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Newby with pickup help.


triantobebrian

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Hi all.

 

I have one of the 'original' Gary Moore Les Pauls with the burstbucker pickups. Had it for 10 odd years since new.

 

I've really been having problems with my sound or tone and its doing my head in.

 

I just bought a Blackstar HT Dual pedal and ran it through a Fender valve combo with a mid range ibanez with humbuckers. It sounded absolutely awesome; thick and fat and smooth and 'non gritty'.

 

My own amp is a Trace Elliot TC 100 Valve Combo & have changed amps several times looking for my found - so it can only be the guitar left causing the trouble.

 

Because my latest pedal; through my latest amp STILL leads me to a sound or tone that is doing my head in - nothing like in the shop with the other cheap guitar.

 

The only way I could describe it is a chimy metallic middy or honky and 'barky' distortion. Not the thick full fat one I heard only a week ago in the shop..... Even through the amp without the pedal its similar. The treble pickup is obviously pronouncing this aspect a lot more.

 

Could someone please explain what sound the burstbuckers are trying to replicate? Ie. I know its the original paf sound - but what does that mean? In laymans terms.....

 

What pickups would I need for the fat non gritty sound that I'm looking for.

 

 

Thanks so much for any advice.

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Hi fellow Fan [thumbup]

 

I use a combination of 57 Classics (PG'g) and Bumbles to get that "Nasal" sound

As for settings I GUN my Valve amp (Black Star HT-5) and back off the volume and tone (to about 6/7) and that gets the sound I'm after

 

Yours is fitted with BB1's so produce a brighter sound.

I'm not sure if you just need to fit more vintage style caps or as you say different pickups

 

So I'll pass the reigns on to the more experienced here...

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You want Classic 57's for a fat creamy sound.

 

Burstbuckers are made so that they have a little grit or edge to them.

+1.

 

That's also been my experience of the types mentioned.

 

P.

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You want Classic 57's for a fat creamy sound.

 

Burstbuckers are made so that they have a little grit or edge to them.

 

My impression: they were too bright, and thin sounding, sort of sounded ok with the bluesy edge/slight breakup sound, but they went to hell when you tried to take them in to more traditional heavier / high gain tones. My 490/498 combo in my other standard sounded 10x better in all situations. I got tired of fighting with them.

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Thanks so much all for the replies.

 

So 490/498's????? Or 57 Classics.....

 

Which ones here are smoother and creamier??? And what's the difference again??

 

I actually had a 500t and its respective partner in for a while but I don't think this helped either.

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One of the other things that I've been told to look for is bumblebee capacitors and also Gibson Vintage Tone Pots...

 

Would my guitar already have these in?

 

Thanks for the feedback on the pickups. Going with the 57 Classics on the advice here.

 

Just to clarify so as to keep the same look; ie. a zebra on the neck and black on the bridge... I would need to order a classic in the zebra and a classic plus for the black. Is this correct???

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One of the other things that I've been told to look for is bumblebee capacitors and also Gibson Vintage Tone Pots...

 

Would my guitar already have these in?

 

Thanks for the feedback on the pickups. Going with the 57 Classics on the advice here.

 

Just to clarify so as to keep the same look; ie. a zebra on the neck and black on the bridge... I would need to order a classic in the zebra and a classic plus for the black. Is this correct???

 

My guess is that if your guitar is stock, it does not have bumble bees or vintage pots... if you open the back cavity, take a pic of the electronics, and post it here, someone with a lot more experience can probably give you a more educated answer.

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Is there an easy way to add a pic?

My GM isn't the traditional sunburst (?) Colour.

It's still lemon; but has grain as if someone had dribbled paint down it.

I've never seen another one like it - even in photos or on the net.

 

Open a photobucket account at photobucket.com... it's free. You can upload pictures there. Once uploaded, place your cursor over the picture you wish to post here, and a small window will pop up that has a couple of different options... click on the 'IMG', which copies some data. Then paste it here in your reply window, and it will post your pic.

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With regard the Bumblebees; be advised that there are repro 'bees which are merely ceramics wrapped in a fancy shell to look like 'bees and there are genuine PIO (Paper In Oil) repro 'bees. You want the latter. They are available from a company called Luxe and are only available from their on-line store through ebay.

