Advice for my new Gibson Les Paul Custom!

[LP_LOVER]

The more and more I play with the guitar, the more I realise that it has a much bigger bottom end compared to my 80's Custom. It's fuller in the lower mids.

I just found out that the stock pups are prone to feedback with higher gain (lead) settings and they also tend to mush out too fast. They loose their definition/clarity when distorted, especially at high volumes. Backing off the gain is what I mostly do, but the problem is that this won't give me that smooth metal/hardrock lead tone straight from the amp (while the amp is designed for that!).

This axe does need some BKP's.

[LP_LOVER]

It's between the CS and RY set.

[Alex]

Thanks Alex, my question whether to change the pots or not has more to do with the BKP's functionality (like how they work at their best).

To my ears. mostly the treble end gets clearer, but the overall sound can get a bit thinner. I would think of it as a way to finetune the pickup mostly. Going from a 300K to a 1Megaohm poti however is quite a big difference, also keep in mind that some potis can have a quite large tolerance (meaning that maybe that 300Kohm pot originally was more like 250Kohm).

I think in general 500Kohm potis in both volume and tone would be the best option, those 300Kohm don't belong in there for a start if you ask me. Very old LPs by Gibson were more trebly, less "brutal" on the low end and midrange, they had very clear and bright PAFs - I would guess that made 300Kohm seem like a viable option to Gibson. But please not on a modern guitar with the "hotter" (i.e. more midrangey) 490/498T.

I also think the 498T is one of the most replaced pickups EVER for a reason.

[Dmoney]

i used a 498T in a Gordon Smith and it sounded sweet.
solid.
it was balanced and never had a problem with feedback at all. I could use high gain all day long.

now the stock pups in my LPC where a HB-1 and HB-2 (thinks thats right)
which squealed like hell under the same amp settings i was using the 498T under.

I also had a DC Pro with a 490R and 498T combo, and that was solid, but not as solid as the GS.

maybe they just have a pretty hit and miss QC.




my LPC now has RY's, 500K pots, and 0.022 caps. it sounds awesome.