Les Paul pickups

[xTomx]

So last year I replaced the stock Classic 57 and 57+ pickups in my Gibson LP traditional because I wanted something a bit hotter.

I put in a 496r and 500t and hate 'em. They're high output but just sound like cloudy, unclear crap with no attack. What would you guys recommend?
I play hardcore and alternative rock stuff - lots of jazz chords and palm muted stuff.

Ideally looking for something with clarity, not so fussed about high output anymore.

 

[~BURNY~]

SH4.

 

[Enghell]

Definitely sounds like you need something from Bare Knuckle Pickups.

 

[drew_drummer]

I'd recommend a Seymour Duncan TB5.

 

[xTomx]

I'd recommend a Seymour Duncan TB5.

I've tried them but they seem really dark.

I'm mostly after clarity and definition but not in a characterless EMG way.

 

[jeid]

This is relevant to my interests. I have an LP Classic with the 496/500 and I'm also looking for something similar to yourself.

 

[atoragon]

what about the seymour duncan slash signature?

 

[mickrich]

I have burstbucker pros in my LP standard and it sounds exactly like a les paul should sound.
My eclipse custom has Duncan 59s in it which also sound amazing.

 

[drew_drummer]

I've tried them but they seem really dark.

I'm mostly after clarity and definition but not in a characterless EMG way.

Hmm. Maybe you had the pickup too close to the strings? Dark is not how I would describe the TB5.

 

[xTomx]

I'll definitely look into the pickups everyone's posted, I'm leaning towards the 498t if anybody has had experience with one?

 

[Rex Rocker]

FWIW, I've had the 498T/490R and found them to be waaaaaaaaaay too generic-sounding. Also kinda noisy and feedbacky. Quite honestly, I don't tend to like traditional PAF-style pickups. I didn't like the DiMarzio PAF 36th Anni nor the Duncan '59 because I find them all a bit too unaggressive and too smooth.

I'd look into the Duncan Distortion if I were you.

 

[guitarfishbay]

Do you still have the 57s? If you didn't try them with 500k pots that would be my first port of call before buying any new sets of pickups. I find 500k pots open up the pickups a bit better than the standard 300k pots.

As for Les Paul Bridge pickups, I like the BB3, 57+, and Duncan 59. The Gibson pickups have a bit more of a gritty midrange to me with the Duncan being smoother. I personally don't like high output pickups on my own hard tail instruments.

 

[guitarguru777]

All of my Les Pauls get the Duncan JB / Jazz setup, and they all sound great. Note clarity, plenty of gain, and when I roll off the volume they clean up and stay clear.

 

[kev]

Burstbuckers all the way!

 

[atoragon]

I love duncan 59, burstbuckers and the original 498 too! btw, Fleshgod Apocalypse's Mafia Ep was recorded with a les paul studio with the stock 498, and it's brootal

 

[AllanD]

I'll definitely look into the pickups everyone's posted, I'm leaning towards the 498t if anybody has had experience with one?

My personal favorite tone was achieved with my Gibson 498t.

 

[xTomx]

Think I'm risk the 498t, other dudes playing similar genre to mine seem pretty content with it.
,
Output really isn't an issue as it'll get boosted by a Fulltone OCD, comp and then twice on my head.

 

[K Odell]

Bareknuckle warpig or nailbomb all day. I have them in my les pauls.