Not-Too-Late Posted July 21, 2011 Share Posted July 21, 2011 My first time on the forum. It's been many years since I played the guitar, and I'm back at it. I just wish I didn't wait so long to get going again, but it's Not-Too-Late! I would like to ask some advise please. In the past I have always owned and played Tele's, and this is my first time with a Les Paul. Because of financial reasons, the Gibson was out of the question, so I purchased a new Epi Les Paul 100. It was my wife that got me interested again because of her desire to learn. I like the Les Paul 100. Great guitar for the money, but I'm a little bit disapointed with the fact that it can be a little muddy sounding, especially in the rhythm position. I'm thinking about changing out the pickups. I've never had to do this before with any of my past guitars, but I think it might be a good idea for the new Les Paul 100. Any thoughts and ideas you guys can help me with? I'm looking for more of a warm clean sound. Thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
guitar dog Posted July 21, 2011 Share Posted July 21, 2011 It's never too late. Welcome to the forum, I got back into guitars along similar lines to you. My first electric after about a 40 year break was an Epi Les Paul 100, the family is up to 9 guitars now (the LP 100 became a trade-in for my Casino). I can't offer any recommendations on your pickup questions, but I am sure you will get many responses. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tweed2 Posted July 21, 2011 Share Posted July 21, 2011 Welcome back to the fold, my son. Does this mean that your wife will be learning to play? Sounds like a good excuse to get a second guitar so that the two of you can play together. There will be others that can answer your pickup question better than me, someone that knows those guitars. Have fun, play hard. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
damian Posted July 21, 2011 Share Posted July 21, 2011 IMHO, Gibson '57 classics........Wait untill they're on sale........ This is just my opinion.....I put them in many of my guitars........ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bonzoboy Posted July 21, 2011 Share Posted July 21, 2011 Hi and welcome back to the land of guitar players.First are you sure that it's the guitar and not the amp as some amps will reproduce the sound of one pickup quite nicely but may muddy the sound of another.Where the 100 isn't a real expensive guitar it wouldn't be adviseable to put in and ultra expensive pickup if the pickup does turn out to be the cause.Keep an eye open for sales or your local classified ads for good used pickups. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
taxman Posted July 21, 2011 Share Posted July 21, 2011 I'm a little bit disapointed with the fact that it can be a little muddy sounding, especially in the rhythm position. I'm thinking about changing out the pickups. Instead of swapping out pickups the cheaper way to handle this is why not just buy a little EQ pedal? It will un-muddy your guitar. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fl00dsm0k3 Posted July 21, 2011 Share Posted July 21, 2011 welcome to the forum Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Not-Too-Late Posted July 21, 2011 Author Share Posted July 21, 2011 Welcome back to the fold, my son. Does this mean that your wife will be learning to play? Sounds like a good excuse to get a second guitar so that the two of you can play together. There will be others that can answer your pickup question better than me, someone that knows those guitars. Have fun, play hard. She was the reason I'm playin' again. It was her desire to learn, so I'm starting her off with some simple 3 chord songs. She loves it. At first she started getting upset because her fingers were hurting, but I told her that's normal and eventually she will be playing all day without any pain. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Not-Too-Late Posted July 21, 2011 Author Share Posted July 21, 2011 It's never too late. Welcome to the forum, I got back into guitars along similar lines to you. My first electric after about a 40 year break was an Epi Les Paul 100, the family is up to 9 guitars now (the LP 100 became a trade-in for my Casino). I can't offer any recommendations on your pickup questions, but I am sure you will get many responses. Looks like you are in the same boat. I don't remember how many years it's been for me, but I can tell you it's been a spell. So you started back with a Les Paul 100 as well. How did you like it? I can't believe how nice a guitar they can make today for so little $$$. Right out of the box it played well. No need for a setup. All my past guitars had to be set up from the start, but this one is bang on. Awesome! