NGD - Les Paul Standard 50s Tobacco Burst

[James Freeman]

HNGD

Lets see that back shot tho...

Thanks!

 

[Eagle]

Burstbuckers 1+2 with Alnico II with 7.6k Neck and 8.1k Bridge measured on my Gibson, compared to 59 SH-1 Alnico V with 7.6k Neck and JB with 15.9K Bridge.
Although both are Les Paul, they are VERY different instruments, I don't think the 50s Gibson can do Metal at all, the Bridge humbucker just itsn't there, much more suitable for Led Zeppelin, Gary Moore, Clapton, etc.

Here's a very good comparison of PAF pickups, they all pretty much sound the same.

Not in to a great amp with a great player.
And it depends what you call metal.

 

[Eagle]

Thanks!

View attachment 33927

Gibson have a great wood shop . When I talk about mahogany that is what I mean not the generic red fence post wood a lot of companies call “mahogany “.

 

[TSJMajesty]

That's a sweet-looking guitar! Congratulations on getting your dream! I love the Tobacco Burst color. It's probably what I'd have gotten if I didn't get a Silverburst.

How does it play?

 

[2112]

Sweet looking axe JF, congrats.

The Les Paul custom I just acquired has aftermarket burstbuckers fitted and I really like the way they sound.

Now let's hear some clips through the JCM800

 

[Eagle]

I would be surprised if you can’t get metal out of a paf.

 

[James Freeman]

How does it play?

After adjusting the truss rod, top-wrapping, bridge and pickup height, it plays exactly how I like it.
As I know, all Gibson are Plek'd so the frets and nut cutting are excellent, but I've aslo seen some horrifying things from Gibson on the internet, luckily mine was all good, I did carefully check it in the store.

I would be surprised if you can’t get metal out of a paf.

I can but it's not as tight or chuggy as the JB, the bridge humbucker is thinner (may the resonance frequency is higher?) and much lower in gain.

let's hear some clips through the JCM800

Shredding some tasty licks on my Gibson through my Marshall.

 

[Humbug]

Shredding some tasty licks on my Gibson through my Marshall.

That's a pretty good U2 cover, but you forgot to turn the delay on.

 

[Iron1]

Congrats!

HNGD

Lets see that back shot tho...

Oh, you meant back of the guitar... I was expecting a spinal x-ray to show the relief tension that LP creates on James' internal truss rod.

 

[sleewell]

Gorgeous, congrats!!

 

[Byrdman]

HNGD! Absolutely Beautiful!!

That is my favorite "Burst" color as well.

 

[James Freeman]

Bumping for pickup comparison.
Burstbuckers 1+2 vs Seymour Duncan 59+JB.

---

Bridge Burstbucker 2 (Clean)


Bridge Seymour Duncan JB (Clean)


---

Neck Burstbucker 1 (Clean)


Neck Seymour Duncan 59 (Clean)

 

[James Freeman]

Bridge Burstbucker 2 (Distortion)


Bridge Seymour Duncan JB (Distortion)


---

What I hear;
Both neck pickups (BB1, SD 59) are low output PAF style so they sound very similar.
The bridge SD JB is about 5dB louder that the BB2, thicker, less trebly, better hum-bucking due to balanced coils resulting in lower noise by -3dB, and imo sounds and feels a lot better with distortion compared to the BB2.
To my ear the bridge BB2 sounds nasaly and shrill with distoriton, probably works better for mid-gain blues rock tones, but not what I personally expect to hear from a distortied amp especially with higher gain and palm mutes.

 

[HotRats]

A word about the Burstbucker 1+2, they are so much lower in output than the Seymour Duncan, JB+59 in the Edwards, definitely not designed for metal of even hard rock, these are low output vintage PAF pickups.
It's a completely new experience for me, up till now I only tried much hotter EMG 81+85 and JB+59.
Fun times ahead.

Man congratulation! I love Tobacco Les Pauls and, please, don't replace those BB pickups.

There's a lot of beauty to be found in paf humbuckers even for hard rock or metal.

 

[FuzzyAce]

Bridge Burstbucker 2 (Distortion)


Bridge Seymour Duncan JB (Distortion)


---

What I hear;
Both neck pickups (BB1, SD 59) are low output PAF style so they sound very similar.
The bridge SD JB is about 5dB louder that the BB2, thicker, less trebly, better hum-bucking due to balanced coils resulting in lower noise by -3dB, and imo sounds and feels a lot better with distortion compared to the BB2.
To my ear the bridge BB2 sounds nasaly and shrill with distoriton, probably works better for mid-gain blues rock tones, but not what I personally expect to hear from a distortied amp especially with higher gain and palm mutes.

Definitely thicker sounding. Either works, but do what you want, you have to play it!
Like you said, lower gain stuff the BBs might be better suited if you need a bit more top end clarity, less lows.
Have you tried a '59 in the bridge before? I have one in a guitar and it works great. It probably falls somewhere in between the BB2 and JB I'm guessing.

 

[James Freeman]

please, don't replace those BB pickups.

Spoiler

As PAF pickups go Burstbuckers are probably more than good enough, but I just can't give up on the JB in the bridge, it feels and sounds so much better with distortion than the BB2.

Have you tried a '59 in the bridge before?

No, didn't have the chance to experiment with pickups yet, that's a very deep rabbit hole I try to avoid.

 

[Byrdman]

To me, very similar sounding, but a little different. Either way, still an awesome LP!!

 

[TSJMajesty]

I hear very tiny, tiny differences. Like, it has a great, instantly-recognizable, LP sound to it, that unless it's not doing something specific you want it to do, if it were me, I'd just leave it alone. And enjoy it for what it is.

 

[TSJMajesty]

No, didn't have the chance to experiment with pickups yet, that's a very deep rabbit hole I try to avoid.

Wait a minute...., maybe I misunderstood.

Isn't that what you were doing a couple posts above, and thus, what my comment was partly based upon? Am I missing something?

 

[Humbug]

No, didn't have the chance to experiment with pickups yet, that's a very deep rabbit hole I try to avoid.

They're basically just inductors, and you have the vacuum potting setup ready, so... Come on! Do it!