Pickup for Les Paul - recommendation needed

fivecoyote · Post by **fivecoyote** » Sat May 03, 2008 9:57 pm

Guys -- I have a Gibson Les Paul Classic (1998), sweet guitar, but I don't like the pickups. I think I remember reading they're ceramic -- maybe that sound is what I don't like. I'm looking for a warmer sound BUT want a pickup that brings out the higher mids (say, B string 9th fret territory), which seem to get lost -- either because of all the mahogany, the pickup (bridge) or both. Can anyone recommend a pickup to solve my issues here? I play through a plexi clone (Vplex) and have tweaked the amp ad nauseum but can't get what I'm looking for upper-mids-wise, even if I loved the stock pickup tone, and I don't. Thanks!

wdelaney72 · Post by **wdelaney72** » Sat May 03, 2008 9:59 pm

Contact Jeff & HighOrder and put in a set of A5 PAF clones. He doesn't have the fastest turnaround, but his service is awesome and his work is even better.

A5 will give you a touch more mid than A2. Ceramics in a LP? Yuk!

Flames1950 · Post by **Flames1950** » Sat May 03, 2008 10:24 pm

Other great handwound pickup choices at reasonable prices are Smits (www.smitparts.com ??) or Manlius Landmarks or Fat Dianes (www.manliusguitar.com)

The Manlius Fat Dianes are currently in all my Gibsons.........

philmanatee · Post by **philmanatee** » Sun May 04, 2008 4:59 am

I just put a Wolfetone marshallhead in my explorer and gigged with it tonight, pretty sweet pickup. I think it would sound good in a les paul. I also love everything I've got from Jeff at High Order. Phil

HEAVIER THAN HELL · Post by **HEAVIER THAN HELL** » Sun May 04, 2008 5:02 am

BKP Mule, no question.

If you want more mids (and hotter output), get a BKP Crawler.

56goldtop · Post by **56goldtop** » Sun May 04, 2008 5:50 am

I have alnico II High Orders in my les paul, which are incredible. But you might be looking for something a bit hotter, and Alnico V might suit you like wdelaney72 says. Alnico IV pickups might also be good for you, if you go high order, talk to Jeff and you can work something out.

miguel · Post by **miguel** » Sun May 04, 2008 1:24 pm

wdelaney72 wrote:A5 will give you a touch more mid than A2.

Isn't it the other way around? IME the A5 has a bit of a mid scoop compared to the A2.

FWIW I really like the Smit's Classic Coils A2 set.

Roe · Post by **Roe** » Sun May 04, 2008 5:32 pm

A5 may have more high mids than A2 but a5 also tends to be sound a little scooped compared to a2.

fivecoyote · Post by **fivecoyote** » Mon May 05, 2008 11:31 am

Thanks much for the recommendations, guys. Wish I had more guitars to try them all. Will let it sink in, go some direction and report back.