Epiphone shootout Alnico Classic vs. Probucker vs. Gibson Burstbucker 3
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- Опубликовано: 10 май 2013
- This movie is a comparison video between three quite similar Epiphone guitars that have different sets of pickups. The shootout is between the stock Epiphone Alnico Classics, the Epiphone Probuckers and the Gibson BurstBucker IIIs.
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I'm an Epi guy...use ProBuckers exclusively!!! Basically, they're original PAF humbuckers...they took the specs (measurements, and materials) from the original Seth Lover humbuckers, from the Kalamazoo factory days, and made all the parts to exact specs, sent it all to China, where they assemble, then install them!!! I like them way better than anything Gibson's making today!!! PLUS...Epi's using, and making, high quality hardware, 500k CTS pots, orange drop, and Mallory caps!!! For $7-800, U get a solid, gig worthy axe, with hard case, and tone for days...how can U beat that???
Couldn't agree more
I do agree!
潘卓Pan_Cho it’s,because ‘Merica!!
@潘卓Pan_Cho It's everything. Zenophobia, an incorrect idea that only American made is of good quality, coupled with ignorance and fear about other cultures.
@潘卓Pan_Cho it was built by africans, pan cho
Best video comparison I've seen yet on RUclips for these three pickup sets! You played the same licks for each and it was very easy to jog back and forth to fine tune my ear to the differances! The conclusion for me is that the Probuckers are not only very close in comparison to the Burstbuckers but, you can pick them up for some short money!
This shoot out mirrors what I've experienced when comparing the Epiphone Alnico vs the Epiphone Probuckers for myself in a music store setting. What makes this so helpful is that unlike the noisey environment of the music store I can hear the small things alot clearer in this video!
Thanks for this video. 7 years on, yet still helps me with my guitar purchasing choices. Awesome playing and even greater info/advice u got there. Cheers :)
excellent video bud. i like watching comparison videos, and this is one of the best ive seen. looping both PUs together, then playing each one individually was exactly what i wish more people wouldo do in these types of videos.
hey man i just want to say thank you, that was a great shootout , and i appreciate your playing. it was very imformative and sounded awesome. also you might have just helped me pick out my next pickup set. those probuckers sounded awesome
Great video! The sound was excellent! I don't usually watch comparison videos because most are mic'd/recorded so badly, you can barely tell the difference. In your video, the distinct tone of each guitar really came through (and I'm using earbuds right now). Well done!
Thank you ! Your review and the way you treat the subject of the link price/sound of a guitar are great !
I found it open minding ^^
The Probuckers sound like the Burstbuckers to me and a bit better than the Alnico Classics. The Burstbucker neck pickup was hotter than the Probucker neck pickup and had more bite to it. I don't think I would change out the Probuckers for Burstbuckers since the difference seems subtle to me and I like the smoothness of the Probucker neck pickup.
Exactly my thoughts. I like my ProBuckers just fine. Ain't messin' with them. :)
Not exactly. The Burstbuckers sound a little crispier and better then Probuckers and a whole lot better than the Alnico Classics.
Agreed. A little boost in upper midrange EQ pedal, and 1-2-dB volume increase, a Probucker sounds just like a Burstbucker for a lot less $.
Great playing and a well presented comparison!
Thank you for taking the time to make this video. I agree with Jesse, the Epiphone Probuckers just sound the best, in all modes. Nice playing, too!
You are a fine player! Great video - Epiphone just keeps getting better and better every year. Glad to see them offering various pickup models now - I remember when they didn't offer them.
It's great to come upon this vid. I have the same 2011 Limited Edition Silverburst Epi LP Custom and was looking at putting in a Burstbucker 3 in the bridge and Burstbucker 2 in the neck. Decision made, thanks for the help.
Thanks for your comment. Glad I could help!
