Epiphone Les Paul Custom - Changing pickups

[fry]

Is the Hot-Rodded any different from the standard JB or Jazz pickups?

No, that’s just the name they give them when they sell them as a pair.

 

[voided76]

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Tele on steroids you say?

 

[LuthierVandross]

I’ve gotta set of Burstbucker 1/2’s that were from a 2006 R0. They were aged by Gibson, swapped for something and I bought them for my 2006 Classic.
I haven’t found a better set I up for my sound preference yet.
CTS 500k pots and K40Y-9 pio caps, 015uF for the neck and .022uF bridge.

 

[Mojambo]

I’ve gotta set of Burstbucker 1/2’s that were from a 2006 R0. They were aged by Gibson, swapped for something and I bought them for my 2006 Classic.
I haven’t found a better set I up for my sound preference yet.
CTS 500k pots and K40Y-9 pio caps, 015uF for the neck and .022uF bridge.
View attachment 546712
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That's a cool lookin git!

 

[Preacher403]

Is the Hot-Rodded any different from the standard JB or Jazz pickups?

Nah, that's just their name for the combo. Could buy a JB and Jazz separately for more money if you really wanted to of course I have to agree that it's a good combination of pickups though. Got them in a couple guitars.

The best combo I ended up with though (IMO) was a JB bridge and DiMarzio 36th Anniversary PAF neck in a Gibson LPJ (not a Junior, an "LPJ").

 

[AJK1]

Get a set of used Gibson 498T and 490R pickups put in. That's the set that comes stock in Gibson LPC's. They're extremely great in Epiphone LPC's.

Nope, I just took them out of my new Gibson Custom and replaced them with Bonamassa Amos pickups in aged gold
Sound amazing
The 490/498 were ordinary at best
I put a set of Sat Night Specials in my mates large headstock Epifany White Custom and it sounds killer

 

[Jay4321]

Okay so you've got the Probucker 2 and 3, I have these in several Epiphones including the Moderns and an SG type. Know all about them and a ton of other pickups.

First thing to know, which I didn't until after a swap, is their strong similarities to Gibson '57s, info widely available online. My take, don't bother with the (pricey) 57s.

For Gibson pickups I think (based on your post) Burstbucker 1 and 2 fit pretty well. However I wouldn't recommend them because you don't seem to have a lot of experience with outer pickups and there are tons of equally proven options for a lot less cost. I'd cross BB's off the list unless you can get a ridiculous deal, or at least until you've given a shot to a few others.

I would recommend considering, in no order, and based on my firsthand experience with them in Les Pauls:

1) Seymour Alnico 2 Pros (or Seymour Slash set) - These are two similar sets, Slash originally used Alnico 2 Pros but his set is voiced a little different to account for his guitar and I don't know make more money maybe. I've never A/B'd in same guitar but A/B'd two LPs against each other and they appear very similar, possibly identical but not sure. Other things equal the one with the Slash set seems to sound a little more defined in the bridge but both sets are certainly nice. They're not my choice for metal or pushing anything but for clean or grit they're just really, really good pickups. If you go to the 4:05 mark in Rocket Queen and hear the slightly distorted arpeggios, TO ME, that's the sort of thing they just do better than any pickup alive. Of course the neck sounds are pretty well known to any GNR fan.

2) Seymour Pearly Gates - I didn't care for in a LP and absolutely hated in a Strat (of which there are two versions of bridge pickup I hated both). It's very in line with what you describe though and some people really like it. It was too bright for me, too much treble, and while I could work with it I'd have to radically change settings elsewhere in the chain. DEspite this I have heard them sound good, just not for me.

I'm scratching 3 & 4. Right this moment if I had to pick one for you it would be the A2P set at $40 less than Slash set. I believe Seymour has an exchange policy if you don't like.

I wouldn't recommend the JB or Custom in the bridge unless you want to crank up a little more than what you described. They are two of my favorites and widely available used, and every Les Paal owner should certainly at least try them at some point in my opinion. The JB has a distinctive midrange thing that can be polarizing, but it's a pickup I and about a zillion other guitarists can make work.

