Nice Cheap Pups

[TmcB]

I've been needing to do something about my microphonic pups in my Epiphone Les Paul.
I think I'm after a PAF sound, and I've been eyeing up those SKY PAFs on guitarparts for the bridge position.
I'm after a warm bluesy sound that can do clean well, goes to hardrock but not really worried about metal.
Think along the lines of Foo Fighters, Jeff Buckley, Radiohead I guess in terms of tonality, maybe a bit of incubus.
preferably potted?
And...if I went with a PAF, what would complement a PAF inthe neck position?

I guess I'm somewhat aiming this at CD

[bender]

I haven't tried the PAFs but I have a set of the Sky humbucker sized p-90s and they sound great! I really rate their value for money. The p-90s could be worth considering but I'm sure the PAFs would be just as nice.

[crushing day]

The SKY/KA PAF's are good pickups, especially for the money.
I know a very reputable player who just put a set of 4 in an SG Double neck replica, and thinks they are great.
I had one in the bridge of the 76 Ibanez Destroyer that i had, and it did all it needed to.

They are potted, and 4 conductor for tap-ability.

If you put one in the bridge, it would show up the shortcomings of the epiphone neck pickup (providing its the stock epi pickup?). I usually recommend the JB PAF version for the bridge, and the straight PAF version in the neck as a set.

I'm out of the PAF's at the moment, but should have more early next week

[rocklander]

T
I know a very reputable player who just put a set of 4 in an SG Double neck replica,

in a lovely shade of red per chance?

[ash]

The cool thing about the Sky/Kent Armstrong range is that they seem to get the classic flavour of whatever it is they're based on. Its just the actual sound quality, not the tone/vibe/flavour that lets them down. I have a PAF in the black LP Jr (out on loan at the moment) which is really cool... sounds like a classic LP/PAF should. But when you do a back-to-back test with something more expensive/reputable you can hear that it doesn't have the same degree of clarity as a Duncan or whatever. If you're not doing back-to-back comparisons, you probably wouldn't notice. And they'd all piss all over stock Epi pickups.

I have one chrome covered one in stock if you want to claim it. I also have a nickel covered Kentron (KA Gretsch Filtertron inspired humbucker) which is a good neck position match for the PAF. Just the slight colour difference between chome and nickel. PM me if you want them.

[crushing day]

T
I know a very reputable player who just put a set of 4 in an SG Double neck replica,

in a lovely shade of red per chance?

Not sure, but I do know it was made in Rotorua

[rocklander]

T
I know a very reputable player who just put a set of 4 in an SG Double neck replica,

in a lovely shade of red per chance?

Not sure, but I do know it was made in Rotorua

at my place of work no less...

[crushing day]

cool .. i should have said its one of two made.. How did they look finished?

[rocklander]

cool .. i should have said its one of two made.. How did they look finished?

I really liked the finish... he bought it through work so all the 'fire station boxes' around campus are the same colour now (or will be)
the one with the ebony fretboard was just stunning.. so eye-catching (not sure which one he got).

not too bad balance either for doublenecks.. could have done with strap button adjustments to balance better on the strap, but when seated not as much neck dive as one would expect.

[TMG 03]

If you want some WCR pickups let me know.

[sambrowne]

I've been needing to do something about my microphonic pups in my Epiphone Les Paul.
I think I'm after a PAF sound, and I've been eyeing up those SKY PAFs on guitarparts for the bridge position.
I'm after a warm bluesy sound that can do clean well, goes to hardrock but not really worried about metal.
Think along the lines of Foo Fighters, Jeff Buckley, Radiohead I guess in terms of tonality, maybe a bit of incubus.
preferably potted?
And...if I went with a PAF, what would complement a PAF inthe neck position?

I guess I'm somewhat aiming this at CD

You want my BKP Crawlers mate....

[TmcB]

You want my BKP Crawlers mate....

I'd love your BKP Crawlers...however, there's no point in putting super awesome pups in a guitar that really won't do it justice.


I had looked at them on TM wistfully though

[crushing day]

Alternatively, if you can stretch to a bit more, buy one or both of the Rio Grande BBQ/Texas pups that Ash has for sale in his pickup sale thread. IMO they are the best sounding Hot PAF/PAF style pickups for the money, and at $140 each, thats a bargain. The next shipment i've ordered in will be up in price, courtesy of the dollar dive.

[slash-ed]

+1 for the KAs as a cheap upgrade. I grabbed a couple off TM for about $30 each, stuck them in one of my old guitars and was suitably impressed. It was a distortion type pickup of some sort, and was high output, and tight, if somewhat generic.

[TmcB]

I think that the KA's are the way to go for me. I'm not looking for magical sound (yet), I'm looking for usable, good tone that isn't going to squeal. The guitar is worth less than $500 to me, so not much point in $280 worth of Pups...which is my excuse to stop myself from spending more! Otherwise I would be all about the Rio's.

Thanks for that.