Pickup recommendations for LP Custom

[Athos]

The other thing, if you need to tighten up the bass try going down in string size. Too twangy and a floppy bottom is the exact definition of the effects of too much string for the application.

That is quite interesting. I've generally used 10-52s on Les Pauls and had no problem with flubbiness through my old Marshall 2204. I tend to choose string size due to feel more than tone though.

 

[Offshore Angler]

Adjusting pickup heights can make a major change too.

 

[Athos]

Sure does! Thanks for the reminder. I had previously lowered the neck pickup so it didn't overpower the bridge so much; tonight I also raised the bridge pickup as well, and it's another small improvement.

 

[jb_abides]

How do you like the Pentatone EQ?

 

[Athos]

It's awesome! Very quiet, plenty of adjustment. Only thing I'd change in the design would be to make the highest and lowest bands shelving instead of peaking, but that's not a huge deal. I currently use it as my rhythm tone, cutting some mids and a tiny bit of the overall level. Turning it off is my 'lead boost' (the amp usually has a very gentle V in the graphic EQ, so there's plenty of mids). I'll occasionally set it up for heavier tones with a bit more scooping of the amp GEQ and the pedal, as with MOP/AJFA.

 

[Bob Womack]

One more thing: tip the pickup. You need not crank up the whole affair. If you are wanting more bass, try tipping up the bass side. Count the turns to return the pickup to the previous height if you don't like the result.

Bob

 

[Athos]

That's a good point, and I've also started measuring the pickup-to-string distance with a ruler too. Currently have the treble side a bit higher.

All the little tweaks have made positive differences, though I'm still not sure if I'm going to stick with the stock bridge p/u. I really am splitting hairs at this point though, overall it's a great sounding guitar. I will probably change strings again sooner than I need, as I'm a bit impatient to do the magnet flip.

 

[Offshore Angler]

It may just be the guitar. Swapping pickups will make nuanced changes but the overall mid response will be built into the wood, frets, etc.

 

[Johnny Q]

If the original T-Tops are too bright, I would recommend the Fralin Pure PAFs. I bet they would sound awesome in that guitar. I have them in my R9. My 1989 LP Custom has the venerable Duncan JB/Jazz with 300K pots - the latter is intentional ,it is a very bright guitar with a sharp attack and this combo works great.

 

[Athos]

It may just be the guitar. Swapping pickups will make nuanced changes but the overall mid response will be built into the wood, frets, etc.

True. It's only my second Les Paul - the first was a Standard - plus this Custom has a maple neck so there's got to be some inherent tonal differences compared to my first one.

Just did the 50s wiring change, which I also did after a while in my old Standard. Definitely prefer it over 'modern' wiring. Survived another soldering session! Next, the magnet flip.

I think I'm definitely happy with the neck pickup. If I get a new bridge pickup, it'll probably be something PAF-ish but with a little more output and maybe tighter bass, perhaps using Alnico 4 magnets.

 

[jb_abides]

True. It's only my second Les Paul - the first was a Standard - plus this Custom has a maple neck so there's got to be some inherent tonal differences compared to my first one.

Yeah, Maple + Ebony leans more snappy than a Standard.

Good luck with the flip!

 

[Midnight Blues]

Is you Custom solid mahogany, or does it have a maple cap?

 

[Athos]

Maple cap. It's the "70s" Custom, so mostly like a Norlin-era but with a one-piece rather than a three-piece neck.

One thing I'd forgotten about 50s wiring: the middle pickup position seems improved, even when the volumes are set differently.

 

[Athos]

Slightly off topic, but I'm having an EMG 81/85 set put into a LP Custom replica that a local luthier is making for me. Is there any reason to do 50s wiring with active pickups? I would think not, but Google didn't really turn up any discussions on that topic one way or another.

 

[jb_abides]

Slightly off topic, but I'm having an EMG 81/85 set put into a LP Custom replica that a local luthier is making for me. Is there any reason to do 50s wiring with active pickups? I would think not, but Google didn't really turn up any discussions on that topic one way or another.

No, active requires different topologies and values due to factors such as buffering, impedance, and where the tone sits in relation to the pup coils, and power from the battery. Find a baseline to work from for a known active, EMG-type model; a Zakk Wylde, Hetfield model, or other exemplar.

 

[Athos]

Thanks, I suspected as much, but did not know the technical reasons behind it. I had the same EMG set in my old LP Standard before changing it to PAF-style passives (and 50s wiring), but that was a while ago.

 

[Midnight Blues]

Maple cap. It's the "70s" Custom, so mostly like a Norlin-era but with a one-piece rather than a three-piece neck.

One thing I'd forgotten about 50s wiring: the middle pickup position seems improved, even when the volumes are set differently.

That could explain why the Ts sound a a bit bright to you. Maybe something unpotted with an Alnico 2 or 3 magnet?

 

[Athos]

Been considering those magnets, or maybe Alnico 4. Previous LP had A4 bridge, A2 neck, good combination. I haven't tried an Alnico 3 pickup yet (that I am aware of).

 

[franko5150]

For my Marcus amp (Mark IIC++/III clone), the signal is this:
guitar > Dunlop ZW wah (not always, it's battery-powered and off the board) > gate > TU-3W tuner > J. Rockett Rockaway Archer OD > NUX analog chorus > amp input > effects send > gate > Ibanez Pentatone parametric EQ > MXR CC Deluxe analog delay > Keeley Aurora digital reverb > effects return > Marshall 1936 2x12 with G12T-75s. Noise gate is an Ibanez Pentatone Gate before the tuner and after the preamp.

I've got some other pedals available that aren't on the board (delay, reverb, tremolo, OD) that I'll be using more with the 5E3 combo.

how do you like that Rockaway Archer? I have heard negative things about it, I have one & it took me a while to get a tone I liked out of it, but I have with almost the EXACT settings as you have with the gain turned down. It caught my eye when I saw you had nearly identical setting to mine.

 

[Athos]

I like it well enough. Not a fan of the distortion it produces when you turn the gain up, a bit too woolly and overly smooth - I rarely move the knob above 9 o'clock. But as a slightly dirty boost it's good, and I love having the 6-band GEQ built in.

Originally got it to boost my 5E3, but it's too polite with that amp (as a distortion/overdrive). I like the BD-2W much better with the Tweed Deluxe. My Marcus amp can get very aggressive, so the Rockaway works well to just add a bit more when I'm running the amp gain lower.

Tonight I put the parametric EQ in front of the amp for fun, and in combination with the Rockaway I attempted some Randy Rhoads-inspired tones, with a boatload of mids. Works for Iron Maiden too.