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Not-Too-Late Posted July 21, 2011 Author Share Posted July 21, 2011 Hi and welcome back to the land of guitar players.First are you sure that it's the guitar and not the amp as some amps will reproduce the sound of one pickup quite nicely but may muddy the sound of another.Where the 100 isn't a real expensive guitar it wouldn't be adviseable to put in and ultra expensive pickup if the pickup does turn out to be the cause.Keep an eye open for sales or your local classified ads for good used pickups. To be honest with you, I was thinking along those lines as well. I really don't want to spend a lot on pickups for it, but I would like to improve the sound. I have a Fender Princeton Chorus amp that I've had for quite awhile, and I loved the sound I got with it when I played a Tel through it. I'm getting together with my cousin soon, and I'll play the 100 through his amp. Hopefully that will work out. I would prefer to put the money aside for a another guitar down the road when my wife learns how to play enough that I can play along with her. It's great to have someone to help motivate. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Not-Too-Late Posted July 21, 2011 Author Share Posted July 21, 2011 IMHO, Gibson '57 classics........Wait untill they're on sale........ This is just my opinion.....I put them in many of my guitars........ '57 classics . . . I'll definately keep my eye open for them. When you mentioned '57, it brought back memories of a '57 tele I owned many years ago. I sold it to buy my first wife's engagement ring back in '69. I can't imagine what that guitar would be worth on today's market . . . I better not think about it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Not-Too-Late Posted July 21, 2011 Author Share Posted July 21, 2011 welcome to the forum Thank you. Glad to be here!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Not-Too-Late Posted July 21, 2011 Author Share Posted July 21, 2011 Instead of swapping out pickups the cheaper way to handle this is why not just buy a little EQ pedal? It will un-muddy your guitar. I never thought of that. Then again, when I was playing way back when, we never had EQ pedals, or at least I never heard of them. I'll check it out. At least that's something I can use in the event I get another guitar down the road. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
taxman Posted July 21, 2011 Share Posted July 21, 2011 At least that's something I can use in the event I get another guitar down the road. Exactly. An EQ pedal will serve many purposes. It will help with the muddiness you have now; it can also act as a boost for many applications; and the EQ pedal, as you said, can help shape the sound of other guitars you may have. For around $100 an EQ pedal is an option that should be considered. It will clear up your sound. Just curious, you say you are getting this mud through a Fender Princeton Chorus amp? I have that amp - I LOVE that amp - and it is literally one of the brightest, clearest amps out there. If a guitar is sounding like mud through that amp, then something might be wrong with the pickups. But before you look into pickups, definitely monkey around with all your knobs - amp knobs and guitar knobs. No way any guitar should sound muddy through a Princeton Chorus. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlanH Posted July 21, 2011 Share Posted July 21, 2011 Hi and welcome, Just a couple of points from me... While LPs are great guitars for the money I wouldn't personally spend any more on Gibson or Seymour Duncan pickups for a bolt necked LP. The Studio is the cheapest model with a set neck and that's worthy of upgrading, IMHO. Secondly, if you're used to teles, any LP is probably going to sound muddy to you. That said, I personally don't like stock Epi pups and have swapped out to high end pups on set necked LPs in the past for that very reason. In the case of your LP100 I agree with the guys above in the EQ pedal suggestion. If and when you sell your LP100, at least you'll still have your EQ. Oh, one more point. If your wife is interested in playing electric guitars, this is going to stand you in very good stead for your guitar playing (and buying) revival. If you stick around I'm sure you'll soon begin to see exactly what I'm talking about........ Alan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Not-Too-Late Posted July 21, 2011 Author Share Posted July 21, 2011 Exactly. An EQ pedal will serve many purposes. It will help with the muddiness you have now; it can also act as a boost for many applications; and the EQ pedal, as you said, can help shape the sound of other guitars you may have. For around $100 an EQ pedal is an option that should be considered. It will clear up your sound. Just curious, you say you are getting this mud through a Fender Princeton Chorus amp? I have that amp - I LOVE that amp - and it is literally one of the brightest, clearest amps out there. If a guitar is sounding like mud through that amp, then something might be wrong with the pickups. But before you look into pickups, definitely monkey around with all your knobs - amp knobs and guitar knobs. No way any guitar should sound muddy through a Princeton Chorus. I agree with you 100% about the princeton chorus. That's the main reason I have it. I've messed with the amp till I get it just right and as soon as I add a little volume . . . mud. That's why I'm thinking that it has to be the pickups. I've never encountered this before in any guitar I've played through it. I'm thinking about trying an EQ pedal that was suggested. I'll keep trying Craigslist. It's cheaper than swapping out the pickups, and the EQ would be useful for another guitar I hope to purchase when the funds allow. Hopefully by