New guy with my first Les Paul

[gball]

You can get the LP to play clean, meaning without overdriving the amp, but it will not have the same timbre as a Strat or Tele.

For some of us, that's the best thing about playing a Les Paul

But, OP, welcome and nice guitar. For the record, Gibson (and by extension Epiphone) recommend setting the bridge pickup height at 1/16" from the string, with the string depressed at the last (22nd) fret. I have found that virtually all of their pickups sound best when you use this as a staring point and adjust about a half-turn of the screw up or down from there to hit the sweet spot. One recent exception was a 498T that needed to be lowered more than expected but you get the idea.

 

[67plexi]

Welcome, I'm the opposite started with a Les Paul SG standard then a Les Paul Custom 13 years later my guitar teacher said all the songs your
working on are Strat songs and show you a cool trick on your Marshall had a 1979 master volume full stack Mike told me to get a older 4 input Marshall
got a 1967 Black FLAG Marshall what a upgrade that was, next my Strat first one a used 1973 maple board then a 1977 maple board
hit the jackpot 1961 custom color slab board Strat I gifted the maple board Strats to friends back to Gibson Les Paul's I got a 1957 LP Standard gold top
best sounding guitar so far in my life had the pickups cloned had to sell it 2002 got a mint 1960 Les Paul Standard investment guitar not a player
had the Gibson Custom Shop make a copy the Burstbucker pickups sounded like mud replaced with the 1957 clones wired 1950's
It's been my main player the last 21 years and it can sound like a Strat if needed.

 

[smitty_p]

For some of us, that's the best thing about playing a Les Paul

Ha!

But, seriously, that is one of the best things about the standard Gibson configuration - whether a Les Paul, an SG, or whatever.

Being able to adjust the blending of the neck and bridge pickups provides a lot of control over the tonal palette.

That's one reason why I "Les Paul-ized" my Jackson several years ago: I was feeling handicapped by just a master volume and tone. I also didn't like the pickup switch location as it was obstructed by the volume knob when standing in playing position, so I added a new switch in the upper bout - like a Les Paul.

 

[ibmorjamn]

Welcome to The Tone Rooms.
Nice guitar, I think I played one of those, it had an almost transparent greenish color that I really like. Played well and sounded great.
That was the day I stepped up after playing a lot of Epiphone my wife came in the store and said , why don’t you just get the one you want. lol

 

[Grand funk fan]

First of all, welcome to the forum!

When I play cleans with my Les Paul or SG, I often use both pickups, but I’ll back the volume off a bit on them. I also will often use just the neck pickup, but adding a little of the bridge helps to brighten it back up a bit.

Of course, neither will sound just like my Strats; we’re dealing with the difference between humbuckers and single coils. The humbuckers will almost always be warmer, but backing off the volumes will let it hit the amp less hard.

You can get the LP to play clean, meaning without overdriving the amp, but it will not have the same timbre as a Strat or Tele.

I'm good with that. I'm digging the difference in tone. I made the mistake years ago of hating teles because I kept trying to make em sound like a strat. Once I let the tele do it's thing I loved it.

 

[eclecticsynergy]

Balancing the middle position on an LP is a whole universe to explore.
Fun, but it'll take some getting used to for a lifelong Fender player.

Strat and LP are so fundamentally different, they want very different things from an amp.
Dialing in a rig so it sounds great with both is an art in itself.

 

[TVvoodoo]

Have you upgraded the pickups yet? Probably getting to be near time

 

[GrumpySquatch]

I'm something opposite of the OP, having used a '73 Custom since 1976 and recently (2018) added a Strat style assembly.

The Gibson style humbucker is overall superior to Fender single coils, imwo. Cuts through when typical single coils just can't. Want to rock hard? Is the only choice.

I do loves me some Strat like tones. Took far too long for me to add one.

 

[GrumpySquatch]

Have you upgraded the pickups yet? Probably getting to be nearing time

Maybe not. Might be best to work with them for a time to see what they can do.

@Grand funk fan Totally biased - a good PAF clone is the ideal, especially for Dickie Betts.

I have a set of currently insanely expensive PAF clones in ReWind 1959 PAF A4. ReWind Electric: Retro Style Electric Guitar Pickups and Musical Instrument Accessories

I got them in a gear trade a few years back. The neck pickup has clarity and definition the original T-Tops unit did not have, similar with the bridge. The T-Top neck was rather muddy in comparison.

