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Pickups vs (everything else)

mojodelic

New member
Joined
Jun 20, 2021
Messages
16
So I understand that:
1. Weight relief is mostly frowned upon here
2. Tone is subjective
3. A guitar is a "system"

In 2017 I bought a weight relieved Classic Goldtop with '57 zebra classics (no weird coil tap stuff). I absolutely loved the sound- whether clean or dirty it just sounded amazing to me. Fast forward to 2020; covid hit & I assumed my band gigs were over so I traded it for a nice acoustic. Then things kinda settled down, I rejoined the band & now need a Les Paul again. No Classics like the one I had could be found so I bought a Bourbon burst Std w/61s.

LSS- can't bond with the sound- changed first to SD APH 2s (nice pups but a little much) then a pair of classic 57s but with nickel covers. I just can't get the same sound even though I know the STD is a better guitar.

Derek Trucks in an interview said that of all the SGs he's played the lighter ones always sounded better. Is it possible that my classic being weight relieved actually sounded better with the same pickups? Snake oil? I just want my sound back...
 

Hamerfan

Active member
Joined
Dec 20, 2004
Messages
791
I can add two things: A weightrelieved guitar sounds different to a full wood one. It has definitely something of semi acoustic thing going, but the differences are small. The 57 classic pickups have undergone some change over the time.
 
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mojodelic

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Jun 20, 2021
Messages
16
The date on the "new" 57's are both 6/15/16; I bought the Classic in January of 2017. I think the weight has more to do with it than pickup era. I appreciate the response.
 

mthrunn

Member
Joined
Dec 4, 2019
Messages
52
The “lightweight sounding better” thing has more to do with the wood density that leads to that weight rather than the weight itself
 

El Gringo

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Joined
Apr 8, 2015
Messages
5,657
It is all of the factors combined together . Wood , Pickups, electronics ( pots and caps ), and hardware . Every thing factors in together .
 

jrgtr42

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Joined
Mar 24, 2005
Messages
2,308
OUt of curiosity, what control set was in your old one versus the new one? Did one or both have the electronic board versus a couple pots and a cap? That also may be a difference...
But other than that, Gringo's right - it's how everything works together. Some just hit the mark, and others are off just a bit.
Did you get to play this one before buying it? Was there any kind of return policy?
Also are you using the same amps on the same settings? Mayby play around a bit, twist the EQ, raise or lower the gain, and so on.
 

mojodelic

New member
Joined
Jun 20, 2021
Messages
16
It didn't have any funky pcb stuff, basic caps/vol/tone pots albeit smaller. I bought the new LP in October (online retailer) & it's a beautiful, sweet playing guitar that I know can sing I just have to figure out how*

* The 57 Classics seem to be working okay after I raised them (the only thing more nebulous than what pups go in what guitar are how to adjust the height on the ^!*%$# things)! I had forgotten that 57s can be raised higher than others due to lower output.

I really appreciate all the responses; as I said above I have to realize that some of this is in my head. There are tons of YT videos comparing pups & I can't hear a difference between most of them.
 

Keefoman

Active member
Joined
Nov 4, 2009
Messages
576
There may also be a slight difference with or withour pickup covers.
 
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