Les Paul Mega thread

[Grog]

The diagonal pickups are only on the guitars, Les Paul Professional & Recording.

[barend]

ok, I was assuming these were all basses. So I didn't look at the number of strings.

Well it is late and time to go to bed.

But anyway, why are the pickups diagonal on the guitar versions?

[Grog]

Good question............I think it was just for looks. The earliest Les Paul Signatures had the same pickups, only in cream color. They were straight on that model. Also the Les Paul Jumbo pickup was mounted straight.

[barend]

It looks a bit weird and not in balance with the rest of the design to me. But it can also be that I'm so used to the bass version.

[uwe]

Diagonal/slanted pups are nothing new even on basses (Victory) and if the state of boutique basses is anything to go by (Ritter, Sandberg, some Warwicks) the they are becoming more popular if anything. It comes from the realization that each individual string of a bass or guitar has a different sweet spot and that slanting is the way to accomodate the utmost. The look is an acquired taste, I like it on the Victory and the LP Recording and Professional guitars (where there is some symmetry), but on these here, I have the immediate temptation to "put the pup straight", obviously my German heritage at work:










Not so bad on this Sandberg:



In a way the P split coil adopts that concept though with Fender it was initially by constructional necessity of creating a humbucker out of two single coils. However, remember how it became en vogue at one time to reverse split coils so the E and A would be picked up nearer to the bridge and the D and G closer to the neck, adding focus to the deeper strings and more fullness to the others?

[Basvarken]

Uwe! Will you stop polluting this nice an tidy Gibson corner with this amoeboid horror 

Please! My eyes are hurting.

[Chris P.]

And don't forget those nice Reverend basses!

[Barklessdog]

Uwe! Will you stop polluting this nice an tidy Gibson corner with this amoeboid horror 

Please! My eyes are hurting.

Agreed!

It like someone crapped all over those fine Paulies.

[uwe]

Uwe! Will you stop polluting this nice an tidy Gibson corner with this amoeboid horror  

Please! My eyes are hurting.

Just testing whether your immune system still works!   For ze good of science and progress no sacrifice can be too dear ...

[Chris P.]

BTW: talking about 'reversed' splitcoils: (D & G closer to neck): Warwick is using it again for the Streamer and more brands do that.

[Dave W]

I wonder how long any of those boutique monstrosities would last if a barroom brawl broke out.

That Sandberg needs some corticosteroids to treat its skin condition.

[Highlander]

ooooooohhhhhhhhh...... purdie......

[Barklessdog]

remember "the claw" bass?

[uwe]

I wonder how long any of those boutique monstrosities would last if a barroom brawl broke out.

Ritual bass shooting, widely prevalent in the US so I've grown to understand, is one of those things that just never caught on here in Europe. Must be triggered by dissatisfaction from piss-poor beer.

[Dave W]

Or piss-poor bands.