Hi, haven’t posted a while and needs some help. I’ve got two lp type guitars. An epiphone les Paul custom with probuckers I think installed and a burny les Paul with Seymour Duncan jb and jazz. the jb and jazz are to hot for me. The epi sounds way thicker and beefier than the burny with s/d pups. I wanna swap the Duncan’s for something similar to the thick meaty probuckers but something with a bit more clarity as they can be a tad mufflers. I want a smooth neck tone like Gary Moore and a good classic rock blues tone overall. I was thinking a set of s/d 59s or Gibson 57s? What you guys recommend?
I find the Jazz a great neck pup in fact have it on 3 guitars (I use a push-push tone pot to spilt it too) I have SD Screamin Demon (not as hot as it sounds) bridge in one, a Gibson BB-3 in another and Antiquity in another. I have BKP Mules in my R0 which are also v nice.
I assumed when I got the guitar it had the vh1 pickups and I had loads of buzz so I open the cavity to find corroded pots on a 2 year old guitar. Put in new cts post and orange drop caps and still buzzed so I pulled the pups to check they wasn’t the same to find s/d jb and jazz. Didn’t know they’d be changed. buzz was fixed with shielding the cavity. the jazz is really bitey and not smooth to my ears. With the tone on zero it sounds more like I want for a neck pickup. The jb is just too hot
Maybe modded? If the jazz is "too much", kinda suspect it has a Ceramic or AlNiCo8 hiding under the tape
Yes classic rock sound. From zeppelin to guns & roses. Gary Moore neck solo sound and slash’s lead sound from November rain for the neck pickup. the jazz is muncher thinner than the epiphone Humbucker. The epiphone sounds more mellow and smooth thanks so far. not sure what Seth lovers are so I’ll look into them
I was going to suggest a T-top clone since it was a Epiphone Les Paul Custom, but Gibson 498T and 490R set would be closer to your criteria.
498T and 490R!!! its what is in my studio....great pickups, no mud...fantastic sound and really roll off nicely. (to me burstbucker pro pickups sound like they are trying to be the sound of an acoustically plucked string, never cared for that type of sound).
PAF type solves your problem.... Been swapping/experimenting with different low output pickups and I settled between Duncan 59's and DiMarzio PAF Masters.....
I had that set in my CS '54 Jeff Beck LP. I have not checked out the Pro's yet, but as you say, the BB 1 and 2 are super nice. Have you heard them in a Custom? They compliment a Standard soo nice IMO. I am assuming .022 bumblebee or .05 black beauty's for the win. 50s or modern is up to preference, or what sounds best. YMMV
Yeah I have 57 reissue goldtop, bb1&2, bumblebee caps, i prefer modern wiring which surprisingly it came with.
I presume you used 500k pots? Not 300 and used 50s wiring. I use PIO Jensens or sprague BB caps but suspect benefit is marginal. Something is odd if your Jazz is shouty or ‘mucher thinner’ as you say, most weird as they are normally v smooth/flutey in full bucker mode. I’ve got BB1&2 in a LP kept in C-C tuning and I do like them. Same for the 57s in my 335, when you have the right pups in the right guitar you will know!!
It’s not thin like it’s split but very bright compared to a normal neck pup would be in my opinion. More cutting than mellow. I read online people say it’s not smooth and can be harsh so assumed was the characteristics of the pickup. It doesn’t sound bad like it’s broke or wired wrong just not as I’d like would 50s wiring be better?
