W.L.Weller wrote: Wed Aug 06, 2025 10:30 am I sold a 90s Les Paul Studio to a friend of a friend for a friendly price 6 or 8 years ago, with the condition that he offer it back to me before selling it to someone else. So I'm going to buy back this LP.

I have a set of humbucker sized Firebird pickups in a 72 Firebird that somebody cut up and put regular humbuckers in.

Before I changed them, the neck pickup in it was a priceless ($500 more like) Gibson t-top, which is a very early version, right after the PAF, and it sounded like god. The bridge was a super early Dimarzio that sounded like total shit. So bad. I didn’t know what was what until I had it taken in, only that I really liked the one and hated the other.

I hated the bridge pickup so bad and wanted to change the pickups back to mostly stock, so I got a set of humbucker sized Firebird pickups from somebody, maybe Mojotone or something. I would have to find the receipt, but I had then vintage wind with light potting.

Anyways, overall the guitar was improved, but I did miss that beautiful neck humbucker, though I sold it for a lot of money - it would have been enough to pay off 20-25% of the guitar. My Firebird was a deal because of its condition, and it was unplayable when I got it, but it was still $2k or something close. The new neck pickup sounded different, not better or worse, but the new bridge pickup gave me the rest of the guitar back.

I like the Firebird pickups just fine. I say get your old Gibson, play it for a minute, and see if it needs a sharper or more wide-band sound. Firebird pickups are their own thing, but they still fit nicely within the humbucker/p90 spectrum, so if you got along with either you’d be ok. Personally I would go for PAF style Fralins in a Les Paul, but i really liked humbucker sounds (think Stones) until they start to grind. The brand I have is different and all, but I wouldn’t change the pickups again unless I was returning the guitar to its OG condition. I dunno if that’s a recommendation.

But I think if you were really going for a Neil sound you should put a Bigsby on it first. And also I love those buddy deals like you did with your friend. Just to say!

cakes wrote: Wed Aug 06, 2025 8:50 pm

llllllllllllllllllll wrote: Wed Aug 06, 2025 7:40 pm Oh come on. How is choosing a cheap Gibson he already knows and likes over a $1300 Epiphone even a question.

He doesn't know he likes it, and the Epi isn't $1300.

I know the Studio is coming back to me, and I know I've always liked single coils more (Univox Hi-Flier excepted). I don't know what the Studio is going to sound like through my current setup, and pre-emptively buying new pickups (for a guy with multiple ring mods) is insane. Buying a Bigsby & Vibramate on the other hand, well that's just smart planning.

As Neil said, "You were in tune before...it makes no sense to stay in tune"

https://www.thrasherswheat.org/ptma/Fre ... 492pt2.htm

W.L.Weller wrote: Thu Aug 07, 2025 12:15 pm

cakes wrote: Wed Aug 06, 2025 8:50 pm

llllllllllllllllllll wrote: Wed Aug 06, 2025 7:40 pm Oh come on. How is choosing a cheap Gibson he already knows and likes over a $1300 Epiphone even a question.

He doesn't know he likes it, and the Epi isn't $1300.

I know the Studio is coming back to me, and I know I've always liked single coils more (Univox Hi-Flier excepted). I don't know what the Studio is going to sound like through my current setup, and pre-emptively buying new pickups (for a guy with multiple ring mods) is insane. Buying a Bigsby & Vibramate on the other hand, well that's just smart planning.

As Neil said, "You were in tune before...it makes no sense to stay in tune"

https://www.thrasherswheat.org/ptma/Fre ... 492pt2.htm

Don't buy anything until you've had it in your hands for a while.

Bigsby first. They look cool as shit, but that starts adding up with the vibramate crap and then it is still a pain in the ass to restring them--yes I know you do the little trick, whatever. But if you know you dig a bigsby, bigsby up. I wouldn't even worry about the vibramate it you know this is a set up you like and this studiio isn't some sort of collector model.

BUT. Do look at the Goldo or Deusenberg Les Trem II. I was vibrato curious, but not sold on the idea of committing with my favorite les paul. Got the Les Trem II and loved it. It may even been an improvement on a bigsby. It uses the existing stop-bar mounting holes, doesn't need a vibramate, is easy to restring, is well made, and has a removable arm. Downsides: that removable arm needs a small allen wrench to remove/install (so don't lose it) and it doesn't look as cool as a big ass chunk of cast aluminum 50's technology. S

Seriously, I'm thinking of sprucing up my other les paul, sorta like what you are up to, and may even get another one for it.

As for pickups, I've seriously been thinking of putting some alternative to standard humbuckers in my les paul, and I've specifically been eying full sized firebird pickups. I like humbuckers, but the more I play the more I want more of the definition, attack, and percussive qualities I associate with single coils. Yet I definitely want it to stay in the humbucker ballpark.

I've been considering the Mr. Fabulous Big Bird sets, but I'm a little worried they will be too bright and not thick enough. His stuff does seem well made and is attractively priced. I've been digging through alternatives, however, and keep coming back to either some sort of full sized Firebird design, some sort of scaled down Wide-Range design, or Fralin Big Singles. I'm also really like some of the humbucker sized Dearmond-style gold foils, but I get enough of that sound with my Harmonys. The common element seems to be using alnico magnets, either bars or poles, as the string sensor. IDK. Been leaning towards the Fralins, but neuroses make picking out socks a long process.

You have to purchase either a reissued Dod 250 or an EQD Special Cranker - which do you choose?

the OD250, but I'm basing that on the Chicago Stompworks "grey speck" version I have, not the actual DOD reissue. And also I've only messed around with the special cranker at a music store for 10 minutes, so this is basically a perfect encapsulation of what's wrong/difficult/impossible about talking about gear online. I'm giving you my near-baseless, near-useless opinion.

For what it's worth, the OD250 clone is always on & 1st after the guitar when I'm using my VM Jazzmaster (with the stock "Duncan Designed" pickups) or my Danelectro baritone (with the stock Korean lipsticks)

Hated the Special Cranker for the hour or so I tried it. Had a wooly breakup in the bass frequencies I couldn’t dial out so back to Guitar Center it went.

EQD’s White Light is based on the 250 but with a Weight control that adds low-end and saturation the more you turn it up. Or keep it at noon or below for a brighter low-gainer. I’m picking the 250 out of those two options.

I bought two of those 250s when they were like $40 and they're great. They are on permanent loan to friends, and my Balls Yellow is the distortion of choice that stays on

There’s a 2pu double cut Jerry Jones that’s been sitting on marketplace for a couple of months just north of $2200CAD. It’s a “good price” for the guitar but also it hasn’t moved so maybe it’s not a good price?

There isn’t much guitar stuff I’m actively interesting in accumulating at this point, but a vintage dano or a comparable JJ is on the list.

Can’t justify it at the moment but I look at the listing every day! Hoping that a 50s/60s copper double cut presents itself at some point when I have the money.

mdc wrote: Thu Sep 11, 2025 2:29 pm There’s a 2pu double cut Jerry Jones that’s been sitting on marketplace for a couple of months just north of $2200CAD. It’s a “good price” for the guitar but also it hasn’t moved so maybe it’s not a good price?

There isn’t much guitar stuff I’m actively interesting in accumulating at this point, but a vintage dano or a comparable JJ is on the list.

Can’t justify it at the moment but I look at the listing every day! Hoping that a 50s/60s copper double cut presents itself at some point when I have the money.

If a slightly chopped up Dano U2 reissue scratches any itches. I have one with a P-90 installed in the bridge that could go.

I didnt like the Speaker Cranker either. Flipped it fast.