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Posted by: Skewlbuzz Dec 12 2007, 09:27 AM

Sooner or later I'm gonna purchase a Gibson Les Paul (a Standard or a classic GOW, I have yet to decide).
Even though these are expensive guitars, the stock pick ups (lets say the BurstBucker Pro's) tend to sound too muddy and dull in my taste.

So once I have the guitar I want to replace them with something that gives the guitar a better "note definition" (if that makes any sense to you ) and makes it sound a bit more energic when distorted. And if possible I will want a warm and rich clean sound.

I'm not looking for massive out-put as I'm not into metal (though I find Randy Rhoads and Zack Wylde's more "classical" and melodic solos really great and inspiring). But then again, when doing solos I want a bridge pick up that can stand out from the rest of the band and scream!

My influences are mainly Tom Morello (RAtM), Slash, Mike Einziger (Incubus) and Jimmy Page. I'm still more of a "beginner", but trying to mix some of each guitarist into my playing and sound, and hopefully it will turn out great. If not, I won't care, it will still be my sound

At the moment I have these two in my mind:

Neck: DiMarzio PAF Pro
Bridge: DiMarzio Super Distortion

Oh and by the way, a must is that they're available in "zebra"-style (Creme/Black or White/Black).

But before I make my final choice I would like that hear what you guys think, are there any other pick ups that I might want to check out etc.?
Any help appreciated

Cheers!

Posted by: MickeM Dec 12 2007, 09:53 AM

I think your Super dist/PAF sounds like an excellent combination.
A classic LP comb is Seymour Duncan JB and 59'

I think http://www.bareknucklepickups.co.uk/ seem appealing, not so cheap though, about same as DiMarzio and SD. Hand wound in the UK

Posted by: Goliath Dec 12 2007, 12:11 PM

the PAF pro is a knock off of the BurstBucker Pro, I thought. I've not heard them side by side, but I thought they were both replicas of the original Les Paul "Patent Applied For" pickup... Could be wrong though. The Seymour Duncan route would be fine as well plus i know that those are available in zebra, as they come that way on an Eclipse II.

Posted by: Skewlbuzz Dec 12 2007, 06:26 PM

Thanks for your answers..

Got another question by now though. When trying to order the pick ups they ask if you want them F-spaced.. Read somewhere that F-spaced pick ups are for bridge position on guitars with a nut over 43mm in width.
Should I just get a regular one or do the Les Paul really need it to be F-spaced?

Posted by: MickeM Dec 12 2007, 06:46 PM

The easiest way to find out would be to measure the string distance (center-center measure) right above whete the pickups are.
Then knowing that the cc measure for an F-spaced pu is 53 mm and for a regular it's 48 - You could take one that will cover the strings the closest.

To my experience it's ok if the strings are inside of the poles of the pu. But id the strings run outside you can kill the sound.

I have an F-spaced pu in my LP bridge position, that works great. And I moved the old bridge pu to the neck but I don't know the measure of it was 48 or 53, it works anyway.

....if any of that clears things up at all? Just measure the c-c on the string for neck and bridge and we'll take it from there ok?

Posted by: Skewlbuzz Dec 12 2007, 06:56 PM

Nice explanation, now I know how to find out

Posted by: ZakkWylde Dec 12 2007, 07:05 PM

I would say emg 81 for the bridge and an 85 or 60 for the neck. They are good for rock aswell and scream better than any other pu's (my opinion).
My advice would be testing diffrent les pauls and les paul copies with diffrent pickups at a music store so you can get a picture of what sounds like you want it.

Posted by: Alex Lewis Dec 12 2007, 07:20 PM

I would try a company called bareknuckle pickups they do loads and I mean loads of different pickups. All hand made and hand wound in England, I tried a guitar fitted with them in Soho soundhouse in london and they sound awesome!!.

Plus they do specialist L.P pickups like the "Blackdog" for that Led Zep tone!!.

Look em up on google.

Posted by: Toni Suominen Dec 12 2007, 08:45 PM

Seyomour Duncan also makes great pickups, go check their website for more info! and they have pickups with Zebra-colors

Posted by: Goliath Dec 12 2007, 09:00 PM

I didn't really know the deal with "f spaced" pickups when I got them in my evo, but the poles were slightly further apart than than the standard models, so I just assumed that pickups that were mounted at a slant to the strings rather than perpendicular to the strings. It made sense, but the CM explanation makes more sense.

Posted by: Gerald Dec 12 2007, 09:47 PM

What about going old school and put in some P90s? I have them in my SG and I love'm!

Posted by: Toni Suominen Dec 12 2007, 09:51 PM

P90's are great, but I don't think they would be versatile enough for him, though that's just my opinion

Posted by: Milenkovic Ivan Dec 12 2007, 09:54 PM

Try with Seymor Duncan JeffBeck on the bridge. THat my friend is one great humbucker. On the neck - 59, or even jazz can do the trick. Afterall that is a LP

Posted by: Gerald Dec 12 2007, 10:01 PM

That's probably very true. Honestly I don't know much but pick-ups, but I dig the ones in my SG. Maybe the pickups Buckethead uses in his 69 Gibson would be good?

Posted by: Toni Suominen Dec 12 2007, 10:01 PM

I have that pickup setup (JB in the bridge and '59 in the neck) in my LTD EC-1000 and they sound great!

Posted by: kevin-riff-after-riff Dec 12 2007, 10:50 PM

DiMarzio Super Distortion,
i rest my case
(oh you might need to keep the little box that keeps it in that hole in the guitar, get me? so it fits and stuf)

Posted by: Milenkovic Ivan Dec 13 2007, 12:05 AM

Yes it is a classic pickup configuration Toni, and a excelletn one too for high gain. Its more for the high gain music, but it can be rolled off t suit some clean as well. For me personnaly they are too agressive. I like mellow sound, 59 is ok, but JB is too egdy and trebly for me.

But for your LP mate it cant be better

Posted by: Skewlbuzz Dec 13 2007, 01:45 PM

Interesting points of view everyone :]

I will try some of the pick up combinations out at the guitar store before I make my choice.

Keep in mind I don't have the LP yet, but ordering it next month when my economy is more stable