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Introduction to Les Paul Pickups
Les Paul pickups are a crucial aspect of the iconic Les Paul guitar, with various options available, including P-90s and PAF humbuckers. The Charlie Christian pickup, despite its heavy magnets and low output, was considered a great pickup in its time, setting the stage for future innovations like the P-90s. The debate over pickups is ongoing, with many enthusiasts discussing the best options for their Les Paul. Gibson Les Pauls are often associated with PAF humbuckers or P-90s, but other options are also available. Understanding the history and characteristics of Les Paul pickups can help guitarists make informed decisions.
Types of Les Paul Pickups
There are several types of Les Paul pickups available, each with its unique tone and characteristics. Some of the most popular types of Les Paul pickups include:
PAF Clones: These pickups are designed to replicate the tone of the original PAF pickups. Known for their warm, balanced tone with a strong midrange and smooth highs, PAF clones are a favorite among players seeking that vintage Les Paul sound.
Seymour Duncan Pickups: Seymour Duncan is a well-known brand in the guitar world, and their pickups are popular among Les Paul players. They offer a range of pickups, including the SH-1 ‘59, which is designed to replicate the tone of the original PAF pickups, providing a balanced tone with clear articulation.
Gibson Pickups: As the manufacturer of the Les Paul guitar, Gibson’s pickups are designed to provide the classic Les Paul tone. They offer a range of pickups, including the ‘57 Classic and the Burstbucker, both of which deliver a fuller sound with enhanced sustain, perfect for achieving that iconic Les Paul tone.
Bare Knuckle Pickups: Bare Knuckle is a popular brand among guitar players, known for their high-quality tone and construction. They offer a range of pickups, including the Black Dog, which is designed to provide a high-output tone with a strong midrange and smooth highs, ideal for players looking for a more aggressive sound.
- Lollar Pickups: Lollar is a well-known brand in the guitar world, and their pickups are popular among Les Paul players. They offer a range of pickups, including the Imperial, which is designed to provide a warm, balanced tone with a strong midrange and smooth highs, capturing the essence of the 1950s PAF humbuckers with a modern twist.
Choosing the Right Les Paul Pickups
Selecting the ideal pickups for your Les Paul is a crucial step in crafting your desired sound. The choice of pickups significantly influences the tonal characteristics and versatility of your guitar. With so many options available, it’s essential to consider your musical style, the sound you’re aiming for, and the specific qualities you want in a pickup.
Exploring Different Types of Pickups
When exploring pickups, you’ll encounter a variety of types, each offering unique tonal qualities. For instance, PAF clones are revered for their vintage warmth and balanced tone, making them a favorite among players who cherish the classic Les Paul sound. On the other hand, modern options like active pickups provide a higher output and clarity, perfect for those playing heavier music genres. Pickups with high output are often preferred for metal music, while pickups with lower output are suitable for other music styles, offering a more balanced and clean tone.
Understanding Neck and Bridge Pickups
Understanding the differences between neck and bridge pickups is also vital. Neck pickups typically offer a warmer, fuller sound, ideal for smooth, melodic playing, while bridge pickups provide a brighter, more aggressive tone suitable for cutting through mixes and delivering powerful riffs.
Signature Pickups for Iconic Tones
For those looking to replicate the tones of iconic guitarists, signature pickups can be a great choice. Brands like Seymour Duncan and Gibson offer signature models that capture the essence of famous players’ sounds, allowing you to infuse your playing with their distinctive tones.
Materials and Their Impact on Tone
Moreover, consider the materials used in the pickups, such as the type of magnets and wire, as these components play a significant role in shaping the sound. Alnico magnets, for instance, are known for their warm, vintage tone, while ceramic magnets offer a sharper, more modern sound.
