Looking to buy best Jimmy Page like pups

[zosozep7]

Im sure this has been discussed many times and I dont visit this room often so here it goes. I want to take my 58 Historic CS LP and convert the pups and wiring the Page uses his at MSG. What are some good pups that wont break the bank? I dont want cheapies though. Right now im looking at the Seymour Suncan 59 pafs. I have the wiring diagram and will be looking for some 500k push/pull pots very soon too so if anyone could help with that, it would be great! Thanks in advance!

Rob

[L_Totti]

Bare Knuckle Black Dog?

[sricabla]

http://www.zhangbucker.com/humbuckers.html
Look for pagey2's

[jpage]

Everything depends on the characteristics of the guitar they are going into, and the amp/rig they are run through. Trying to guess the best pickup without knowing those things is like trying to guess a strangers favorite color.

[Lumpy's Tone Shop]

He had stock wiring through Zeppelin.

I use a T-Top replica from Manlius Pickups and a SD Seth Lover with an A3 magnet in the neck.

[smallstoner]

I'm interested in this too, especially in HBs that sound good split. Tele-ish bridge, stratty neck. Check out this vid from 2:55 to about 4:35 to see what I mean:

http://youtu.be/Xs2FoIzyn-c

It's a Page signature model but in the comments he says they're Burstbuckers.

(Apparently I still can't figure out how to embed Youtube videos here).

[zosozep7]

Jpage, im not too picky so it doesnt have to be perfect. I use newer Fender RI amps and also have a Mesa Transatlantic.

lumpys, your pup choice sound good. ill definetely look into them!

Please keepem coming! Im gonna do this! I live in the Detroit area and was looking at the Motor Citys. Throwbak sound nice but MAN! They are expensive!

Rob

[jpage]

Obviously the assumption is that you want to replicate certain tones, not have pickups that are close to the ones Jimmy used. Using "authentic" pickups with Fender RI amps are going to sound thin--Jimmy was running cranked Marshalls to get his tone. IME, a hotter pickup would serve you better if you are using pedals or master volume amps. I've had luck with the Duncan Custom 5 in the bridge and a Dimarzio 36th anny in the neck.

[EADGBE]

Right now im looking at the Seymour Duncan 59 pafs. I have the wiring diagram and will be looking for some 500k push/pull pots very soon too so if anyone could help with that, it would be great! Thanks in advance!

Rob
That should work fine. As far as I know his pickups were stock that were outfitted with series/parallel switches.

[Dashface]

Bare Knuckle Black Dog?

Perfect answer.

Bare Knuckle makes amazing pickups, has killer customer service, and you'll be happy as a clam with 'em :D

[jpage]

Bare Knuckle Black Dog?

Had 'em, couldn't pull them out fast enough. Save yourself a ton of money and go with Seth's, 59s, 36ths, or my suggestion above.

[L_Totti]

Just adding that I've never played one of those , it's just the first pickup I think of when someone asks for Page-like pups. The demos on the website are great too.

[datguytim]

It's not the PUs as much as you think. JP didn't use any push/pull split coil stuff in Zeppelin - only after they broke up. The secret of those tele-like tones and the way his tone "skinnys" out is a combination of a few overlooked things. Page used a T-Top Gibby bucker I believe for the period you seek.

[rjsc5]

Another vote for Duncan Seth's or 59's to start, then address the amp possibly with a pedal if you are sticking with Fenders.

[MadFrank]

Check out some of Skatterbrane's offerings. Not had any myself yet, but they sound great.

[Ohzoso]

57 classics (these nail MSG) or Seth Lovers.

[4styx]

The Gibson 490R/490T can be had used for a song.Put some A5 magnets in them and you've got T Tops(good 500k pots are essential).An unoriented A5 in the neck is great for those Zep cleans.
Some interesting info.
http://musicalilluminism.wordpress.com/2009/04/28/vintage-gibson-humbucker-specs-and-general-pickup-tech/ (http://http//musicalilluminism.wordpress.com/2009/04/28/vintage-gibson-humbucker-specs-and-general-pickup-tech/)

[Iceman8.6]

I thought some of Pages best tones were when he used a Tele:

http://t1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTLFbHsXPISbMW8t5CQbEioEsWI-AcY9u_UnkAJI9qnSvch1Zmq (http://t1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTLFbHsXPISbMW8t5CQbEioEsWI-AcY9u_UnkAJI9qnSvch1Zmq)

[RocksOff]

I have a Catalinbread Royal Albert Hall that will nail those tones with practically any amp.

[Dashface]

I think this is going to be another of those things where it comes down to personal preference :)

[rastus]

I have been around the block a few times with this. always love d Page's production values, and I have used his tones as a stepping off point since I learned to play. I have found that how I hold the pick (a Herco Flex 75) is very important. Chord voicings can't be overlooked, and phrasing is of optimal importance-before you ever hone it finer with guitars and amps.
Most any amp will do, provided it's a good tube amp with a warm overdriven quality. Distortion is best derived from output tubes. For pickups, I tend towards stock Tele and Gibson Pickups depending on the song. I got to play Jimmy's number 1 ( a 58 burst with a shaved neck and Grovers-It had an early black T-Top at the bridge and a PAF at the neck) back years ago. It was very thin at the neck, Had biger frets than a 58 would (refret) and Grovers. I would put weight at slightly over 9 pounds. The pickups were well balanced, and had good tone- The bridge one being a tad hotter. Not heavily distorted at all. That guitar had no splitters or anything, just stock wiring. The cavities were all full of copper shielding tape at the time. Pots were from various years, all replacements except for the rhythm tone pot. 500K, and the caps were stock 50's C/D bees.
I have had many many Les Paul guitars. The very closest I have come to the one Page had is a 92 Classic, It is 9 pounds 6 ounces. It has a very thin, wide neck. Frets are Dunlop med. Jumbo, filed to a bus top shape. It has Grovers. Caps are older ones from a 63 ES125, and the pickups are modde SD's from the eighties. They have alnico 5 mags, outputs are 8.12 k bridge, 7.3 neck. It has has a few sets in it. The ones in it have some good nuances that sound very like Page on Zep II and IV. I had a set of 57 Classics that were quite similar and did a great job. I honestly think the set you are talking about will be great. To my way of thinking the weight and resonance of the guitar count more than that. The amp is maybe as important. Most important after you have those things are the pick (again that Herco Flex 75 is a key ingredient) strings (pure nickel, light top-heavy bottom Ernie Balls are my pick on these) and technique. Heck, that's my 2 cents. I really think you are ok with what you are planning to do.
I also had an Edwards Page model. The neck was very like a stock 60 burst. Honestly it was too light and resonant to have that blustery bottom of Page's axe. It was a really great guitar though, just not real Zep-like, other than looks. I also believe Page's custom HiWatt and Marshall heads wre important as well. I have found the Celestion 30 watt 55 hz speakers get me into Zep territory better than 25 wt 75 hz speakers.