2012 lp pickup replacement

[ATR1]

I am really liking my 2016 LP STD Neck pickup. You can really hear all the different tones using the tone knob.I have been reading it is the same as my 2012 LP STD. My ear says different. I am now thinking of replacing 2012 with the 2016 model neck pickup. Will this be easy and why is the 2012 so dark blanket sounding? Maybe I just need to tweak the pickup somehow?

 

[jeffy]

I would play around with adjusting the pickup. They are the same Burstbucker Pro's in both.

 

[nagha]

^^^ Strongly agree with Jeffy. You'll be surprised how different the pickup will sound after proper positioning and balance the PUP and poles.

 

[fiveightandten]

^what they said. Also, every guitar sounds different. Even if you have the same pickups in both guitars, set to the same height, they aren't going to sound the same.

I have a '92 Standard, and a '95 Studio. Same pickups, same heights, same electronics, different sounds.

 

[Malchik]

^^Why is everyone so hasty about changing pickups? The stock ones may simply need a little adjusting.

 

[bblooz]

+1 After adjusting, if it still doesn't measure up, you may want to look at the pots & caps. They will also impact the overall tone and response.

 

[Leroy]

What everyone above is saying is true.
The other issue is that even the "same" pickup will vary due to the tolerances.

Leroy

 

[Zentar]

I'm not surprised anymore when folks swap pickups and go aftermarket due to the amazing selection and quality of the aftermarket today. It's mind blowing just what Seymore Duncan sells. Then throw in Demarzio and a dozen other winders and you'll find 50 pickups that sound great.
However your BBs sound great too. Try dialing in differently.

 

[stgreg]

^^Why is everyone so hasty about changing pickups? The stock ones may simply need a little adjusting.

AMEN! Keep things original - damnit!

 

[Mr. Satchmo]

Use the opportunity to replace your pickups with quality boutique hand wired pickups. Wolftone and CreamTone for example makes great PAF winds with great clarity and articulation

Also raise your pickups and experiment too

 

[jadslash]

I've replaced the BB pros out of my 3 Gibson LPs as i already had an idea what i wanted in there from my past epiphone pickup choice.
i thought they were super shrill and ice picky..
I knew what sound i wanted..

So i sold of the 2 sets and kept one for $#!+$ and giggles.
Couple of weeks ago i re-did the wiring and all of the hardware on my 89 epi LPC,
Tried multiple pickups, but they just sounded like plain crap..

threw in the pros there just to try it out and i was so surprised how amazing it sounded in that guitar. Endless sustain, brightened up the dark sound ive been getting with the others and it feeds back so nicely.

Kinda embarrassing how i couldnt make it sound good in the gibbies..
maybe the wood in the epi helped that out and lord knows what kind is in there.

Bb pros can be good, but it has to be in the right guitar.

 

[Zoobiedood]

There are many options out there in all price ranges. I don't think anyone should have to adapt the tools they use, and should make the tools adapt to them. The good thing, is that research is free, and kinda fun. It looks like you have lots of watching, listening, and and digging to do to find the right sound for you.
The first step is figuring out what you don't like about the stock pickups. Once you naming what you don't like, the choices start to get narrowed down.

 

[smorgdonkey]

I've replaced the BB pros out of my 3 Gibson LPs ......
threw in the pros there just to try it out and i was so surprised how amazing it sounded in that guitar. Endless sustain, brightened up the dark sound ive been getting with the others and it feeds back so nicely.

I just shake my head when I see people posting negative things about BB Pros.
I had a set that I bought (perhaps at the height of the 'I hate BB Pros' thing that was going on) and they were fantastic. I didn't keep them for a really long time but that was just because the parts shelf was loaded at the time and the Gibson ones always sell.

 

[skelt101]

ATR1,
I will echo what others have posted above, but my initial thought after reading your post was: Volume Pot Values. Your 2012 guitar may be equipped with 300K linear taper volume pots. These can have the "dark blanket" sound you described. A switch to 500K audio taper might solve your issue. Doug and Pat give a good example with their Heritage test guitar in the Pickup Shootout 2 episode:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WhnxWyhomYM

 

[ATR1]

Thank you all.
I will play around with setting more and check volume pots. To be continued..