Great playing man, thanks for the comparison
Very good video and love your playing.I just bought an Epiphone SG with the older alnico pickups and will probably upgrade them after I get a better amp.
many thanks for the video, it really helped me to decide which pickups I'll buy.
Excellent comparison video, especially same chord und solo parts on each guitar. Greeat Job!
Great video man! Really like the fact you compared all 3 in a clean tone without distorting the tone(pun intended) of the actual guitar's sound. Will definitely use this to influence my current Epi Les Paul search. Really leaning toward a Bonamassa Les Paul Gold Top. Can't seem to find a decent one so may have to settle for the Pelham Blue version. Thanks again for the great vid!
the probucker sounded the best to me. Sweeter mids and a lot more harmonics than the others. The alnico 5 cut better but sound more sterile to me.
agree. a little harsher and seemingly a little muddier - the burstbucker 3s. they also seem a little hotter - i don't know what the setup was.
The probucker are alnico II?
Great video , great demo with playing chords and lead , I am going with the Pro-Buckers
@Giovanni Anfossi: Hi Giovanni. I deliberately used the exact same settings on the effects for all three guitars. The signal path was as follows: Boss TU-2, Boss FV-500H (volume pedal), Boss PW-10 (wah), Boss SD-1 (pre-gain boost), Digitech Screamin’ Blues, HardWire SC-2 (distortion), Boss LS-2 (volume boost), CE-5 (chorus), Boss DD-7+FS5U (delay+tap), Boss RV-5 (reverb) running into a Roland Cube 60 on the Fender Black Panel setting (Bass: 5, Mid: 6, Treble: 5, Presence: 6, Gain: 6, Volume: 3).
@Mark Gregory: Hi Mark. Concerning the StewMac Parsons Street HBs, I haven’t used them, so I can really not say anything good or bad about them. (I live in Europe and getting “the good stuff” in terms of PUs is difficult and expensive enough as is. I mainly use Gibson and DiMarzio, and also some Seymour Duncan and Lollar PUs. Generally, retrofitting an Epi with some good quality PUs always delivers phenomenal results, as Epiphones in my opinion are essentially superb guitars with sub-standard electronic parts.)
Nice comparison video. To my ears the Flying V clean tones sounded the best. But those crunch tones you have with the Gibson burstbuckers in that LP custom were fantastic. What a great looking guitar also.
I replaced the Alnico Classics from my Epi SG to a BB pro in the neck, and a BB 3 in the bridge. Makes all the difference in the world. Sounds amazing.
Great blues playing. Thanks a lot for your thoroughly thought thru opinions.
I got hold of a 2016 Sheraton Pro ii, which I picked up 2 days ago. I am already in love with it. But I will take your recommendation into consideration. As a sidenote, I must say I also liked the Classic Alnico sound quite a bit. Might be my age. 😊
I have two Epi's that have Alnico Classics in them and they sound great through my Marshall, but in regards to your demo's, i liked the ProBuckers the best, both clean and dirty... i thought the Burstbuckers were a tad too hot... cheers for the demo.
enjoyed this, thanks for taking the time and effort to do this comparison
I recently bought an Epiphone Les Paul Custom Pro with the Probuckers and an Epihpne '56 Les Paul Pro with the Epiphone P-90 Pro pickups and tonewise the P-90's win hands down. Due to neighbours I play through headphones all the time and through a hand tweaked Fender Blues Jr clone and fell for the '56 immediately but the Probuckers are muddy and I need to turn down the volume on guitar when playing in full humbucker mode and need to turn it back up a bit if I coiltap to single coil. The P-90's overdrive the amp quickly and sound great but the Probuckers just don't sound right and are my one criticism of an otherwise fantastic guitar for the money
a friend has the same issues with his Squier Jazzmaster, a great guitar to play but let down by the stock pickups. For the Les Paul I'll be switching the Probuckers for something from either Jason Lollar or Lindy Fralin and whilst wanting to keep the coil tap option for each pickup I'm tempted to instead switch to humbucker sized P-90's but then both the LP's would be single coil, decisions decisions....
