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Opinions sought....pups for my Epi LP

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duhvoodooman

duhvoodooman

Addicted to solder....
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As much as I love my new Epi Elitist LP Standard, the stock pickups are pretty bland and I'm strongly considering replacing them. Initially, I was leaning toward the Seymour Duncan "Hot Rodded Humbucker" set with the SH-4 JB bridge and SH-2 Jazz neck pups, but I've heard some mixed things about that set. Nelskie has recommended the SD '59 for the neck and Pearly Gates model at the bridge. For what I like to play (blues & classic rock), that may be a great combo. SuperSwede likes the classic PAF-type pups, too.

Anyway, I just thought I'd throw it open for a few more e-pinions. The more, the merrier! Geez, maybe I ought to take a poll.....;)
 
I purchased the SH-1 59 Blues set Duncan sells http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/Guitar/Accessories?sku=300022 and put them into a 335 clone hoping to improve the sound alot over the stock muddy pickups... mind you I am a novice at this and tone is still something I am searching for... Although these pickups have a much cleaner sound over the stockers and warmer then a set of carvins(I think the 22 series) I had in a lp copy I am still not satisfied with the sounds they produce..This could also be due to buying the set and not singles which I think I read someplace makes a difference.. these are also 2 wire pickups not the 4 wire ( http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/Guitar/Replacement/Parts?sku=300011 ) .. If there is that much difference in the designs I wish I knew it before buying the set.. I am still in a search for a warmer neck pickup.. again Im new at this so it could just be me... my next venture if at all will be towards the gibson 57 pickups... seeing thats the sound I really wanted anyway...
 
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Again I recommend, as Nelskie and Spud pointed out to you, on the Seymour Duncan Pearly Gates bridge and the Duncan '59 on the neck. As per your musical interest in classic rock and blues this pup combination will please you tremendously I believe. While I do not have the '59 in the neck on my Les Paul Studio I know Nelskie's recommendation is right on the money. I do have the Duncan Pearly Gates bridge pup and for any Les Paul I would think it a requirement! My neck pickup on the Gibby is the stock Gibson PAF pickup which they installed on Les Paul Studios during the mid '80s. That pickup also produces tasty tones.
 
Yo Voodoo - What you might not be aware of is that both of these pickups sound amazing clean. Sure, you can bust stuff out like a nasty dog all day with both the Pearly Gates and the '59. But when you stroke them softly, they purr like kittens. Mrrreeeyyyyooowww! ;)
 
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Well, the PG-bridge/'59-neck combo sure is getting a lot of love here! Looks like that may be the way I should go.

Most of the big online music emporia seem to have the same pricing on these SD pups. Anybody know any places that offer them a bit cheaper? I looked on eBay, and pretty much all the new pups were "buy it now" with the same pricing as everybody else....
 
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Done did the deed! Ordered the two pups from Musiciansfriend.com. I looked at a bunch of places online, and everybody had 'em at the same price. (I think the internet is turning out to be a great tool for price-fixing! ;) ) Decided to go with the black & creme "zebra" color.

Now I gotta start studying up on how to install 'em. Seymour has videos posted on his site, so should hopefully be pretty straightforward....
 
duhvoodooman said:
Done did the deed! Ordered the two pups from Musiciansfriend.com. I looked at a bunch of places online, and everybody had 'em at the same price. (I think the internet is turning out to be a great tool for price-fixing! ;) ) Decided to go with the black & creme "zebra" color.

Now I gotta start studying up on how to install 'em. Seymour has videos posted on his site, so should hopefully be pretty straightforward....
Click to expand...

So, the deal's gone down, eh? Congrats man, I think you'll like that setup.

While you're waiting for them to arrive, bop on down to your local Radio Shack and pick up a small soldering gun and some resin core solder. You want the thin solder. Also get some 22ga. wire to practice with. Clip the wire, strip two pieces, and then tin them and solder them together. When you get a nice, clean, tight joint, you're ready to go.

Here's a link that might be helpful.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soldering
 
Thanks, Rob. How did you know that I've never soldered anything in my life? Well, you're never to old to learn, eh? I'll check out that link.

BTW, are those "cold heat" soldering guns I've seen advertised any good? I'm always skeptical of those TV ads....
 