Best Pickups for Les Pauls
Gibson Original 57 Classic Plus Pickup
- Wax Potted
- Double Black Bobbins
- Features Alnico II Magnet, braided 2-conductor wiring
The Gibson Original 57 Classic Plus Pickup is renowned for its ability to deliver the quintessential Les Paul tone, making it a staple choice for many guitarists seeking that authentic vintage sound. This pickup is designed to capture the essence of the original PAFs, offering a warm, rich tone with a perfect balance between clarity and fullness. The ’57 Classic Plus is an ideal choice for players who want a fuller sound with enhanced sustain, making it perfect for genres like classic rock, blues, and jazz.
One of the standout features of the ’57 Classic Plus is its slightly overwound design, which provides a bit more output than the standard ’57 Classic. This results in a hotter pickup that can push your amp harder, delivering a more aggressive tone when needed. Despite its increased output, the ’57 Classic Plus maintains the smooth highs and strong midrange that are characteristic of the best Les Paul pickups.
Gibson ensures that each ’57 Classic Plus Pickup is constructed with the highest quality materials, including Alnico II magnets and enamel-coated wire, staying true to the original PAF design. This attention to detail not only preserves the vintage character of the pickup but also contributes to its durability and reliability.
For players who prioritize tonal balance and versatility, the Gibson Original 57 Classic Plus Pickup is a fantastic choice. Whether you’re playing soft jazz melodies or hard-hitting rock riffs, this pickup can handle a wide range of styles with ease. Its ability to deliver both a smooth, articulate sound and a powerful, driving tone makes it a favorite pickup among Les Paul enthusiasts.
Fishman Fluence Modern Humbucker Alnico & Ceramic Pickups Set
The Fishman Fluence Modern Humbucker Alnico & Ceramic Pickups Set is a revolutionary choice for guitarists seeking cutting-edge technology combined with versatile tonal options. Unlike traditional pickups, the Fluence series utilizes a unique design that incorporates a multi-voice feature, allowing players to switch between different voicings with ease. This innovation provides unparalleled flexibility, making it an excellent choice for those who play a variety of musical styles.
The set includes two distinct pickups: an Alnico pickup for the neck position and a Ceramic pickup for the bridge position. The Alnico pickup offers a warm, organic tone with a smoother response, making it ideal for clean passages, blues, and jazz. On the other hand, the Ceramic pickup delivers a more aggressive, high-output sound with a tighter low end, perfect for hard rock and metal.
One of the standout features of the Fishman Fluence Modern set is its noise-free operation. Thanks to its active design, these pickups provide a crystal-clear sound without the hum and noise often associated with traditional pickups. This makes them a fantastic choice for both studio recordings and live performances, ensuring that your Les Paul sounds fantastic in any setting.
Additionally, the Fluence Modern set offers coil splitting capabilities, allowing players to access single-coil tones alongside the humbucker sounds. This feature further enhances the versatility of the set, providing a wide range of tonal possibilities at your fingertips.
Seymour Duncan Seth Lover Nickel Humbucker Set
- Vintage Blues, Jazz, and Classic Rock Sound - Transform your guitar into a...
- Smooth and Articulate Tone - The Seth Lover neck model delivers a smooth...
- Vintage-Correct Wiring - Features vintage-correct single conductor...
The Seymour Duncan Seth Lover Nickel Humbucker Set is revered among guitarists for its ability to capture the essence of vintage Les Paul tones. Named after the legendary pickup designer Seth Lover, who was instrumental in developing the original PAF humbuckers, this set is designed to deliver the classic, warm, and rich sound that has defined countless iconic recordings. The Seth Lover humbucker is known for its broad tonal spectrum, sweetness, and clarity despite having lower output.
Each humbucker in the set is meticulously crafted to replicate the tonal characteristics of the original PAFs, offering a smooth, balanced sound with a strong midrange and sweet highs. The use of Alnico II magnets and vintage-style construction techniques ensures that the Seth Lover set provides not only a faithful reproduction of the vintage sound but also the dynamic response and articulation that players crave.
The nickel covers add a touch of elegance and help to reduce unwanted noise, ensuring that the pickups deliver a clear, articulate sound even at high volumes. This makes them an excellent choice for a wide range of musical genres, from classic rock and blues to jazz and beyond.
