PAF type pickups for that Clapton "Beano" Tone?

[JMarck]

Are there any PAF types out there that nail, or get close to, this sound? I've always loved that tone and to me, it's the perfect humbucker tone. Any recommendations?

[beNsteR]

+1 on WCR crossroads.

[esoteric pete]

Dr.V's or crossroads

[DonM]

Eric Clapton's playing on this album is legendary. He's the one reading the "Beano" comic book in the picture. In addition to his JTM 45 Marshall combo amplifier and Gibson guitar, Clapton employed a Dallas Rangemaster treble booster to push his amplifier into creamy distortion. You can hear soundfiles from this album by clicking here. The original Rangemaster pedals are rare. Expect to pay up to $500 if you can find one. Yes, they've got mojo, but they are also very noisy.
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I still trust Duncan's Seth Lovers with a magnet swap out -- Put In A FULL STRENGTH Alnico 5

[bek]

KBR knows some stuff about this. He uses an Allen Old Flame amp, I think, and usually one of his custom ultra-light Teles with a big neck and Lollar or Voodoo buckers. Then you have to be KBR, too. Maybe he'll drop in and tell us if he uses a boost pedal or something.

[oscar100]

wcr crossroads:agree

[scottish]

Seymour duncan 59s will nail it on the head too. As for the dallas rangemaster, there are a few clones out there that are really good. Check out the analog man beano boost, half the price of an original and just as good imo.

[rays44]

Save yourself alot of time and money. ANY quality PAF style pickup in a good Les Paul will point you in the right direction. But, you'll also need a JTM45 combo or similar rig to get that tone.

[duckbunny]

Save yourself alot of time and money. ANY quality PAF style pickup in a good Les Paul will point you in the right direction. But, you'll also need a JTM45 combo or similar rig to get that tone.

A Big +1.
The best Bluesbreaker clone I've ever heard was a Louis Electric BB combo. I've played through 2 real originals (one was dead mint) and the Louis definitely sounded better.



-db

[KBR]

Lollar Imperials, I use & NO boost pedals, I hate pedals, and only have a Trem pedal, and a verb pedal for my 69 Bandmaster when not playing my Allen Amps.
Tom Holmes are my fave HBers, but I can't afford the $600/ for a pair. Also Voodoo's will get it.

Lollars are awesome!

[FloridaSam]

+2 Crossroads

[Scumback Speakers]

WCR BetSet

http://southbayampworks.com/scumbackclips/HideawayH75.mp3

[vdoochild7]

Crossroads all the way

[bynt]

I don't want to be the turd in the punch bowl but some of the closest Beano tone I've ever heard has been my Les Paul with Duncan JB/59 into a Valve Jr (dimed and going through a 2x12 cab) with a clean boost dimed as well. Especially for the money, but money aside, it's still really close. I need to post some clips. I swear you'd be amazed.

Anyway, good luck with the search!!!

[fuzzz]

i would reccomend a duncan 59 for the bridge and a seth for the neck(both single conductor!).you can either go for a full seth set if you"re more into blues stuff,but the 59 is far more versatile for the bridge in my opinion..nice,convincing tones,from blues to metal(yes,i do mean that one!) the most versatile pup i"ve played so far..

[Jay Strange]

Are the Crossroads fat enough??

[Cottage]

My Voodoo 59s do a pretty good job.

[DonM]

That whole Rangemaster "Tie-In" may be a urban myth - A customer called me here - and mentioned that in 30 years hes never found one single mention from Clapton or photo ..etc.. of a Rangemaster Treble Boost being used - Clapton when asked only ever mentioned the Marshall & the Gibson..

[sqadan]

That whole Rangemaster "Tie-In" may be a urban myth - A customer called me here - and mentioned that in 30 years hes never found one single mention from Clapton or photo ..etc.. of a Rangemaster Treble Boost being used - Clapton when asked only ever mentioned the Marshall & the Gibson..

I think you're right on this... I'm pretty sure it was just Guitar > Cable > Amp for the Bluesbreakers stuff in the studio. I think there are pics of this session that bear this out somewhere....

