PUP POLL!! Loading a '57 Goldtop RI

[Rdodson]

I agree with Shawn regarding the SD Antiquities, especially the bridge. The Lindy Fralin "Unbucker" lower-wind would be my choice in the neck as it is brighter and doesn't get too woofy. https://www.fralinpickups.com/product/unbucker/

 

[Ventura]

Bump for more!!

2nd Degree BB seem to be taking the lead.
Afrwayu are Wade's recommendations, but jeebuss the output freaks me out man!! (might as well go EMG active as that DC resistance!!)

Then there's always - ALWAYS - the BKPs...

Appreciate the feedback Cats!!

 

[Deanmachine]

The Afwayus are a bit darker but there not as toppy as the Suhr Aldrich which I run also in a Custom shop Les Paul ...the JB with an A8 unpolished mag sounded good too

 

[SFW]

I haven't played the MCPs yet, but I a set of Mules in my 2001 Classic that simply sound fantastic. Through either my 5153 or my Splawn QuickRod. I have a set of Rebel Yells in my Standard. While the RYs kill at hard and heavy, the Mules simply do everything well. Sound beautiful clean and will take high gain like a champ. I have the unpotted model, and have never had an issue with squealing.

 

[RedB4Black]

I have 2 customs - one with a BK Painkiller and the other with a Suhr Aldrich. The Aldrich sounds the best. I tried the Afwayu in one of them and didn't like it at all. The Afwayu sounded incredible in my PRS SC250 though.

I just put a Suhr Thornbucker + in my R8 and I love that pick-up. I'm thinking about dumping the Painkiller in my custom for another Thornbucker+

 

[cecilbag]

Personally, I love mcp. I like the detroiters best in a les Paul but 2nd degree black belts are a very clos second. I play mainly Splawn and SLO. The note to note clarity is amazing. I don't use a lot of gain. I run around 3-4 on my Soldano.

 

[psychodave]

Suhr Aldrich sounds excellent in a Les Paul.

I had a MCP Afwayu and thought it must have been made for a bass player. lol

 

[Ventura]

Excellent replies Men, thank you...

Just a point - I've got RiffRaffs, Mules, Emeralds, BlackDogs(love 'em!!), MiracleMans, PainKillers(love 'em), Holy Divers (7 string), and I think another model or two... I know BKPs and love BKPs hence the reason I have so many BKPs.

I just thought I'd venture outwards a bit. Suhr, JB, custom SD, Detroiter seems to be getting a lot of good press; Afwayu seems hit and miss; BB and 2nd Degree BB seems to be boding well in this trhead; OX4 never heard of them; Pearly Gates - tried 'em, don't really care for them - they didn't make an impression on me.

Les Paul '57 Goldtop pushing a JJ100, XTC, Shiva and likely a Butterslax soon enough. TONES sought - definitely Cantrell style tones with the JJ100.....period. If I can dedicate my '57 Goldtop to being my AIC cover guitar with the JJ100, I'm in.

Maybe I oughta just email Wade that very sentence and see what he says LOL....

 

[DistortED]

I'm running a MCP Afwayu Bridge and BB2 in the neck on my R7 Gold Top. Really dig that combo a lot.

 

[SpiderWars]

I hear ya on the Pearly Gates. I just put one in my Lester and it's pretty dull/meh/blah. So far my favorite neck pickup in my LP has been a Dimarzio 36th Anni (followed by a WCR Crossroads). I just ordered their new 59 PAF bridge model to try in the neck (the neck model just looks too low output for me on their site). I absolutely love their PAF Master bridge pickup in the neck of my Chubtone, but that guitar is a whole nuther aminal.

I recently tried a Detroiter in my Chubtone and it was very bright (the guitar is bright tho) and in that guitar was very twangy. You could not get that twang out of the D string for example no matter what. Some people want that but it wasn't for me. The regular BB (not 2nd) I tried in the neck was also very bright and scooped and made for a really juicy/greasy neck tone. Again, not my thing but perfection for others.

I'm struggling to find a Duncan neck pickup I love and a Dimarzio bridge pickup I love. And their damn cream bobbins don't match.

EDIT: I played a dude's R9 with OX4s in it at FL Tonefest and it sounded amazing. But I had no frame of reference, it was plugged into his Bogen conversion (not gainy but an unknown) in an echo-y church lobby. So tough to really assess them. Those things are pricey though.