Gibson LPC tones - Help

[bionicmark]

Let's discuss the tone of the average LPC in the last 15 years.

Do you gentlemen notice that due to the ebony fretboards , mahogany back
& maple top , LPC's always seem to be inadvertently brighter than say a Gibson LP Standard. My last three customs all seem to have this undialable brightness to them. No matter what pick up I have in the bridge or values I use in the wiring for the volume & tone controls. I'm literally at my wits end & may just switch back to owning Standards. I use Ernieball Slinky 10's , play through a 100 watt Carol Ann Triptik (2013 model with the latest five button foot switch) All TAD pre amp & power tubes, Bogner standard size horizontal 2x12 w/ EV 12L's.
The other amp I use is a Peavey 6505 w/ a bias mod & choke. My LPC has a Manlius hand wound Asphalt pup - and no matter what I do , especially w/ the 6505, I'm always hearing this very bright overtone or frequency - very accented on the treble side. It's a little less subtle w/ the Carol Ann. I have to set my mids, treble , & presence all around 10:30 or less & turn up the bass.

Am I going nuts or are LPC's naturally "bright"?
I've a had a 2006, 2008, & currently a 2012 LPC.

Any help, suggestions or feedback would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!
Mark

 

[raunch]

Have you tried all the other things first? Diff'rent string, action, electronics?

I've played dull and bright sounding LPCs, but haven't noticed any trends.

 

[Pappy58]

My 13 LPCF has a rosewood board and custom buckers so slightly different from the base models.It is indeed brighter than my R8 or SG w/ 57c's. However one thing I did notice was that on the LPC the wiring harness had the crap <300k volume pots and the smallest disc caps I have ever seen in a guitar. I upgraded it just last weekend with aJonesy kit and vintage wiring, and it mellowed it out very nicely. Adjusting pickups will also offer variances. I dont think it's anything specific to the Custom per se', although Ebony is known to offer a brighter response.

 

[roeg]

The warmth of Rosewood,the brightness and clarity of Ebony.That says it all.If you were plugged into a true vintage amp(Hiwatt/fender/marshall),that spike you don't like might be tamed.Mustard caps(and others...mallory,etc...) and the transformers of the period,particularly output, are also a contributing factor.

EV's are known for their crispness and clarity.

some pickups are bright(er) with an A3,A4 and/especially an A5 magnet.so i've read.

A2's,like the ones in my Duncan Seth Lover's,seem to make for a mellower tone,and really sound nice in overdriven mode.So i vote for a pup with an A2 magnet.just my 2 cents.

 

[fretout]

I own a few Customs and some are brighter than the others. If you have a strange harmonic or overtone, I'm guessing it could be electronic. If you're sure its not the PUPs, I'd make sure the pots are 500k. The caps could be changed out really easily if you wanted more bass and less treble.

I guess for some it's all about the bass, bout the bass...no treble....

 

[icantbuyafender]

I've never noticed that.

Ever.

No two guitars will behave the same.

Even the same model.

 

[bionicmark]

Thanks Guys for all your input!

It's probably better that I describe it as -- picture an EQ pedal..set everything flat & then gradually start moving all the faders up until the last treble fader is at the highest setting.

There's no equal balance in frequencies. It's like having the bass turned down & the treble all the way up on your car stereo.

All my standards had a rosewood fingerboard. No accented treble or brightness there.
It maybe time to make a change.

Here's what I have for a wiring set up & bridge pick up.

wiring - Complete Modern Electronics Upgrade Kit - Long Shaft : RS Guitarworks?

pick up - Asphalt Humbucker - Big Rock N Roll tone! &ndash; Manlius Guitar

Can anyone tell me what year(s) the LPC really shined? Late 90's? 80's?

Thanks again!!

 

[stgreg]

I've never noticed that.

Ever.

No two guitars will behave the same.

Even the same model.

True.. I have three Customs of different years. None sound, feel or behave the same.

 

[icantbuyafender]

True.. I have three Customs of different years. None sound, feel or behave the same.

It's the way of the world.

..and wood.

 

[stone_gossard]

well i guess you could try balancing the pup screw pole piece..bass side higher than treble side

 

[Oranjeaap]

Bright is good when playing in a band else you get lost in the mix with those dark sounding Les Pauls.

 

[CaptainT]

You could get a Les Paul Custom 57 Reissue, same looks, but all mahogany. Not cheap, but a great instrument. Maybe you could get one used for a good price.

Cheers,

CaptainT

 

[Hydra19]

I've had 2 Customs but they weren't Gibsons, they were Burny's.
These guitars use an all mahogany body with a rosewood fretboard and I've noticed that both did not have a whole lot of treble, very rounded whereas the bass and lower mids were pretty strong. It was great for Danzig style music but I could not dial in the treble I wanted and thought it would get lost in the mix with brighter guitars, so more of a rhythm guitar in that sense.

I have never played a guitar with an ebony fretboard so can't comment on that but i found that all mahogany, plus rosewood fretboard is the opposite of what the OP is describing

 

[ARandall]

The only difference in Custom vs Standard is the ebony fretboard (and weight relief). Now all parts of the guitar make a difference, but the fretboard is only a small-ish part of the equation.

More important is the way the various bits of wood interact, and the sum of the equation will be what influences the final tone the pickups create. Some wood planks just create that focussed upper mid to treble reflection you seem to describe.
I have an all hog 54 RI, and I can't say I have noticed a massive 'darkness' to the tone.

 

[nautical_sausage]

Turn the tone knob down?

 

[RedMastiff]

50´s wiring, 9/10 tone knob and 100% nickel strings

 

[timgman]

I think that tone is 80% in your hands.. I grip like a monkey

 

[Bobby Mahogany]

It's the way of the world.

..and wood.

Here we go!


Isn't it all in the pickups?


Just joking. Please DON'T answer!

Wood, baby!

 

[crapthatsloud]

My custom is quite dark and spongy sounding, which works just fine for me.

 

[Progrocker111]

I am mostly playing early 70s Customs and they are fairly clean and agressive sounding, much more than current Historic Standards. I prefer their tight bass and punchy tone over more looser feel of Historics. I once had 68 Custom reissue too and it was very bright Les Paul, much more than any Standard...

So overall yes, i tend to believe Customs are a bit brighter and cleaner sounding generally cause of the ebony fretboard.