Hi Hanzel. Thanks for your comment. Trying to answer your question: it is impossible to definitively decide on "best". Depends on your genre preferences. Burstbuckers 1, 2, 3 and Pro use Alnico magnets (historically Alnico II, currently also Alnico V) with a variation of winds. Underwound (e.g. BB1) vs. overwound (e.g. BB3) determines sound characteristics, ranging from low output "airy" sound to "quite hot" with medium high output. Example: Joe Bonamassa favors BB2 for neck, BB3 in the bridge.
@muffinblobbster: Precisely! The standard Epiphone pickups are more than acceptable when it comes to clean playing, but they lack focus when it comes to overdrive and distortion. The Alnico Classics and Probuckers just don’t have that same focus.
appreciate the video and glad you kept it up. This was a excellent test. I notice the epi V sound "tin like", but HEY some like that. The probuckers has a greater presence than the V (that's the one I like based on the price) BUT the burstbucker had a little bit more presence and more bass. Of course one could raise the bass side of the HH to get that OR thicker strings. The pro and burst BOTH had the Gibby sound, but the pro were closer to 57 classics (another sound/tone I attempting for). You made up my mind. Probuckers because of price vs performance is right in the middle.
What song are you playing at 2:25?
Great vid!
Google+ has made it impossible to react to some of the earlier comments. Therefore this non-elegant way to answer some of your questions.
@DANTHETUBEMAN, @John Dough &@Pedro Martinho: Thanks for your comments, Dan, John and Pedro! You are too kind! I will be doing some more videos in the foreseeable future (when I get my new studio up and running). Stay tuned!
Awesome playing!, you made them all sound great.
I love the flying V's look and tone. I have one as well but it has the regular bridge and tail piece. I asume the body is the typical multilaminated from that era of Korean made flying v. The previous owner put a DiMarzio PAF pro. The neck pickup which is stock is not bad at all. The split HB tones are pretty decent. In the middle position you can get a good clean tone.
For a Les Paul I choose the vintage v100 it has stock Wilkinson pickups. The same style of PAF pickups. I haven't made up my mind to change them, because I didn't play with pickup height. The neck pickup sounds a bit muddy.
Of the two Les Pauls you play I preferred the blue one. But I trust your judgement that the other one was better because you were in the room. I noticed the mid focus on the one with gibsons. All were good enough in the hands of a good player like you.
When you add gain, you can tell the difference between the pups/ burstbucker wins in my book. That said, the Epiphone pups sound better than the ones I took out of my Epiphone Dot.
Very well made you could really hear the difference.
you communicate very well bro and the playing was awesome
From the video, I liked the way the Probuckers sounded most. Especially the screams. I've played Gibsons and Epis, and own a green Plustop Pro. Was considering changing the bridge pickup to Burstbucker or something else, but now I am not sure. I always felt like the Gibsons are more responsive to my picking. Anybody agree?
Hi Harry, Great! Yep, that's the thing. Provided you replace the circuitry, PUs and give the nut and bridge a good setup, you get awesome tone and great value for money with an Epiphone, better finishes and the added bonus that you don't have to feel guilty for ripping out the guts of a real Gibson. I gig regularly with my arsenal of Epiphones, and I've gotten some great reactions about my tone. Sadly, a lot of people still listen with their eyes, so if the headstock doesn't say "Gibson", ...
Nice collection. They all sound good. I love the Gibson pups on the lead but was not overly impressed that much when they were used on the rhythm parts. You are right in that the differences are subtle and a matter of opinion based on the type of music each person plays. That's why they make chocolate and vanilla and a hundred other flavors of ice cream.
I want to especially thank you for playing most of the demo CLEAN! Too many people make videos with cranked up distortion and effects that it's not possible to know what the guitar or pickups sounds like. I can make a video for a hundred dollar Bullet Squire and with enough distortion it will sound great. You did a great comparison. thanks.
