Chambered Les Paul - what pickup???

[DaveyHoran]

I picked up a fully chambered Les Paul (2008 model) - what pickups will work well??? anyone have experience replacing pickups in the chambered LPs?

[darrenw5094]

All of them, depending what you want it to sound like.  8)

Vintage or modern tone? Any types of bands you like etc.

[DaveyHoran]

i'm not sure every pickup can work well with a chambered LP??? ...but for a rock tone, maybe in the region of guns n roses / alice in chains / soundgarden ... i'm not a shred head & i usually tune to Eb.

[Telerocker]

I see you already have BKP's. I think a lot of pickups will do, but for heavy rock I would look at the Rebel Yell and - more smooth - the Holy Diver, or more vintage the Abraxas.

[bandmaster188]

I've got an Abraxas set in my 2008 chambered les paul and they are spot on for all the classic and southern rock styles I play.

[darrenw5094]

i'm not sure every pickup can work well with a chambered LP???

Ok, then most of them. :)

Mule, abraxas, Emerald, Rebel Yell all would work for your choices

[littleredguitars2]

FULLY chambered? how much does it weigh?

[DaveyHoran]

"Fully chambered" as in the 2008 style chambering which Gibson did before they were moved to make the chambering aesthetically pleasing. After the xrays emerged and all the keyboard warriors freaked out that so much wood had been removed, gibson made chambering prettier for the xrays...at least that's my understanding of events :roll:

It weighs about the same as my sg...give or take... & the ergonomic neck is class.

I did a side by side shoot out last night between my 2008 LP & my mates 2001 LP (both have burstbuckers) through my vox ac30 & there is very little difference in tone...both great with subtle differences.

I think lower output might be the way to go...but looking to hear from more people who might have ideas?

cheers

[darkbluemurder]

Most BK pickups should work well. I would probably stay away from the ones with the highest output but everything else should be fine. Telerocker made some good suggestions.

Can you please tell us more about your other equipment (amp, cabinet, pedals)?

Cheers Stephan

[DaveyHoran]

I play through a VoxAC30 with 2 x 12" celestion alnico blue speakers and an extension cab with 2 x 12" celestion alnico golds. I use the amp for overdrive with my bridge pickup & my guitar volume / neck picup for cleans - tuner, chorus pedal and a booster for solos.

[Philly Q]

FULLY chambered? how much does it weigh?

Here's a thing about the different types of weight relief Gibson use, I was reading it yesterday:

http://www.themusiczoo.com/blog/2012/a-guide-to-gibson-weight-relief/

I do worry a little if there's enough wood surrounding the bridge and tailpiece studs on the fully chambered body.

[bandmaster188]

yeh, that really is quite shocking the amount of missing timber on the 2008, which i've got. must say though its been one of my favourite les pauls so far so i'm not too concerned.
you could probably see through it if you held it up to the light :lol:

[Philly Q]

I wonder if the "Modern" weight relief is really an improvement on the other methods, but I must say it looks like an impressively well thought out design.  Most un-Gibson-like!

[bandmaster188]

I wonder if the "Modern" weight relief is really an improvement on the other methods, but I must say it looks like an impressively well thought out design.  Most un-Gibson-like!

i like the way they've incorpporated a flying v design into the chambering pattern. it certainly looks more impressive than the "no wood under the hood" routing on my guitar!!

[DaveyHoran]

yep, they made it prettier under the hood. My gut instinct when i see the different methods of weight relief is to believe that the prettiest looking weight relief is the best, BUT i have no evidence to support my instinct.

I have done a shoot out between a 2001 & 2008 LP & could not find anything negative worth mentioning. No feedback at high volume. No Lack of sustain. The tone is slightly different but not in a bad way, just like every LP has its own sound.

I can say that before the shootout I was very skeptical about the chambered LP, but it holds its own with the older model. In fact, the newer standards feel better due to the "plekd" set up, ergonomic neck shape & lighter weight.

As a singer I have always prefered the sg over the LP as it has less influence over posture so the lighter LP works for me.