 

Here's the link;

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1956-60-Bumblebee-REPRO-Capacitors-Pair-022uF-400v-PIO-/300708245978?pt=Guitar_Accessories&hash=item46039bb1da

 

About posting photographs; the easiest way is to do as Bryan says and open an account with photobucket.

 

Here's a lnk which leads you by the hand through the whole process;

 

http://forum.gibson.com/index.php?/topic/11005-sticky-how-to-post-photos/

 

Looking forward to the snaps.

 

P.

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Would there be a link as well to the vintage tone pots that I'm meant to have?

The usual practice, if you are going for vintage-style wiring, is to fit CTS 500k 'Audio-Taper' pots in all four positions. I believe they are standard fittings on Gibson's Historic Re-issues.

 

These come in both long- and short-shaft type. The ones you need are dependent on your particular type of LP. I'm not familiar with your exact model but it's not rocket science to measure one to find out.

 

Here is an example;

http://www.ebay.co.u...=item3f16ffd206

 

In case you haven't already seen it here's a wiring diagram showing both modern and vintage '50s style circuits (note the caps' positions/earth are reversed);

50sStyleModernw.jpg

 

Hope this helps.

 

P.

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Thanks for the further info.... Especially the link to the caps.

 

Would there be a link as well to the vintage tone pots that I'm meant to have?

 

Give me until the weekend to get the pics up - keen to share.

 

Cheers from Melbourne; Australia.....

 

I just ordered a set of PIO Luxe Bumblebees for my LP from this site: http://retrospec-guitar.com/store/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=4&products_id=34

 

Don't know if you will be able to order from this site or not being in Australia...

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Hey boys n girls.

 

I'm really getting into this updating my guitar thing. I thank you all for the inspiration. I'll get these photos up as soon as I've got 10 minutes at home alone..... (3 month old baby boy.....)

 

I've ordered my bumble bees thanks to the link put up earlier.

 

Next thing is going the 57 classics and 50's wiring.

 

But any thoughts on these???

 

’57 Classic Humbucker with 4-Conductor Wiring..... Split the coils (?) for a vintage tone.

 

How do you do this. Another switch somewhere????

 

BTW I'll keep all of my Gary Moore parts. But I'll never sell this guitar as its officially my most treasured material posession - so would rather have it right than GM 'authentic'

 

Any further thoughts?

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’57 Classic Humbucker with 4-Conductor Wiring..... Split the coils (?) for a vintage tone.

 

How do you do this. Another switch somewhere????

4 Conductors are hard to get so you may have to make do with 2 Conductor models.

But if you do get 4-conductor ones, you'll need 2 or 3 of these:

DV019_Jpg_Regular_364668_R.jpg

Called a "push/pull pot" (You would need 500k USA made ones)

The cool thing tho is you can coil split both pickups but ALSO reverse the magnet! (Peter Green)

 

Whatever you chose to do, I wish you all the best...

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On the album screen highlight the image you want to add here

 

Then on the list that appears below just click the url that is next to "Direct Link", it should change to say "Copied"

 

Now come to the forum and use this code "Insert Image" and paste into the box that appears

and that should be it...

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My Les Paul (Gary Moore)

 

guitarphotos087.jpg

 

A close up of the grain I was talking about that runs right through the guitar

 

guitarphotos089.jpg

 

My Trace Elliot TC 100 amp that I had revalved and refurbished with Wine Red Tolex recently

 

guitarphotos090.jpg

 

My Spector Bass I have on lay by.

 

utf-8BSU1BRzAwNjAuanBn.jpg

 

If this don't work and I look like a tit; I aploize. Only following orders - I mean instructions.......

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IT WORKED!!!!!! Thanks guys.......

 

(Now stand by for the nudie photo's.....!!!!!)

 

So on top of getting the 57 Classics and bumblebees....

 

 

I'm getting 50's wiring; Historic tone pots and a tone pro fixed or locking bridge and saddle. Also the triangle markers for obvious reasons..... Any other suggestions to make it a hamburger with the lot???

 

Genuine thanks to you guys here - it's made it an intersting project (even these damned photo's!!!) and I can't wait to get the tone I'm looking for.... I'm sure it's now gonna happen. It's been a real learning curve.

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