Hi Rick; thank you so much for the nice comments! You are so right on the flavor-thing, and on PU-replacements making rather subtle changes to your tone. For me personally, it is about getting more body, a better tone and and more easily accessible harmonics. And although I played a portion of this video on a clean setting, dirty tones is where those harmonic differences become most apparent. Meanwhile, I have swapped the PUs in the Flying V for a Gibson Vintage '57 Classic in the neck and a DiMarzio Air Zone in the bridge. The Blue Les Paul Standard now has a DiMarzio 36th anniversary PAF in the neck and a Gibson '57 Classic Plus in the bridge. It might be a subtle difference, but they just sound a lot better to me now.
This is the comparison I wanted to hear. I have a 2004 Epiphone Sheraton II that has really nice tonal qualities. But, it is considerably lower in volume than my 2007 Gibson Les Paul Classic 1960 reissue.
@pwwka999: The difference between Alnico Classic, Probucker and Burstbucker is imho not one of output, but one of EQ, voicing and clarity. In this video, the Burstbucker 3 definitely takes the cake in terms of clarity, although output-wise, it’s actually a close call; it’s the wonderful things happening to your harmonic overtones, the focussed low-end and harmonics. The difference is immense in front of the amp, but quite subtle on the audio of a compressed RUclips video.
@Felipe Mallmann: Thanks for your comment, Felipe! I agree with you; retrofitting Epiphones is the best thing! I also recently got me some Classic ’57 goodness, and I should make a video about that soon, because it sounds awesome!
Hi! I'm your new subscriber. What can you say about Epiphone Les Paul Standard Plus Pro GB made 2018? Or of any new Epiphones Les Paul Standard Plus Pro's of the 2018-19 year made? THANX!
Another excellent video!!
Great comparison this helped me decide on the Probuckers. I like warmer sound of the alnico classics neck position. But the bridge has too much treble for me. I think you could pull off a nice Iron Maiden sound with the Alnico Classics though!
Good video, you have helped me make a choice and saved me aone money
@SwedishRaptor17: Hi SwedishRaptor. My guess is an Epiphone Les Paul would perfectly fit playing in the style of the bands you mention. However, I personally think that for getting that strange EQ and overtone-rich lead sound that Slash is renowned for, you might consider buying a second hand Epiphone Les Paul, and with the cash you save on not buying a new one, get some medium / high output Alnico Seymour Duncans. I practically guarantee you that will be awesome!
Really nice video and nice playing!
I agree, the ProBucker's sound is quite tinny compared to the BurstBucker III's and it's not just a volume thing. There are tonal differences to be sure!
I also agree about getting a quality, yet, less expensive guitar like an Epiphone or a Korean made Agile then upgrading the electronics. I did just that to my Agile 3200, changing out the pots, switch, jack then installed Gibson's Class 57 and Classic 57 Plus into the guitar. I'd put it up against any Gibson Les Paul with the same pickups for overall quality and tone.
I just ordered the Epiphone Les Paul Standard Plus, but it has a ProBucker II in the neck and a ProBucker III in the bridge. I'm hoping i like the tone and output of these or, I too, will be upgrading these as well.
Thanks again!
Helo i want change Symour duncan hot roaded pick uo
Jazz JB for Standard plus top pro
Can you suggest me
the playing is so nice and groovy that I almost forgot to hit like :)
excellent playing!
Interesting comparison, thanks. Correct the comparisons should be done in the same exact guitar, however all are almost the same so the differences shouldn't be all that great. I think the gibsons sounds great, definitely more clarity, but the Epi PBs are real nice. It's amazing to see the differences even between guitar models. I tried a 339 yesterday with probuckers and a plus top pro as well as a Epi florentine. All three had a unique sound. Sometîmes it simply depends on your own mood, along with what you're playing.
blue Epi sounds very very nice, thank for test.
