Upgrading my guitar

[LuckyJim]

Hi all,

I have been considering purchasing some BK pickups for my guitar but was wondering if I could request some advice please. I have been playing for three years now using the same guitar I bought on day one - a Westfield Les Paul copy. Up until now this has done me just fine (being a beginner still)! Now I feel i've gone about as far as I can without adjusting my sound closer to what I have envisaged all along. I am after that classic rock Page / Slash / Young type sound (isn't everyone!! :-)) Having looked back over some of the threads on this forum and using my (very limited!) deduction skills, I have provisionally settled on a Blackdog in the bridge position coupled with a Stormy Monday in the neck position. But before I go any further I was wondering if any of you kind people could offer an opinion on some questions that have occured to me while mulling over this whole process!

a) Is it even worth me upgrading the pickups on this guitar - I realise it is the cheapest of the cheap so it might not have as great an effect as in other guitars, but I figure once I have them I can always pop them into a higher quality guitar when the time (and money :P) comes along!

b) Assuming people think it worthwhile continuing with the upgrade would this combination of pickups get anywhere near the sound I have outlined? Would anyone suggest a different combination for this sound?

The guitar is currently run into a Vox AD30VT without any effects pedals (but with a tuner :P). I am very grateful for any advice you can give to such a beginner!!

[TwilightOdyssey]

Welcome to the forum. If you like the way the guitar plays, then it will certainly benefit from upgrading the electronics. You will benefit, too -- you will hear more detail, greater resolution, and more TONE, which will, in turn make you a better player, besides inspiring you to play more. That is a fact.

Even if you don't plan on keeping the guitar forever, it's still worth the investment, because pickup purchases are FUTURE PROOF; just pop em in your next guitar!

I just purchased a Les Paul clone myself, also very inexpensive, and I'm going to be popping BKs in there, even tho the pickups and other upgrades will cost more than the guitar itself!

As for your actual choice, that is a great set!

[downrodeo]

TO's right on all counts. ^ +10k. That set would be great for the sound you're after, especially since BK's help achieve great tone better than any other pickups.

[LuckyJim]

Thanks for your replies guys. Glad to hear I haven't got the wrong end of the stick!! I have just one more question. As I only have the standard volume and tone controls for each pickup (and am not after coil splitting etc) would I opt for the braided two conductor wiring? Many thanks once again

[TwilightOdyssey]

Hmm, wiring is where you lose me. I'm a super strat guy, so I always go with the simplest route possible. I would THINK 4 conductor, it will only open more  options for you in the long run, but we'll wait for a Les Paul expert to chime in.

[steve]

If you dont want to split coils just go with the 2 conductor option.

[Brow]

If you'd be happy WITHOUT having the options for coil splitting and Phase reversal etc then by all means go for a 2 conductor set.

But like TO says, having a 4 conductor set may make the pickups more future proof incase you ever change your mind :)

I have a Black Dog in the bridge of a Gordon Smith graduate 60 (LP clone) and it sounds great :)

[Searcher]

Whether you go for two- or four-conductor wire pickups won't make any difference now.  You can wire either into your current guitar.  But if you do decide you want to split things later down the track, then having four-conductor wires will give you that option.  And it won't cost any more in your initial purchase, though it can be a touch more confusing to wire if you're doing it yourself and have never done such things before.

[Skybone]

If you're thinking of keeping the pickups when you trade up to another guitar (working under the assumption you will), I'd say that it would be wise to go for 4 conductor wiring, that way, if at some point in the future you want to play with coil tapping/phase reversal type sounds, you will have the option available to you. If you go with 2 conductor wiring, when curiosity gets the better of you, you'll need to splash out on more pickups (never a bad thing mind! ;) ).

IMO FWIW... Black Dog & Stormy Monday are great pickups, and you should be able to get into the right ball park tonally with them.

[LuckyJim]

Excellent!! I didn't realise I could go for 4 conductor wiring and use it just as I would normally (without the coil splitting et al). Considering it doesn't cost any more and it'll help keep it future proof I shall probably elect for 4 conductor. Thanks once again for all your helpful comments - you've made it a hell of a lot easier! :)

[Skybone]

The pickups with 4 conductor wiring come with the 2 main conductors (and earth) exposed, and the other 2 wires isolated (taped up for want of a better term). All you need to do is solder the red to the pot tab, and the black & earth to the pot body (if I remember rightly!?).

[Andy RV]

Go for it!

You won't be disapointed, BK's are fantastic.

[LuckyJim]

Hehe, thanks! :) Once I receive the pickups I'll be dropping the guitar off at a local technicians for a full service as well as the pickup change so I shouldn't need to worry about the wiring and soldering myself :) Just got to scr@pe together the money now!

[Johnny Mac]

Let us know how it sounds when you get it pimped!  :D

[JamesHealey]

cool idea thats prompted me to buy an epiphone les paul to settle that desire and stick some mules in it... oooooooooooh, u bar-stewards!