Question on pickups and strings.

brock957 · #1 05-02-2011, 08:59 PM

I just traded a acoustic guitar for a Aria Less paul copy and a older Peavy 210 studio chorus amp. Was a good trade, the guitar plays well and is in mint condition. 2006 model. Still has film on the pick guard. Was owned buy a collector so rarely played.
My problem is I can't get the sweet clean sound I want. I have a ESP LTD M-50 that I put 10's on and it sounds fantastic. Perfect sound for the clean smooth jazz soft rock style I play. The pickups sound muddy on the Aria. It also has 9's on it. Will switching to 10's help? And what pickups to get. the ESP has LH-150's on it. Can't find any info on how to just buy the pickups. I've got people offering me off craigslist. Gibson USA 490/498 r and t pickups from a 1999 gibson Les Paul Standard for 45.00 and pickups from a Samick RL3 for 35.00. I've read that a lot of people don't care for the 490/498 combo.
Any advice on what I should do will be greatly appreciated. My wife even tells me "The new guitar is pretty but it doesn't sound good like the ESP. I'm even thinking about taking one or both of the ESP LH-150 pickups and switching them. Would rather have chrome pickups though, but will put up with the black open face if needed.
When I got the guitar I thought maybe it was that it sounded different because it wasn't played through my amp. Well the Peavy amp sounds great. I just had to fix the reverb on it. Had to reconnect a spring.
I really like the guitar, I just want a cleaner sound from it.
So once again thanks for your advice.

oldane · #2 05-03-2011, 04:03 AM

Heavier strings often clears up the sound. A higher string action will often also give a cleaner sound. A common trait with humbucker PUs (with exceptions, of course) is a tendency to muchiness in the bass. Single coil PUs are clearer. You can get P90 style single coil pickups in humbucker housing from many makers, both the big names and boutique PU makers.

brock957 · #3 05-03-2011, 04:15 AM

Thanks, going to replace strings right away.

RoyaleT · #4 05-03-2011, 05:06 AM

The RL3 is a semi-hollow, and the Duncan designed pups will sound way different in the Aria. Have you tried using an EQ pedal? I bought an inexpensive Behringer for $29 and it got me the sound I wanted from my reworked Dot through my Princeton Chorus.

brock957 · #5 05-03-2011, 04:17 PM

Thanks for the idea on the pedal. I have a Digatec RP250. I can customize the tone on the settings. I did get the Gibson USA 490/498 pickups. Will put them in also. For what I gave for them I couldn"t afford not to get them.