what pickups for my les paul standard?

[nathan28]

Hey guys, I have a new les paul standard and i hate the burstbucker pickups in it, they sound muddy and like crap. I have been using emg's for years and love them, but i want to go with something different. I am looking at the dave mustaine seymour duncan livewires, and a few other seymour duncan models. I play mostly hard rock, through a mesa boogie RKII, any recommendations?

 

[treedroppings]

voodoo pickups are the number one recommendation on the les paul forum :mrgreen:

 

[eltrain858]

lots of people on here like the 490/498 or 496/500 combinations as an alternative to bb's

 

[barneyc4]

I suggest PRS Tremonti pickups

 

[Russ]

lots of people on here like the 490/498 or 496/500 combinations as an alternative to bb's

I'll second that...

 

[lesterpaul]

I dig the Bare Knuckles-they have awesome ceramics and alnico pups...from vintage to modern-hand wound and $$,but if it isnt an object, i would check them out-Tim is a player(just finished an Iced Earth studio gig),and he is hands on...email him and tell him what you are looking for and he will wind what you want by hand-"where's my Mule??!!!" :?:

 

[Guitar Adjuster]

Lace "drop & gain"

http://www.agi-lace.com/electric_pickups/drop_gain/drop_gain_specs.php

 

[24loar]

Hi,

I've tried almost all the PAF clones out there....test guitar is an Historic 1999 R9 through 1980 Mesa Mark ll A....These are my favorites:

1) Timbuckers...available from Tim White himself...waiting list but worth it.
2) Lollar Imperials...sound great...
3) Wolfe Dr. Vintage....very nice!
4) VooDoos...cool sounding


The differences in the above are personal preferences and nuances that are not easily described...all produce good sounds...

By the way, the Voodoos are great but NOT the number one choice on the Les paul Forum although they may have been a few years back.....

 

[pjrake]

I suggest PRS Tremonti pickups

+1. i got them installed on my gibson les paul.

 

[eldi]

I've been told that the Seymour Duncan JB/bridge '59/neck combo works well in Les Paul's, I think I may try that in my Les Paul Classic. The 500T & 496R are just way too hot for my tastes, they don't seem to want to clean up much when I turn the volume on the guitar down...

 

[halfdriven]

JB’s sound great and are a common replacement for Les Paul’s, I use a full shred, nice highs with out the bite and mellows out the mids and keeps the bottom from getting muddy

 

[SoCalSteve]

Have you tried lowering the Burstbuckers? They seem to sound best with the neck pup just below the pickup ring and the bridge pup just above it. I have the BB Pros in my Studio and really like them. I tried a Pearly Gates neck and Custom bridge and put the BB Pros back in. Also, alot of guys recommend replacing the stock LP electronics. I put the RS Guitarworks Treble Tamer kit in mine and am getting very useable tones. Good info at the LP Forum also.

 

[ursinus]

Here's three reco's

#1 Suhr DSV in the neck position, Suhr SSH or SSH+ in the bridge position

#2 Seymour Duncan Alinco II Pro in the neck position, Custom 5 in the bridge position

#3 DiMarzio Air Zone in the neck position, Breed in the Bridge position

Have fun......

 

[dmt]

#1 All around Balanced:
Bill Lawrence L500R - Neck
Bill Lawrence L500L - Bridge

#2 Smoother:
Bill Lawrence L500C - Neck
Bill Lawrence L500R - Bridge

#3 Metal?:
Bill Lawrence L500R - Neck
Bill Lawrence L500XL - Bridge

Qfilter for added tonal range

You could also go for Bill Lawrence L609 or L600's for a more P90 ish sound.

http://www.billlawrence.com/Pages/NewPickups05.htm

 

[TheRazMeister]

I Have Duncan 59's in my Standard and love the tone...

 

[cliff hetfield]

The 500T & 496R are just way too hot for my tastes, they don't seem to want to clean up much when I turn the volume on the guitar down...

have you tried adjusting the height of your pickups? because mine clean up for me nicely.

 

[eldi]

I tend to keep my pick-ups somewhat low to preserve the sustain, but they still don't clean up enough to suit me.....