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Post by JebusCrebus on Jan 11, 2007 6:58:08 GMT -7
Hey guys, I can remember from a young age always wanting a Les Paul and I spent countless hours test driving all the Paul's I could get my hands on and not really finding one I liked very much. Well a couple of years ago I found a really great deal on a 1960 Classic Series Paul with the right feeling neck and the pieces kind of fell together and I bought it (kind of on a whim). This thing plays fantastic acoustically. I am primarily a blues based player and I have always been naturally drawn to the single coil sound, so I find that I am struggling a little bit with getting a great OD tone from my Paul, I love it clean. I love the tones I hear from tons of Paul Blues players (Gibbons, Moore, Betts, etc..) But I can't seem to even get close to recreating their tones, not that I want to copy them, I'm just looking for a starting point. I have read a lot threads from other forum members praising their Paul's through their Jr's but I not sure I can find the tone I want from it here (sure I can get great Rock type tones no problem tons of drive and sustain). I've been thinking about replacing the stock PU's with a set of Duncan SH-1 59's to try to get a more original Les Paul Standard type of sound. Anyone have any insight or thoughts? (I have thought that maybe the Les Paul is simply not my cup of tea, and also that maybe I should move on but that is very hard to do ) [glow=limegreen,2,300]-J-[/glow]
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Post by lowwatt on Jan 11, 2007 8:23:11 GMT -7
e It sounds like you like Les Paul tone and the guitar itself. I think you're on to something with replacing the pickups. The one thing I always found strange about those "classic" models is that they have fairly modern sounding pickups.
I haven't heard the '59s but I'm guessing they'd be a huge step in the right direction for you. I've tried the SD Seth Lover pickups in a Les Paul and they had a great vintage style voice. I've got a '61 RI SG that has Gibson '57 Classics in it that I love, but I've heard others say that the '57s don't sound great with Les Pauls.
But, in all fairness, it might not be your thing. Les Paul necks make you play differently than Fender necks and you might not like the change. I'd recommend hitting your local guitar store, grabbing an expensive Les Paul off the shelf that has vintage style pick-ups (pretty much all of the expensive ones will have some type of Burstbucker pickups in them - definitely in the ballpark of vintage tone) and see if you can enjoy that and get into the Paul before spending more money on pickups just yet.
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Post by ke4unr on Jan 11, 2007 8:29:32 GMT -7
J,
The tones you are after are in both your Les Paul and your Maz Jr., though you might need to make a few minor changes.
One you've already mentioned - pickups. My favorite combination for LP's is a Duncan '59 in the neck and a JB in the bridge. I'm able to cover the players you mentioned with ease.
As for your amp, you might want to try a different set of preamp tubes. I like JJ Electronics tubes a lot, and use them in everything. But the "Z" amp is different and for some reason doesn't take to them as well in the preamp. They work great in the power section. So, I took the good Dr.'s advice and put some Svetlana's in the first two positions, leaving the other tubes stock. That opened a whole new world for me, and I can play my LP's, Strats and Tele through my Maz Jr with no problems.
I keep mine set "cleanish" with just a bit of break up when the guitar volume is turned up. I use just a few overdrive pedals to achieve the lead tones I'm after.
Having said that, I just traded in one of my LP's this past weekend. A Gary Moore signature (something I thought I'd never do, btw) for a Grosh Bent Top Custom. Wow! That opens up even more musical territory for me. Mine has a couple of Fralin Blues Specials and a H-Unbucker in the bridge, so I can get the humbucker lead tones I need, but with the switching and blend knob, I'm able to get great single coil sounds in all positions, and more. Plus it is much lighter without sacrificing tone! A big plus as I get older.
This is just a last ditch suggestions though. You might want to get your LP working/sounding the way you like through your amp first. If you decide to do some or all of the changes I mentioned, it won't cost much at all. See if your satisfied. If not, then maybe look at another guitar that better suits your taste and needs.
I hope that helps. Good luck.
Ray K.
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Post by skydog958 on Jan 11, 2007 19:08:54 GMT -7
The pickups in the LP Classics were never great. They are hot pickups with ceramic magnets. They probably sound half decent into high gain amps, but Z's don't do that. I was looking at them too a while back but I ended up with a LP Standard (and eventually changed out the pickups ).