VooDoo – May I add one more piece of information on soldering? If you have any alligator clips lying around, I would like to HIGHLY recommend that you clip the alligator clip on to each wire before you solder. The clip will act as a heat sink and not allow the plastic to melt on the wire. Normally individuals new to soldering apply to much heat and also longer than needed. This is due to not having a skill in soldering techniques. This skill will come with time.
 
Zebra color scheme is THE ONLY WAY TO GO for that rippin rock and roll look and vibe. ;)

Wiring them is easy. The hardest part is cutting back the rubber sleeve on the wires without damaging the leads. Twist up the green wire and the outer bare wire and solder those together before grounding them to the top of your volume pots. Then solder together the white and red leads (I believe its that pair on the Duncans...other brands it's black and white)...tape those so they don't come in contact with anything...and then solder the black wire to the hot end of the volume pot which is the far left lug (or right lug depending on how the pot was soldered to ground). Easy.
 
tone2thebone said:
Zebra color scheme is THE ONLY WAY TO GO for that rippin rock and roll look and vibe.
Click to expand...

Yep, I thought so, too! :R

tone2thebone said:
Wiring them is easy....
Click to expand...

Well, that may be true. But, after opening the back of my LP last night and looking at the pots, I decided that it may not the best idea for me to learn soldering on this particular job! It's pretty "busy" and cramped down in there, so I think I'll enlist the services of an experienced solderer. Fortunately, we have several where I work and I'm sure one of them would help me out. And I'll look over his shoulder throughout the procedure so that I learn something, too.
 
VooDoo - Great thinking on your part. The LPs are very cramped for any kind of work. Even the wires are tuff to install though the small cavities. I think it will be worth your trouble to have an experienced solderer (sp?) perform the work.

Being that I am ham radio hobbyist, soldering is a skill. I still have problems doing some projects. I have been known to melt the inside of a pot trying to solder the grounds wires to it.

As Tone described, stripping the covering without breaking any strains of wire is important. It becomes the weakest link of the wire and the solder joint.
 
Oh boy, oh boy, oh boy!!!

Ended up taking my Epi LP to a small local guitar shop, after hearing that they would do this pickup installation for a mere $20. Though we have experienced solderers here where I work, they aren't guitarists who could then adjust the pickups for sound. So, for $20, I decided to let a pro do it.

Anyway, just got the guitar back this morning (a friend here at work who lives right near the shop picked it up for me last night), and she sure LOOKS HOT with those zebra pups!! Can't hardly wait to get home tonight and see if she sounds as good as she looks!! :R :R :R
 
duhvoodooman said:
and she sure LOOKS HOT with those zebra pups!! Can't hardly wait to get home tonight and see if she sounds as good as she looks!!
Click to expand...
pics....we need pics! (if you don't have a digital camera you can send it to me and i'll take some pics of it for you!...just to help out of course :D )
 
SuperSwede said:
Have a bottle of wine with her....
Click to expand...
warren0728 said:
pics....we need pics!
Click to expand...
Lemme see--I'm suppose to ply her with wine and then take photos?? You guys obviously have some experience with this! :D

Yeah, I'll take some pics tonight when I get home and post 'em.
 
Photos!!!

Here's some shots of my Epi Elitist LP Standard with the new Seymour Duncan pups installed. Pearly Gates at the bridge and '59 at the neck. Gotta play it a lot more to really explore the sound, but very impressed so far. The guitar's tone just seems to have a lot more authority, if you know what I mean.

View attachment 124 View attachment 125 View attachment 126
 
Thanks for the encouragement, SS! I've been having a ball with the "new" LP this afternoon. I was never all that big of a ZZ Top fan, but between having a Pearly Gates pup at the bridge and recently having bought their Greatest Hits CD, I've been trying to learn a couple of their tunes. Got my AD30VT set to the UK70's model, with my Tone Driver providing a little "dirt", and the tone sounds pretty close. Can't quite play 'em yet, but gonna learn a-how, how, how! :D
 
duhvoodooman,

Can you describe the difference between the stock pups & Pearly Gates at the bridge and '59 at the neck.

You said more authority.....Hmmm....more treble, bass...? Hotter output?

I've been thinking of new pups. Also have heard that upgrading the tone controls helps tremendously.

Tone Seeker...
Paul
 

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