Pickups for a LP Special

[jimbo]

I've had a Les Paul Special with humbuckers for about a couple of years now and I'm looking to change them. The guitar is very resonant and sings acoustically and although I've loved the 490/498 combo up until now, this has  changed. I recently bought an Epi Boneyard LP (the one with Gibbo Burstbuckers) and although the guitar is nowhere as resonant as Special acoustically, I like the clear rounded tone plugged in.

I'm pretty sure that the maple cap has a lot to do with it but unplugged, the Special sounds brighter. This tends to make me think that with more open pickups I might be able to get the tone I'm after.

Any suggestions?

[dave_mc]

yeah, those burstbuckers (any time i've tried them) are pretty nice, th low output makes them pretty clear

mules might be a good choice, or maybe mule bridge, stormy monday neck?

anyway, i'd wait till one of the regulars gets here, i'm only going by the specs...

what kind of music do you play, and what amp do you have?

[jimbo]

I was thinking about that combination myself looking at the specs and the feedback on the forum.

Style? Traditional. My amp is a Laney VC30 1x12 with a 1x12 extension cab. I play through the bridge pickup and use a Tubescreamer clone with the drive about half for most of my riff based rythmn work. Clean I solely use the neck pickup. For slide I use the same setup (inc. Tubescreamer) but with a Les Paul Melody Maker (P90).

[Elliot]

Have you considered a Mississippi Queen combo - A humbucker sized P90 - you get power and clarity that would sound great in a LP special

[jimbo]

Good idea. I had thought of some P90-type pickups for the Special before (P94s, bar-stewards, Z90s etc.) but I liked the smoother response of the humbucker over the P90. However, that might just be the MM as it has a light, thin body and sounds ragged. It's great but I like the Special better. The other thing is that I really just want the pickups to be more 'open' and less nasal. Perhaps I should just sell it and get a SG Classic! ;)

I can't seem to find much info on the Mississippi Queens.  :(

[big steve]

mules might be a good choice, or maybe mule bridge, stormy monday neck?

they're the same thing

[jimbo]

Thanks for all the replies. At the risk of making things worse, I'm looking to keep the way the Special 'blooms' when I strike it. What I mean is that when I give a quick hard downstroke, the chords 'bloom' or chime. It's a gorgeous sound and it is what really draws me to playing the Special. The Epi doesn't do this but it has a much brighter, clearer tone. Hence the original question. Am I just looking for the Holy Grail? ;)

[Ratrod]

The Mule is the usual suspect for an LP. Classic hot PAF tone If you like a more open and bright sound maybe the Riff Raffs would be nice more like an early '60's PAF.

[dave_mc]

mules might be a good choice, or maybe mule bridge, stormy monday neck?

they're the same thing

what do you mean by that, steve?

[willo]

I think what Steve is trying to get at is the stormy monday and mule necks are the same pickup, aren't they? Sorry to put words in your mouth, Steve!

[Steve-Mr Pig 2U]

The Mule neck and Stormy monday neck are slightly different, The SM neck is slightly lower output.

[dave_mc]

The Mule neck and Stormy monday neck are slightly different, The SM neck is slightly lower output.

yeah, that's what i'd have figured...

[big steve]

I think what Steve is trying to get at is the stormy monday and mule necks are the same pickup, aren't they? Sorry to put words in your mouth, Steve!

yeah that's what a thought, they are very similar as far as i know

[Tim]

Just to clarify, the Stormy Monday and The Mule neck p/ups are different.The Stormy Monday has a different wind and is a touch more open.