Author Topic: Epi LesPaul & new pickups.Advice? (sorry-big post) (Read 4735 times)

MilonFirikis · « **on:** August 30, 2005, 04:51:09 AM »

-GIG-

*guitar: Epi Les Paul Standard '93 honeyburst (she came with the fretboard fixed with screws in the body, not in uniform body like usual)
neck=mahogany
top=maple?
fretboard=rosewood?(it's dark)
pickups=2 humbuckers

gauges: in the past=>10-46 ErnieBalls, the last 3 years=> Dogal Acoustic Guitar Strings (gold plated 010) (some people criticize me for putting acoustic gauges in electric guitar, they claim that the fingerboard would be damaged from the strong forces (not yet confirmed, Epi woods seem robust), but I like the gold looks, their smooth/sleek surface, ideal for super-slides and the mellow sound they tend to produce over the mediocre stock pickups.

*amp: Marshall VS30R Valvestate '94 (for home practice only).Generally I'm playing in studio & live shows

*Effects: I'm planning to buy, after fixing the guitar (see below) a <Dunlop 535Q> whah pedal, an <MXR 10-Band Equalizer> and a <Boss GT Pro> rack for the rest. As a student in university I don't have an income, so buying the whole equipment seems an intact dream.

-The Problem-

The last 2 years the guitar is in disuse.As time passed, I realized gradually that I was starting to have a hell of feedback and noise.After a lot of research I tracked down the problem to the internal wiring/pots.So I had 2 choices:
1.To take the advantage and buy a better guitar, as I already play extensively this LP for 12 years.
2.To fix & improve the LP.
I'm in love with this guitar, so are all that have seen her the last 12 years.It's my first & only one, so I won't abandon her.So I came up to some decisions after a visit to my service shop:

*Replace the pots with newer and better quality.1 or 2 push-pull pots 500k for volume for wider tone range.
*Replace frets.They are worn out, have pits from the extensive use
*Replace keys with Grover ones (A lot of people here do it.Why do you think they are better than others?Where's the advantage?)

*Replace the junk factory pickups.
Here's the juice!When I play clean (chords,arpeggios) I use both neck & bridge pickups (middle position) for full sound.
For the rest (clean solo,overdrive rhythm, overdrive lead solo) I use only the bridge pickup.

Playing Style:'80s Pozer (Hair)Metal, late 70's-80's Hard Rock, clean acoustic ballads (Gary Moore,Whitesnake like), Surf Rock & a little blues stuff in jamming sessions.
(In the past I used to play more aggresive styles such as death/grind, black but not anymore).I hate NU-sound in any way

-Overdrive-

=solo:I would like lot's of "screaming" in bending notes & "sustain" ,along with my vibrato, while keeping a "mellow & CLEAN" sound as possible, especially in Clean channel.
If you want to know EXACTLY what I'm looking for, look at Whitesnake-->John Sykes era (solo on song "Looking for Love" etc).He is one of my idols & I have developped a similar personal artificial vibrato over the years to play such stuff (http://www.johnsykes.com/guitars.html for more info on his RIG).Encore: Gary Moore, Randy Rhoads, Eddie Van Halen

=rhythm:I think into the mid section? Influences again:John Sykes, R.R., Zakk Wylde, E.V.H, Garry Moore,WASP.

-Clean-

=true clean, sweet sound for ballads,argeggios etc (we can't immitate Ovations in any way :D) , maybe more jazz-blues oriented.

I hope I didn't make you bored as I wanted to be as clear as possible for you to understand what I want.The effects along with the amp equipment play a very serious role in achieving a sound, but not as wood quality and pickups.The 80% of my playing is lead-solo stuff and I want something with the above characteristics, something with guts to stand front with the different styles that I play.
You can propose a set or a combination/mix of 2 different from BKP.
The reason that I came here, is a post at SD forums pointing at BKP & your new Cold Sweat Pickup, which also shocked me as the rest!Is this what I am looking for? Is there a good alternative to SD's SH-2N Jazz to combine with, as I had it in mind for neck (I think I'll abandon SD after that I met you)

HJM · « **Reply #1 on:** August 30, 2005, 07:43:27 AM »

Hi there and welcome!

Definatly a Cold Sweat in the Bridge, not too sure on the neck pickup, I don't know what the Cold Sweat neck is - but I bet a calibrated set would be the best choice - Tim will tell us I'm sure!

Tim · « **Reply #2 on:** August 30, 2005, 07:51:28 AM »

The Cold Sweat neck pickup is the same as the Miracle Man neck.........Alnico V DC17.5K............hot, fluid and masses of sustain.The in between tone with both CS bridge(ceramic) and CS neck(Alnico V) on together is lovely and quacky :D

HJM · « **Reply #3 on:** August 30, 2005, 07:55:52 AM »

The miracle man neck's pretty good clean too!

