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I need help with my favorite Les Paul

richie_selmo

New member
Joined
Aug 4, 2022
Messages
2
Hi everyone. The thing is, I have a 2001 Les Paul Standard that I love. But!! The neck pickup sounds very muddy and the bridge pickup has very sharp highs. I have another, also standard, from 2005 that sounds much more balanced. The neck pickup sounds much more defined and the bridge pickup doesn't have those sharp highs. I have already tried everything that could occur to correct this imbalance of the 2001 LP. I tried with BB 1 and 2. Seymor Duncan 59 and 2 versions of the 490 and 498. I also changed 300 and 500k potentiometers, changed bumble bee capacitors , ceramics, etc.. modify the height of the pickups. And there is always the imbalance of to lows in the neck and sharp highs in the bridge. The only difference between the two guitars is the tuners. The 2005 has the klusons and the problem one has grovers. I don't know if this difference in pins can generate such an imbalance. I hope someone has an idea to give me to solve this problem.
 

Tollywood

Well-known member
Joined
Mar 16, 2022
Messages
394
Hello there. Welcome to the forum.

The Grovers are definitely not the problem. They are awesome. I don’t know what the problem is, but it’s not them. From how you describe it, I would say it’s just the pickups.

Recommending pickups is so subjective. You are officially in a rabbit hole. Stick with 500k pots and after watching a bunch of YouTube videos try another set of pickups. I love the Seymour Duncan Amos set, but it’s subjective advice.

Throwbak, Suhr, Bare Knuckle, DiMarzio, Seymour Duncan…I have loved all of these company’s pickups.
 

Bob Womack

Well-known member
Joined
Apr 8, 2002
Messages
2,191
You know, with Gibson two humbucker guitars I often find myself backing off the tone control of the bridge pickup to make the two match. However, there is something else you can do as well: tilt the neck pickup down at the bass side to reduce bass. You want the low and high E strings to be at the same level when played through a clean amp.

Bob
 

GlassSnuff

Well-known member
Joined
Jan 30, 2002
Messages
3,671
Bury the pole pieces of the bridge pickup and raise it up right next to the strings. Turn the pole pieces on the neck pickup way up (don't worry - they're really long) and lower the pickup until one leg falls off the screw. You'll probably want to put it back on, but at least you know that's as low as it goes. :)

I like P90s in the neck. You might try a Lollar Novel 90 or a Duncan Phat Cat. I figured this out by using an L-500 split. Maybe, if you have a stupidly high output pickup, you could try that. For the bridge I'd go with a Duncan JB. It has too much copper to have annoying highs. My bobbins are scalloped from being hit by the strings so, yeh, get 'em right up there. Turn the volume to 9, cut the tone, and you're ready for it if it gets dull.

(You have two Les Pauls, you lucky SOB! Be grateful they don't sound the same! ;))
 

renderit

Well-known member
Joined
Jan 19, 2009
Messages
10,951
I ALWAYS forget about what GlassSnuff mentioned in advice.

Though I do it I just forget about it.

After I have any guitar for a few days I usually get around to the pole tweaking.

God Bless GlassSnuf for bringing that up.

Every guitar should get this.

Muddy or unclear - Poles up.

Pingy or screechy - poles down.
 

uOpt

Member
Joined
Nov 20, 2007
Messages
166
The heavy tuners can have an influence on this. If you don't mind additional holes in the headstock this is worth exploring.

In the neck, try a SD screamin' demon.

In the bridge, try a SD Custom Custom (stupid name, a custom with A2 magnet).
 

rickkinne59

New member
Joined
Mar 11, 2015
Messages
27
Before you change pickups, I would try new pots with 50s wiring. VIP Pots sells a great pre-wired kit.
 

CK6

Well-known member
Joined
Feb 5, 2020
Messages
449
Which strings are you using? I found that D’Addario strings yield the same results with certain guitars.. Try Ernie Ball or GHS.

I have a 2001 standard and it sounds great..
 

CK6

Well-known member
Joined
Feb 5, 2020
Messages
449
I ALWAYS forget about what GlassSnuff mentioned in advice.

Though I do it I just forget about it.

After I have any guitar for a few days I usually get around to the pole tweaking.

God Bless GlassSnuf for bringing that up.

Every guitar should get this.

Muddy or unclear - Poles up.

Pingy or screechy - poles down.
Are you sure you don’t have this the other way around? Lowering the pole pieces yields more clarity.. for example, if a neck pickup is muddy, then you raise the pickup and lower the pole pieces.
 

renderit

Well-known member
Joined
Jan 19, 2009
Messages
10,951
Poles away from the magnet for more clarity, i.e. LOWER the pickup and RAISE the pole pieces then lower the pickup AND pole pieces with the height adjustment to get the sweet spot.

You can get clarity by lowering the pickup AND the poles with the poles down (what many consider "normal") but it will weaken the fields and won't get the clarity of the above.
 
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