Members illini Posted March 31, 2008 Members Share Posted March 31, 2008 I have a 76 Les Paul Standard with a Rosewood covered Maple neck. It is the brightest Les Paul I have ever played. Not too bright, but I would like to darken it up some. I would like to stay away from high output pickups if I could. I generally use the PAF style. The three pickups I have tried in it are Duncan 59's, Duncan Seth Lovers, and some 80's Gibson PAF's. Anyone have some success here in darkening a bright guitar? As a side, I have been turning the tone knob down some with my Marshall, and this works fairly well. But I played a few other guitars through my set up the other day, and confirmed for me that my guitar is much brighter than most Les Pauls. Is there anything I can do? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Musicscotty Posted March 31, 2008 Members Share Posted March 31, 2008 I would consider going for a pickup with either Alnico II or IV magnets. Alnico II's will provide a softer, more smooth tone. The only one's that I have used with Alnico II's are SD Custom Custom (bridge) and Pearly Gates (neck), which I have in a Patrick Eggle Berlin. Alnico IV's will give you a more 'organic' tone, without the more dynamic variation in highs and lows that Alnico V's give. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members illini Posted March 31, 2008 Author Members Share Posted March 31, 2008 Thanks for input Musicscotty. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members aenemated Posted March 31, 2008 Members Share Posted March 31, 2008 yep, what he said. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members veil Posted March 31, 2008 Members Share Posted March 31, 2008 EQ pedal Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Alan Roberts Posted March 31, 2008 Members Share Posted March 31, 2008 In addition to the PuPs Musicscotty mentioned, I'd suggest SD Alnico Pro II's. I believe they're what Slash uses, or at least he used to. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members illini Posted March 31, 2008 Author Members Share Posted March 31, 2008 EQ pedal The issue is that I have played other guitars (Les Pauls and PRS's) with my set up, and the highs are perfect. My Les Paul is just brighter than most. Like I said, I do turn back the tone knob some and this helps, but If I can darken the guitar up some I would like to do it. If I can't, I may need to just sell it and get a different guitar. Which I don't really want to do, because except for the highs I have no complaints with this guitar. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members aenemated Posted March 31, 2008 Members Share Posted March 31, 2008 In addition to the PuPs Musicscotty mentioned, I'd suggest SD Alnico Pro II's. I believe they're what Slash uses, or at least he used to. still does! i have alnico II pros in a couple of mine. {censored}in love em. but these bareknuckle black dogs i got in this weekend are absolutely amazing for just a gorgeous vintage tone. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members illini Posted March 31, 2008 Author Members Share Posted March 31, 2008 Anyone have experience with the Guitarfetish pups? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members illini Posted March 31, 2008 Author Members Share Posted March 31, 2008 I saw in another thread a L.P. Standard that comes stock with the Burstbucker Pro Pups. Anyone have experience with these? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Musicscotty Posted March 31, 2008 Members Share Posted March 31, 2008 still does!i have alnico II pros in a couple of mine. {censored}in love em. but these bareknuckle black dogs i got in this weekend are absolutely amazing for just a gorgeous vintage tone. +1 on the BKP Black Dog pups. Very ...erm .. vintagey indeed and with a darker voice, I believe? I didn't mention them in my first post, as they are a lot more expensive but they are an excellent pup. BKP Mule pups with Alnico IV magnets would perhaps do the job as well. I have BKP Emerald pups in my LP and they Rock as well, although with a hotter, slightly brighter tone. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members aenemated Posted March 31, 2008 Members Share Posted March 31, 2008 I didn't mention them in my first post, as they are a lot more expensive but they are an excellent pup. BKP Mule pups with Alnico IV magnets would perhaps do the job as well.I have BKP Emerald pups in my LP and they Rock as well, although with a hotter, slightly brighter tone. yeah, BKs are definitely pricey ... but man ... so worth it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Norcal_GIT_r Posted March 31, 2008 Members Share Posted March 31, 2008 Are you using 500k or 300k pots? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members illini Posted April 1, 2008 Author Members Share Posted April 1, 2008 Are you using 500k or 300k pots? Wolfe at Wolfetone pickups just mentioned this to me today. I am pretty sure I am using 500k pots. If so, I am going to try out a 300k and see how it handles. Thanks for the help. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members twofoolsaminute Posted April 1, 2008 Members Share Posted April 1, 2008 Dude, with pickups I don't see how you could go much darker than the Seth Lovers. That's pretty much as low output and smooth as you can get. Time to change the pots. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members GAS Man Posted April 1, 2008 Members Share Posted April 1, 2008 I saw in another thread a L.P. Standard that comes stock with the Burstbucker Pro Pups. Anyone have experience with these? I like them, but if your guitar is bright, I wouldn't try BB Pros. A Duncan Custom Custom in the bridge would certainly tame it down I have one in a Jackson DK2S that I'm going to toss because it dulled that guitar down too much. I'd offer it to you, but it's F-spaced. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members illini Posted April 1, 2008 Author Members Share Posted April 1, 2008 Dude, with pickups I don't see how you could go much darker than the Seth Lovers. That's pretty much as low output and smooth as you can get. Time to change the pots. I was told by at guy a Guitarfetish, that the "Seth Lover" is the brightest pup Duncan makes. As a side, I am a big fan of the Seth Lover, which is why I tried it in my L.P. It didn't tame the brightness as much as I had hoped however. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members illini Posted April 1, 2008 Author Members Share Posted April 1, 2008 I like them, but if your guitar is bright, I wouldn't try BB Pros.A Duncan Custom Custom in the bridge would certainly tame it downI have one in a Jackson DK2S that I'm going to toss because it dulled that guitar down too much. I'd offer it to you, but it's F-spaced. I don't expect that I will try the BB. I just saw that some of the LP Standards with Maple necks come with them. The Custom Custom is on the list. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members twofoolsaminute Posted April 1, 2008 Members Share Posted April 1, 2008 I was told by at guy a Guitarfetish, that the "Seth Lover" is the brightest pup Duncan makes. As a side, I am a big fan of the Seth Lover, which is why I tried it in my L.P. It didn't tame the brightness as much as I had hoped however. Well, maybe I'm wrong. I'm no expert. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Filter500 Posted April 1, 2008 Members Share Posted April 1, 2008 The DiMarzio Air Zone is dark and medium output. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members illini Posted April 1, 2008 Author Members Share Posted April 1, 2008 Thanks, I will check it out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members illini Posted April 1, 2008 Author Members Share Posted April 1, 2008 Wolfe at Wolfetone pickups also said that he would recommend a pickup with Alnico II magnets to soften the highs on a bright guitar. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members V-Type Posted April 1, 2008 Members Share Posted April 1, 2008 Duncan Custom 5 maybe the Gibson 500T. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members GAS Man Posted April 1, 2008 Members Share Posted April 1, 2008 Duncan Custom 5 Yeah, those are pretty nice. Although I mentioned the CC as a bright tamer, the C-5 is more to my liking. It's sort of somewhere between a PAF and a Ceramic in tone. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.