Bare Knuckle Pickups Forum

Forum Ringside => Pickups => Topic started by: Attica! on March 11, 2012, 12:05:10 PM

Title: Pickups for the GnR sound? Epiphone Les Paul Custom Plus.
Post by: Attica! on March 11, 2012, 12:05:10 PM
I've got a couple guitars lying about that I don't really use anymore, as I prefer my main guitars, and I've decided to upgrade these with pickups that I wouldn't normally buy, just to give them a different vibe. This led me to think it would be cool if I upgraded my Les Paul to replicate the Guns n Roses sound from Appetite to Use Your Illusion. To be honest, I'm more familiar with the Contemporary models, and I'm guessing this would be more the Vintage area? I know Slash uses Alnico IIs, and wondered whether I should stick with that magnet, or is there a BKP that nails it better?
Title: Re: Pickups for the GnR sound? Epiphone Les Paul Custom Plus.
Post by: Twinfan on March 11, 2012, 12:08:53 PM
Stormy Mondays and a JCM800.

Simple!
Title: Re: Pickups for the GnR sound? Epiphone Les Paul Custom Plus.
Post by: Attica! on March 11, 2012, 12:14:29 PM
What do you suggest in regards to wax potting, and the pots as well?
Title: Re: Pickups for the GnR sound? Epiphone Les Paul Custom Plus.
Post by: Alex on March 11, 2012, 12:36:03 PM
This is a tricky one, because IMO the pickup isn't even the key element in Slash's tone - it's the amp!
Also, the guitar construction is quite important.

It's funny, I was listening to that album yesterday and thought how surprisingly bright his tone on AFD is, in comparison to UYI 1&2. The top end on some of his soloing and playing is very defined and chunky, whereas on UYI it's a lot more rounded and mid-based.

I think for the AFD tone you need to go with something bright and punchy and well defined.
Title: Re: Pickups for the GnR sound? Epiphone Les Paul Custom Plus.
Post by: Attica! on March 11, 2012, 12:40:48 PM
Well I own a Bugera 1990 for playing that style of music, which is more or less a JCM900, but I guess it's the closest I'll get without shelling out for a JCM800 with added mods.

I'm just looking for a pickup that will nail them styles with the sound being Guns n Roses like. I'm not after replicating the exact tone, just something which in a live situation or studio, would sound extremely cool and very Guns n Roses.
Title: Re: Pickups for the GnR sound? Epiphone Les Paul Custom Plus.
Post by: FELINEGUITARS on March 11, 2012, 12:40:57 PM

I think for the AFD tone you need to go with something bright and punchy and well defined.

Yeah - that'd be the Stormy Monday

The alnico 2 magnet stops it getting too shrill but it is bright
Title: Re: Pickups for the GnR sound? Epiphone Les Paul Custom Plus.
Post by: Attica! on March 11, 2012, 12:44:15 PM

I think for the AFD tone you need to go with something bright and punchy and well defined.

Yeah - that'd be the Stormy Monday

The alnico 2 magnet stops it getting too shrill but it is bright

Well I love the soloing neck tone of the Use Your Illusions albums, but I also love the aggression of the bridge pickup in AFD. Maybe a mix and match? Stormy Monday seems a great idea, and I hear the neck pickups are EQ'd differently to what's displayed. What is the neck pickup of the SM like?
Title: Re: Pickups for the GnR sound? Epiphone Les Paul Custom Plus.
Post by: gwEm on March 11, 2012, 04:24:36 PM
smooth, sweet, friendly and slightly loose
Title: Re: Pickups for the GnR sound? Epiphone Les Paul Custom Plus.
Post by: Attica! on March 11, 2012, 04:36:22 PM
smooth, sweet, friendly and slightly loose

So the neck is pumped up and ready for a November Rain/Don't Cry Solo? And the bridge is ready for some Welcome to the Jumgle riffage?
Title: Re: Pickups for the GnR sound? Epiphone Les Paul Custom Plus.
Post by: Telerocker on March 11, 2012, 11:32:20 PM
Stormy's, but I bet Mules can do the trick too.
Title: Re: Pickups for the GnR sound? Epiphone Les Paul Custom Plus.
Post by: Mr. Air on March 12, 2012, 09:13:14 AM
I actually think the Alnico Nailbomb in bridge position of my LP clone can get quite close to the GnR tone. Not that I would suggest this pickup, but just saying that I think other pickups than the Stormies can get close to GnR.