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Post by zdogma on Jan 11, 2007 20:06:59 GMT -7
If you haven't changed the pickups, try it. Email Jon Moore in Hamilton, or Mike Turk and have them wind you up a set of "PAF's" World of difference, trust me.
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Post by lowwatt on Jan 12, 2007 9:00:17 GMT -7
If you haven't changed the pickups, try it. Email Jon Moore in Hamilton, or Mike Turk and have them wind you up a set of "PAF's" World of difference, trust me. Sorry to sidetrack I'm in Toronto and am always looking for Southern Ontario custom guys. Do either of these guys have a website for their offerings. Details would be appreciated.
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Post by JebusCrebus on Jan 12, 2007 9:06:02 GMT -7
If you haven't changed the pickups, try it. Email Jon Moore in Hamilton, or Mike Turk and have them wind you up a set of "PAF's" World of difference, trust me. Sorry to sidetrack I'm in Toronto and am always looking for Southern Ontario custom guys. Do either of these guys have a website for their offerings. Details would be appreciated. www.tonefordays.com Courtesy of ZDogMa [glow=limegreen,2,300]-J-[/glow]
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Post by oldgoat on Jan 12, 2007 15:09:37 GMT -7
If your Les Paul sounds great acoustically, then for me it would be a keeper. Thats the base of your sound. If you don't have that you've got nothing. Swap out those pickups! Get something that will enhance the sound of your guitar. Any number of true PAF clones will do the trick, seeing that you are a blues player. I personally have SD Antiquity in my Standard. Used them in lots of settings from straight ahead jazz (in a semi-hollow) to country and funk. And of course playing the blues. I also like that they are not wax potted. Great fun for me playing with the feedback when they are cranked. Also a big fan of Bill Lawrence pickups. Have his L-450 set in my 335. Amazing sound, but better have your chops together. No hiding behind these. Make sure you get them only from Bill www.billlawrence.com/ the others are horrible knock offs. Call him or his wife Becky and tell them what you like or don't like about your current set. If the phone is too busy, his forum is a great resource. Lots of smart and good people that will be glad to help you out. Like here. ;D And lowwatt has a great point about pups. That one set may sound great in one guitar and like the devil in another. The '57 Classics sounded awful in my 335. But Ric McCurdy had me play one of his Milanos, his version of a 335. It had the '57 classics which sounded fantastic in it. So play around have fun. Lots of flavors and a very easy thing to do.
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Post by John on Jan 12, 2007 15:38:30 GMT -7
I too have gone through periods of wanting to like my LP. But I always come back to it. For rock/blues that is.
Last night I had rehearsal with my LP and Route 66 with a 1x12 closed back w/ greenback....it was glorious!!! Tone, sensitivity, dynamics. Simply wonderful.
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Post by dei305 on Jan 12, 2007 17:00:40 GMT -7
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cosmo
Full Member
Posts: 156
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Post by cosmo on Jan 12, 2007 23:11:05 GMT -7
Oldgoat's got it right IMO. If the git sounds good unplugged, you just need to figure out the "plugged-in" part. WCRs, SD 59s, Lovers, Lollar Imperials, just to mention a few, all really good PAF-style pickups. I also find that my Z amps get along really well with humbuckers when I play with a little lighter touch.
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Post by gwayne on Jan 13, 2007 0:57:57 GMT -7
I agree with everything that's already been said. I've actually just discovered how good my LP is through the Z. I had primarily been spankin' either my EJ Strat or G&L ASAT, but finally decided to really give the amp a go with my LP. IMO, the key is to use the Lo input. I'm using a Fulltone OCD, Barber Direct Drive SS, and Fulldrive 2 and I'm getting TONS of great tone - Betts, Kossoff, Angus all day long depending on which pedal I hit. The cleans are also nice. FWIW, my LP is an Historic '68 Custom Authentic with WCR Crossroads neck/bridge. As others have stated, if the guitar sounds great unplugged, you're 90% there. Throw some vintage style hummers in there and you're home free.
