• From: Massachusetts
  • Registered: 2008-10-27
  • Posts: 577

Topic: Les Paul pickups...

Joe and all other gearheads here...you know who you are!!!  LOL


After seeing Joe and his Sig LP in action, I was digging the Burstbucker 3 in the bridge.....especially when he kicked into his solo's....

Right now I just can't afford a JBLP, without selling all my gear, so I am thinking about making some changes to my Goldtop Traditional that have a set of '57 classic pups in it.  I love the smooth creaminess of the '57's especially the Classic plus in the bridge (which is just about as hot as the BB3).  So here is what I am thinking:

Switching all the black plastic off of my studio and putting it on the Goldtop
Then moving the Classic Plus from the bridge to the neck and installing the BB3 in the bridge for more bite...

I can really use some opinions on this...especially cuz the Classic plus and the BB3 are close in output levels.....


Thanks,

Barry

2009 Gibson Les Paul 1958 VOS (with black plastic)
2008 Gibson Les Paul Traditional Goldtop (with the cream plastic from the 58RI)
> Marshall Bluesbreaker 2 pedal >Boss sd-1> DD3 > Vox Ac15cc1
  • From: Massachusetts
  • Registered: 2008-10-27
  • Posts: 577

Re: Les Paul pickups...

A follow up to my post.....

1) is the BB3 in the JBLP wax potted or not?

2) I am also planning on switching out the pots on my Goldtop and installing RS's prewired CTS pots and Bumblebee caps...

2009 Gibson Les Paul 1958 VOS (with black plastic)
2008 Gibson Les Paul Traditional Goldtop (with the cream plastic from the 58RI)
> Marshall Bluesbreaker 2 pedal >Boss sd-1> DD3 > Vox Ac15cc1
  • Registered: 2007-04-19
  • Posts: 24

Re: Les Paul pickups...

LesPaul4 wrote:

A follow up to my post.....

1) is the BB3 in the JBLP wax potted or not?

2) I am also planning on switching out the pots on my Goldtop and installing RS's prewired CTS pots and Bumblebee caps...

The BB3s are potted when they come in a Les Paul guitar. If you buy them separately they are not potted.

  • Matt B
  • Bronze Member
  • Offline
  • From: Maryland
  • Registered: 2009-04-01
  • Posts: 33

Re: Les Paul pickups...

In my opinion, keep the 57 classics and take off the neck pickup cover but keep the bridge on... it takes off some of the treble and warms it up a bit, while allowing the neck pup to breathe better and sound more harmonically rich. Maybe even a mid boost would help, sort of like the Eric Clapton electronics. Just my two cents.

You know, I have a lot more gear than I need, but not as much as I want.
  • Registered: 2009-04-13
  • Posts: 78

Re: Les Paul pickups...

Call me a heathen..but the BEST pickups I had in my old LP were Seymour Duncan Vintage Antiquities (wired out of phase)   ....   not wax potted but as long as the gain was carefully watched...simply awesome.......   and tonally on par with my '67 345

  • Registered: 2008-11-01
  • Posts: 103

Re: Les Paul pickups...

The BB's that come in Historics are not potted. A BB that is wax potted is called a Burst Bucker Pro.
Without the Pro suffix it's an unpotted pickup. I could be wrong but I really doubt Joe's pickups are potted because of the way he uses feedback in his performance. The BB Pro's are potted to avoid feedback and after a/b'ing them in a number of guitars it seems that the unpotted BB's are more 3 dimensional, open and woody sounding.

7 Reply by NPB_EST.1979 (edited by NPB_EST.1979 2009-04-16 18:25:41)

  • From: Detroit
  • Registered: 2006-06-02
  • Posts: 5,807

Re: Les Paul pickups...

Don't get EMG pickups unless you want a dark sound. I have them in my explorer. Just my exp. I was hoping they'd give a true sound, but it's a lot on the dark side. GReat for metal... go figure!

- Nic from Detroit... posting on JB's Forum since 6-2-2006
Ask me about my handwound Great Lakes Guitar Pickups
Since 2010, Bonamassa fans have taken advantage of my JB friend discount = my cost + shipping. cool