Best BKP for replacing Gibson T-Tops?

[Adog2202]

Hey guys/girls...I've got a 78 Les Paul Custom. Its all original. No one's messed with the pickups/pots etc.

I actually like the characteristics of the T Tops, except for the output of the bridge pickup. I'd like something that has pretty much the same tone, but just a little stronger/hotter.

I've got an Emerald set that I bought used. They read 10K in the neck and 14K in the bridge. With them having Alnico V magnets like the T Tops I'm wondering if this would be a good match.

I've had these pickups in a PRS CE22 and in my Explorer and they sounded great in both.

Normally with a guitar that age that hasn't been messed with I'd leave it alone, but I don't buy guitars to collect...I play them, and as such, I want them to sound the best they can.

Any thoughts? Advice?

Thanks.

[nkay]

I've heard that the Riff Raff are the closest. But the Emerald should give you more power.

Personally I would leave it stock, but... everyone in the 70's ripped out their PAFs and t-tops for Dimarzio Super Distortions for the same reason ;)

[ericsabbath]

I have a riff raff bridge/mule neck for years in my '73 lp custom
had like 16 other pickups (mostly BKP) in it, but these are keepers
mine is mahogany neck, though, while yours should be maple

I bet the emerald set should sound even better than it did in your CE-22 (had one too)

[Adog2202]

...thanks guys. I had a set of Riff Raffs a while back in an SG for a bit then put them in a Les Paul Standard that I ended up selling. I think those would come close.


That Mule/Riff Raff combo sounds cool too.

My current LP standard has mules (4 conductor) wired up to Seymour Duncan triple shots so I can get series, parallel, or either coil by itself.

I went ahead and put the Emeralds in. They did the trick. The overall sound character isn't far from the TTops but now (especially the bridge pickup) has plenty of range with the volume knob. I can back it off and get close to what the bridge pup was..but I've got plenty of juice on tap if I want to crank it up.




I've been back and forth on this for the last couple weeks. Every time I'd break out my soldering iron and pull the cover off the electronics I'd see those untouched 37 year old solder joints and close it back up.

But like I said, I can't afford players and collector pieces so I figured I needed to either sell it or play it like I want to.

[Dave Sloven]

Glad to hear that the Emeralds worked out!