Pickup for a Norlan Era Les Paul.

[ApeDosMil]

I have a Les Paul Custom from the 70's and I currently hate the bridge Pickup. It sounds too grimy. I believe its a Gibson 500T, or 498t.

I was thinking about EMGS, but I don't really want to get them as I had them before and sold them. I want heavey distortion.

How are the X2N Dimarzios?

[sworn_enemy]

Re: Pickup for a Norlan Era Les Paul.

I recently got an LP Standard a few weeks ago and I love the sound of the burstbuckers that came in it. They have some really nice chunk to them when playing metal and sound really nice clean as well.

[markD]

Re: Pickup for a Norlan Era Les Paul.

i put in duncan distortions in my LP style guitar and i love them. they are even nickel covered.

[Newc]

Re: Pickup for a Norlan Era Les Paul.

Hmmm. Never had a problem with my 500T or 498T [img]/images/graemlins/scratchhead.gif[/img]
I get tons of heavy, punchy, and smooth distortion (not farty or strained like I did with a DiMarzio SD).

What amp/preamp type thing are you using? It could be an EQ issue.

[Brad]

Re: Pickup for a Norlan Era Les Paul.

[ QUOTE ]
i put in duncan distortions in my LP style guitar and i love them. they are even nickel covered.

[/ QUOTE ]

+1 on the Distortions.... They are my favorite.

[442w30]

Re: Pickup for a Norlan Era Les Paul.

My explorer will tear off your face with 498/500Ts, maybe yours are duds [img]/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img]

Seriously, it's odd that they sound that bad, they seem less flabby and over the top than an invader, but definitely not ideal for clean work IMO

59 or distortion maybe? I like em both OK

[paddok]

Re: Pickup for a Norlan Era Les Paul.

I seriously dig the 500T. Always been a great high gain pup. What amp are you playing through?

[siggy14]

Re: Pickup for a Norlan Era Les Paul.

if it is a 70's it wouldnt be either of those pickups unless someone installed them into that guitar. The 500's and 498's didnt exist back then. I believe in the 70's and 80's all they had was PAF style pickups, i could be wrong but i dont believe soo. Michael you are part of the Les Paul Forum, ask them they would know better

And from that i have gathered the 500T is kinda modeled after the dimarzio super which is close to the SD distortion.

[442w30]

Re: Pickup for a Norlan Era Les Paul.

Me, or Michael?
I have a 50watt JCM800 and a Line 6 Flextone head connected to a Rivera 4X12. Both are Explorer approved [img]/images/graemlins/headbang.gif[/img]

[jtr]

Re: Pickup for a Norlan Era Les Paul.

Are they the ones that have the covers glued so you can't take them off? If these are the ones your talking about I agree the worst sounding pickups Gibson ever loaded into a guitar. I think they were used in 76-78 I had them in a Les Paul Artisan and a explorer.

[ApeDosMil]

Re: Pickup for a Norlan Era Les Paul.

I'm using a Fender Roc Pro 1000, and a Carvin 2x12. I just don't like the sound the picksup make, I didn't like it through a Pod 2.0 either.

[Newc]

Re: Pickup for a Norlan Era Les Paul.

Gibson had the Dirty Fingers pickups in the late 70s/early 80s, and those were styled after (read: copies of) the DiMarzio SD, but the 500T sounds more like a Duncan Distortion to me, and the 498T reminds me slightly of a JB, but I like the 498T better personally.

That particular LPC was mine, and I don't know what the pickups were - thanks Gibson for not putting a model designation on the bottom plates [img]/images/graemlins/brow.gif[/img]

Anyhoo, I think JGCable said he changed the pickups when he had it after me? [img]/images/graemlins/scratchhead.gif[/img]
I put the Jazz in the middle, though.

Anyhoo, someone changed them before I got it because two were stamped Gibson USA on the bottom and the other one wasn't IIRC.

[Newc]

Re: Pickup for a Norlan Era Les Paul.

Wow, Fender RP1000 and Carvin 2x12 - same setup I used to use live and you didn't like it? [img]/images/graemlins/scratchhead.gif[/img]
That combo sounded good even with stock Jackson pickups in a KV-3.

Hmmm. I'd check solder joints in the cavity.
Or go ahead and swap the bridge pickup for a Duncan or DiMarzio - can't hurt [img]/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img]