Time to get new pickups for the LP

[toneboy]

I want to give my LP Classic a more vintage tone, something good for blues, jazz and classic rock. Its current pickups are a Dimarzio Norton (bridge) and Dimarzio Bluesbucker (neck) are just not cutting it. I definitely want to go for pups with lower output, less midrange and more treble. For the bridge pickup, I'd like one that has smooth highs, mids that are there to full out the sound and not make it too nasally and lows that are full but not muddy.

I've pretty much decided that I want to put a Duncan Jazz in the neck position. I've got one in a Charvel I have now and I like it a lot. I generally like pups with more treble in the neck position anyway. However, which pickup to choose for the bridge position is a bit more complicated.

As much as I love Dimarzios, in my opinion Duncan makes better vintage style pickups so for simplicity's sake, I'm excluding Dimarzio from list of possibilities. In addition to Duncan, I've also been looking at Lindy Fralin pups as well. Again, I want to narrow my brand choices to these two. I know there are plenty of other good brands for this kind of pickup but if I can't get what I want from Duncan or Fralin, I probably can't get it from anyone.

In the Duncan line, I'm considering the '59 and the Seth Lover. As much as I want a bridge pup with a lot less midrange than I'm used to (Tone Zones and Norton), I'm concerned that too little midrange will make the pickup sound too thin hence why I'm consider the Seth Lover. However, that pickups sells for about $115 and considering I would want the pickup potted (which is not normally) and without a cover (comes with one on stock), I'm looking at a special order and the price would likely exceed that of a Fralin PAF ($120).

So that leads me to the Fralin PAF which in some ways makes things easier because there are lot more options in regards to tuning the pickup.

Any advice or experience with said pickups would be greatly appreciated.

[CityofBlindingLights]

Look into the DiMarzio 36th Anniversary PAF and 36th Anniversary PAF Bridge.

[toneboy]

Originally Posted by CityofBlindingLights

Look into the DiMarzio 36th Anniversary PAF and 36th Anniversary PAF Bridge.

Eh, I did but as I said in my post, as much as I love Dimarzio, I really feel Duncan is better at recreating the vintage tone. Also, the specs on paper don't look quite right for what I'm looking for. Thank you for the suggestion though.

[CityofBlindingLights]

If you like Duncans, the Jazz/JB set is always great. Also look into the Alnico II Pros.

Personally I like the Duncan Custom in the bridge. And, being a P-90 guy recently, the Phat Cat is pretty sweet.

[toneboy]

Originally Posted by CityofBlindingLights

If you like Duncans, the Jazz/JB set is always great. Also look into the Alnico II Pros.

Personally I like the Duncan Custom in the bridge. And, being a P-90 guy recently, the Phat Cat is pretty sweet.

I just pulled a JB out of another guitar and I don't like it. I used to love it years ago but my ears have changed I guess. the A2Ps have been on my radar too.

[toneboy]

I was doing some more research last night and I've decided to go with a set of Dimarzio 36th Anniversary PAFs.

I've been using Dimarzios since I first started playing 26 yrs ago and they've never steered me wrong.

Thanks for all the input folks.

[CityofBlindingLights]

Originally Posted by toneboy

I was doing some more research last night and I've decided to go with a set of Dimarzio 36th Anniversary PAFs.

Read my first post.

[toneboy]

Originally Posted by CityofBlindingLights

Read my first post.

In the end, I agreed. It just took me a little while to get there.

When it comes to picking out rock pickups, that's easy for me - Tone in the bridge and PAF Joe, Humbucker From Hell or Chopper in the neck. The PAF world is big and cloudy. Lots of subtle variants and different interpretations of the classic.

In the end I went with the 36th Anniversary pups because they're a new design based upon Larry Dimarzio's real PAFs from his '59 LP. The guitar I'm putting them in is a 1960 Classic so it just made sense.

[Scali]

I suggest you stick with Gibson.
The 490R and 498T give a nice 'classic' sound with a bit of extra hotness. I love those.
And the burstbuckers are less hot, even more classic sounding.
Nothing sounds quite as authentic in a Les Paul as Gibson's pickups, in my opinion.

[toneboy]

Originally Posted by Scali

I suggest you stick with Gibson.
The 490R and 498T give a nice 'classic' sound with a bit of extra hotness. I love those.
And the burstbuckers are less hot, even more classic sounding.
Nothing sounds quite as authentic in a Les Paul as Gibson's pickups, in my opinion.

I never played a Gibson pickup I like, except for straight PAFs and even then, the Gibson pups are over priced IMHO. Besides, I've ordered the Dimarzios so it's a done deal.