Looking for pickup suggestions...Les Paul/Plexi

TommyShameless · Post by **TommyShameless** » Tue May 01, 2007 4:16 pm

Thanks to anyone reading this! I am in the middle of my first Plexi build, and I need to figure out what to do about the pickups in my Epiphone Les Paul

I should state that though I have seen many shitty Epiphones, this one seems quite nice...and looks exactly like one I saw at Guitar Shitter the other day for 1000 bucks.

I was at Mighty Mikes house checking out his 12000, and decided to build one for myself, but when I plugged into it, we discovered that my bridge pickup had become microphonic. I ordered up a Seymour Duncan '59, and that took care of the microphonic problem of course, but it sounded like double ass through the Plexi, which is hysterical, considering how bad ass that amp is.

Mighty Mike is using a Darkburst in one of his guitars, and I think a JB in another, but he uses super strats, not Les Pauls. They both sound great, but nobody seems to be sure what they would sound like through a Les Paul.

I heard a clip of Rgalpin's Bareknuckles VHII, and his tone is off the freakin' charts, but I don't think he uses a Les Paul.

My favorite tones, off the top of my head, would be stuff like Ariel Bender on "Mott The Hoople Live", KISS' Destroyer record (specifically the intro riff to King Of the Night Time World), Boston's More Than a Feeling...actually, the entire first 2 Boston records (though god knows how many tracks of guitar Sholtz layed down). I think that's a pretty good example of what I'm going for tone-wise.

Mighty Mike has repeatedly pointed out that I need to change the electronics out, so that's on the agenda too, though I refuse to believe that the electronics in it now are SO bad that they are making it sound thin and crappy.

The bridge pickup is what I mainly use. I will probably move the SD '59 to the Neck position, since I've heard good things about putting them in the neck position, and also since i threw away the box before I was even done installing it, so I can't return it anyway.

I hear TONS of good things about the Bareknuckles stuff, but the models that I think I might be into don't have any sound clips on their forum section. Just tons of metal, and I hate metal. Plus, so many of the guys on that forum are using pods and crap like that, and at that point, really who gives a damn WHAT pickups you're using anymore.

So, who's got some ideas/comments/concerns/hatemail?

Tommy

Myopic Void · Post by **Myopic Void** » Tue May 01, 2007 10:41 pm

My favorite tones, off the top of my head, would be stuff like Ariel Bender on "Mott The Hoople Live", KISS' Destroyer record (specifically the intro riff to King Of the Night Time World), Boston's More Than a Feeling...actually, the entire first 2 Boston records (though god knows how many tracks of guitar Sholtz layed down). I think that's a pretty good example of what I'm going for tone-wise.

Rolph PAF's or Seth Lovers are great PU's. Your range of desired tones is quite varied. Kiss "Destroyer" era vs Boston are apples and oranges tonewise IMO. You would need two seperate signal chains to achieve both tones.

Cheers,

Eric

TommyShameless · Post by **TommyShameless** » Tue May 01, 2007 10:49 pm

I hear what you're saying about the 2 different tones...I do realize they are not the same. I think it's some qualitiews of those tones that makes me put them together. It's hard to explain...but then again, is there anything easy about trying to get the perfect tone?

Tommy

paulster · Post by **paulster** » Wed May 02, 2007 8:06 am

If you're interested in the Bare Knuckles then your best bet is to give Tim Mills (the owner) a call or drop him an email with basically what you put in your first post.

Tim's really good at getting out of you what you're looking for and which pickup(s) will meet that need.

You can always put a request up for someone with whatever pickup to record a clip in a style you're interested in. Lots of people have asked in the past, and people over there are often keen to oblige.

Tone Slinger · Post by **Tone Slinger** » Thu May 03, 2007 10:02 pm

I love all of Kiss' tones in the 70's. I know for sure they were using Metal faced S. Leads up to the Love Gun tour, which was 4 hole jmp super leads(almost the same) They used Dimarzio Super Distortion pick ups. Boston,to me, sounded like a "cocked wha". Very fake and synthetic sounding as a whole, but a unique production quality non the less. I say, tweak your amp circuit first, check out some 25-30 watt speakers and play alot. Pick ups are sorta like the different regional coffee's at Starbucks, They are all good and similar,but have slightly different "accents".

tonejones · Post by **tonejones** » Fri May 04, 2007 12:58 am

Consider some high order pickups.

Jeff is a super guy, and they're really dirt cheap considering what you get (I imagine you'd have to go with either bare knuckles or WCRs to have a chance of getting better pickups than Jeff's, and his are only $65 each)...

Tell him what you're looking for and he'll set you up nicely........

www.highorderpickups.com

pfrischmann · Post by **pfrischmann** » Fri May 04, 2007 6:39 am

You's be very suprised what changing the electronics would do. Check out a RS electroinics kit. The stuff gibson uses is junk. If Epiphone is anything like I remember, It's as bad.

Tone Slinger · Post by **Tone Slinger** » Fri May 04, 2007 8:00 am

Electronics ? So your talking about the volume pots,tone pots, toggle switch, input jack, etc ? Yeah, I agree that the sound might be more clear and have more presence .

paulster · Post by **paulster** » Fri May 04, 2007 9:03 am

I'll second the High Order recommendation too. I've got some of Jeff's finest in a Les Paul and will be straight back onto him next time I need a new set of humbuckers.

philmanatee · Post by **philmanatee** » Thu May 10, 2007 1:32 am

I put High Orders in the '76 3 pickup les paul custom that I just put together and I'm completely blown away by the range of tones that I've got now. I told Jeff what I needed the guitar to do and took his recommendations for wind and magnets. I played it at practice tonight and it works great with my setup. The only downside is the wait, but it's well worth it and you can't beat his prices. Phil

guitar007 · Post by **guitar007** » Thu May 10, 2007 9:02 am

Tone Slinger wrote:Pick ups are sorta like the different regional coffee's at Starbucks, They are all good and similar,but have slightly different "accents".

zx-matt · Post by **zx-matt** » Sun Jul 22, 2007 12:15 am

The voices from beyond say:
BK's
Neck = Stormy Monday Alnico IV
Bridge = Riff Raff

Wolfetone Sets:
Caretaker
or
Marshallhead

56goldtop · Post by **56goldtop** » Sat Jul 28, 2007 1:01 pm

What about wolfetone Dr V's?

Tuco · Post by **Tuco** » Sat Jul 28, 2007 3:41 pm

56goldtop wrote:What about wolfetone Dr V's?

Absotively!!! Of all the PAF clones, the Dr. Vs (and the Rolphs) give me the biggest wood. Both of these make one of my historic Les Pauls sound very close to my '54 conversion with PAFs.

bobtec · Post by **bobtec** » Sat Jul 28, 2007 7:00 pm

Tom Sholts or what ever his name, was Building computer and bussiness machines for IBM and is a MIT grad Have you ever heard of a rockman everone in the 1980's used one.His Chorus Power soak ect.Most of those guys used the stock pups. Ace used Demazio in some.

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Looking for pickup suggestions...Les Paul/Plexi

Looking for pickup suggestions...Les Paul/Plexi

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