Bridge pickup for Les Paul

[motorboy1]

What would you guys recommend for a medium/hot output bridge pickup for a les paul standard. I’m thinking 10 to 14k . Guitar currently has 500k pots and 50s style wiring. Has a 8.6 k paf style pickups which is great for 70’s stuff but I think I want to go hotter for 80s rock to 90s alternative. Don’t do drop tunings or chug stuff so what would you recommend ?

 

[angelspade]

Duncan Custom...Try It.

 

[BlackRose]

SD Custom or TN Roxy

 

[motorboy1]

SD Custom or TN Roxy

Hmmm, I use a SD custom custom A2 in a charvel and like it. I think the only difference would be the magnet type is ceramic in the Custom. Same wind though.

 

[Rex Rocker]

Gibson 498T or 500T.

 

[MrScratch]

Gibson Dirty Fingers
DiMarzio Super Distortion
Duncan JB maybe?

 

[LP Freak]

Aldrich always sound good in an LP. A little hotter than you’re looking for but it’s a good choice

 

[DanTravis62]

ToneNerd roxy is the best Les Paul pickup ever.

Followed by the custom 5 alnico, Aldrich, and Wagner godwood

 

[ClintN667]

I have suhr Aldrich in mine.

 

[ClintN667]

If I was in the market for a pickup I would try a Roxy in it like others have said. Then a custom 5 or JB

 

[lespaul6]

I think the old screamin demon was around 10k ish... might be worth a try... 8.6 would be the max for me as I get my distortion from the amp

 

[braintheory]

In that DC range I’d say a ‘70’s Bill Lawrence L100 or L90 (Cream L90XL if you want hotter) and no need to look further. Nothing else made in the last 30 years that I’ve tried in that DC range can rival those in sound or feel and they also work particularly well in Les Paul’s

 

[JohnnyGtar]

In that DC range I’d say a ‘70’s Bill Lawrence L100 or L90 (Cream L90XL if you want hotter) and no need to look further. Nothing else made in the last 30 years that I’ve tried in that DC range can rival those in sound or feel and they also work particularly well in Les Paul’s

The old L90's are amazing.

 

[rsm]

Seymour Duncan Custom 5

 

[jtgainor]

Love my SD antiquities even with 80’s and 90’s music. Has clarity that a 10k+ pickup just doesn’t have(like the JB in my strat).

Depending on your rig, I’d just buy a clean boost and put it in front of the amp, or turn the gain up a number or two.

 

[DistortED]

ToneNerd Sunset Strip is in that range you're looking for. It's hard to beat Scott's builds and his price.

 

[Bash_Man]

Wolftones Timberwolf is another good pickup. Have it in both my LPs. Has a nice cutting but smooth topend and full low end. This is comparing it to the Gibson Burstbucker 61s.

Good luck.

 

[JackBootedThug]

I like the standard Gibson pups dude. Especially for what your doing. Is it an epi or a copy? I have gotten killer results with BB's, 57's and the 500 and 498(?)....been awhile since I've owned an actual Gibby though. Aftermarket pups for me-anything scottosan recommends....love a custom 5 but never tried one in a les paul, and emg's with the 24V mod....that mod makes all the difference on them imo...

 

[Mr. Willy]

Contact this guy and tell him what you’ve told us. He’ll build it. https://www.gravelinpickups.com/

You’ve described exactly what I was looking for in a pickup. Mine’s around 13k, A5. Balanced. Just right amount of compression. Vocal. Love it. Have two. Have one in the bridge of my PRS CU24 and one in my Norlin LPC.

 

[Emg77]

I have Tonenerd Whiskey in one of my Les Paul and love it. Its a little hotter than what your asking for, but its great.