[nest]

Sheptone's are by far the best I have heard

[jokerjkny]

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I still trust Duncan's Seth Lovers with a magnet swap out -- Put In A FULL STRENGTH Alnico 5

i'll go one better, and say the antiquity set is pretty awesome. nicely thick with a ton of midrange grind for that milkshake like tone.

the seth lovers seem a little neutered to me. not enough upper end air or articulation like the lindy fralins, but not quite the great lower end thickness of the antiquities.

the crossroads are good too, which fit my thicker sounding LP like a glove. but for my mccarty, which is pretty airy and very resonant sounding, i like the fatter thickness of the antiquities' lower end.

frankly, i've been thru a whole slew of PAF pickups from lindy to wcr to now the antiquities, and they're by far my new favorites.

but any PAF pickup should get you there.

[wildschwein]

A good affordable option would be a set of GFS Vintage 59s. I've got these in a Les Paul copy and they sound really cool - very fat, very vintage and in the same ballpark as Clapton's Beano tone. See: http://store.guitarfetish.com/v59niclalpah.html
You can have a browse through their full humbucker range here: http://store.guitarfetish.com/humbuckers.html
The Alnico Fat Pat Boutique Humbucker might be another good choice. They're based on the vintage PAF but are hotter. These are great pickups for a low price. I've got GFSs in 5 or so of my guitars and I'm really happy with the quality, sound and price.

[tubetone74]

Another vote for Sheptones. Priced right too.

[73touring]

Bet Set, I was looking for exactly that and the bet set did it for me, actually sounds very Bluesbreaker like through my 73 Fender Bronco amp(Same as a Vibro Champ), will be pluging the bronco amp into my fender twin speakers during the week to see what it sounds like!

[rockinlespaul]

I think today there are a lot of pups that will get you that tone.

[bluehugh2]

Like many of you, I have been thru almost every humbucker known to man - except the Lollars. I love Antiquities. Voodoos are great! - I quite like Peter Florance's(Voodoo) new "60s humbucker" style pickups. Seths - a bit lacking from my point of view - a little sterile. Duncan '59 is great. The A5 magnet gives it punch and articulation. Lindy Fralin buckers... great.... I had a true 60s set that was stellar! Wolftones are excellent. I was underwhelmed with WCR Crossroads - particularly the bridge pickup - which I found did not have enough "secret sauce" - but Jim was great with customer service and was quite willing to refund or replace the bridge pickup. I've heard that the Lollar Imperials and the Imperial Low Winds are amazing.

[GuitarsFromMars]

WCR BetSet

http://southbayampworks.com/scumbackclips/HideawayH75.mp3

:agree

[KBR]

I am making a Korina tele and just got 2 ShepTones, I hope they will deliver that alnico Tone I crave..Like Peter Green/Beano EC...These 2 Dudes had some Good Tone and Great Playing in the 1966/67 era...
I can get that tone, The Voodoo's and Lollars can get that, Tom Holmes, obviously can deliver that tones. So many awesome Hbers to choose from, and my Don Mare tele bridge pup 2 days ago in a good studio with my Amp on Scream got that type of tone...I like
.to play strong/Loud with the ALNICO Tones wailin......

I dislike pedals, not needed here.

http://www.myspace.com/kennyblueray

[ecbluesman54]

+1 for Sheptones

[Tuco]

What I have found, especially with low output, PAF-style humbuckers, is that guitars all respond very differently. One particular set might make one Les Paul sound amazing, yet be mostly dead in another guitar.

Another issue, which varies from p/u to p/u, is dialing in pickup and pole-piece height. And as mentioned elsewhere here, the amp and cab is going to be a huge factor. Don't forget that what you're hearing on that record is also coloured by mic selection/placement and the desk.

[Rotten]

I have a Gibson 1957 Les Paul Reissue that nails the sound with the stock Burstbuckers. I also have a 1958 Les Paul Reissue with the stock Burstbuckers that is not even close. Either the pickups are inconsistent or consistent pickups react differently to different guitars. I'm afraid it is likely a question of what works on your guitar.

[skydog]

Well, that clears that up!

[outtahear]

What I have found, especially with low output, PAF-style humbuckers, is that guitars all respond very differently. One particular set might make one Les Paul sound amazing, yet be mostly dead in another guitar.



Bang.:AOK

Every now and then, dead tree gets together, and just sings, snarls, and weeps. The Les EC used @ that period qualifies. Even EC never sound the same after that guitar got stolen.

[skydog]

Bang.:AOK

Every now and then, dead tree gets together, and just sings, snarls, and weeps. The Les EC used @ that period qualifies. Even EC never sound the same after that guitar got stolen.

If that's the case, why didn't some rising star sprout up with EC's guitar sporting a brand new paint job?