Ratrod · « **Reply #4 on:** August 30, 2005, 02:27:19 PM »

Go for the lot! pickups, electronics and a refret. A Cold Sweat in the bridge would be perfect for you, I think. Maybe combined with a Mule in the neck.

steve · « **Reply #5 on:** August 30, 2005, 02:51:02 PM »

A set of Cold Sweat humbuckers would suit you down to the ground.
I have a set in my Les Paul and they are awesome.
Tonally they will do everything you have described.
Have you checked out my demo in the players room,it may help.

MilonFirikis · « **Reply #6 on:** August 30, 2005, 04:24:18 PM »

steve, it was that post of yours showing off the Cold Sweat, that made me desperate about it! :D
I listened very carefully the demo.In the solo, I guess you used the bridge.The sound is outstanding.
But the intro rhythm part, this one makes me really cautious about the choise.I assume that we hear the neck there and it seems TOO bassy for my tastes.Maybe it's the equalizer you used or just your personal taste.That's why I wanted to ask you.I want something clearer in the bass section.Is the CS versatile enough so I can "cool" it down?
PS:Could you make another demo for the Cold Sweat set without distortion? Clean channel (neck, neck&bridge, bridge) so we could hear more!
PS:You have a great feeling in your playing style!
---
HJM you suggested the Miracle Man in neck.Tim said that it's the same as MM's neck.Is there or not a difference?
Ratrod suggested a Mule.I liked the funky-jazz demo.Is MM/CS neck near there?

Thank you for your replies!

Ratrod · « **Reply #7 on:** August 30, 2005, 04:33:22 PM »

The Mule neck is very different. It uses an Alnico IV magnet and is wound a bit vintage style. Basicly it's a hot rodded PAF. There's a lot of guys here that use a Mule in the neck in combination with a very powerfull bridge pickup. The Mule is loud enough to keep up with them. I don't have a Mule myself, but I'll get me set some day.

steve · « **Reply #8 on:** August 30, 2005, 07:32:54 PM »

Quote from: MilonFirikis

steve, it was that post of yours showing off the Cold Sweat, that made me desperate about it! :D
I listened very carefully the demo.In the solo, I guess you used the bridge.The sound is outstanding.
But the intro rhythm part, this one makes me really cautious about the choise.I assume that we hear the neck there and it seems TOO bassy for my tastes.Maybe it's the equalizer you used or just your personal taste.That's why I wanted to ask you.I want something clearer in the bass section.Is the CS versatile enough so I can "cool" it down?
PS:Could you make another demo for the Cold Sweat set without distortion? Clean channel (neck, neck&bridge, bridge) so we could hear more!
PS:You have a great feeling in your playing style!
---
HJM you suggested the Miracle Man in neck.Tim said that it's the same as MM's neck.Is there or not a difference?
Ratrod suggested a Mule.I liked the funky-jazz demo.Is MM/CS neck near there?

Thank you for your replies!

Hi,
The solo in the CS track starts on the bridge and as the notes get higher i changed quickly to the neck,when the heavy solo kicks in its a mix of both.With regards to the intro riff that is the bridge pickup,what you hear is just how i wanted my track to sound.I wanted a thick,fat bassy sound.But that is just how i set the eq(personnal preference).It is a versatile pickup, and can handle whatever you throw at it but its distinct tone still cuts through.I still think this is the right pickup for you,i hope this helps.All the best,steve.

HJM · « **Reply #9 on:** August 30, 2005, 08:34:23 PM »

Quote from: Ratrod

The Mule neck is very different. It uses an Alnico IV magnet and is wound a bit vintage style. Basicly it's a hot rodded PAF. There's a lot of guys here that use a Mule in the neck in combination with a very powerfull bridge pickup. The Mule is loud enough to keep up with them. I don't have a Mule myself, but I'll get me set some day.

What Ratrod said! :D

The CS and MM do share the same neck pickup. It's a hot alnico pickup, so there's some great tones as well as all out metal in there!

carlaz · « **Reply #10 on:** September 01, 2005, 07:51:38 AM »

Quote from: Ratrod

The Mule neck is very different. It uses an Alnico IV magnet and is wound a bit vintage style. Basicly it's a hot rodded PAF. There's a lot of guys here that use a Mule in the neck in combination with a very powerfull bridge pickup. The Mule is loud enough to keep up with them.

In that vein, I'm still (currently) leaning towards a Warpig bridge and Abraxas neck (the Abraxas being, from what I can tell, sort of like a Mule in that hot-rodded PAF kind of way, only more so :)).