Up/Down Pickup Selector (Les Pauls ONLY)

[bReakOuT!]

Hi...I'm amazed to find out that there isn't a site on Google that explains this very fundamental side of the guitar,well the LP - Pickup selection.
Although I've been playing on my guitar for nearly a month now,I still have yet to confirm which pickup I'm actually using.
Tried to Google but amazingly,NO RESULTS.I'm thinking LPs pickup switches all use a standard setting?Like up is neck/down is bridge,etc.?Or do we have to hear the sound to know?

 

[tubescreamer]

Generally speaking, the pickup that has more bass will be the neck pickup.

Otherwise, just use a screwdriver or any other metal object to tap the polepieces lightly when the pickup is engaged. The one that picks up the tapping is the one which is activated.

 

[Revelt]

Read your manual.

 

[LadyInTears]

read whitestrat's les paul guide thread

 

[ziq223]

I Was Also Like You When I Juz Start Playing guitar.

my first guitar was a J&D Les Paul.

I Still Have It Now!!!

I Treasure it the most!

Anw,

I Watch Many Vids On Youtube And some vids, they teach these kind of stuff.

try searching on youtube.

it helps me.

 

[dudelove]

Toggle up - Neck pickup only. This sounds mellow, warm and sometimes muddy. Good for a smooth mellow solo, think Slash, or Eric Clapton's woman tone. Most players will use the neck pickup when playing clean.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7KCL_xjsuWg

Toggle middle - Neck pickup and bridge pickup both on at the same time. This sounds nasally, chimey, bell-like, out of phase sounding. Listen to many of Jimmy Page's live playing.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nRwMLquLMNU
The intro is played semi clean on the neck pickup, the rest of the song is on the middle pickup. Note Page's neck pickup is very bright.

Toggle down - Bridge pickup only. All the in your face riffs use the bridge pickup. Brighter, more treble. I don't need to explain this one. Almost all of Angus Young's tones are made with the bridge pickup of his SG, same concept.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gIArmP6HcZk This is a classic PAF tone. Now you know, so don't ask whats the PAF tone. :mrgreen:

 

[PatheinRaindropMoe]

as mentioned by tube screamer, the easiest and confirmed accurate way to check(wrong wiring is possible) is by tapping the pickup with anything metallic and the sound will be amplified. And for this to work, will need the geetar to be connected to the amp with the amp "on".

heh, dont be too "innocent" to try it without plugging in and switching the amp on...

and on pickup, why does a neck pickup sounds fatter while the bridge more treblish? And if we change the neck to bridge and bridge to neck pickup, will bridge pickup in neck position still sound like bridge pickup in bridge position or different? Same goes to neck pickup change to bridge, what will happen

 

[daslasher375]

Well, it's very easy to identify the pickups when selecting like dudelove said.

this is my opinion

When u select bridge, some models say treble gives a very nasty, treble, brighter sound, It's because the strings on top of the bridge pickup are nearer to the tune-o-matic bridge therefore it's tension is super tight giving u a nasty sound but its a good selection for rock n roll music (for me). u can try strumming it without the amp on to test and u'll noe what i mean.

the middle gives u a balanced tone. And u can make ur own sounds with that selection like more treble less bass, or louder bass with more treble.

the neck or some models say rhythm gives u a warm deep tone, very melodic with alot of bass and the strings on top of the neck pickup is away from the bridge and tensions are moderate therefore the sound is warmer.

If ure nt sure bout the knobs, basically the two knobs located on top is for neck/rhythm and the other two below it are for bridge/treble, knobs on the right side is for master tone for the respective pickups and the two on left side is the master volume from the point of view when ure playing. (right hander models, left hander models would be the opposite i think)

 

[Whitestrat]

I'm thinking LPs pickup switches all use a standard setting?Like up is neck/down is bridge,etc.?Or do we have to hear the sound to know?

Yes, they should be standard for all Les Pauls. Down is the treble/bridge pup, and up is the bass/neck pup.

 

[XLayaR]

Open up your backplate and trace the wiring lor. Best.

 

[kuang89]

best way to find out which pick up is on is simple.
1) turn the amp vol up a little
2) push the pick up selector to where ever
3) use a pick/finger to knock on the pick up itself, try not to touch the string (fret hand muff the strings to avoid string noise)
4) when u knock on the selected pickup, it'll make a noise, the non selected pickup wouldn't

i got tis tip from a vid in utube...works on all guitars not just lp...

 

[bReakOuT!]

Toggle up - Neck pickup only. This sounds mellow, warm and sometimes muddy. Good for a smooth mellow solo, think Slash, or Eric Clapton's woman tone. Most players will use the neck pickup when playing clean.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7KCL_xjsuWg

Toggle middle - Neck pickup and bridge pickup both on at the same time. This sounds nasally, chimey, bell-like, out of phase sounding. Listen to many of Jimmy Page's live playing.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nRwMLquLMNU
The intro is played semi clean on the neck pickup, the rest of the song is on the middle pickup. Note Page's neck pickup is very bright.

Toggle down - Bridge pickup only. All the in your face riffs use the bridge pickup. Brighter, more treble. I don't need to explain this one. Almost all of Angus Young's tones are made with the bridge pickup of his SG, same concept.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gIArmP6HcZk This is a classic PAF tone. Now you know, so don't ask whats the PAF tone. :mrgreen:

This was a real eye-opner.Real helpful.As well as the other posts.Thanks guys!Helps to know stuff like this.

 

[Sunderring]

I believe there are labels on the selector leh..

 

[eieio]

+1 thats what i thought.. answer to a simple question
can lead all the pafs & knocking & wiring diagrams to come out.. hehe

http://www2.gibson.com/Products/Electric-Guitars/Les-Paul/Gibson-USA/Les-Paul-Piezo.aspx

Toggle Switch
In the down position, only the bridge pickup is active.
In the middle position, both pickups are active.
In the up position, only the neck pickup is active.