Author Topic: Pickup recomendations for 3 guitars needed (Read 8071 times)

Brow · « **on:** July 26, 2005, 11:22:01 AM »

Hey guys.

When I start getting more paid studio work and more workshops to teach (ie more money :D), I'm thinking about upgrading the pickups in 3 of my guitars:

1998 Gibson Les Paul Standard
1970s Jap Strat (thinking of HSS config)
Gould (cheapie) Telecaster

I play mainly 60's and 70's style Rock, nothing too heavy or with too much gain

I use an Orange AD30 head with an Orange 4x12 or a Marshall 2x12, Marshall JCM800 2210 Split Channel head or a Marshall JTM60 combo (depending on what I feel like :))

For the Les Paul, I was thinking of a covered pair of Alnico IV Mules. For the Strat, either an Emerald or VHII bridge with either Irish Tours or Apaches in the middle and neck.

I'll let you guys give me sugegstions for the Tele pickups because I have absolutely no idea at all about those :D

Thanx for any input guys.

Craig

HJM · « **Reply #1 on:** July 26, 2005, 11:52:18 AM »

The boss/Brown Sugar/Country Boy sets are all great, Boss has the most attitude and is my favorite, Country Boy is more vintage.

VHII work great in strats - How about a Crawler for the sort of music you're talking about? I prefer the Apaches over Irish Tours for a pure vintage tone, but the tours do rock and blues with ease.

The Mules are just great!

PhilKing · « **Reply #2 on:** July 26, 2005, 11:53:36 AM »

Hi Craig, the VHII gives a great sound when you split the coils, so for an HSS set and classic rock, it would be great with either set of single coils.

I have an Emerald /Mule IV combo and a Riff Raff V/Stormy Monday IV in Les Pauls, the RR/SM set is more bluesey, more 60's. Both sets are great though. The straight Mule set would be excellent too, I just like a more powerful bridge pickup!

Phil

Brow · « **Reply #3 on:** July 26, 2005, 01:09:46 PM »

Thanx for the replies guys.

I use my Gibson LP as my 'vintage' sounding guitar, so that's why I thought of the Mules. I have a Black Dog/Riff Raff set in my Gordon Smith LP for when I want something with a bit higher output :)

I never thought about a Crawler for the bridge of the Strat before. Maybe it's something I should look into? I originally thought the Emerald because it looks to be a PAF style pickup, but with a little more power behind it :)

The Boss or Brown Sugar Tele pickups look to be quite cool. The Piledrivers sound like great pickups on paper, but maybe they're overly powerful for my needs? :roll:

Thanx again guys.

Craig

HJM · « **Reply #4 on:** July 26, 2005, 01:59:54 PM »

I've played Geoffs strat with a Crawler - it is great for giving a strat some balls with tone. One of Geoffs design specs was for his pickup to work equally well in a strat and a les paul - and it does work!

You get more mid over the Emerald. Emeralds work great in Les Pauls, but the Crawlers are one of the best choices for a classic rock strat.

Ratrod · « **Reply #5 on:** July 26, 2005, 02:06:34 PM »

I agree with HJM. Crawlers are amazing when it comes to '60's & '70's style rock. They are middy but in a good way. Cojones grandes!

Brow · « **Reply #6 on:** July 26, 2005, 02:08:05 PM »

Thanx for the posts guys :)

Quote from: HJM

I've played Geoffs strat with a Crawler - it is great for giving a strat some balls with tone. One of Geoffs design specs was for his pickup to work equally well in a strat and a les paul - and it does work!

You get more mid over the Emerald. Emeralds work great in Les Pauls, but the Crawlers are one of the best choices for a classic rock strat.

After listening to Geoff's soundclip of the Crawler, I really like it! Is the soundclip done with the Crawler in the bridge of a Strat?

Which middle and neck single coils would go with a Crawler bridge in a Mahogany and Ash bodied Strat with a Maple neck and fretboard?

Craig

Ratrod · « **Reply #7 on:** July 26, 2005, 02:17:55 PM »

The Geoff clips sold me too. To replicate the tone you'll have to scoop out some mids on your amp.

I think the Irish Tours or maybe even the Slowhands would work well with the Crawler.

Brow · « **Reply #8 on:** July 26, 2005, 02:22:28 PM »

Quote from: Ratrod

The Geoff clips sold me too. To replicate the tone you'll have to scoop out some mids on your amp.

I think the Irish Tours or maybe even the Slowhands would work well with the Crawler.

Thanx for the reply :)

I think I'll probably end up with Irish Tours along with the Crawler. Although I may go for something more vintage sounding, not sure :roll:

I might go for the ITs in this guitar and make my other Strat the 'traditional vintage' sounding 1 :D

Brow · « **Reply #9 on:** July 26, 2005, 02:42:36 PM »

After listening to some of the Irish Tour clips on this site, I now think that they're exactly what I want from this guitar :)

HJM · « **Reply #10 on:** July 26, 2005, 03:03:58 PM »

Just to confuse - Geoff had Mothers Milk in with his Crawler - worked very well too!

Brow · « **Reply #11 on:** July 26, 2005, 04:02:53 PM »

Quote from: HJM

Just to confuse - Geoff had Mothers Milk in with his Crawler - worked very well too!

Thanx for the suggestion :) I'll bear it in mind :)

Would a Crawler in a Mahogany/Ash Strat be able to get a similar tone to that of Luke Morley on Thunder's album 'Back Street Symphony'? because that's a great tone too :D

HJM · « **Reply #12 on:** July 26, 2005, 06:25:45 PM »

Don't know much Thunder....but if it's a big powerfull crunch, even through the range, probably!

steve · « **Reply #13 on:** July 26, 2005, 07:02:15 PM »

Would a Crawler in a Mahogany/Ash Strat be able to get a similar tone to that of Luke Morley on Thunder's album 'Back Street Symphony'? because that's a great tone too :D[/quote]

My band has covered a few Thunder songs and to get their sound you cant beat a Les Paul, but a Crawler definatly thickens up a strat to give that great blues rock tone.

Brow · « **Reply #14 on:** July 27, 2005, 09:43:59 AM »

Thanx for the posts guys :)

Quote from: steve

My band has covered a few Thunder songs and to get their sound you cant beat a Les Paul, but a Crawler definatly thickens up a strat to give that great blues rock tone.

I know that he generally used Les Pauls (as do I usually), but it was the only reference I could think of to describe the kinda tone I wanted from this guitar :)

I think I'm set on what pickups I want in the Jap Strat and my Les Paul, now just to decide on the Tele pickups :D