Thanks for doing the video! Nice way to compare/contrast. Until I saw this I could not find a reason to want to change the pickups out of my Epiphone Les Paul Standard. I think the Probuckers would be an improvement in my guitar, for my tastes. The Burstbuckers sound great to and it's a matter of preference but for my money, the Probuckers are the easy winner. Thanks again and nice playing.
R the probucker s stock on epiphone les paul custom pro
Have you tried the Stew Mac Parsons Street humbuckers?
they look good , I was wondering if they sound good as they have a great price point.
I haven't seen any good shootouts vs the probuckers or burst buckers or burst bucker pros.
any opinion?
Great video...Just bought a week ago a Epi Les Paul Top Plus Pro (coil tapping) with these Probuckers...BurstBuckers seems to be the better choice...Again Great video
Hello, im trying to adjust pickup height on my epi flying V. Can i know your stock pickup height? ( my guitar has alnico classic pickup )
Hi Nguyen, I found this very recent Premier Guitar tutorial very helpful: www.premierguitar.com/articles/22114-mod-garage-humbucker-height-adjustment. Thing is, just playing around with PU-height can make a lot of difference. On a HH-configuration, I personally like raising the neck-PU to the point where it gets overly "boomy", and then receding a bit. I make this adjustment on a bright and clean setting. For the bridge-PU, I do something similar, but on my lead distortion setting. I raise the PU until it gets "feedback-happy", and then take it back a notch. It is not so easy to put it in exact inches/centimeters, but with a medium output neck pickup and a high output bridge pickup, I find that this approach works particularly well.
at guitar center i pkugged in a epiphone lp and schecter and jackson and EVH wofgang and i promise the epiphone probuckers were way better then all the others. the wolfgang a close 2nd. but the probucker lp thru a marshall was the best. it blew my mind. i didn't want to believe it
What effects and amps are you using for the Epiphone Probuckers? Great video btw!
I preferred the burstbuckers myself and have them on my Joe Perry boneyard signature model
Very nice video, thanks.
Probuckers sound great. Clear but with attitude.
Nice Vid Bro i really liked it as well as your guitars especially your Les Paul Custom with BurstBucker III
On the other hand..
My Epiphone Les Paul Custom with stock alnico classic pick ups raised in an theorical optimal and standard height is driving me crazy.
When i recorded it i really noticed how bad it sounds, i mean the guitar itself sounds good, the clean seems to be good tough i haven't really focused on it yet. But the distorted tones in general are terrible, i'm using amplitube 3 and i know that''s not the problem, the issues that i found are: the overwhelming low end that makes it really really muddy as well as boxy once i low pass the lowest frequencies, and overall the tone has no definition some notes really pop out too much overshadowing the others (especially during chords) and i can clearly hear nasty harmonics that pop out to much as well cutting them doesn't help as it makes the tone even worse making it harshy and boomy once again, i switched through every amp sim that i have inside amplitube changed the settings, changed the cabinets (the orange ones sounded the best to me) the microphones and position, tried other impulse responses (obviously i changed the strings i've used common Ernie Ball strings with 0.10 gauge first and 0.11 gauge later), but i know it's really abnormal, a guitar shouldn't sound so bad in almost everything, there's really a problem, and i really hope that the problem relies on the pick ups because i completely set up the guitar (saddles for tune, strings height,, muted the strings resonance in the head and in the bridge, i even tried to optimize the nut which was kinda weird relative to the height of the strings) and i really can't afford a new one.. that Epiphone is my most expensive guitar.
But the way that was the bridge pick up, the neck pick up is utterly bad and i never i use it unless i'm playing some kind of solos
Sorry for the long message but i'm really depressed
great bluesing skills, man.
