1 Topic by helrazr84 (edited by helrazr84 2011-01-12 18:56:18)

  • From: York, PA
  • Registered: 2010-08-27
  • Posts: 1,749

Topic: Wiring and Pickup upgrade advice

I've had my Les Paul Traditional for a while now and I like it, but I'm not completely satisfied with the electronics.  The tone control seems to take all of the character out of the tone when I back it off.  The volume control seems to be somewhat ineffective.  A lot of high end loss when backed off, and there isn't much range.  The guitar just needs some more life breathed into it!  I'm not an electronics guy and know little to nothing about the differences in different pots, capacitors, but I'm going to try out the whole 50's wiring scheme everybody is talking about.

The 500k pot thing seems to be the favorite, so are there any recommendations as to what kind of complete kit to get and where?

Also thinking of having new pickups installed.  Considering Duncan Pearly Gates.  Does anyone have any experience with them?

Thanks in advance for any and all help/advice.  -Seth

  • From: over yonder....in PA
  • Registered: 2009-02-09
  • Posts: 240

Re: Wiring and Pickup upgrade advice

I have Pearly Gates, and it's a nice pickup...but it's very raw and there is not much bass. I'd recommend a Dimarzio 30th anniversary. and If you can wire, there's no reason to buy a wiring kit...just get 500k pots and follow the schematic. You'll be good to go.    http://www.dominocs.com/AshBassGuitar/

"The way I like to look at it is....if that's the last time I ever got to play, I'd better give it everything I've got." -SRV
  • Registered: 2010-11-09
  • Posts: 23

Re: Wiring and Pickup upgrade advice

before I'd buy any new pickups, I'd think about changing the electronics....your guitar tech should be able to set you up....might go a long ways towards improving the sound...I really like the Burstbuckers #2 & #3 on my Epi JB Goldtop....this might help you...

www.singlecoil.com/docs/paula.pdf

http://www.1728.com/guitar.htm

http://www.gibson.com/Service/Tech/Schematics/

http://www.guitarnuts.com/wiring/stockgibson.php

I'd do some surfing and see what you can find....the Les Paul forums are usually good sources on info....best of luck...later.

cowboy

  • From: York, PA
  • Registered: 2010-08-27
  • Posts: 1,749

Re: Wiring and Pickup upgrade advice

Thanks for the replies.  I don't plan on doing any wiring myself.  My uncle works at a guitar shop and I always get a good deal/price on things.  I plan on having them handle the dirty work.  I also thought about having just the pots and stuff upgraded and holding off on new pickups until I see what type of improvements are made.  Thought the Pearly Gates were more on par with burstbuckers in rawness of tone.

  • From: North Carolina
  • Registered: 2008-10-26
  • Posts: 2,926

Re: Wiring and Pickup upgrade advice

check out RS Guitar works they have some great kits.  I had the modern kit in my Les Paul Classic with a 3 different pickup Sets.  My first set was a seymour duncan JB and a 59' in the neck.  That was good for rock but was a little too in your face for blues in my opinion, just not very smooth.  Next I had the Pearly Gates and I found those very muddy.  I swapped them for gibson 57 classic plus and a 57 classic in the neck and for me it was pure magic.  At the time I had a Peavy Windsor head that was 100 watts and had KT66 power tubes which gave it that old marshall tone.  The 57' classic's sounded like early Allman Brothers Band Duane Allman sounds, with a boost I could get jimmy page sounds.  Pearly gates sound very raspy and muddy if you have a bright amp then they would sound great.  The Traditional comes with the 57' Classics I would buy the kit first and upgrade later.  $50 for a kit.

AD3THREE's Website

  • From: Ridgeland, MS
  • Registered: 2009-08-12
  • Posts: 1,248

Re: Wiring and Pickup upgrade advice

+1 on the RS wiring kits. 50's wiring and good PIO caps (which do not have to be expensive) will make a tremendous difference.