 

[Jay4321]

Just as a side note, there are sooooo many good sounding aftermarket pickups out there at vastly different prices. That rabbit hole runs pretty deep, and for every expensive boutique set you end up with, you'll see 5 more boutique options that catch your eye. My advice is try a few models, note what you like/dislike about them, dial it in with a little help until you find something that works well, and then move on to your amp and cab. Pickups obviously matter but after decades worth of trying a ton and checking out what other people with good sounds are using, that cat can be skinned a lot of ways.

I'd love to do a March Madness style bracket shooting out 16 similar-output bridge pickups in the same guitar, and then do it over again in, playing different riffs and parts, and just see what the results are.

 

[Brek]

i have a 2019 white custom, i swapped out those little orange caps for some cheap russian PIO caps and have stuck in two t-tops, it sounds absolutely awesome right now.
i have a set of a5 mag which i am curious to try as they have a more even freq response and I wonder if that will compliment the full mahogany tone or not.

 

[freddy78]

for me it would be an easy one Toneriders AC2 or Tonerider Rocksong both sets are great and value for money is even better

 

[rfrizz]

Get a set of used Gibson 498T and 490R pickups put in. That's the set that comes stock in Gibson LPC's. They're extremely great in Epiphone LPC's.

I'm not a big fan of how they sound. At ~$120, there are plenty of other options, including PAFish pups.

 

[rfrizz]

I'd prefer to spend no more than $300 for a set, and I have a feeling there are options out there that would be cheaper than that which would satisfy my needs. Hopefully.

If you can go another $10, a set of Gibson minis is $310. (Plus tax, of course...)

 

[Mojambo]

Just an update for y'all:

I ended up getting a set of Brandonwound T-Top humbuckers as suggested by a forumite earlier in this thread. They're in the guitar now and I definitely prefer them over the stock Probuckers. They have more clarity in the mids and treble and seem to respond better to the guitar's vol. and tone knobs (I kept the stock Epi wiring and electronics in). They also seem to be a little more sensitive to picking dynamics. I would say that it certainly sounds more like a Tele on steroids now! Mission complete.

 

[Jay4321]

Good deal

and the stock wiring is fine in the newer ones with decent pots

 

[voided76]

having used AC2's and AC4's and BYOGuitar's Blizzard of 59's

if you don't NEED 4 wires and coil taps and this's and that's, the Blizzard pups are fucking it.
And I really mean it

 

[Pancreas]

The Hot Rodded set IS the JB/JAZZ set.

 

[LuthierVandross]

I recently got a Custom. I just put a Seymour ‘59 in the bridge, two 500k (matched) pots and a Sozo cap.
It rips!!!

 

[Mojambo]

I recently got a Custom. I just put a Seymour ‘59 in the bridge, two 500k (matched) pots and a Sozo cap.
It rips!!!View attachment 549431

These new Customs are really nice guitars. With a good setup and pickup swap, in a blind test I don't think anyone would be able to tell the difference between the Epi or Gibson versions. And it doesn't hurt that the new headstock shape is more 'correct'.

 

[LuthierVandross]

These new Customs are really nice guitars. With a good setup and pickup swap, in a blind test I don't think anyone would be able to tell the difference between the Epi or Gibson versions. And it doesn't hurt that the new headstock shape is more 'correct'.

Yeah the new Customs are cool too. This is an ‘07 that was hardly played. I got this on trade, almost grabbed the new IBG version but he also offered this and Ive had one of these on my list for awhile. All the “mods” are reversible and came with non-original electronics so I was more comfortable with this incarnation.

 

[Pancreas]

These new Customs are really nice guitars. With a good setup and pickup swap, in a blind test I don't think anyone would be able to tell the difference between the Epi or Gibson versions. And it doesn't hurt that the new headstock shape is more 'correct'.

You are absolutely correct sir!
I currently own a 2019 Gibson Les Paul Traditional a

nd recently bought a new 2020 Epiphone Les Paul Custom Silverburst. I just installed the Seymour Duncan Hot Rodded pickup set and had my local luthier do a comprehensive set up (frets,, nut etc...) the Epi is now a SERIOUS player! For around $800 total, I'm very impressed!