Pickups for a les paul classic!

[BluesDoggyDog]

Hi guys, finally gona change those 498r 500T pickups in my -99 Les paul classic and i want something that is quite versitile. The Emerald's has cought my eye (love thin lizzy) I play everything from slow clean blues to hard rock (heaviest i play is sabbath/wolfmother) So i dont need a very high output pickup, rather something with medium output. Any thoughts on the Emeralds? The PG set has also cought my attention since im also a huge gary moore fan but im not sure if theese are hot enough and i already have another les paul with WCR Betset pickups which meassure around 7 ohm's so dont really need another "true" paf style pickup. All help is appreaciated :) (sorry if it is a bit messy...)

[Slartibartfarst42]

I think an Emerald set would be a great idea and should be versatile enough for most things. That would be my first suggestion. A Bluesier option that is a lot hotter than the PG Blues might be an Abraxas set. Not an obvious choice for Sabbath but I think there is a clip somewhere of HTH AMPS doing some really heavy stuff with the Abraxas and it might even have been Sabbath.

[TheyCallMeVolume]

I like an Emerald for this as well.

[BluesDoggyDog]

Thanks for the quick reply's how does the emerald set cover vintage tones, lets say cream stuff

[TheyCallMeVolume]

I think it does very well. My only hands on experience with an Emerald is the neck pup, but I think it can get great Cream tones with a bit of toying around with the volume and tone knobs. Can't speak for the bridge though.

[HTH AMPS]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8t6FSI6vxVE
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1e-vNNMyWMU
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yDQ2twawdIk

all Abraxas clips.

[BluesDoggyDog]

Thank's alot! Abraxas with out of phase might be what im looking for, i guess i can reach that sabbath territory with some boost pedal :) I still want the Emeralds though... Why does it have to be so many options?!

[Bonamassive5150]

I've popped  VHII's in my 92' Classic and have to say they can pull off anything from Billy Gibbons, Gary Moore right up to Randy Rhodes- there's even a bit of 70's The Who in there too.

I've coaxed Bonamassa-type tones out of them.

Bottom line-these are great 'hot' humbuckers which cover a range of tones and react well to valve amps, pedals and volume  and tone pot manipulation.  (i'm sure all BK's do)

Many people have suggested  that the LP Classic have a lighter tone due to the 60's neck, and  a pickup with more 'go' in it would compensate for this. 

Have  you considered  the Black Dog/Riff raff combo that seems to be doing the rounds at the mo?

Lastly I had a Crawler/ VHII in a Peavey Wolfgang, although not a Les Paul, these were a very versitile set up for classic rock!! in this guitar the VHII neck gave me that Gilmour 'ABITW' tone... i should never have sold it!!!

[BluesDoggyDog]

Actually noone of those humbuckers have really cought my attention, the four that has my intrest is Emerald (which ill probably buy) The Mule (allready have a PAF style humbucker in another les paul so this feals like a bad choise) Abraxas (nice vintage tone but with some output!) and ofcourse the PG for the out of phase Peter green tones :)

[Telerocker]

If you like the Mule, you'll like the Abraxas. Same pedigree and both AIV. The Abraxas is more or less a hotrodded version of the Mule.

[Miracle Man]

I vote for an Emerald set.

[ericsabbath]

from an old member that also has a lp classic and used to be the biggest emerald fan here

The Emerald pups are certainly hot and sweet and can nail vintage rock/blues. As far a being bright, that all depends on the guitar that they are going to be used in.

My LP is very resonant when unplugged. I wouldn't say that Emeralds sound bright in my guitar but they will cut through the mix and be heard - no doubt about that.

I find that it's maybe a bit misleading to label a pup bright or dark. Amp or modeller settings can play a huge part in the overall tone - allowing the player to brighten or darken the tone to taste.

What doesn't change is the basic characteristic of the Emerald pickups - bridge and neck.

I find Emeralds to have a quick attack, or bite if you prefer. It doen't matter what setting you dial in on your amp or modeller - that bite is always present. I like it as it's great for rock/blues but this could be mistaken for brightness.

if you search for 'emerald' and specify his nickname, you'll find a lot of info and soundclips

[darkbluemurder]

Never played the Emeralds but I am a fan of the Abraxas set. The neck pickup is leaner in the bass compared to a typical PAF style pickup (say Crawler or VHII neck) which helps to retain the definition of the notes on the low strings. The bridge pickup sounds very fat, singing but open at the same time.

I am yet to try a set of Emeralds though.

Cheers Stephan

[BluesDoggyDog]

from an old member that also has a lp classic and used to be the biggest emerald fan here

The Emerald pups are certainly hot and sweet and can nail vintage rock/blues. As far a being bright, that all depends on the guitar that they are going to be used in.

My LP is very resonant when unplugged. I wouldn't say that Emeralds sound bright in my guitar but they will cut through the mix and be heard - no doubt about that.

I find that it's maybe a bit misleading to label a pup bright or dark. Amp or modeller settings can play a huge part in the overall tone - allowing the player to brighten or darken the tone to taste.

What doesn't change is the basic characteristic of the Emerald pickups - bridge and neck.

I find Emeralds to have a quick attack, or bite if you prefer. It doen't matter what setting you dial in on your amp or modeller - that bite is always present. I like it as it's great for rock/blues but this could be mistaken for brightness.

if you search for 'emerald' and specify his nickname, you'll find a lot of info and soundclips

Thanks, this helped me out alot! Really stoked about the Emeralds after what ive now heard :)