Les Paul Classic with 496 and 500 pickups

[coxster]

bought my first LP last August, a honeyburst Classic. Just bought my second LP, a studio, for a cleaner sound.

Jim Cox

[docadillac]

Ceramics were used early on in Les Paul classics. I found them to be completely unsuitable for classic Les Paul tones. Pickups with Alnico II magnets are much better suited for that old sweet tone. Think Slash, early Clapton as in Cream etc. Then there's the type of amp you're using. El 34 equipped amps such as Marshall JTM 45's are part of the sonic chain to get that old school sound.

[Brian Krashpad]

I have a Classic with the 496/500 pair and it does fine for classic rock tones.

Some folks are finickier than others I suppose. Just back it off a smidge on the tone pots, set 'em low in the guitar, and set amp accordingly.

[masta_191]

im upgradin from my studio 490-498 pups

to a standard with BBs or a classic antique with 57s i dont kno which way to go since their the same price. 3,300 australian dollars which can go for less with cash.

any suggestions?

[Classicplayer]

I kept the ceramics in my 2000 Classic for about three years. I then changed them out to Duncan '59s. The ceramics were OK, but a bit too hot for my styles of playing. The reviews on Harmony Central show that lots of players thing the same about the ceramics. Still, others like the original pickups and wouldn't think of changing them out. I kept my ceramics in case I decide to sell the Classic in the future....someone might perfer the originals.


Classicplayer

[LongBeach]

Originally Posted by masta_191

im upgradin from my studio 490-498 pups

to a standard with BBs or a classic antique with 57s i dont kno which way to go since their the same price. 3,300 australian dollars which can go for less with cash.

any suggestions?

Depending on what you are going for, I have a Standard w/ 57's and
really like them alot. BB's dont have "yet" -
Also have a Classic w/ original 496/500, changed them out once, put
them back in. I like them, they are harsh, but still have there place.

[G-Minor]

I feel it would be perfect for that but my thing is if you get that you will get some bad tone while in a big area. i think its mainly the les paul and its wood seeing as they are uber-dense. i own a faded flying v with these pu's and its great but then again its less dense.

[eddym]

I didn't read the whole thread, so sorry if i'm repeating anyone, i had a 2001 classic and liked it, mine hed the same pups but they were 4 wire, i dont know if this is usual for classics or if i was just lucky. i know that gibson tend to use 2 wire pickups in their guitars even though when they sell the pups seperately they can be 4 wire..

if the one you are looking at has 4 wire humbuckers, you can sure get some different sounds at not to much cost (a couple of push pull pots), while still having the original pup sound available, you could look into coil splitting, phase reversal etc and see if any of those work for you.

It depends what you are after, but if you just want 'versatile' then those mods do provide a 'variaty' of sounds on one guitar, it just depends on weather you like any of them..

of course, if the one you are looking at only has 2 wire humbuckers, then the mods are significantly harder (but still possible) to do without changing pickups.

If you like the way it feels, get it anyway, there is always ebey for some second hand stuff in the future.. good luck

[Deftone]

I really like the 490/498 combo and I've put them in all my LP's. I was going to try the BB pro's but I wanted the 4 wires for phase switching. I may try some variations in the future.....

As far as the 496/500's go, they are pretty harsh I think they are better suited to the all mohogany Gibsons like the SG, Explorer and Flying V.

[Belzeebub]

Its all a matter of opinion. Everybody has one. Most people find these pups too harsh/noisy/dirty/mush - well you get the idea. But if you ask those same people what style they play, its most likely gonna be blues & classic 70s rock. Ironically, I would think by Les Paul's standards, he would probably find those styles too harsh as well since he plays old school 1940s jazz even upto now.

My take on it is well nobody ever said that Jackson, Charvel, Ibanez or other "metal" guitars sound too harsh. Its all about what you are gonna use it for. Neither have I heard anyone say that vintage PAFs sound "weak" and "pathetic". Im sure if you hop onto a Heavy rock/ Metal forum, most there will be of the opinion the opposite of what most here say.

Now I undertsand that many (including myself) dont have the $$$ to have a guitar for every type of situation/style. So you need to be creative and explore the other sonic possibilities in order for you to get the sound you or others want with just one guitar.

This guitar can do it. You just need to work the tone/volume knobs, the amp settings, the effects settings to get the tone that most members here would agree sounds fine.

[Boleskinehouse]

Originally Posted by Belzeebub

Its all a matter of opinion. Everybody has one. Most people find these pups too harsh/noisy/dirty/mush - well you get the idea. But if you ask those same people what style they play, its most likely gonna be blues & classic 70s rock. Ironically, I would think by Les Paul's standards, he would probably find those styles too harsh as well since he plays old school 1940s jazz even upto now.

My take on it is well nobody ever said that Jackson, Charvel, Ibanez or other "metal" guitars sound too harsh. Its all about what you are gonna use it for. Neither have I heard anyone say that vintage PAFs sound "weak" and "pathetic". Im sure if you hop onto a Heavy rock/ Metal forum, most there will be of the opinion the opposite of what most here say.

Now I undertsand that many (including myself) dont have the $$$ to have a guitar for every type of situation/style. So you need to be creative and explore the other sonic possibilities in order for you to get the sound you or others want with just one guitar.

This guitar can do it. You just need to work the tone/volume knobs, the amp settings, the effects settings to get the tone that most members here would agree sounds fine.

+1. Great post, my man! I like them for the metal thing. Hell, I took the 496r and 500t out of my Explorer, and put em in my '03 Standard. Great hardrock/metal guitar! Then I have my vintage sounding LPs. It's good to have variety.