PUP POLL!! Loading a '57 Goldtop RI

[Ventura]

Loading another Lester up with aftermarket pups... I'm a devout BKP fan and pretty well every one of my guitars has a set in them. I've heard tremendously good things with regards to Wade and Motor City Pickups. I'd like to know the differences between the Afwayu and 2nd Degree Black Belts, as far as playing sensitivity "finger feedback" are concerned. And what amps you're pushing with them. And what musical style you're using them within.

We know the guitar, here's the rest of the gear:
- typically running this guitar through 20thA-XTC, 20thA-Shiva, JJ100
- this guitar is used for my rockin' music, everything from heavy blues to heavy rock
- this guitar is my go-to-feel-good guitar, it gets a lot of play
- seeking a calibrated set
- open, articulate, not compressed, super sweet range and note definition
- used for everything from smokey bluesy neck pup noodlin', to balls-to-the-wall APC, AIC, Tool, etc.

If you picked "Other", let me know your considerations - I know Reza will likely waltz in here and tell me to go hand-wound custom from the Seymour Duncan shop; which isn't out of the question.

 

[Deanmachine]

I have 4 les Pauls each one has a set of pickups from BK painkillers,Suhr Aldrich , Duncan Alt-8, and MCP Afwayu ..like the Mcps the best

 

[tripstan]

Check out some Seymour Ducan Antiquities. Calibrated, open and sweet sounding. Or go with MCP's. Reza's gone. Some trolls got to him and he lost his shit and bailed. But Duncan custom shop wouldn't be a bad idea either.

 

[Ventura]

I have 4 les Pauls each one has a set of pickups from BK painkillers,Suhr Aldrich , Duncan Alt-8, and MCP Afwayu ..like the Mcps the best

Thanks man, what kinda music and what kinda amps are you driving??

 

[Salos]

I haven't played a BB or Afwayu, but I had a Motor City Dragon Suit in my R7's bridge. And it slayed. Only reason I sold the guitar was because the neck was so frickin' huge. It was an '01 R7, and it demolished the '16 R8 I had around the same time.

 

[Ventura]

I haven't played a BB or Afwayu, but I had a Motor City Dragon Suit in my R7's bridge. And it slayed. Only reason I sold the guitar was because the neck was so frickin' huge. It was an '01 R7, and it demolished the '16 R8 I had around the same time.

Good to know - amps you were pushing at the time??

 

[bhuard75]

Ive been back and forth between a MCP hothead and an "unpotted" detroiter for a while now. Im running a dmoll and 5153 100s el34. Play with alot of gain too for a hard rock kinda guy. Ive had a few BKPs, i wont say theres a difference in sound quality between MCP/BKP. Its certainly a matter of preference as i cant get away from the unpotted detroiter..

 

[Starman22]

I have a few LP's and I got to say a SH-5b Duncan Custom bridge just kills in any LP I put it in. It's really an amazing pickup and is comparatively inexpensive.

 

[glip22]

OX4 high winds are it for a Paul.

 

[Shawn Lutz]

I like mid to lower output pickups in LP's today's higher gain amps. I put a set of Duncan Antquities in my R7 and they kick ass, expressive, dynamic to pick attack and clean up well rolling off the volume on the guitar. In my 3PU BB7 LPC I have a Duncan Custom in the bridge asn BB's in the mid and neck. In my Trad + I have a set of DiMarzio 36th Anniversary's. All 3 my LP's sound great in all of my amps.

 

[fusedbrain]

- open, articulate, not compressed, super sweet range and note definition
- used for everything from smokey bluesy neck pup noodlin', to balls-to-the-wall APC, AIC, Tool, etc.

Of the 2 choices you mentioned, I would use the 2nd degree BB's for this application. I have a set in a LP traditional non weight relieved and I'm playing the music you mentioned with a BE100, Bogner Helios, SLO100, Wizard MCII and MTL etc...
If the LP is weight relieved, or you want just a little "more" while retaining all the qualities of a moderate output pickup, I would suggest the MCP Detroiter. Slightly more mid cut as well. The Detroiter is my fav Les Paul pu EVER, and is what's in my weight relieved standard. The non weight relieved Traditional has a little more "girth" to it's tone, so the 2 LP's actualy sound pretty close except for the slightly more forward mids of the Detroiter one. But both LP's sound and have all the qualities you describe.
The 2nd degree BB's are in the 8-8.5k range, the Detroiters a round 9-9.5k.
The Afwayu is a great pickup and would kill for the AIC and tool stuff, but is not as versatile in a LP. They are approx 14k +, a little subdued up top and very thick. It's "the best JB you've ever heard". I don't think that's what you're looking for.
I tried an Afwayu set in both LP's, and that set of pu's now lives in a really bright Ibanez baritone ( ash body, maple neck, ebony board), where they are just crushing.
Hope that helps!

 

[Bxlxaxkxe]

Afwayu is intense. Honestly I think it's too much for an LP. The low end is so massive and the low mids are so thick that it's over the top for an already fat sounding guitar like an LP. Brighter guitar- different story. Had a detroiter in a PRS- liked it but didn't love it. A little too middy for me, but PRSi are middy by nature so it may be just perfect in an LP. 2nd DBB are probably the safest bet, though I've never had the pleasure.

 

[Ventura]

Great intel so far Folks, thanks so much!! Keep it coming...

More R&D needed

 

[mooncobra]

rebel yell set

great in les pauls

-saw Gary suggest OX4's. I think there may be a set or two on san fran craigslist for a big savings.

 

[Salos]

I haven't played a BB or Afwayu, but I had a Motor City Dragon Suit in my R7's bridge. And it slayed. Only reason I sold the guitar was because the neck was so frickin' huge. It was an '01 R7, and it demolished the '16 R8 I had around the same time.

Good to know - amps you were pushing at the time??

Gower KK++ 1959.

 

[Ventura]

Keep 'em coming Gents!!

 

[itsme]

After endless pickup swaps in my LPs, they all have afwayu's in them now. They just sound right with my Marshall's, Bogner, Friedman and Mesa...

 

[fearhk213]

I think the MCP Hothead or OX4 would be a great candidate. Sounded killer pushing my Fortins and EVH stealth.

Ive been back and forth between a MCP hothead and an "unpotted" detroiter for a while now. Im running a dmoll and 5153 100s el34. Play with alot of gain too for a hard rock kinda guy. Ive had a few BKPs, i wont say theres a difference in sound quality between MCP/BKP. Its certainly a matter of preference as i cant get away from the unpotted detroiter..

Not to derail the thread, but how are the unpotted detroiters different from the regular ones? I too am a big fan of the hothead & detroiter. I'm currently on a detroiter kick at the moment and have been thinking about trying the upotted ones.

 

[Deanmachine]

I have 4 les Pauls each one has a set of pickups from BK painkillers,Suhr Aldrich , Duncan Alt-8, and MCP Afwayu ..like the Mcps the best

Thanks man, what kinda music and what kinda amps are you driving??

Bogner 97 101bs,Diezel Herbert and Einstien,Friedman SS-100 and BE-100 currently a Marshall Gower Rockmonster Styles are hard rock,metal and clean

 

[fuzzyguitars]

you must try a set of duncan pearly gates, if you dont do the whole set you ought to at least try the neck.

if you want open, with good top end and rock and roll mojo.

i have tons of wades stuff.

afwayu is way too hot for me, including hot heads.

detroiter is the pickup most use for rock and roll as it is a little hotter with more controlled bass than the bb. i prefer the bb set myself as i prefer lower out put into high gain amps