Epiphone Les Paul with ProBucker Pickups

[thefees]

I went into Guitar Center this week and played two guitars that pertain to what I am talking about here. One the Epi LP Standard, and the other one was the Epi Les Paul Custom Pro.
I mean to tell you the pickups on the Custom Pro were some of the best sounding pickups I have ever heard on a Les. The Standard pickups sounded good on their own but once you played the Custom Pro they didn't sound so good anymore.
I see in the literature that they have ProBuckers on them with Alnico II magnets. There is a Probucker 2 for the neck, and Probucker 3 for the bridge. Anyone have any other information about these. I would like to pick up a pair of the pickups, or at least one of them. Where can I get them?
Are the ones Seymour Duncan makes as good as or better than the Gibson Epi ones?
Also I see they are listed in the Epi Ultra II with faded cherry. Are they the same one?
Thanks ahead of time.

 

[VintageGuitarGuy]

Mmmmmm

A custom with gold hardwear and factory coil tapping

 

[JMJ]

I went into Guitar Center this week and played two guitars that pertain to what I am talking about here. One the Epi LP Standard, and the other one was the Epi Les Paul Custom Pro.
I mean to tell you the pickups on the Custom Pro were some of the best sounding pickups I have ever heard on a Les. The Standard pickups sounded good on their own but once you played the Custom Pro they didn't sound so good anymore.
I see in the literature that they have ProBuckers on them with Alnico II magnets. There is a Probucker 2 for the neck, and Probucker 3 for the bridge. Anyone have any other information about these. I would like to pick up a pair of the pickups, or at least one of them. Where can I get them?
Are the ones Seymour Duncan makes as good as or better than the Gibson Epi ones?
Also I see they are listed in the Epi Ultra II with faded cherry. Are they the same one?
Thanks ahead of time.

You can get them off eBay all day...

FYI the stock BB's are potted and the individual retail BB's are not.

 

[Carl17]

edit

 

[56GT]

I prefer a set of seymour duncans

 

[SJM]

You won't find Probuckers for sale retail anywhere so ebay is definitely your best bet. The Gibson version Burstbuckers you can buy at any dealer but they are spendy. Some SD Seth Lovers or Alnico II's would certainly be worth considering, they are superb pups.

 

[thefees]

You can get them off eBay all day...

FYI the stock BB's are potted and the individual retail BB's are not.

Are BB's Burst Buckers?
And if so are Burst Buckers and Pro Buckers the same thing?

 

[thefees]

I prefer a set of seymour duncans

Thank you for your reply. Have you done a side by side comparison of the two, or have plenty of exposure to both? I appreciate your help. I was super impressed with the tone coming out of the Custom Pro. The Ultra II says it has them also. Anyone know if they are the exact same pickup? I'm asking because I like the faded cherry, although the black with gold is cool.

I have a pair of Seymour Duncans going into my 1995 Epi LP that are the SH1 and SH2 JB and Jazz. The sample tones at Seymour Duncans site make them both sound the same as the Pro Bucker Alnico II's that SD makes.

 

[56GT]

probuckers are epiphones version of gibsons burstbuckers

 

[jrnic]

Are BB's Burst Buckers?
And if so are Burst Buckers and Pro Buckers the same thing?

I believe that they are made in Gibson's China Factory using the 'blueprints' of the Gibson Burstbuckers. In other words, they have the same design and specs only they are made in China as opposed tot he USA.

 

[notjoeaverage]

Gibson makes the Burstbucker Pro in a Neck version and a Bridge version, they also make a Burstbucker Type 1, 2 and 3. As far a I know they are different pickups and I believe the the Epi Pro Buckers are modeled on the 2 Burstbucker Pros.

 

[midiman56]

I have to agree with the OP on these Epi Custom Pro guitars ... they got these things RIGHT! So far I've played an Ebony and a Silverburst and they were both just about perfect right out of the box.

The last batch of Customs we got in were, surprisingly, from Indonesia ... they were okay but don't hold a candle to these China-made models.

Jim

 

[IanMak3103]

My Silverburst Custom PRO comes with the Probuckers, and I love them to bits! When I plugged in and play it clean, man, she melts like butter with her extra warm & thick tone, especially in the bass and middle tone range. When switched into dirty mode, she grunts with style!! If that's the style you want, definitely go for it, IMO.

I've also got the 1960 Tribute, which come standard with Gibson '57 classics, they are very nice pups, too! Yet, quite different, the '57 Classics gives better tone in the middle to high range, so more clean & crisp comparing to the Probuckers, IMHO, it's better for rock solos.

I reckon these two are excellent guitars Epi has to offer, I'm glad I've got these different style guitars.

 

[thefees]

I have to agree with the OP on these Epi Custom Pro guitars ... they got these things RIGHT! So far I've played an Ebony and a Silverburst and they were both just about perfect right out of the box.

The last batch of Customs we got in were, surprisingly, from Indonesia ... they were okay but don't hold a candle to these China-made models.

Jim

Jim I thought the one I played in the store said Made in Korea. I didn't have my glasses on though. I just ordered one, an Epi Les Paul Custom Pro with Probuckers from the same store. It is shipping from their warehouse to my doorstep later this week.
When I read your post I did some digging, but all I could find were people discussing the differerences in 2006, 7,8.
So what about the Korea models now?
All I do know is the one I played had a quality sound coming out of it that was way better than the Epi LP Standard I just played before plugging this one in. It had a lot more gain, and the tone made you do new things. It was like a unique different instrument. That is why I bought one.

 

[thefees]

I have to agree with the OP on these Epi Custom Pro guitars ... they got these things RIGHT! So far I've played an Ebony and a Silverburst and they were both just about perfect right out of the box.

The last batch of Customs we got in were, surprisingly, from Indonesia ... they were okay but don't hold a candle to these China-made models.

Jim

Jim,
I am ecstatic over the new Epi LP Custom Pro I just received in ebony. The one I had played in the store was made in Korea. The one I just received in the mail has the sticker on it "Hand Crafted in China". This thing was built to perfection. I scoured the entire guitar and it is flawless right down to the tiniest detail. Get out the microscope it still passes the test. The neck feels great too. It's a keeper for sure. You wonder how they can sell them for this kind of money.
I lowered the bridge a little and it feels like it has great action. I haven't set it up properly yet but I can tell already it is a keeper.
I have 15 guitars and have been playing for 40 years. Still have my 1966 Tele that I bought brand new. Ok real quick in 1966 I went and looked at a Les Paul that was used before buying the Tele. It looked really old so I decided to get the new Tele instead. So it had to be a 1950 something. The guy was asking $200. Ouch. Anyhow, I would like to say live and learn, but in this case it is live and groan.

 

[56GT]

The problem I have with the Custom Silverburst is that the rosewood fretboard makes it look like shit - it really needs to be ebony.

 

[Death Incarnate]

I loved the open coil Alnico Classic Plus pickups when I had this bad boy:

Epiphone - Les Paul Custom Chrome

I also had the action very low, there was no such thing as a clean tone. Always a nice dirty crunch.