the time I can accompany my wife on hers when she improves with lessons and time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Not-Too-Late Posted July 21, 2011 Author Share Posted July 21, 2011 Hi and welcome, Just a couple of points from me... While LPs are great guitars for the money I wouldn't personally spend any more on Gibson or Seymour Duncan pickups for a bolt necked LP. The Studio is the cheapest model with a set neck and that's worthy of upgrading, IMHO. Secondly, if you're used to teles, any LP is probably going to sound muddy to you. That said, I personally don't like stock Epi pups and have swapped out to high end pups on set necked LPs in the past for that very reason. In the case of your LP100 I agree with the guys above in the EQ pedal suggestion. If and when you sell your LP100, at least you'll still have your EQ. Oh, one more point. If your wife is interested in playing electric guitars, this is going to stand you in very good stead for your guitar playing (and buying) revival. If you stick around I'm sure you'll soon begin to see exactly what I'm talking about........ Alan I like the EQ idea. Actually, I bought the 100 for my wife. As much as I play it, I'll add another guitar for myself when she can play it well enough for me to accompany her. I might just stay with Epiphone when I get another guitar. I'm going to look at the custom or perhaps the elite. Not sure yet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
matiac Posted July 21, 2011 Share Posted July 21, 2011 Welcome to the forum, pretty reasonable bunch of guys/gals here. If yer dead-set on pickups, how about GFS? They've got what's called "Alnico II" humbuckers that would be a considerable upgrade from stock, and what was mentioned about Telecasters is true, in that ANY Les Paul variant will be thicker sounding than just about any singlecoil setup. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brianh Posted July 21, 2011 Share Posted July 21, 2011 Welcome to the forum NTL, I came back after about 15 years off myself. A warning about this forum though - I had 2 guitars when I joined. Now I have 30. It's really a Guitar Aquisition Syndrome (GAS) support group. How many guitars do you need you say? That's easy - one more than I currently have! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bozo Posted July 21, 2011 Share Posted July 21, 2011 Hi N-T-L, welcome! If you haven't tried adjusting the pickups yet(lowering the neck pup - mine usually end up somewhere flush with pup ring) it may prove to be a little better. You can find a balance between the two if you tweak a little. Humbuckers will tend to be stronger sounding than single coils and sometimes give you that "mud". YMMV :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Not-Too-Late Posted July 21, 2011 Author Share Posted July 21, 2011 How many guitars do you need you say? That's easy - one more than I currently have! That sounds just about right!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Not-Too-Late Posted July 21, 2011 Author Share Posted July 21, 2011 Hi N-T-L, welcome! If you haven't tried adjusting the pickups yet(lowering the neck pup - mine usually end up somewhere flush with pup ring) it may prove to be a little better. You can find a balance between the two if you tweak a little. Humbuckers will tend to be stronger sounding than single coils and sometimes give you that "mud". YMMV :) Single coil pickups are all I have ever used. I'll have to spend some time getting used to the Humbuckers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
taxman Posted July 22, 2011 Share Posted July 22, 2011 Single coil pickups are all I have ever used. You know, this really might be behind the mud problem. Sure, maybe your pickups are a bit muddy (an EQ pedal will clear it up), but someone once explained to me that after only playing my extremely bright Fender Princeton Chorus amp for twenty years, my ears became so trained, so accustomed to that super bright sound that any amp after that would sound muddy to me -- even my VOX AC30. If all you have played were single coils for decades, yes, no doubt a humbucker will sound rather muddy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Not-Too-Late Posted July 22, 2011 Author Share Posted July 22, 2011 You know, this really might be behind the mud problem. Sure, maybe your pickups are a bit muddy (an EQ pedal will clear it up), but someone once explained to me that after only playing my extremely bright Fender Princeton Chorus amp for twenty years, my ears became so trained, so accustomed to that super bright sound that any amp after that would sound muddy to me -- even my VOX AC30. If all you have played were single coils for decades, yes, no doubt a humbucker will sound rather muddy. Perhaps more fiddling around with the guitar and amp controls along with an EQ will solve the issue. Thanks for all your help, and that goes for all the other kind individuals here on this forum. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
damian Posted July 22, 2011 Share Posted July 22, 2011 30 it's time for a new thread with a group-shot, or two I stopped counting at 30.................. :unsure: .... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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