  • From: York, PA
  • Registered: 2010-08-27
  • Posts: 1,749

Re: Wiring and Pickup upgrade advice

AD3THREE wrote:

check out RS Guitar works they have some great kits.  I had the modern kit in my Les Paul Classic with a 3 different pickup Sets.  My first set was a seymour duncan JB and a 59' in the neck.  That was good for rock but was a little too in your face for blues in my opinion, just not very smooth.  Next I had the Pearly Gates and I found those very muddy.  I swapped them for gibson 57 classic plus and a 57 classic in the neck and for me it was pure magic.  At the time I had a Peavy Windsor head that was 100 watts and had KT66 power tubes which gave it that old marshall tone.  The 57' classic's sounded like early Allman Brothers Band Duane Allman sounds, with a boost I could get jimmy page sounds.  Pearly gates sound very raspy and muddy if you have a bright amp then they would sound great.  The Traditional comes with the 57' Classics I would buy the kit first and upgrade later.  $50 for a kit.

I just got done perusing the RS website.  I have SD '59 pickups in another guitar, and they are clearer than my '57 classics.  Been using my vintage modern (kt66's) or egnater (6v6's) depending on the size of the gig.  It's hard to find a good sound clip of the pearly gates.  The PG Les Paul sounds good in some videos.  I've not yet heard of them sounding muddy.

  • From: over yonder....in PA
  • Registered: 2009-02-09
  • Posts: 240

Re: Wiring and Pickup upgrade advice

Like I said, they sound really good..and they do "their thing" extremely well. It's just finding a niche for it. They are a good pickup, but not the most versatile. What kind of tone are you going for exactly?

helrazr84 wrote:
AD3THREE wrote:

check out RS Guitar works they have some great kits.  I had the modern kit in my Les Paul Classic with a 3 different pickup Sets.  My first set was a seymour duncan JB and a 59' in the neck.  That was good for rock but was a little too in your face for blues in my opinion, just not very smooth.  Next I had the Pearly Gates and I found those very muddy.  I swapped them for gibson 57 classic plus and a 57 classic in the neck and for me it was pure magic.  At the time I had a Peavy Windsor head that was 100 watts and had KT66 power tubes which gave it that old marshall tone.  The 57' classic's sounded like early Allman Brothers Band Duane Allman sounds, with a boost I could get jimmy page sounds.  Pearly gates sound very raspy and muddy if you have a bright amp then they would sound great.  The Traditional comes with the 57' Classics I would buy the kit first and upgrade later.  $50 for a kit.

I just got done perusing the RS website.  I have SD '59 pickups in another guitar, and they are clearer than my '57 classics.  Been using my vintage modern (kt66's) or egnater (6v6's) depending on the size of the gig.  It's hard to find a good sound clip of the pearly gates.  The PG Les Paul sounds good in some videos.  I've not yet heard of them sounding muddy.

"The way I like to look at it is....if that's the last time I ever got to play, I'd better give it everything I've got." -SRV
  • From: York, PA
  • Registered: 2010-08-27
  • Posts: 1,749

Re: Wiring and Pickup upgrade advice

TubeSaturation wrote:

Like I said, they sound really good..and they do "their thing" extremely well. It's just finding a niche for it. They are a good pickup, but not the most versatile. What kind of tone are you going for exactly?

helrazr84 wrote:
AD3THREE wrote:

check out RS Guitar works they have some great kits.  I had the modern kit in my Les Paul Classic with a 3 different pickup Sets.  My first set was a seymour duncan JB and a 59' in the neck.  That was good for rock but was a little too in your face for blues in my opinion, just not very smooth.  Next I had the Pearly Gates and I found those very muddy.  I swapped them for gibson 57 classic plus and a 57 classic in the neck and for me it was pure magic.  At the time I had a Peavy Windsor head that was 100 watts and had KT66 power tubes which gave it that old marshall tone.  The 57' classic's sounded like early Allman Brothers Band Duane Allman sounds, with a boost I could get jimmy page sounds.  Pearly gates sound very raspy and muddy if you have a bright amp then they would sound great.  The Traditional comes with the 57' Classics I would buy the kit first and upgrade later.  $50 for a kit.