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Post by m1911 on Jan 13, 2007 6:33:36 GMT -7
Hey guys, I can remember from a young age always wanting a Les Paul and I spent countless hours test driving all the Paul's I could get my hands on and not really finding one I liked very much. Well a couple of years ago I found a really great deal on a 1960 Classic Series Paul with the right feeling neck and the pieces kind of fell together and I bought it (kind of on a whim). This thing plays fantastic acoustically. I am primarily a blues based player and I have always been naturally drawn to the single coil sound, so I find that I am struggling a little bit with getting a great OD tone from my Paul, I love it clean. I love the tones I hear from tons of Paul Blues players (Gibbons, Moore, Betts, etc..) But I can't seem to even get close to recreating their tones, not that I want to copy them, I'm just looking for a starting point. I have read a lot threads from other forum members praising their Paul's through their Jr's but I not sure I can find the tone I want from it here (sure I can get great Rock type tones no problem tons of drive and sustain). I've been thinking about replacing the stock PU's with a set of Duncan SH-1 59's to try to get a more original Les Paul Standard type of sound. Anyone have any insight or thoughts? (I have thought that maybe the Les Paul is simply not my cup of tea, and also that maybe I should move on but that is very hard to do ) [glow=limegreen,2,300]-J-[/glow] What most people describe as "awesome tone" from the Les Paul-Marshall camp I can't take for very long.....ie....too much gain, crunch, etc....over-the-top. The heaviest Les Paul tones I like are from the Beano Album, along with the Allman Brothers, Peter Green, and Mike Bloomfield. If you uses a MAZ Junior, and a nice Les Paul with Fralin Standard PAF's wound to 8k Neck & 9k on the Bridge......you can get all of those tones or better. Sure....dial the knobs clockwise more and it will scream.....but you can easily get a CLEARER, yet full-bodied SEARING tone from what I've described. Your bridge pick-up will sound like a clear, bubbling horn.....there aren't many tones nicer IMHO. Looking for Pick-ups can be VERY tedious....but I would lean more toward Fralin, Tom Holmes, or Lollar. I can e-mail you some sound-bites if you want. Mark
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Post by GuitarZ on Jan 13, 2007 9:28:07 GMT -7
I was a Les Paul/Marshall guy for 20 years. Picked up a strat and then finally settled on the Maz Jr for use with the Strat. I wasn't digging my Les Paul in the Maz.
But, one morning I threw new strings on the Paul, plugged into the Maz, and really liked the sound and feel. I then remembered that that German web site with sound samples also showed tone settings, I remembered some of the tone settings were a bit extreme. So, I checked out their Paul/Maz settings, tried them, started there, and ended up getting some settings that really work with my Les Paul.
Hi Input, V 2:00, T 2:30, M 5 (all the way up), B 7:30, Master 2:00, & Cut: 12:00
I've got a P90 Les Paul, so I'm not sure that mine matches with yours, but once I was able to dial something in, I really liked the sound. I still like my Marshall sound, but the Maz is different and equally as good.
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Post by JebusCrebus on Jan 13, 2007 18:43:01 GMT -7
Hey Guys, Since I got my Air Brake and opened up the Jr a little bit the Paul had sort of taken on some new attitude and started to sound a little bit better, I'm fighting it less now than before, weird. I still think you guys hit it on the head with the ceramic pickup comments I really don't think they are my cup of tea, and I will be swapping them out as soon as I can with some Alnico's. Thanks for the comments and suggestions, if anyone has anymore keep em coming of course, I am very interested in what has worked and what has not on your Paul's out there. -J-
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Post by gwayne on Jan 15, 2007 3:51:48 GMT -7
So, I checked out their Paul/Maz settings, tried them, started there, and ended up getting some settings that really work with my Les Paul. Hi Input, V 2:00, T 2:30, M 5 (all the way up), B 7:30, Master 2:00, & Cut: 12:00 Yo GuitarZ, I tried my LP Custom with these settings and they're great. Hit the front with my FD2 and I was getting the sweetest harmonic feedback I've ever gotten from the Maz - I was able to sustain a note and just as it was dying off, the feedback would start slowly swelling them kinda hang there. I loved it. I keep finding out just how versatile these little beasts are. Anyhow, many thanks for the settings. Gary
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