Les Paul: maple cap or not?

[Krank]

I recently got an LP Special. I really like the tone of it, especially unplugged. It has the 490/498 pickups, which I'll probably change.

I find the tone to be simpler, deeper, more 'grounded' if you will, than on the maple capped LPs I own. I read up a bit, and found that Les Paul himself actually plays a solid Mahogany model as his main guitar.

What are your thoughts on maple cap or not - what it does to the sound?

Do you find it would affect choice of pickups? I'm thinking of putting Seymour Duncan '59s in the Special.

[edward]

Ohhh, that's an chocolate/vanilla question, friend. Ya ask me, gotta have both! ...which you do, so what gives?

I have a Standard, so I love the attack and "bite" to the top end. Don't own an all-mahog, but man do I want one, having played a Vint Mahog. I agree with your descripstion of deeper ...more "earthy" and round; slower attack to the notes, which is great given the mood or style of the moment.

As for pups, the 490/98s are a bit too hot for my tastes, personally. I think they "bury" some of the note's definition, in my limited experience anyway. You can try lowering them, or swap out for lower op pups. Sorry, can't comment on the SD59s, though those do get lots of love. I'm sure you'll get feedback from 59 users, of which there are many if that tells you anything. What kind of tone are you looking to get?

Edward

[Krank]

Thanks so much for your answers!

I already have a set of the 59s in an old Aria Pro clone, and like them a lot in that guitar. You can check it out here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7MuMu-ZXU8E

I'm not too knowledgeable about different pickups models, as I've only this year started to play electric again after almost a decade. But I do tend to find the high output compressed sound is sub-par. I really don't like the sound of the 490/498s (they're in another Gibson I own too), but feel the guitar itself could have potential.

Originally Posted by edward

Ohhh, that's an chocolate/vanilla question, friend. Ya ask me, gotta have both! ...which you do, so what gives?

I have a Standard, so I love the attack and "bite" to the top end. Don't own an all-mahog, but man do I want one, having played a Vint Mahog. I agree with your descripstion of deeper ...more "earthy" and round; slower attack to the notes, which is great given the mood or style of the moment.

As for pups, the 490/98s are a bit too hot for my tastes, personally. I think they "bury" some of the note's definition, in my limited experience anyway. You can try lowering them, or swap out for lower op pups. Sorry, can't comment on the SD59s, though those do get lots of love. I'm sure you'll get feedback from 59 users, of which there are many if that tells you anything. What kind of tone are you looking to get?

Edward

Poverty is what gives - but I'm not that hard pressed to sell off any Les Paul right away. I gues I'm just still entertaining the notion that having several of each traditional model is an unnecessary luxury. Then again, I do play a lot these days. Maybe at some point I'll feel good enough to justify having more than one electric...

[RockStarNick]

Definitely earthier sounding. I think the brighter, vintage tone of the 59s would compliment an all-mahogany LP REALLY well...

59s are such a great value for the money, but besides that, such a great pickup at any price. Great woody tone. And don't believe what people say about them being "scooped". They're NOT scooped sounding. They're just not bumped UP in the midrange like lots of overwound buckers that we're used to hearing.

[jads57]

Originally the 50`s LP Customs were all mahogany as well. I also remember seeing some recent all mahogany Std`s as well. I think you should judge it as part of the recipe and try each guitar individually.

[Bluewail]

Originally Posted by jads57

Originally the 50`s LP Customs were all mahogany as well. I also remember seeing some recent all mahogany Std`s as well. I think you should judge it as part of the recipe and try each guitar individually.

I have a '91 Gibson Custom Shop LP Custom that's all mahogany. I think the key to that guitars tone is that body paired with an ebony board. You get the richer tone of the mahogany with a great snap to the strings from the ebony board. No mud. Without the ebony board, my guess is it would be too dark for my tastes. BTW, the pair of Harmonic Design VP-90's sure don't hurt either.

[FrankieSixxxgun]

I'll throw in a huge vote for the Seymour Duncan 59's. I have a pair in my maple capped LP Standard are they kill! Very nice pickups that can be picked up cheap. Hell, I got my set for free.

Now, my maple capped LP Standard is noticeably brighter than my non-capped LP Special. We're also comparing a humbucker guitar to a soap bar guitar, so that's gonna make a huge tonal difference too. They're definitely two different animals as the Standard is a classic rock, rock & roll kinda guitar and the Special gives me down and dirty hard rock and punk rock sound.

Overall I think a maple cap brightens the guitar as maple is generally recognized as a brighter sounding wood.