Bought an Japanese Edwards Les Paul Sh4 in the bridge

[jauernis]

So just started messing around with this. Awesome awesome guitar but just not sure about the pickups. How do you guys rate the sh-4? I feel that I want a tighter sound although that could be my playing! Just that my jackson with emg81 has a tighter sound? Any suggestions for a pick up instead of sh-4...or is sh-4 something you guys would leave in a les paul copy

 

[Metaltastic]

SH-4 = JB = Muddy poop uke: An EMG-81 in that guitar would be PERFECT (I have one in the bridge of my ESP EC-400, and I tried the 85 in there, but it was too muddy, the 81 is just awesome in it!)

 

[jauernis]

Quick question How difficult is it to go from passive to active. From the sh-4 to an emg 81?

 

[Metaltastic]

Well I guess that depends on what you mean by "difficult" - EMG's are a bit more difficult to install, but come with everything you need EXCEPT a stereo output jack (some guitars already have 'em, though), and it's possible to use an EMG in the bridge and a passive pup in the neck to save money (I can't remember which ones, but there were some threads on here discussing how to do this). I'd go for it!

 

[Meisterjäger]

SH-4 = JB = Muddy poop uke: An EMG-81 in that guitar would be PERFECT (I have one in the bridge of my ESP EC-400, and I tried the 85 in there, but it was too muddy, the 81 is just awesome in it!)

Epic failure. -100 cool points. :zombie:

 

[cobhc]

Isn't an SH-4 in the bridge of a Les Paul a stunning combo? I always thought that would be thick as all hell.

 

[JeffTD]

Yeah, but it'll be loosy goosy in the low-end, with a pretty convoluted sounding upper midrange to my ears. I cannot stand the JB, personally.

 

[cobrahead1030]

personally i love the sh4 and i'd leave it in there, honestly i don't think the 81 is that much tighter

i'm guessing the jackson you're used to playing is alder with a maple neck, just taking a blind stab there but that's what most jacksons are...if your new guitar is an LP copy then it's most likely mahogany with a mahogany neck, so it's gonna be darker, warmer, thicker, and not quite as tight sounding as what you're used to

i'd try to give it a few weeks to see if the pickup grows on you...maybe it will, but maybe you'll end up hating it

 

[Meisterjäger]

Where abouts do you live, man? If you're in the UK, I'd do a straight swap of your JB for my X2N if it's in good shape.

 

[ProjectHamsterdam]

Coming from a former JB-hater: give it more time and rethink your amp settings.

When I first tried the JB I was grossed out by the flubby lows and the cutting and too present highs. I really didn't like it. But give it more time, play around with the amp settings and it might grow on you. It did grow on me.

It has a very pleasant midrange, a bit different than the one EMGs have.

If you really, really don't like it in the end, just throw in some EMGs, but give the JB a chance first. It's more of a taste thing, IMO.

 

[DevilJaw]

ive always thought the JBs would sound great in a better sounding solid body, i switched out my SH4/SH2 combo in my rhoads jackson to emg 85/81, i love that combo sounds better in that body. the SH4 was just a little too present in the highend, the low was more than controllable depending on your style.

but after i put the SH4/SH2 in a semi-hollow body i loved them they tamed that high end and made the pickup very balanced and gives it a classic punchy hot pickup sound which is what i wanted in that guitar.

but yeah give it some more time, i think they could sound very good in a solid body like the les paul, so try some diff amp settings and adjust your technique and see what happens.