NGD Les Paul Studio - Question about Burstbucker Pro

[Genghis]

I just snagged a mint condition Les Paul Studio Dark Purple and it is in amazing condition. Love the feel and overall sound it has with the Burstbucker Pro pickups but when I pull the coil tap the tapped sound is really strange. It doesn't sound like any other coil tapped pickups I have ever used, and I'm not really liking it all that much. Seems to have less highs overall than the humbucker mode, but it has kind of a filtered tone like a cocked wah with a sizzle in the very high frequencies if you listen closely. It adds noise as expected, but other than that, it just doesn't sound right. Love the sounds in humbucker mode though.

Just thought I would ask others who may have played these pickups if they have similar experience with the coil tapped sound. If so do you have any recommendations for some pickups that have a similar vibe in humbucker mode, but actually sound good tapped. I wouldn't mind going just a bit higher in output to better match what my Jems and RGs have, but I don't want screaming death machine pickups in this one. I also may just keep it as is and accept that the pickups sound kind of off when tapped.

Anyway, here are a couple of pictures of the guitar,

 

[gearJunkie]

I just snagged a mint condition Les Paul Studio Dark Purple and it is in amazing condition. Love the feel and overall sound it has with the Burstbucker Pro pickups but when I pull the coil tap the tapped sound is really strange. It doesn't sound like any other coil tapped pickups I have ever used, and I'm not really liking it all that much. Seems to have less highs overall than the humbucker mode, but it has kind of a filtered tone like a cocked wah with a sizzle in the very high frequencies if you listen closely. It adds noise as expected, but other than that, it just doesn't sound right. Love the sounds in humbucker mode though.

Just thought I would ask others who may have played these pickups if they have similar experience with the coil tapped sound. If so do you have any recommendations for some pickups that have a similar vibe in humbucker mode, but actually sound good tapped. I wouldn't mind going just a bit higher in output to better match what my Jems and RGs have, but I don't want screaming death machine pickups in this one. I also may just keep it as is and accept that the pickups sound kind of off when tapped.

Anyway, here are a couple of pictures of the guitar,

View attachment 49910View attachment 49911

Are there dip switches in the control cavity. I've seen some LPs with dip switches that allow the burstbucker to split coils or emulate a P90 when activated.

 

[Genghis]

Are there dip switches in the control cavity. I've seen some LPs with dip switches that allow the burstbucker to split coils or emulate a P90 when activated.

View attachment 49913

I will check that out. Thanks for the tip!

 

[Genghis]

No DIP switches on this one. I will have my tech buddy check it out and decide how I want to handle it. I think the 498T and 490R set might be more along the lines of what I like, but will let him take a look and listen and see what he thinks.

 

[CBHScott]

For whatever reason, Gibson and coil splits/taps just don’t jibe IMO. I have never gotten a good sound out of one, be it a Studio, Classic, etc. it always sounds to me like an out-of-phase tone than a single coil-like tone.

PRS tends to do this a lot better - to the point that the split pickup sounds better than the full humbucker in some cases.

 

[Genghis]

For whatever reason, Gibson and coil splits/taps just don’t jibe IMO. I have never gotten a good sound out of one, be it a Studio, Classic, etc. it always sounds to me like an out-of-phase tone than a single coil-like tone.

PRS tends to do this a lot better - to the point that the split pickup sounds better than the full humbucker in some cases.

Yeah, that’s what I thought. I’m used to Super Strats, so this is kind of my entry into decent Les Pauls. I had a cheaper LP a few years back, but traded it for something. I can’t remember the exact model, but it was a Gibson that went for under a grand new. This one sounds great except for the coil splits. A little bit hotter bridge pickup would be more of a match with most of the other guitars I gig with though, so I am considering that. And I will be replacing the worthless top hat knobs with speed knobs ASAP.

 

[Eagle]

That’s a phase switch by the sound you describe. Putting one coil out with the other. Horrible sound.
Rewire it to your taste. Nothing wrong with the pickups they are actually pretty good.

 

[Jarick]

That's a cool guitar, really unique.

Does this model have the PCB in the controls or just standard?

I would highly recommend if it has a PCB to replace those electronics with a proper harness and switch. It may resolve any tonal issues you have, because the stock pickups should be solid.

If you want to keep the coil taps, it may be worth doing the above with push pull pots and then adding in the resistor a la PRS. That's a reversible change that should cost like $1 in parts for the resistors.

 

[Genghis]

I think @Eagle is spot on, as that is exactly what it sounds like. Thank you!

And @Jarick I will have my buddy do that as well when I take it to him for final setup and changing that wiring.

I generally like series parallel wiring. May not sound quite like singles, but I hate noise, and like the way it sounds on the neck pickup. Rarely switch to single on the bridge.

 

[SillyOctpuss]

Any chance of more pics? I love purple guitars and would like to see more of yours outside of the case.

 

[spawnofthesith]

Gorgeous guitar, congrats!!

Does it have more than just two push pulls by chance? Like @Eagle mentioned sounds like a phase switch

My 2018 standard has push/pulls on all 4 knobs, the two inside ones are coil tap, then the top outer one is phase and the lower outer bypasses tone/volume knobs and sends bridge straight to output for a "boosted" sound

 

[Genghis]

Gorgeous guitar, congrats!!

Does it have more than just two push pulls by chance? Like @Eagle mentioned sounds like a phase switch

My 2018 standard has push/pulls on all 4 knobs, the two inside ones are coil tap, then the top outer one is phase and the lower outer bypasses tone/volume knobs and sends bridge straight to output for a "boosted" sound

Mine only has two. I would probably not use the out of phase, but I may see if my buddy can wire up one to go straight from the bridge pickup and bypass everything else. I have an old Ibanez that he set up that way with a push-push for quicker switching and I like that option if he can get the switch.

 

[Genghis]

Any chance of more pics? I love purple guitars and would like to see more of yours outside of the case.

Lighting isn’t great in here, but I propped it up on the couch to try and get a better shot of the finish.

I’m really enjoying this guitar and look forward to having my buddy make some minor playing adjustments and rewiring it. Action feels great with just the tweaks I made and I think maybe the nut could go just a smidge lower. Fraction of a millimeter. I’m not comfortable digging in that deep, but he is extremely detail oriented and has been doing this for 40+ years. Plus he doesn’t charge a ton for the quality work he does.

 

[SillyOctpuss]

View attachment 49935
Lighting isn’t great in here, but I propped it up on the couch to try and get a better shot of the finish.

I’m really enjoying this guitar and look forward to having my buddy make some minor playing adjustments and rewiring it. Action feels great with just the tweaks I made and I think maybe the nut could go just a smidge lower. Fraction of a millimeter. I’m not comfortable digging in that deep, but he is extremely detail oriented and has been doing this for 40+ years. Plus he doesn’t charge a ton for the quality work he does.

Translucent purple back and sides too?

 

[Genghis]

Translucent purple back and sides too?

It fades to black at the edges and back and sides are black. I actually shined my phones flashlight on it to double check and see if it is super dark purple, but it looked black. Which is nice as Fade to Black is one of my favorite songs.