Hi great videos and nice playing . would you say probucker 3's are the hottest of the bunch here?
the differences aren't suttle. This might be the first video that actually showed such a big difference in pups. Really enjoyed the Burstbucker... thinking of swapping out my Alnico classics for something different
Yes. Alnico Classics are muddy and ugly sounding. Bad pickups. Probuckers are much much better. Then Bustbuckers are still a little better then Probuckers - more crispy, clear and musical.
Nice playing!
...and...
AAAAHHHH... I see you are, in addition to an Epiphone-man, a TSL100-man!
Well chosen gear, my-dude... well chosen gear!
Great review and demo of these humbucker pickups.
The probuckers sound the best IMO.
Thru this video, the Probuckers sounded best, the Classics weren't bad at all, and could've easily been cleaned up a bit with some EQ tweaking. Cool video, thanks.
The Probuckers sound pretty good, the burstbuchers have similar sound but a little more power. Well, turn up the volume on the probuckers amp could solve the power diff and adjust some eq.
WHAT IS THAT SONG YOUR RIFFING TO PLEASE??
Hi I'm planning on buying an Epiphone Les Paul Standard or a Standard PlusTop Pro.I don't really know which to chose, the plus top feature doesn't offer any sound advantage but can you give me your opinion on the pickups(Alnico Classic Humbucker vs Probucker)?Thanks
Hi Stefan. Well, my opinion would definitely be to get something that you find esthetically pleasing in the first place. Then most of the Plus Tops have a nice flame maple veneers, Epi Probucker and coil tapping, whereas the regular Standards just have solid colors, Alnico Classics and non-switching LP-controls. So you basically make your decision on whether you want your PU to have coil-splitting options or not. For me personally, Epi Alnico nor Probucker quite cut it for live playing, so I would suggest swapping out the PUs anyway, or buying a model like a Tribute that comes loaded with Gibson USA '57 Classics from the factory. The built quality on all these guitars are quite good, they are all solid mahogany instruments. I just think stock Epiphone pickups go wanting. I have 6 Epi Les Pauls (with the pickups replaced in all of them) and one Gibson Les Paul Standard with the stock pickups: the Epiphones take the cake! A good tip is to buy them second hand from guys who have quit the instrument. They are generally still in good shape, at close to half the price. Spend a little extra on good quality PUs, and you got yourself a gigging axe!
kxszander Thanks for the quick response. This will be my first electric guitar and i'm still learning the chords. I'm going to pair it with a fender mustang 1 and play it in my room . So i'm not planning anything wild with the guitar :) .
the V was sweet, the other two were both much stronger and rounder in tone and it really showed when you cranked on the E&B etc to get those tones that just weren`t coming out of the V But that V really did a have sweet tone, maybe more suited for Jazz? I know nobody who plays Jazz plays one but? I`m seriously thinking about some of the gibson burstbuckers, but I`d love to think the epi ones would sound as good? Wishful thinkin`
My friend, you just proved that tone is mostly in your hands...every single guitar that you played had something good, although the old alnico classic was the least focused. But depending on what you want to play or the tone you're looking for, they may do. The Probucker and Burstbuckers were very close in clarity but the edge goes to the burstbucker, very defined low and highs and they (burstbuckers) had more grunt. Excellent playing and very informative.
Nice play. And interesting topic
How come the loops are so muffled?
Where can I find a 'how to play' that blues lick? Sounds amazing, yes cant play it! Thanks!
Ohhh its a srv lick. Still, The way you play it I like it, would love to get a tutorial of you! 😀🎼
Sounds amazing!
great video thanks
Just got a Epi LP man those Pup's are amazing that epi is everything a Gibson could be. weighs a ton tho.
I must be in need of seeing an Otolaryngologist. I find the Probuckers sound "better" especially at half the price in Canada. The Gibson's aren't bad but 1 pickup is the price of a pair of Probuckers. I also just found out that my Epiphone SG Pro I purchased last week was the wrong model. Same price, but it ends up mine is the '61 Standard with Probucker 2 & Probucker 3!!! Had it been the model I thought it was, I would have had the Alnico Classic, which no offence I don't like nearly as much. SO excited. Great video by the way. You seem half asleep, but you're really good. I'm jealous.
