Replacement pups for my LP historics

[DrPCR]

I'm been thinking of putting different pups in one of my LP historics.

Any recommendations. What pups are in your experience, the most close to the 60s-70s LP tone?

I like the LP pups the burstbuckers, but I feel they lack something.

Thanks!

[t_hamill]

Give bareknuckle mules a go, definately one of the better PAF style pickups available.

[Bryan]

Hey Doc, my BG Buckers have been doing great in LPs.
If you are interested let me know!!

[DrPCR]

ok thanks, I'm still trying out some others, will let people know.

[jerryboy]

Hi, Last year I messed arround and really read up on the the different pickups available.
I bought a New 07 LP Studio Vintage .All mahogany.Mine has the BUrst bucker Pro 5. Absoultely hands down the best pickup I have ever used.
I can go from Almond brothers,to tool in 5 seconds. And it does it pretty easily. That BP5 is also a med-high output.
I have several highend Tube amps. I use nothing but Class A single ended all tube heads and Nice speakers.And A variety of cabnets.
And one thing I have noticed with the balanced pickups,I will just be jamming around and hear familiar notes to classic rock songs. I noticed some of Tools slow riffs are rip offs of old Zeppelin tunes. You wont notice this with too many pickups because the tone just isnt there. Kinda hard to imagine.
But I have never done that with crappy pickups. Gibson makes some 57 classics that are pretty choppy. They are a popular choice but why would you want to limit yout sound? You should be able to dial in a classic sound pretty easyily with the volume,if not, the volume tone for sure.
I use nothing but modded pedals.
They are 10x the sound quality of non modded and a tad better than botique pedals. Once I started buying pedals and having them modded,I just cannot use regular pedals anymore.Or use a great amp straight.
I also like the old Dimarzio SD+. One of the classic distortion pickups of all time,it has carried buckethead to where he is.And many others.But it has a distinctive tone when in leads. It sings like an angel.You can hear the SD+ on you tube in bucketheads live versions of PADMASANA and SOOTHSAYER. The Dimarzio SD+ definately has a signature tone when leading.
(Brian) Buckethead doesn't run any really tone coloring effects.On those 2 he uses a envelope/delay/ratt distortion and a wah.The tone of the pickup definately shines on lead.And he runs them paralel.
Then theres the SD SH4. Chosen by many.

I went to a dealer the other day and they know me well.And they asked me why I like the BPpro5s so much. I set up a old marshall and started playing around with them,then I took and didn't change anything but Lps. All the difference in the world.I was jamming at club level(kinda) and switched guitars to an old 80s LP Standard. Sounded like crap.And the volume was about 1/4 what the bppro5s were.And when I compensated with a volume boost,it got worse. And I did this with 20 guitars off the wall. The only pickup on any guitar I thought was worth playing was the new Rocktechs. But they seriously lacked a good lead tone too.
Then I plugged in my LP studio Vintage and rip satch/zeppelin/tool with great accuracy. Look up Leoz crying on you tube.Hard to beat that Dude.
Now I'm not being a know it all, everyones taste is different. And there were 5 models of BP pros. ANd I can honestly say that this bp pro 5 is the best balanced/smoothe pickup Iv ever heard. The frequency response is amazing.
You can get a pickup voiced for about any style you could want.But I also know how it is to want to try something else. Like a new girlfriend! (Hehe)
Could be better could be worse,haha! Most of the Sds are pretty good,a couple models stand out for sure.(sh4).......
I played that day for the guys and they said that guitar was the sweetest they had ever heard,and I gave $700 for it new in the case in 07.Hard to beat that.
I have a trans blue LP classic with the 57 classics,wont hold a candle to the BP pro 5s in any arena.Not at all.
I will share a good thing I discovered recently. I have played EB super slinky 9s for 25+ years(pink pack) and seldomly felt the need to try any new strings as they all have let me down in one way or another.
Well, a guy at Gc talked me into trying some coated Drs. They were definately better in alot of ways from my old go tos,but they died in about a week of daily playing. So the next time i went in, I tryed 2 pairs of coated elixrs.(9s) I wasnt too keen on the coated feel,but now I cant do without.Honestly,I tuned my guitar(my main player)and it stayed in tune for 2 months. If someone told me that,I would call bullcrap quick.But I play this thing daily(for up to 8 hrs) and only the d stretched about half a peg turn in 2 mos. The coating helps at the nut alot,and reduces fret weat alot.
And The Elixrs last me 2 mos or so before they die.Quite a big deal for guitarists.But $15/set. But you will hear a huge diff in tone and feel.
I dont see why many guitar companies dont put them on new production guitars, They are that much better than the rest.Hands down.As hard headed as I am,(proudly)haha, I know when I hear or see or feel better.
From what you stated what you wanted,I would go to GC and get a good Vox or a decent tube head and get the GC kids to leave ya alone and try the rocktechs(they come on the newer BC richs) and the SD antiquities,and the SDsh4s,and the Dimarzio super distortion+ and the classic 57. One of em is bound to jump out at ya. They have most of the pickups mentioned in many different guitars.
The deal with the Studio LP mahogany is that it's a dense(mine is very lightweight) wood. I have a chambered and non chambered, The density of the mahogany resonates well,where as my maple topped Lp customs and standards,sound unbalanced with the PBpro5s.
No paint/binding/caps,+true resonance to me.Thats why they dont finish the inside of an accoustic. I have a LP that was $5,000+ and it has gold fretts.Still can't come close to the BPpro5s.

I'm going to commission Jason S to build me a special guitar soon. I'm hoping to slap SD SH4s or The demarzio SD+. Decisions,decisions! HAHA!

Jerryboy

[r9player]

My personal favorite would be Rolph pick ups, but he's a pretty picky guy to work with, you have to describe your guitar well and what you want to get out of it in the end.
Other good ones that I know.
WCR pick ups I'd ask Jim what he'd recommend as a combo depending on the sound you want and guitar.
I had a set of Bare Knuckle singlecoils that were really amazing so I imagine the buckers should be quite good as well.