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Les Paul pickups


sbrock1san.rr.com

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I have a 1976 Les Paul Standard with full-size pickups. In the 80's, I replaced the stock bridge pickup with a DiMarzio Super Distortion, and I lost that stock pickup somewhere over the years. The DiMarzio pickup sounds good to me when playing highly distorted sounds but my style of music has changed and I'm not sure if it's a good pickup for me. I play classic rock and blues and a little jazz, using the Les Paul mainly for clean or just slighty-dirty rythym sounds (no Mudvayne or Korn for me) I still play distorted leads too but I don't need massive sustain. I think I'm looking for more of a vintage/older Les Paul sound.

 

Anyone have any opinions on Gibson '57 Classic, Classic Plus, the new Burstbuckers, or even P-90 or P-100 single coils. I never considered single coils on a LP but if anyone has them let me know what you think about them. It will be easy for me to try the new Burstbuckers as soon as stores start getting the new LP Standards in stock.

 

Thanks in advance.

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Originally posted by SteveRB:

I have a 1976 Les Paul Standard with full-size pickups. In the 80's, I replaced the stock bridge pickup with a DiMarzio Super Distortion, and I lost that stock pickup somewhere over the years. The DiMarzio pickup sounds good to me when playing highly distorted sounds but my style of music has changed and I'm not sure if it's a good pickup for me. I play classic rock and blues and a little jazz, using the Les Paul mainly for clean or just slighty-dirty rythym sounds (no Mudvayne or Korn for me) I still play distorted leads too but I don't need massive sustain. I think I'm looking for more of a vintage/older Les Paul sound.

 

Anyone have any opinions on Gibson '57 Classic, Classic Plus, the new Burstbuckers, or even P-90 or P-100 single coils. I never considered single coils on a LP but if anyone has them let me know what you think about them. It will be easy for me to try the new Burstbuckers as soon as stores start getting the new LP Standards in stock.

 

Thanks in advance.

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I wouldn't suggest a P-90 or hundred for the bridge. They're just WAY too harsh. In the neck they give a great, unique tone but in the bridge... eeeeeewwwwwwwwww. I really like the '57 Classic or a Duncan PAF...
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I wandered into a music store just as the man was removing an old Gibson humbucker from an old jazz guitar. I asked him to pop it into my '80 Les Paul Custom, and he did, for $50!

I just adore this pickup. Oh so sweet, and perfectly smooth full range, all the way to treble.

A WOP BOP A LU BOP, A LOP BAM BOOM!

 

"There is nothing I regret so much as my good behavior. What demon possessed me that I behaved so well?" -Henry David Thoreau

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P-90's are great sounding pickups, but you don't want one in the bridge with a regular humbuck at the neck.

 

If you just want to replace the bridge with a stock humbuck in the neck, I'd got with the Duncan Jeff Beck or '59. If they're still available, check the Schaller PAFs. Great tone for not much cash.

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If you really want to nail the "vintage" tone, get a Seymour Duncan Antiquity PAF or a Seymour Duncan Seth Lover pickup. Otherwise, the Seymour Duncan JB is a great PU. Those Gibson PUs are good but they're overpriced.

 

A P-90 or P-100 will not fit in a humbucker slot.

"You never can vouch for your own consciousness." - Norman Mailer
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If you are thinking of P90s Gibson makes a P90 that fits in a humbucking slot (I think it is called a P95 but I'm not sure). A company called Rio Grande Pickups (www.riograndepickups.com) makes a pickup called Bastards and Fat Bastards that are P90 replacements that fit in a humbucking slot. I put these in one of my Les Pauls. They sound great. I have 57 Classics in another Les Paul and I really like them. I haven't heard the Burstbuckers but have heard a lot of good about them. If you go with humbuckers go with the Burstbuckers, if you want a P90 sound go with the Rio Grande pickups.

Buddy

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