Author Topic: Ideal pickups in a MahoganyLes Paul wiithout a maple cap (Read 3016 times)

Catalyst77 · « **on:** March 04, 2008, 11:10:58 PM »

Its a well known fact on the forum that you either have to go really high or really low ouput on all mahogany guitars like SG's and Explorers.

Does anyone know if this also applies to the Les Paul customs which don't have the maple cap?

ericsabbath · « **Reply #1 on:** March 05, 2008, 04:45:42 AM »

rebel yell

Jonny · « **Reply #2 on:** March 05, 2008, 07:29:33 AM »

I guess no one really appreciated my 'helpful list' ):

hhcave · « **Reply #3 on:** March 05, 2008, 08:17:03 AM »

I went really high output on mine and it seems to work (MMs in a les paul custom)

Twinfan · « **Reply #4 on:** March 05, 2008, 08:53:51 AM »

I would expect the same rule to apply, yes.

_tom_ · « **Reply #5 on:** March 05, 2008, 11:58:57 AM »

hmm I was gonna put my Rebel Yell in my Pearl LP which appears to be all mahogany :? I forgot about that "rule", but then again I think Tim did confirm that it should work ok so who knows.

Philly Q · « **Reply #6 on:** March 05, 2008, 12:13:28 PM »

I have a Rebel Yell in my all-mahogany The Paul SL. It does have a thinner body and isn't a particularly warm-sounding guitar, but I still reckon the RY is bright/tight enough to work.

Catalyst77 · « **Reply #7 on:** March 05, 2008, 02:27:23 PM »

Well funnily enought thats whats in there at the moment!

Mine's a 1981 Greco Mint series LP custom; comparing it to my other guitars it does sound a bit dark. They do sound great; but its niggling away at me that the guitar could sound better.

Twinfan · « **Reply #8 on:** March 05, 2008, 02:43:27 PM »

All mahogany will sound darker without the maple cap. You either like that or you don't I guess! The basic tone of the instrument is what it is.

I think Riff Raffs might work well for what you're after. Low vintage output, not too fat, with some bite. They work well in SGs to give a bit more clarity, maybe you should try them?

Me, I'd take it for what it is and put SMs in it. Lovely chocolatey mahogany tone :)

ericsabbath · « **Reply #9 on:** March 05, 2008, 03:02:40 PM »

paf style pickups will probably sound even darker
maybe the riff raff can work, but there's a huge difference between the thin body of a sg (3.5cm) and a les paul body (5cm on the sides, not counting the archtop)

huh....
underwound rebel yell? :idea:

Quote from: Tim

Overwinding reduces high end and increases bottom end and mid range.As a rough guide each 10% extra will yield 10% more mids/bass and 10% less high end.

Quote from: Tim

Yes underwinding has the opposite effect 10% underwind = 10% more treble and 10% less bass/mid.
Overwinding does produce a more saturated tone.

or this:
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/BBE-Freq-Boost-Treble-Booster-Effect-Pedal?sku=157034&src=3SOSWXXA

Henk · « **Reply #10 on:** March 06, 2008, 07:25:38 AM »

Unless you want a really dark (high DC) metal sound, PAF's are pretty much the only way to get a decent sound from an all Mahagony LP i think. Compared to an SG a LP model will sound even darker in comparison, so yes the same rule applies IMO.

You cant get a less dark sound by putting more middy pickups in the guitar, a dark sound is about a lack of midrange typical to mahagony. Putting a pickups in such a guitar to compensate that lack wont work because more than nothing is still a very little bit more of nothing.

What one should be looking for is a pleasant high that most surely will 'pull up' an impressively deep and warm(and hopefully tight) low end sound.

And dont underestimate the 50's custom LP sound, yes its dark, but also very emotive, has great acoustic qualities and is probably one of the best rythm guitar sounds imaginable.

So thats my 2cents, i would go for SM's because they would fit the bill perfectly, if you dont want a dark sounding guitar, just play something else...... :roll:

Catalyst77 · « **Reply #11 on:** March 07, 2008, 12:30:12 PM »

Ass!

Well I do have a spare Stormy Monday strangely :!:

I tried it in my Epiphone LP; but really didn't like it too much, i kept hold of it just in case. Seemed a little too flat for my tastes; but hey if you dont try!

I'll give it a go and see what happens