Also, a pickup (specially the neck pickup) too close to the strings can sound muddy. If not already done, you can try to lower the pickup height, as well as adjust the balance between strings using the polepieces screws.

That’s a great suggestion about the pots. I just opened this 2023 Les Paul Classic and felt out of date! It’s a circuit board that components “plug” into, it just took me by surprise! I’m not sure how to change a bloody pot any more! The last Standard I had, just had the grounding plate and I ripped it all out and replaced everything with vintage, period correct components. This thing looks like something I need to read up on I guess. No solder, no WIRES! What is the guitar world coming to? Do I have to spent $5k for real wires now, from the Custom Shop? Sorry for the rant! Thanks for the valued info.

 

[MRAvery]

I have a factory Burstbucker in the neck of my '07 R8 and when adjusted properly it's very articulate and not dark/muddy at all. My '04 R7 LPC has Classic '57s and even though it's an all mahogany body and neck it's a bit brighter. I'd try some adjustments first. Perhaps your specific guitar is on the darker side of the tone range. It happens. If that's the case a pot switch to 500K as PMB suggests above could make a difference.

Thanks for the information. I haven’t really tried that many different Humbuckers, so you’re very helpful.

 

[MRAvery]

How about a set of Gibson Custombuckers? I have them in my R7 and they are wonderful.

Ok! Thank you. I’m getting some other good things said about Custombuckers too!

 

[MRAvery]

Also are you adjusting your ampifier?

Here are some simple stuff to do.
Put a Nobels odr-1 in the chain or a Catalinbread RAH.

You can massage the problem but seldom fix it completly as that would require wood change.

A old school bright amp might help also.

That’s probably true. This thing weighs a Ton, and it supposed to be weight relieved! The bridge pu sounds pretty bright, so a massage might be worth the time. Thanks for your input and information.

 

[jb_abides]

As others have said, first try adjusting pickup height and pole pieces assuming you like the string height and action.

Your Classic not only has PCB board with the push-pull pots but the 61 pickups are attached with Quick Connect leads.

With the PCB, you can't easily change pots as with a traditional wiring harness layout.

So, there are two paths you can go by:

1 - Keep the PCB board, and keep the push-pull capabilities of the PCB ---> you need to make sure you buy a neck pickup with a Quick Connect 4-wire.

a) -- 57 Classic with Quick Connect 4-wire would be your easy choice... assuming you don't want ceramic Dirty Fingers]​

b) -- Buy any other 4-wire pickup, but you'd have to buy a 3rd party Quick Connect adapter from eBay or Reverb, and attach accordingly.​

2 - Replace the wiring harness and 'go traditional', i.e. you don't care to keep the push-pull capabilities of the PCB ---> Choose any new set of pickups you want, but re-wire accordingly

a) -- If you want to keep the 61 in the bridge and just buy a new neck, you need to cut off the current Quick Connect and prepare the remaining wire leads accordingly; otherwise buy a new set.​

b) -- buy a neeck pickup with a traditional lead along with traditional wiring harness.​

 

[DrewB]

"I'd like to go with door #2, Bob."

 

[Tollywood]

"I'd like to go with door #2, Bob."

I agree.

 

[Hiwatts-n-Gibsons]

That’s a great suggestion about the pots. I just opened this 2023 Les Paul Classic and felt out of date! It’s a circuit board that components “plug” into, it just took me by surprise! I’m not sure how to change a bloody pot any more! The last Standard I had, just had the grounding plate and I ripped it all out and replaced everything with vintage, period correct components. This thing looks like something I need to read up on I guess. No solder, no WIRES! What is the guitar world coming to? Do I have to spent $5k for real wires now, from the Custom Shop? Sorry for the rant! Thanks for the valued info.

Rip the whole thing out, get an Emerson '50s style pre-wired harness, snip off pickup quick connects or exchange for aftermarket non quick connects pickups, install, be happy.

LES PAUL PREWIRED KIT - PREMIER PRO

SKU LP-BB Description Handwired in the USA Wired 50's style for authentic vintage sound and feel. This is a prewired harness for USA Gibson Les Paul's. Carefully wired “50’s Style” and grounded with vintage spec buss wire for a great vintage tone. For import guitars you may need to enlarge the...

emersoncustom.com

 

[Any Name You Wish]

Really, you should just sell it and get one you like. Just does not sound like you will ever be happy with it.

 

[MRAvery]

As others have said, first try adjusting pickup height and pole pieces assuming you like the string height and action.

Your Classic not only has PCB board with the push-pull pots but the 61 pickups are attached with Quick Connect leads.

With the PCB, you can't easily change pots as with a traditional wiring harness layout.

So, there are two paths you can go by:

1 - Keep the PCB board, and keep the push-pull capabilities of the PCB ---> you need to make sure you buy a neck pickup with a Quick Connect 4-wire.

a) -- 57 Classic with Quick Connect 4-wire would be your easy choice... assuming you don't want ceramic Dirty Fingers]​

b) -- Buy any other 4-wire pickup, but you'd have to buy a 3rd party Quick Connect adapter from eBay or Reverb, and attach accordingly.​

2 - Replace the wiring harness and 'go traditional', i.e. you don't care to keep the push-pull capabilities of the PCB ---> Choose any new set of pickups you want, but re-wire accordingly

a) -- If you want to keep the 61 in the bridge and just buy a new neck, you need to cut off the current Quick Connect and prepare the remaining wire leads accordingly; otherwise buy a new set.​

b) -- buy a neeck pickup with a traditional lead along with traditional wiring harness.​

I guess I could put standard push pull pots in it and keep my options, just with actual wire, caps, and pots. Like I mentioned, I did all that to the last Standard I had, but it only had the annoying grounding plate. I’m not as young as I was then, I really want to spend my time playing the thing, more than working on it this time. I can put a Quick Connect plug on a pickup, so I can still try different pickups in just a few minutes. Thanks for your information.

 

[MRAvery]

Rip the whole thing out, get an Emerson '50s style pre-wired harness, snip off pickup quick connects or exchange for aftermarket non quick connects pickups, install, be happy.

LES PAUL PREWIRED KIT - PREMIER PRO

SKU LP-BB Description Handwired in the USA Wired 50's style for authentic vintage sound and feel. This is a prewired harness for USA Gibson Les Paul's. Carefully wired “50’s Style” and grounded with vintage spec buss wire for a great vintage tone. For import guitars you may need to enlarge the...

emersoncustom.com

That’s a good looking harness. Do they make one with a phase switch( push pull tone pot maybe)? I wouldn’t miss splitting the coils, but I love the in and out of phase ability. I ripped everything out of my last Standard and went vintage period correct wires and caps, with CTS pots. And that guitar just had the big grounding plate/ harness. Maybe I’m to old but I’m not sure I’m up for another rebuild. The guitar plays great (now) and I have installed a Les Trem ii, which I love on two of my guitars. The neck is not too big, and rolled off just right. I think I’ll try a pickup or two first, and if I can’t get the neck up sounding like I want, I will consider greater steps. Thanks so much for your input. I think I’ll play some Jeff Beck tonight. “ Let Me Love You” from TRUTH, has one of the coolest solos ever! Take care, M

 

[MRAvery]

Really, you should just sell it and get one you like. Just does not sound like you will ever be happy with it.

Just because the neck pickup is a little muddy? I think before I sell it, I’ll try a couple other options. The bridge pickup sounds great, so I’m halfway there! I certainly can dig what you’re saying though. Thanks for your input. M