Lots of pickup related questions

[matters]

Hi everyone! This might be a long post so I apologize in advance. I have a 1998 Les Paul Classic. I am the original owner and it is my main guitar and also the one guitar I will never sell. It has had EMG's in it for the last 3 years and I have decided new pickups are in order. I used to play mostly hard rock and metal with but am now only playing blues and classic rock. I am going for a Gov't Mule style tone. The amp is a Marshall Jubilee. I need a versatile pickup that cleans up well and is very smooth and full. The main pickup I have been looking at is the SD Alnico II Pro. Yeah, yeah I know a Les Paul with Alnico II's into a Jubilee is just like Slash, while I do like his playing he isn't the reason I am interested in those pickups or got the amp. What pickup would you guys suggest?

I also want to replace all the wiring, pots, and caps with better components. Any good packages you guys know of? Should I get 250k, 300k, or 500k pots and which way would be best for the wiring to be done? I use the volume knobs on the guitar a lot and I want it to clean up well while retaining clarity.

One more quick question that has nothing to do with pickups. The Les Paul needs new tuners and my guitar tech claims I would need to drill bigger holes for aftermarket ones which I find hard to believe. Could you guys point me in the right direction for some new ones? Sorry again for the long post and thanks in advance for the help.

Matt

[overdriver]

Well Warren used Seymour Duncan Pearly Gates in his main LP for a long while, IMO any PAF type will do . I did not care for the Alnico IIs , but you will find people liking or dissliking any thing out there. 500k pots vintage wiring or not some have spiking problem with the vintage wiring ?
Caps PIO .0133 or .015 for the neck , with treble bleed.
.022 for the bridge pup.
Tuners ;have the holes reamed not drilled IMO if needed, can't remember if the new kulson brand sold by tonepro is a direct replacement for the smaller holes or not, seems to me, I did read about some brand, Gotoh I forget. Others will come by I am sure.
What tuners are on it now?

[Weldaar]

I swear by 300K pots for the bridge and 500K for the neck. As was said, .015 for the neck and .022 for the bridge. It all depends on your guitar though. Britgher guitars can handle 300K pots, darker guitars might not. I also like one certain pickup with an A-2 magnet in it.
As for the tuners. I use Grover Deluxe. Yes, you will have to open the hole up some. IMO, it's well worth it. I've done many swaps.

[Tonyd]

This shows the tuner hole dimensions.

Warmoth Direct - Replacement Guitar Necks, Custom Guitar Necks, Guitar Conversion Necks

Then I call Stewart-Mac and see what they suggest as replacements

Guitar tuners for solid pegheads at Stewart-MacDonald

[xsouldriverx]

i say 500k pots all around, you can always turn them down a bit. good orange drop or vitamin Qs caps .015 neck .022 bridge is a good place to start out. pickup type is a bit too personal taste for me to get into but i hear good things about the pearlys

[Bluesjam]

I sure like my Grover's.

[toneguy86]

Originally Posted by Tonyd

This shows the tuner hole dimensions.

Warmoth Direct - Replacement Guitar Necks, Custom Guitar Necks, Guitar Conversion Necks

Then I call Stewart-Mac and see what they suggest as replacements

Guitar tuners for solid pegheads at Stewart-MacDonald

I'd call Stewmac actually. I had an older tuner in a Gibson that went bad and they got me fixed up with the right diameter tuner. When I tried to do it myself and order on-line I ended up with ones that needed to be drilled out. Call.

Mark

[Bowhunterwt]

I have Classic 57's in the neck and Classic 57's plus in the bridge and 500 K pot all around it cleans up nice and it seems an all around sound I was looking for I bought all of this stuff on Fleabay at a good price~!!!!!!!!!!!

[J.LaGrassa]

I have a LP Classic and installed the Dimarzio 36th Anniversary PAF's the pups are the best I have tried yet in this guitar, lower output but still packs a punch and they are not harsh at all like others I have tried!

I have the RS guitarworks electronics in my guitar for volume pots I have there Super pots installed which are 500k and regular 500k tone pots and I have also changed out my tuners for the Tonepros/Kluson replacements they are much better than the stock kluson tuners!

[matters]

Thanks for all the great answers everyone! I've decided to give the SD Alnico II's a chance, hopefully I like them. I think I'm also gonna order this kit:

RS Guitarworks Online Store

Do you guys approve? Is it worth the extra $20 to get the Complete Premium Kit? Thanks again.

Matt

[overdriver]

IMO ya only need better caps.

[Splattle101]

Originally Posted by xsouldriverx

i say 500k pots all around, you can always turn them down a bit. good orange drop or vitamin Qs caps .015 neck .022 bridge is a good place to start out. pickup type is a bit too personal taste for me to get into but i hear good things about the pearlys

+1

What he said.

I prefer the 500 k pots for all four. I would also go for 1950s wiring. There are kits out there that include pots, caps and wiring diagrams for 50s. One of the members here, Jonesy, does them. I bought caps from him and I've been veyr happy with them. There is also RS who come with a very good rep.

cheers,
Splat