Recommend me a pickup....

FarleyUK

Hi all,

Looking for recommendations of great pickups to go into a 2017 Les Paul Traditional (non chambered or weight relieved).

I have some Slash signatures in there at the moment, and compare to the JB in my 2008 Les Paul, it sounds very muddy and bassy.

The Slash pups sounded great in the 2008 Les Paul, but I swapped them for the JB / Jazz combo, as that can be coil split.

So - anyone have pickup suggestions for a very solid and thick Les Paul, for playing classic and modern rock (guns n roses, slash, Steve Stevens, Whitesnake, Massive Wagons etc.) that are along the lines of the Slash pups, but can be coil split and work in a bassier / heavier and more solid guitar...?

Cheers!

xscaramanga

Assuming you're sure it's not the pots (there was a thread about that recently), any low wind PAF should do it (I've had Bare Knuckle Mules for years and love them, though I'm now thinking about a change just to see what else is about). Generally lower wind equals more treble and openness. Although some people would recommend a hotter humbucker for the players you mentioned, if you're finding it too bassy you need a pickup with a higher resonant peak, which generally means lower DC resistance. 

But it's also possible replacing your (probably 300k) tone pots with 500k will get rid of the mud. The Slash set is not known for being dark or overwound.

If you do wanna go hotter, the Steve Stevens signature Rebel Yells are pretty cool and certainly not bassy.

FarleyUK

Cheers mate - they're 500k pots.

Funkfingers

FarleyUK said:

The Slash pups sounded great in the 2008 Les Paul

So, put those back in that guitar and try the JB/Jazz pair in the 2017 LP Trad.

FarleyUK

Funkfingers said:

FarleyUK said:

The Slash pups sounded great in the 2008 Les Paul

So, put those back in that guitar and try the JB/Jazz pair in the 2017 LP Trad.

Trouble is, the other is my main live guitar - so it needs pups that can be coil split....

rico

Ford F-150 

Maynehead

How about some paf style pickups, something like a SD 59 set, for the classic rock songs, then use your main guitar with the JB/jazz for the heavier numbers? I like to have different guitars configured for different options even if it’s not what I’d normally choose.

Alegree

I'd recommend getting your slash pups swapped to 4 conductor wiring.

fretmeister

SD Pearly Gates.

More treble, more sizzle.

Awesome in a thick and chewy Les Paul

sweepy

OX4 PAF’s would fit the bill perfectly

Bowks

The Rebel Yells are, I believe, based on the JB/Jazz combo. 

I am a great fan of BKP Nailbombs. Less gainy than the name implies and the sound great when split. 

mfin

I think you'll get better results with a lower output, Bare Knuckle Mules will bring back the clarity, get rid of the mud at the low end, give you string separation in the chord work even when playing heavy. They coil tap well too. I've heard them transform three les pauls now. (BKP Riff Raff sounded a bit crap in comparison, a guy I know bought that and sent it back and changes to Mules and never looked back).

I know with the right amp and pedals/boost they will really work, particularly for the GnR and all the classic rock, I don't know about Steve Stevens as I wouldn't like to have to listen to any to reference it, I seem to remember he's a high output pickup guy. I'd much rather sacrifice that kind of thing and go for great pickups like mules, then use pedals/boost to go after that more modern sound, because you can't work back from a really hot pickup to a classic sound nearly as well.

timmypix

Another vote for Mules, they're just fantastic. They take gain well, they're really well balanced and they stay clear no matter what.

I should imagine the Oil City Forces Sweethearts are very similar, and I reckon the Tubesnakes would also do what you want.

FarleyUK

Cheers all - have emailed Ash at Oil City for,his suggestion as well.

Seems the Mules are a favourite here....

thomasw88

My fave humbuckers are 

1. BK Mules
2. Iron Gear Blues engine
3. Tonerider Alnico 4 and 2 mix

All 3 sets sound fabulous to me.

FarleyUK

Looks like the Mules are braided so only 2 conductor...?

FarleyUK

Scratch that - found some 4 conductor Mules, so have taken the plunge.

Thanks all!