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Author Topic: what bkp to suit my gibson lucille  (Read 2242 times)

tc

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what bkp to suit my gibson lucille
« on: July 21, 2008, 09:38:13 PM »
hi there just wanted a few views on what to replace the gibson 490r and 490t pickups with in my gibson lucille asto my ears they sound a little harsh..i spoke to tim and he suggested stormy mondays or possibly mississippi queens but of course i want to get the right ones...i got the gibson bb king lucille as it was cheaper than a 355 which i would love.. appreciate that the lucille does not have the f holes so is not truely a semi..but just to give you an idea the sort of sound i am looking for i am really into ryan adams..i know he uses a early 70's 355 and that is the sound i am looking for...looking forward to your help..many thanks tc

NotSoEasy

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Re: what bkp to suit my gibson lucille
« Reply #1 on: July 21, 2008, 10:06:06 PM »
Hi  :)

I'd imagine a set of Stormy Mondays to be right up your alley. They'd probably be the best ones for that Ryan Adams kinda sound.

If thats what Tim has suggested I would go with those
« Last Edit: July 21, 2008, 10:07:51 PM by NotSoEasy »

kellar

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Re: what bkp to suit my gibson lucille
« Reply #2 on: July 22, 2008, 05:18:18 AM »
The Lucille is screaming for Stormy Monday's!! :D
Calibrated IV Mules, Stormy Monday/Riff Raff

Fourth Feline

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Re: what bkp to suit my gibson lucille
« Reply #3 on: July 22, 2008, 10:59:01 AM »
Hi T.C. ( and welcome to the forum ).  :)

I have a 335 copy, in which I have tried Alnico II Stormy Mondays, Alnico IV Stormy Mondays and 'stock' ( i.e. Alnico V bridge / Alnico IV neck ) Mississipi Queens.

My favourites have remained the Mississipi Queens.  Stormy Mondays are lovely pickups, but the bass end was never quite tight or loud enough in a guitar of that nature.  The Mississipi Queens sound lovely and rich , fat , clear on the top three (unwound strings ) - but defined and assertive ( without being harsh ) in the lower registers.

My summary was:

Alnico II Stormys = sweet top end, but slightly 'blurred' bass response.

Alnico IV Stormys = Bass became clearer, but the top became a bit brighter and harder.

Mississipi Queens = Best of both worlds, giving B.B.King / Larry Carlton tones on the top strings, clear sweet bass and a real hot push that gives a lovely thick but clear and expressive clean tone - and could tastefully overdrive the amp without too much effort.  For me, these where the real 'discovery' amongst the pickups I tried. I would never have thought I would be ordering P91/P92 style pickups ! One 'secret' for me is getting those pickups  closer to the strings, with strings fretted at the last fret, pole pieces on mine are 1/16" from the string.  Many settings work though, but it sounds thicker and more 'Lucielle like' to me at that setting.

Of course my results could be because of the woods used in my guitar, but Tim ( after putting Alnico IV magnets in my previously Alnico II Stormys ) suggested that  the next 'vintage' options would probably have to be Riff Raffs or M.Q.s

 Knowing my preference for mellow,  he and forum member 'Twinfan' recommended the M.Q.s - which are now my favourite pickup for the semi-acoustic.

Fear not though, for all the pickups in that 'zone'  ( i.e. Stormy II and IV , Mules, M.Qs ) sound lovely - so there is no 'wrong ' choice, only degrees of being appropriate to your style.  :D

 
« Last Edit: July 22, 2008, 11:15:13 AM by Fourth Feline »

HTH AMPS

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Re: what bkp to suit my gibson lucille
« Reply #4 on: July 22, 2008, 11:01:52 AM »
Stormy Mondays will sound sweet for sure and are the stock solution for 335-type guitars.

However, an early 70s 335 would have T-Top Gibsons which are always 7.5k and quite a bright tone.  I'm sure Riff Raffs would cop this kinda vibe too, as would some Mules.

Depends whether you play mostly clean or mostly crunchy imo.  

Mostly clean = SM
Mostly crunchy = RR or Mule

ericsabbath

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Re: what bkp to suit my gibson lucille
« Reply #5 on: July 22, 2008, 02:34:29 PM »
I think the riff raffs were based on the t-tops, but in this case, I'd put something with more mids
Riff Raff, Mules, Black Dog, VHII's, Cold Sweat

JamesHealey

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Re: what bkp to suit my gibson lucille
« Reply #6 on: July 24, 2008, 07:45:53 AM »
overwound ceramic warpigs.. muhahaha