Les Paul Standard - High end needs taming

[sjm]

Hi,

First post here and I’m really just looking for peoples experience with pick up swaps. I’ve been playing for years but never actually looked to change pick ups until now.

I’m looking to change the pick ups in my Les Paul Standard but am getting a bit lost with choosing the right set.
Firstly I’ll try to explain why I feel the need to change:

I have two Les Paul Standards, one is from 1997 and the second is from 2014.
The 1997 one sounds great, just right for me, but the 2014 one sounds a bit thin and too bright for my tastes. The guitar itself is lighter and has a brighter sound than the 1997 when unplugged which will contribute to what I’m hearing. It has the Burst Bucker Pro’s with all the push/pull coil switching; the 1997 has the 490R and 498T (I think that’s correct?).

The guitar is fantastic to play though – perfect for me – so it just needs a bit of beefing up sonically and the harsher element of the high end taming a bit.

The kind of sound I’m after is basically a rock sound - Classic to Heavy Rock with the occasional dabble into Metal but will also cover lighter more ‘bluesy’ stuff as well. I’m looking for something that will tame the harsh high end that the guitar currently suffers with (in my opinion) while also giving a nice chunky mid-range and tight but full bottom end at both the neck and bridge positions (obviously retaining the tonal differences that the two positions offer though).

I use fairly high gain settings on the amp and like the guitar to feedback fairly easily in front of the amp (the good type of feedback, not squealing!), but also often clean up the sound a bit using the volume control on the neck position.

I have actually swapped the pick ups across the two Les Paul's and the 490/498 definately sound more like what I want from the 2014 guitar - but they are going back into the original guitar.

Looking through the BKP products and reading posts here it becomes a bit of a mine field where to start!

Going by the write ups and e.q. graphs I’m think that maybe the Abraxas, Black Dog or Holy Diver sets could do the trick – does any one have any experience with these in the brighter, more modern Les Paul’s?

Although I want to tame the high end I don’t really want dull or mud though.

Any opinions would be appreciated.

Cheers

SJM

[darrenw5094]

Black Dog is bright. The first pup that came into my mind was the Abraxas for you. Full mids, smooth high end and does the classic rock thing perfectly.

[Telerocker]

Abraxas-set or an Abraxas-bridge/Mule-neck.

[sjm]

Thanks for the reply's.

I was leaning more towards the Abraxas myself so I think they will be a good place to start.

Cheers

SJM

[AndyR]

I think Abraxax as well. I don't have them, but I do have Mules, and I understand they are "Mules+"

While reading your post earlier:

- My first thought was "possibly Mules" (that's what I'd want).

- My next thought was "why don't you try swapping the pickups? that's what I'd do" - and you have, and you've discovered what I'd imagined...

- And then I was leaning towards Abraxas, sounds like you want just a bit "more" than I do... and I find you're already considering them

So, all in all, it sounds like you're on the right track to me! 

One word of warning, though - once you've got them in the 2014, you'll want them for the 1997 as well!

[Alex]

The Black Dog is not "bright", it just has a clear top end that's not harsh at all. I think it would work very well.

[Dave Sloven]

Maybe experiment with capacitors first?  They are very cheap (except for bumblebees)

[Yellowjacket]

Are we talking about a 2014 LP Standard?  Are these the chambered guitars because yes, they are a lot brighter than the heavy MOFOs like the one I have.  Mine is swiss cheese weight relieved and it's still as heavy as a boat anchor.

I'd second the recommendation for an Abraxas set for that guitar.  Something that is warmer and phatter is great.

I bet a Holy Diver set would be awesome too, but much more metal than the Abraxas.

For your other LP, an Alnico Nailbomb bridge and a Rebel Yell neck is awesome for more contemporary LP tones.  For vintage, Mule Neck / Riff Raff bridge.  (You WILL want to change the pickups in that axe too, just warning you now) 

[darkbluemurder]

Another vote for the Abraxas set.

Cheers Stephan

[sjm]

Thanks All for the response, good info here and appreciated.

Going to go for it and order the Abraxas set today and see how that sounds. I'm pretty sure it will do the trick but good to know I have two weeks to assess and exchange if need be.

@Yellowjacket - yes this is the 2014 Standard with the chambers, it is much brighter over all unplugged which does translate to the amplified sound also, fantastic to play though. The 1997 is all solid, very heavy and also has the fatter 50's neck - it's quite a lump to hang round your neck for a two hour gig!

Always going to be a risk upgrading these then feeling all my other guitars need new pups! It's a risk I'm happy to take though

Cheers

SJM

[Yellowjacket]

I vote Rebel Yell bridge and Emerald neck for the heavy lump!  Either that or an A-Bomb bridge and Rebel Yell neck <3