PUP Shootout, WCR vs Suhr.

[James Lugo]

I have been going back and forth with pickups and guitars and here's where I'm at:

08' Goldtop Traditional, Suhr SSH 13K (Bridge)
02' Black Standard, Suhr Aldridge 17.5k (Bridge)
06' Sunbusrt Standard, WCR Godwood 9.5k (Bridge)

There's more bass on the Goldtop and Black track but I didn't touch the amp at all, same settings for all three tracks. I probably would have rolled off some low end on the Suhr tracks in an actual recording but for this I kept the slate the same for the test.

71' Marshall Super Tremolo (Friedman 'Brown Eye')
Bogner Straight Ubercab (I mic'ed up the V30)
57>Vintage API 312
421>Vintage Neve 1073

Sunburst
https://soundclick.com/share?songid=7527723

Goldtop
https://soundclick.com/share?songid=7527727

Black
https://soundclick.com/share?songid=7527731



Think I'm gonna switch out the PUPs in the Goldtop for a set of WCR Fillmores (13.5k) with complete wiring/pot package. I have the WCR wiring/pot package in the Sunburst and it just really seems to enhance the sound. The WCR's just jump with aliveness. Also someone's loaning me an Afwayu which I'm gonna throw in my black Paul.

What do you guys think???

 

[FixXxer]

the Godwood is a must own humbucker if you own a les paul.

 

[Gainfreak]

I liked the WCR the best and I actually love Suhr pickups

 

[James Lugo]

Yeah the WCR's are incredible. Goin' for the Fillmore set with full pot and wiring in the Goldtop.

 

[headlessdeadguy]

I liked track 3 for a few reasons.
1. I like the tone best.
2. It sounds like you are more comfortable playing that guitar.
3. Black Les Pauls are badassss!

 

[Gainfreak]

Yeah the WCR's are incredible. Goin' for the Fillmore set with full pot and wiring in the Goldtop.

Im sure that's going to Kill!! The WCR's are on my list of pickups to buy for my Les Paul. I have some PRS pickups loaded in it now and Im kind of done with them!!

all the best

Ralph

 

[fearhk213]

All good tones on their own, but the WCR is the stand out IMO. I do like the tightness of the Aldrich though, but it's the most compressed of the bunch and doesn't sound as lively. The other Suhr is less compressed, but there is just something about that WCR that does it for me in these clips. It has the dynamics, that lp crack, and it sounds tight enough.

Definitely let us know about the Afwayu's though. I'm about to either order those or the Icebuckers (slightly tighter & brighter Godwood) so that would be extremely helpful.

 

[swimrunner]

There is definitely more girth in the Godwood track, without any clarity compromise. My favorite of the three, all good though. Not sure which would sound best in a mix, although I'm sure they're all very workable.

 

[Fiesta Red]

I've had most combinations of WCRs in my Les Pauls, and have had the Suhr Aldrich pickups in there as well. My favorite combo is the Crossroads neck and the GoodWood bridge. I've had Fillmores in there too, but liked the GWs better for the bridge.

I also have a set of Throbaks that sound incredible.

 

[projectx102]

I liked track 3 for a few reasons.
1. I like the tone best.
2. It sounds like you are more comfortable playing that guitar.
3. Black Les Pauls are badassss!

+1

 

[Code001]

I liked the WCRs the best, but I really have to wonder... how much of that was the actual pickup itself, and how much of it was the difference in woods between the three guitars...

 

[James Lugo]

I've had most combinations of WCRs in my Les Pauls, and have had the Suhr Aldrich pickups in there as well. My favorite combo is the Crossroads neck and the GoodWood bridge. I've had Fillmores in there too, but liked the GWs better for the bridge.

I also have a set of Throbaks that sound incredible.

How would you say the Fillmores compare to the Godwoods?

 

[TX6Strings]

I liked the WCRs the best, but I really have to wonder... how much of that was the actual pickup itself, and how much of it was the difference in woods between the three guitars...

I had the same thought when reading the OP before listening to the clips....that WCR does sound great though...stand out in my opinion.

 

[maiden_fan]

The WCR just sounds like a perfect les paul. The others I think I could get a similar tone with another guitar.

 

[James Lugo]

Yeah the three guitar thing kind of sucks, they do sound different but the clips may help a little.

How do the Fillmores sound compared to the GW?

 

[Szar]

WCR sounds beast! Definantly the best of the bunch.

 

[blackba]

I like them in the following order
1. Suhr Aldrich
2. WCR Godwood
3. Suhr SSH

The Aldrich had the most bass and was the most compressed. I really liked the top end and the punch. The Godwood was a close second, it sounded more open which I like, but lacked some bass and sounded a bit grainy/buzzy. It actually reminded me alot of the Rio Grande BBQ surprisingly. The Suhr SSH had good solid bass, but sounded compressed and a bit distance, it lacked clarity compared to the others.

I think I would be happy with the Godwood or the Aldrich. I may be preferring the Aldrich since that is what both my Les Paul's currently have in their bridge pickup position....

 

[Fiesta Red]

How would you say the Fillmores compare to the Godwoods?

There's just something about the Goodwoods to me that sounds "right". The Fillmores were pretty good -- I actually liked the neck more than the bridge, but there was a certain frequency in the Fillmores that I didn't hear in the Goodwoods. I think the GW is better suited for blues and ballsier rock, but having said that I play them through my Twin and it just sounds wonderful.

By the way, I also play with about half the distortion as the clips have so your experience may be different.

I liked the way your SSH recorded. Is it an SSH or and SSH+?

-Mark

 

[James Lugo]

Just pulled the trigger on a Fillmore set and 2 sets of WCR wiring/pot's for both my Goldtop and Black.

 

[James Lugo]

How would you say the Fillmores compare to the Godwoods?

There's just something about the Goodwoods to me that sounds "right". The Fillmores were pretty good -- I actually liked the neck more than the bridge, but there was a certain frequency in the Fillmores that I didn't hear in the Goodwoods. I think the GW is better suited for blues and ballsier rock, but having said that I play them through my Twin and it just sounds wonderful.

By the way, I also play with about half the distortion as the clips have so your experience may be different.

I liked the way your SSH recorded. Is it an SSH or and SSH+?

-Mark

Thanks I'll check it out.

SSH

I also suspect that Jim's wiring/pot set up makes a differences so I'm gonna put in all the Pauls.

James