One of the standout features of the Seth Lover Nickel Humbucker Set is its ability to maintain clarity and definition, even under heavy distortion. This makes it a versatile option for players who need pickups that can handle both clean, melodic passages and aggressive, overdriven riffs with equal aplomb.
EMG ZW Zakk Wylde Signature Humbucker Guitar Pickup Set
- Zakk Wylde Signature Pickup Set
- Includes both EMG 81 & 85 active pickups
- Long shaft volume and tone controls
The EMG ZW Zakk Wylde Signature Humbucker Guitar Pickup Set is a powerhouse choice for those seeking a robust, high-output sound that can handle the demands of hard rock and metal. Designed in collaboration with legendary guitarist Zakk Wylde, this pickup set is crafted to deliver the aggressive, punchy tones that are synonymous with Wylde’s playing style.
The set includes the EMG 81 and EMG 85 active pickups, both of which are known for their clarity, power, and ability to cut through dense mixes. The EMG 81, typically used in the bridge position, offers a sharp, precise sound with a tight low end and searing highs, making it ideal for heavy riffing and solos. Meanwhile, the EMG 85, often placed in the neck position, provides a smoother, more rounded tone with a rich midrange and a fuller sound, perfect for melodic leads and rhythm playing.
One of the standout features of the EMG ZW set is its active design, which uses a built-in preamp to boost the signal, resulting in more output and less noise. This makes it an excellent choice for players who require a hotter pickup that can drive their amp into saturation without sacrificing clarity or definition.
Additionally, the EMG ZW set offers exceptional tonal balance and versatility, allowing players to switch seamlessly between aggressive metal tones and more nuanced, expressive sounds. This makes it a favorite pickup set for Les Paul enthusiasts who want a reliable, high-performance option for both live performances and studio recordings.
Seymour Duncan APH-2s Alnico II Pro Slash Signature Humbucker Set
- Slash-Approved Sound - Recreate that "Appetite for Destruction" tone with...
- Signature Design - Voiced by Slash for his Les Pauls, these pickups have...
- Vintage Authenticity - Crafted with a unique mag wire, winding spec, and...
The Seymour Duncan APH-2s Alnico II Pro Slash Signature Humbucker Set is revered for capturing the distinctive tones of legendary guitarist Slash. Known for its smooth, warm sound, this set is perfect for those looking to emulate the iconic Les Paul sound heard in classic rock hits. The Alnico II magnets provide a sweeter, more articulate tone, which complements the natural resonance of a Les Paul. Alnico II Pro pickups can produce a warm and fluid tone, but their performance is highly dependent on the characteristics of the guitar they’re installed in.
One of the standout features of the APH-2s set is its ability to deliver both clarity and warmth, making it ideal for players who want a versatile pickup that can handle a range of styles. Whether you’re playing soulful blues, melodic rock, or even venturing into harder rock territories, this pickup set offers the tonal flexibility you need.
The bridge pickup in the set is slightly overwound, providing a bit more output for those searing solos and powerful riffs, while the neck pickup offers a fuller, more rounded sound that’s perfect for smooth, creamy leads. This combination allows for a seamless transition between different playing styles, making it a favorite pickup set for many Les Paul enthusiasts.
Additionally, the APH-2s set is designed with vintage aesthetics in mind, featuring classic nickel covers that not only look great but also help reduce unwanted noise. This attention to detail ensures that the pickups not only sound fantastic but also maintain the classic look of a Les Paul.
Conclusion
Choosing the right pickups for your Les Paul can be a challenging task, but with the right knowledge and guidance, you can find the perfect tone. Many players find that replacing stock pickups with higher-quality alternatives can significantly enhance their guitar’s performance. Consider your playing style, musical genre, and personal preference when selecting pickups. Don’t be afraid to experiment and try out different pickups to find the one that works best for you. Pre-wired kits can simplify the installation process of new electronics in Les Paul guitars, making upgrades more accessible even for beginners. With the right pickups, your Les Paul can sound fantastic and become your favorite guitar.