I just got done perusing the RS website.  I have SD '59 pickups in another guitar, and they are clearer than my '57 classics.  Been using my vintage modern (kt66's) or egnater (6v6's) depending on the size of the gig.  It's hard to find a good sound clip of the pearly gates.  The PG Les Paul sounds good in some videos.  I've not yet heard of them sounding muddy.

TubeSaturation:  I generally try and achieve an overall smooth distortion with some rawness to it.  ..If that makes sense.  Basic blues rock tone.  For what my band does, I'm not going for a super thick distortion or the Slash style tone either.  I thought the Pearly Gates would give me an authentic raunchy blues tone, and would also smooth out by backing the guitar volume down if need be.  -S

  • From: over yonder....in PA
  • Registered: 2009-02-09
  • Posts: 240

Re: Wiring and Pickup upgrade advice

It definitely has a good growl to it, and it is good for blues rock. It's like a PAF that ate a jalapeno...not a bad pickup at all. But I'm still going to stick behind the Dimarzio 30th anniv. PAF big_smile

"The way I like to look at it is....if that's the last time I ever got to play, I'd better give it everything I've got." -SRV
  • From: North Carolina
  • Registered: 2008-10-26
  • Posts: 2,926

Re: Wiring and Pickup upgrade advice

If they work for you then go for it.  I didn't care much for them and with my setup at the time I thought it was muddy.  But I went from a Seymour JB to a Pearly Gates!  A metal pickup vs. a blues pickup.  I felt like the 57' classics were a good in the middle of both of those pickups.  It was my dream sound for a Les Paul.

helrazr84 wrote:
AD3THREE wrote:

check out RS Guitar works they have some great kits.  I had the modern kit in my Les Paul Classic with a 3 different pickup Sets.  My first set was a seymour duncan JB and a 59' in the neck.  That was good for rock but was a little too in your face for blues in my opinion, just not very smooth.  Next I had the Pearly Gates and I found those very muddy.  I swapped them for gibson 57 classic plus and a 57 classic in the neck and for me it was pure magic.  At the time I had a Peavy Windsor head that was 100 watts and had KT66 power tubes which gave it that old marshall tone.  The 57' classic's sounded like early Allman Brothers Band Duane Allman sounds, with a boost I could get jimmy page sounds.  Pearly gates sound very raspy and muddy if you have a bright amp then they would sound great.  The Traditional comes with the 57' Classics I would buy the kit first and upgrade later.  $50 for a kit.

I just got done perusing the RS website.  I have SD '59 pickups in another guitar, and they are clearer than my '57 classics.  Been using my vintage modern (kt66's) or egnater (6v6's) depending on the size of the gig.  It's hard to find a good sound clip of the pearly gates.  The PG Les Paul sounds good in some videos.  I've not yet heard of them sounding muddy.

AD3THREE's Website

  • From: Los Angeles
  • Registered: 2010-03-19
  • Posts: 105

Re: Wiring and Pickup upgrade advice

Good Day,

Tried the Pearly Gates...Tried the JB's, Own them and Gibson 57's..tried them too.

All in my Gold Top LP. I did change the caps to vintage Bumble Bees that I got from

Jonesy at tonemojo.com, He's the man to talk to about upgrading your wiring

or pots, and or your tonal aspirations...He is absolutly the best!

Finally settled with Duncan Antiquities...That was the ticket for me. I had mine potted

because sometimes at higher gain levels, they can be subject to squealing.

I play everything from 60's to 80's rock  to Joe Bonamassa...they absolutely are the best

all around pickup I've ever tried. They're a Vintage recreation of the original Seth Lover PAF's

Pair them with a Maxon OD808, or Ibanez Tube Screamer (same animal) and you can

cover just about ANYTHING...(I also utilize a ZEN Drive 2) I can dial in"ANY" tone.

The SD Antiquities..are ACE..Ask Joe B. He's got some as well.

Good luck finding your "tone" I found mine!

Cheers