Author Topic: Replacement humbucker for a Gibson Les Paul Custom (Read 5997 times)

riffpowers · « **on:** April 26, 2006, 10:29:39 PM »

Hi guys
I'm after some advice here, I want to get a new set of pickups for my LP custom.The 498's that are in it are AWFUL< far too hot, trebly and harsh.I hade a set of 57 classics in an LP standard, those were much much better, but they were a little muddy, although the standard is a little woodier sounding.
I like 70's sounds, I play bluesy stoner rock, for me its all about fattness, clarity and dynamics rather than bright high end or massive output.
Any suggestions??

PhilKing · « **Reply #1 on:** April 26, 2006, 11:04:36 PM »

Black Dogs, VHII's or Crawlers.

Black Dogs will give you the classic Jimmy Page Zeppelin sound
VHII's have a bit less mid, but a bit more bottom end
Crawlers have more output when wound up but clean up really sweetly. I am thinking that they might be what you like when you hear them.

Another option would be a Cold Sweat in the Bridge with something like a Mule or Stormy Monday neck.

Skybone · « **Reply #2 on:** April 27, 2006, 08:15:13 AM »

Black Dog's are quite mid biased and work really well in LP's (especially heavier ones).
Emerald's sound great, bright & punchy.
VHII's and Mules are popular choices as well, both very versatile pickups.

All the above should work well with your setup.

froglord · « **Reply #3 on:** April 27, 2006, 09:14:56 AM »

Hi, Riffpowers!

As a fellow Matamp user I can heartily recommend the Mules - a bit hotter than PAF but still very dynamic. They sound fantastic through my Minimat.

The only question is whether they'd have the sludgy bass you need. They sound pretty fat to me (and that's in an Eggle - presumably they'd be even fatter in an LP) but others may know better ...

carlaz · « **Reply #4 on:** April 27, 2006, 02:53:50 PM »

Quote from: PhilKing

Crawlers have more output when wound up but clean up really sweetly. I am thinking that they might be what you like when you hear them.

Mmm, many good suggestions in this thread, though for "bluesy stoner rock" when "its all about fattness, clarity and dynamics", I too am hearing Crawlers! 8)

(I should add that I didn't hate the 498T/490R pups in my LP Std quite as much as you :) but I am much happier with the Crawlers that replaced them!)

froglord · « **Reply #5 on:** April 27, 2006, 03:28:46 PM »

If the 498s are too hot for Riffpowers' taste at 14k, won't the Crawlers be the same? They're even higher at 15k. I know that DC resistance isn't the only factor concerning a pickups hotness, but even so ...

I still vote for the Mules. :)

_tom_ · « **Reply #6 on:** April 27, 2006, 03:34:43 PM »

Quote from: froglord

I still vote for the Mules. :)

Me too :D Great tone and so versatile, in the middle position you can get almost singlecoil style sounds.

carlaz · « **Reply #7 on:** April 27, 2006, 03:42:37 PM »

Quote from: froglord

If the 498s are too hot for Riffpowers' taste at 14k, won't the Crawlers be the same? They're even higher at 15k. I know that DC resistance isn't the only factor concerning a pickups hotness, but even so ...
I still vote for the Mules. :)

Mmm, it's true that the Crawlers are are listed at 15k (the 498s about 14.00/14.50k, as I recall ). I like 'em, but if that's definitely too much DC, then, yeah, I reckon the Mule (at 8.4k) or VHII (at 9.2k) are good options. (The Crawlers, even more so the Abraxas, sort of have a "hot Mule" vibe to them.)

I kinda think Skybone's Emerald (11k) suggestion should be a great pickup for this sort of thing, too, though admittedly there are not a lot of clips in the Players section. (I'm not buying any more pickups until I have more guitars -- and more money ;) -- but I look forward to hearing the official Emerald clips on the new web site, when it's up!)

Skybone · « **Reply #8 on:** April 27, 2006, 04:37:47 PM »

For PHAT tone, I still think Black Dog's win hands down.

But that's just IMO... ;)

carlaz · « **Reply #9 on:** April 27, 2006, 05:15:19 PM »

I remember yer "Led Zeppelin meets Black Sabbath" Black Dog clip in the players section :twisted:, but clearly you need to dish out some more for us!

_tom_ · « **Reply #10 on:** April 27, 2006, 05:31:21 PM »

Quote from: carlaz

I remember yer "Led Zeppelin meets Black Sabbath" Black Dog clip in the players section :twisted:, but clearly you need to dish out some more for us!

+1, dont really hear many black dog clips on the forum! Or emeralds for that matter

Underground_Player · « **Reply #11 on:** April 27, 2006, 10:41:48 PM »

Hi riffpowers,

I'd vote Mules, but check out the clip I've just put up in the Player's section with Stormy Mondays. Ignore the foreword, it's there to lure unsuspecting jazz players to listen to it. As soon as I get my Matamp Chino - yeah it's me on the Matamp board! - I'll put a proper clip up with a proper amp. By the way I've just listened to it and the drums are overdriving one channel - listen to the speaker without the 'TZLLLSHHFFFZ'. I might re-post it tomorrow.

Cheers,

Underground_Player
(cunningly under the pseudonym '' underground player '' on the Matamp board)

riffpowers · « **Reply #12 on:** April 30, 2006, 10:44:22 AM »

Hi guys and fellow matamp forumites!!
Thanks for the replies!!!
Thanks to skybone for sending me the clip too.
15k is definately too hot for me, the stock PU's in the custom were too hot for me, they were a bit too compressed and unresponsive to me.
The other selections sounded more like it, although obviously I've never heard em!!
Black dogs might sound ok, but I've always thought pagey's sound was a bit harsh and trebly for me, not phat enough.Although it might sound different through my gear.Emeralds sound too bright, I'm forgetting about the VH11's out of principle :lol:
I like a nice phat smooth crunch rather than a bright marshallesque crunch,so I don't need something with loads of high end, although a bit of bite is nice.
Not really narrowed it down much have I !!!

riffpowers · « **Reply #13 on:** April 30, 2006, 11:05:53 AM »

Just had a look round the player's section.
I liked the crawler , but was a bit modern for me, liked skybone's black dog clips best.

Black dog it is then!!

38thBeatle · « **Reply #14 on:** April 30, 2006, 01:19:43 PM »

For what it is worth ( my opinion I mean- as a single coil user) I think Tim's Mules demo was, to me, what I would go for if it were me. Having said that, BKP's do not do duff pups.