Which pickups for a Les Paul Custom?

I not a fan of the 498T/490R set. I'm thinking either Dimarzio 36th Anniversary bridge w/Bluesbucker neck, SD Antiquity, WIZZ, Lindy Fralin Pure PAF, or Wolfetone Dr. Vintage. Any advice? I'm not a heavy metal guy... 70's arena rock all the way.

 

Im still using some DiMarzio PAFs from high school ....so when the 36th Anni came along ,I went for it .....have the 36th Anni in maybe 5 guitars , Love it , even though DiMarzio has given no love back ......I just go for the regular wind version ,DP103. I tried the hotter one DP223 , but I think I like the other better
My humbucking Custom has a Duncan 59 that Ive had for about 35 years . Tried a bunch of other pickups in there ,but went back to the Duncan

 

Don't overlook the DMZ Air Classic for consideration. Very good, but not a lot people know about it.

 

You're not using the DP223 in the bridge position?

 

I like the o'l 70's sound TV Jones Classics deliver to Les Paul style guitars myself. A Tokai Love Rock with Classics to go with the SV20H as soon as funds permit here.

 

Yeah , I have it in 4 guitars that I can think of , but the last couple 36's I bought were DP103.
I found em a little more "open" ...?? Just a little less grindy

I have 4 from the 70s/ early 80s , when they just made the DP103 ,in various winds from 7.5 to 8.5. They're the ones I really like

 

I’ve had about a half dozen in my R7 Custom, favs are WCR American Steele but Antiquities were great as well.

 

36 annys are good too, would have no issues putting them in another one of my LPs

 

I'd go with a Gibson Burstbucker 1 and 2, thats totally what you want for an LP.

 

I have BB 1&2 in my Traditional and I think they pull off that 70's arena rock thing very good.
I also have 490/498 in a couple Studios and I would agree they are not good for a 70's arena type thing. Better suited for hard rock/metal IMHO.

 

I used a Gibson Angus Young PU.

 

I may just go with 2 x DP103's then. I'm curious about the Bluesbucker bridge as well. P90's are my favorite pickups. If the BB actually sounds like a P90 without the hum, I'd like to check it out.

 

I considered them, but read that the neck pup can get muddy... I definitely don't want that. The last set of Gibson pickups I purchased were cooked, literally! The bobbins were warped, I suspect do to heat from waxing? The only reason I found out about it, was because I was installing Alnico IV magnets.

 

Hmm... I dig Angus Young tone.

 

Muddy no way, theyre anything but muddy, great bluesy neck tones very articulate.

 

Alnico II or V? I need a low wind to use with my AC15. That amp does not like humbuckers! Well, not the 498T anyway. Loves the mini humbuckers and P90's.

 

in to see the final choice

 

The screw spacing is a little off for a LP but it works just fine.
Higher output, low noise low microphonic, seems crunchier in the highs than other PUs. I like it.

 

Don't be put off by the name, but the best neck pup I have come across is the SD Jazz. It also splits well for some tele tones. Combine it with a SD 59 or George Lynch (screamin' demon) and they pair up very well. I have the Jazz in 3 guitars (x2 Martyn Booths and a Les Paul) sounds good in all of them. I keep the pup low in the guitar and bring the polepieces up by ear to keep that fluty clarity I like for neck pup noodling.
I did this palaver with my old '87 LPC (heavy and relatively dead acoustically) so your trials and results might be different.
The other pups I can't sell are a pair of SD Antiquities, just can't decide on a good home for them. If it wasn't such a faf I would try out in my 335 that has 57s in it.

 

A2. Go find a guitar with BB 1 and 2 and try it.