No, Gibsons are more clear and musical. The biggest difference is between Alnico Classics and Probuckers. But the slight difference makes big difference. In real use Gibsons are the best, have the most upper mids which define the sound of guitar. They are also the loudest pickups. Even if the price is twice higher everyone should pay that and do not screw around with cheaper but inferior pickups.
I have tested Probuckers vs real Gibsons, they sound about 20% duller. Of course they are about 50% brighter and louder then Alnico Classics, which are dull.
Here I play real Gibson guitar, which is CS59 Les Paul with Custom Buckers.
ruclips.net/video/EtLLH0WX1ts/видео.html
For comparison here is a white Custom but with some cheaper pickups. They aint completely bad, you can play them, but still, they lack Gibson clarity and punch - they are dull in comparison. More less they sound like Epi Alnico Classics.
ruclips.net/video/JlW5oIO_oDs/видео.html
Thank you very much.
I have the same blue Epi Paul, which I very much love. However the Epiphone headstock really sticks out like a sore thumb on a les paul body
I Have to agree with Ashley your V sounded GREAT! To me the alinco's in the V were perfect, i could hear the personality of the guitar and the player. The burst buckers were ok but to me a bit too hot and the probuckers on the blue Paul were not bad a toned down version of the Burstbuckers..i guess i would rate it V-Alinco's black grey Paul Burst Buckers, and thired the Blue paul with the ProBuckers..OH By the way GREAT PLAYING!!
great review, not a very biased opinion and great playing. Although would have been nice if you played a different tune for the dirty channel.
So if I was deciding between the Epiphone LP Standard ($350) [w/ Alnico Classics] vs. the LP Custom Pro ($550) [w/ Probuckers] I might as well get the standard, save up slowly and eventually get the BurstBuckers right? At that $200 price point I'd ultimately have a guitar that sounds better than the pro anyway for the same money, but less up front at first. Is there any other significant difference between the two? I don't think the coil tapping is a major selling point for me.. Now maybe if the construction was actually better then maybe but I'm pretty sure they're both basically the same fit & finish right?
Hi SS8Styles. Well, if I would be in the market for a new guitar right now, my money would be on the Epiphone Les Paul Tribute Plus, as they ship from the factory loaded with Gibson '57 classic PUs. As far as the difference between the Standard and the Custom goes, I find it very difficult to the decide. They feature small aesthetic differences (the headstock, block vs. trapezoid inlays, double vs. single binding, ...) but the general specs on both are pretty much te same. I personally like coil tap stuff, maple caps (plus top pro) or quilt tops and such... But I think your reasoning is perfectly valid; retrofitting after-market PUs on a Standard outdoes a ProBucker-loaded Custom. I have an Epi LP standard (Metallic Gold) loaded with a Lollar Imperial in the neck and a DiMarzio Super II in the bridge, and it can easily stand next to the BurstBucker-equiped Custom Silverburst. Actually, I have coil-splitting Artic White Epi Custom loaded with DiMarzio Air Classics, and the Metallic Gold Standard is way better in my honest opinion. Final argument, by now the ProBuckers that I had in my Standard Plus Top Pro for this video, have been replaced by DiMarzio PAF Pro 36th Anniversary and a Gibson '57 Classic Plus (and the PUs from the Flying V are now Gibson '57 Vintage -neck- and a DiMarzio Air Zone -bridge-). My two cents; I hope it helps you decide. Cheers!
awesome! thanks for all the great indepth feedback. Definitely gives me more to think about now... Gonna keep saving up in the meantime until I figure it out. Thanks again man!
