Members tnourse Posted January 3, 2007 Members Share Posted January 3, 2007 I've recently bought a used 2003 Les Paul Studio and need some recommendations on pickups. It came with the EMG Zakk Wylde set (81b/85n) and it's SUPER bright sounding to me. It's my first guitar with EMGs and I don't think I like them at all! Here are the specs on the guitar: Body: Swamp Ash Neck: Mahogany Fingerboard: Ebony Does anyone have any experience with a swamp ash guitar? Are they normally bright sounding? My Charvel has a Duncan Distortion in the bridge and a Jazz in the neck, which I really like and I don't mind re-wiring to go back to passive pickups. How would that combo sound with the swamp ash?? Any help would be appreciated!! Thanks!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Loghead Posted January 3, 2007 Members Share Posted January 3, 2007 Interesting looking guitar. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Burningleaves Posted January 3, 2007 Members Share Posted January 3, 2007 Take the duncans out of the Charvel and see how they sound in the studio. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members litzilong Posted January 3, 2007 Members Share Posted January 3, 2007 i would expect swamp ash to be pretty bright, so the duncan distortion may not be a good choice. i often hear it described as having an eq similar to that of an 81. maybe a darker pickup? like duncan custom custom and invader or dimazrio breed, tone zone, super 3, etc. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members tnourse Posted January 3, 2007 Author Members Share Posted January 3, 2007 Originally posted by Loghead Interesting looking guitar. That's why i bought it. Something different. But I bought it on Ebay without being able to play it first. Plays real nice and it's in great shape. I'm just not happy with the bridge PU tone. The 85 in the neck sounds pretty good though... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members tnourse Posted January 3, 2007 Author Members Share Posted January 3, 2007 Originally posted by Burningleaves Take the duncans out of the Charvel and see how they sound in the studio. That's a lot of work, because I believe the Les Paul would need to be completely re-wired to go back to passive PU's. Right?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Burningleaves Posted January 3, 2007 Members Share Posted January 3, 2007 Originally posted by litzilong i would expect swamp ash to be pretty bright, so the duncan distortion may not be a good choice. i often hear it described as having an eq similar to that of an 81. maybe a darker pickup? like duncan custom custom and invader or dimazrio breed, tone zone, super 3, etc. Dimarzio's have always sounded darker or warmer to my ears than Duncans. Mabye a couple of PAF pro's would do the trick. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Burningleaves Posted January 3, 2007 Members Share Posted January 3, 2007 Originally posted by tnourse That's a lot of work, because I believe the Les Paul would need to be completely re-wired to go back to passive PU's. Right?? Ya, The EMG's use dif' pot values if I am not mistaken. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members duncan Posted January 3, 2007 Members Share Posted January 3, 2007 check out a SD SH-5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members tnourse Posted January 3, 2007 Author Members Share Posted January 3, 2007 Originally posted by litzilong i would expect swamp ash to be pretty bright, so the duncan distortion may not be a good choice. i often hear it described as having an eq similar to that of an 81. maybe a darker pickup? like duncan custom custom and invader or dimazrio breed, tone zone, super 3, etc. Really?? I've never heard the Distortion being compared to an 81. So far every guitar I've installed a Distortion in, I've liked a lot. Mr. Lynch used them a lot back in the Dokken days and I always liked his tone. That's what I have in my Lynch Tiger. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members tnourse Posted January 3, 2007 Author Members Share Posted January 3, 2007 Originally posted by warplanegrey check out a SD SH-5 Thanks. I hear good things about the Custom. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members duncan Posted January 3, 2007 Members Share Posted January 3, 2007 i have one in my SG, and it's a very warm sounding pickup. although, i think i'm going to trade it for a Gibson 500T or a 498T. *shrug* Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Megadeth7684 Posted January 3, 2007 Members Share Posted January 3, 2007 That is a sweet rig dude! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members ams2ek Posted January 3, 2007 Members Share Posted January 3, 2007 Try swapping the neck and bridge pickup. I think you will like. Rick Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members adiohead Posted January 3, 2007 Members Share Posted January 3, 2007 alnico IIs Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Burningleaves Posted January 3, 2007 Members Share Posted January 3, 2007 Originally posted by warplanegrey i have one in my SG, and it's a very warm sounding pickup.although, i think i'm going to trade it for a Gibson 500T or a 498T. *shrug* I have the 500T in my explorer. It's a pretty decent pup. Works great with the 496R thats in the neck. A good combo. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members jlb32 Posted January 3, 2007 Members Share Posted January 3, 2007 Put the Gibson 496R and 500T in it. Those pickups are awesome in the Les Pauls. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Megadeth7684 Posted January 3, 2007 Members Share Posted January 3, 2007 Originally posted by jlb32 Put the Gibson 496R and 500T in it. Those pickups are awesome in the Les Pauls. The 500T is awesome, unless you tune low, then it doesn't sound nearly as good IMO. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members The Boogie Man Posted January 3, 2007 Members Share Posted January 3, 2007 If you want classic LP HB sound check out GFS pickups, they have some good prices on PAF and aftermarket types, I put one on my Tele neck and just love the tone. I've never liked EMG's much. I would go for the slightly hotter in the bridge and a stock in the neck. Been thinking of replacing the pups in my Epi SG cause they are starting to feedback after 12 years of heavy playing. But here's a little trick I learned many years ago, hit them with the hairdrier to remelt the wax to fix the vibration from a lose wire. I've done this trick to Fender pups and it worked, so it may work on my SG HB's. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members StringBreaker Posted January 3, 2007 Members Share Posted January 3, 2007 try the 85 in the bridge, hopefully the pups wil be quickconnect ones. You might like the 85 there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members cobrahead1030 Posted January 3, 2007 Members Share Posted January 3, 2007 if you're pickups are quick-connect types, swap the 85 to the bridge position Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members StringBreaker Posted January 3, 2007 Members Share Posted January 3, 2007 Originally posted by cobrahead1030 if you're pickups are quick-connect types, swap the 85 to the bridge position StringbreakerPwnd!!!1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members cobrahead1030 Posted January 3, 2007 Members Share Posted January 3, 2007 i was too lazy to see if anyone had already posted that Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members tnourse Posted January 3, 2007 Author Members Share Posted January 3, 2007 Originally posted by Megadeth7684 The 500T is awesome, unless you tune low, then it doesn't sound nearly as good IMO. What do you consider low? I tune to E flat or D. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Megadeth7684 Posted January 3, 2007 Members Share Posted January 3, 2007 Originally posted by tnourse What do you consider low? I tune to E flat or D. It sounds good in those tunings, it doesn't sound good in C or B to me, which is what I normally play in. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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