 

[TVvoodoo]

@GrumpySquatch I was trying to make a funny, but I am extremely handsome!

 

[GrumpySquatch]

@GrumpySquatch I was trying to make a funny, but I am extremely handsome!

 

[67plexi]

I did get a set of new Gibson pickups still in the case some day will use them.

1959 Humbucker Collector’s Edition Series 1, Exclusive | Gibson

Gibson’s original “Patent Applied For” humbucker™ pickups from the 1950s are considered the holy grail of humbucking pickup tone. They have been highly influential, with many imitations. The originals are some of the most highly valued vintage pickups on the used market – when you can find...

www.gibson.com

 

[ibmorjamn]

I will never buy Unicorn pickups even if they do emit pink , blue and green clouds.
I can not begin to believe any pickup is worth more than a pile of wire , metal , plastic , magnet and strip of wood.

I know there are many vintage pickups that sound very good.
Just as vintage tubes do.
The only difference could be is something is not safe environmentally so it can no longer be made as it was in 1958.
I forgot the winder , over , under scatter .
The machine.

 

[Robb]

Nice beast congrats !

 

[gball]

I will never buy Unicorn pickups even if they do emit pink , blue and green clouds.
I can not begin to believe any pickup is worth more than a pile of wire , metal , plastic , magnet and strip of wood.

I know there are many vintage pickups that sound very good.
Just as vintage tubes do.
The only difference could be is something is not safe environmentally so it can no longer be made as it was in 1958.
I forgot the winder , over , under scatter .
The machine.

Man, this is so true. For starters, I don't buy into the snake oil about PAFs. They sound...OK. Nothing special, and modern takes on the old ones sound just as good as the originals, if you are even going for that sound, which I most decidedly am not. I like modern sounding, high output pickups, usually with ceramic mags. I have plenty of low-cost options.

I did get a set of new Gibson pickups still in the case some day will use them.

1959 Humbucker Collector’s Edition Series 1, Exclusive | Gibson

Gibson’s original “Patent Applied For” humbucker™ pickups from the 1950s are considered the holy grail of humbucking pickup tone. They have been highly influential, with many imitations. The originals are some of the most highly valued vintage pickups on the used market – when you can find...

www.gibson.com

You know, I was going to buy a set of these when it appeared they were a limited-edition, for the investment. Now that they are just a regular item available any time it's a big no thanks. $1k for a set of "PAF" style pickups is just insulting unless you can expect a reasonable return on the investment.

 

[Mitch Pearrow SJMP]

@Grand funk fan
Welcome to the Forum
Nice looking LP, my secret to the mud in the neck , is to just lower the volume, but most of my playing is on the bridge side..
I do this with all of my Gibsons.

 

[GrumpySquatch]

I did get a set of new Gibson pickups still in the case some day will use them.

1959 Humbucker Collector’s Edition Series 1, Exclusive | Gibson

Gibson’s original “Patent Applied For” humbucker™ pickups from the 1950s are considered the holy grail of humbucking pickup tone. They have been highly influential, with many imitations. The originals are some of the most highly valued vintage pickups on the used market – when you can find...

www.gibson.com

$1k for new pickups is insane. There are many PAF clones a fraction of that price that will sound just as good. The ReWinds I have used to be more reasonably priced.

 

[gball]

$1k for new pickups is insane. There are many PAF clones a fraction of that price that will sound just as good. The ReWinds I have used to be more reasonably priced.

It is insane. Like I mentioned, when it seemed they were a strictly limited edition I was going to get a set, in all honesty, because I thought I could make a few bucks off them.
I don't even like "PAF" style pickups, too wimpy for me, so I probably would have never even installed them.

 

[GrumpySquatch]

It is insane. Like I mentioned, when it seemed they are a strictly limited edition I was going to get a set, in all honesty, because I thought I could make a few bucks off them.
I don't even like "PAF" style pickups, too wimpy for me, so I probably would have never even installed them.

Wimpy? I think they are ideal as I prefer classic rock tones. I use the amp gain to determine how much crunch.

 

[Mitch Pearrow SJMP]

Back in the late 70’s, we were removing stock pickups to get better gainer replacements, dimarzio SD, and whomever else made any thing that was hotter than what we had.