Thanks for your kind comment. Keeps me motivated to do some more awesome videos ;)
The les Paul standard plus top pro has a maple veneer not top. I have one as we'll
Thoughts please? I have a 2006 Epi SG Pro that has the Alinco Classic pups, with the Alinco Classic Plus in the Bridge position. I play through a Marshall amp. The SG Volume and Tone Controls are 500k pots. CLEAN, both the Neck and the Bridge positions sound fairly good. The Bridge pup is relatively bright and articulate. The Neck is darker and deeper. DIRTY, the Bridge still retains a decent amount of clarity. The Neck pup is somewhat muddy and unmusical. I dropped the Neck pup down into the body and it improved but it's still undesirable with nasty harmonics that kill the notes. I've also noticed that the upper notes have a harsh breakup, too. Is this typical of these pups and the Neck position more importantly?
The pickup is propably okay but try it out with some low to no gain settings and dont go nuts on the treble. Neck pickups are always buttery smooth and dark.
I finally went with a set of Seymour Duncans, a jazz for the neck and a trembucker for the bridge, with coil splitting 500 K pots, and the tone drastically improved. I played an SG with P 90's in it the other day and the neck pup tone was creamy,... so I'm gonna drop one in my fiddle and call it done.
great video.
i like the probuckers too.
Very good video
I think you have the pick ups on the silver top reversed,that's why it sounds like that.
That is a sick Custom 🤘🏻🤘🏻🤘🏻
Liked the classics the most!
The second guitar sounded best to my ears. The last guitar just sounds to bassy. But I have the Silverburst LP with the Probuckers and it sounds about the same... not enough bite for my taste. Great playing, great video... it would be a true comparison if you had one guitar with the three different pickups, but it was still fun to watch and you JAM!
I thought that there would be far more significant difference between these 3 pickups. The differences were just subtle ones imho. In a live gig situation I doubt you could really tell the difference. Suprisingly for me those Alnico Classics sounded way better than I would have thought, unless you are playing a trick on us lol!
Which one os better for metal? In my experience (I have a SG G400 with alnicos and a LP St standard with Probuckets) and the sound from the alnicos are much better than the newer probuckets idk if you share my opinion. But if im playing some blues the probuckets deff take the cake. Nice playing man
Thanks much!
They all sound great, I liked Probucker best , Then Gibson BurstBucker the Alnico Classics. Great video glad you did Clean sound and only slightly dirty, it improves the guitar sound not the amp or pedal sound. Thanks
Love the V. I just picked up a 58 reissue. Can't wait to get it. Don't listen to all this negative crap. They all sound good. The 2 Les Pauls seem to have more low end, but the V has some nice clarity to it. But of course the V's are about 10 times more pleasing to look at. lol
Ericvoneric 68 Im not so fond of the V shape but it's the sound I liked the most. the LPs sounded with more low end, especially the one with Burstbuckers.
Hi Eric, thanks for the comment. You will enjoy the new V; I can assure you! It is a phenomenal guitar, and you are right: it looks totally badass on stage!
Hi Milongade, thanks for your comment. I kinda agree; I prefer playing Les Pauls. A bit more 'oomph' and they tend to sit more comfortably on your body. But as I said to Eric; it is hard to beat the look of Flying V when you're on stage.
Thank you for this video KxszanderThe Classic had nice tone but low output and kind of dark sounding...The Probucker was louder, clearer, still warm.The Burstbucker was loud but kinda gritty in its toneProbucker wins.....bought a set because of this video!
great tones,, great guitar playin on hear. you have a great system with guitars and pickups,, hard to argue with the tone
I have a 1997 Epiphone Les Paul Studio made In the Unsung plant in Korea. I installed a set of Epiphone ProBuckers with push/pull pots and now I have a well made guitar with great pickups. The old pickups were not good enough for the Melanesian Rain Forest Maple that this guitar is made of. This wood is no longer available. If you have an old Epiphone and want to bring new life into it, then just slap in a set of ProBuckers.