Choose Your Language / Location
USA: 1-800-4GIBSON
Europe: 00+8004GIBSON1
GibsonProductsStoreNews-LifestyleLessonsCommunity24/7 Support
Products Electric Guitars Les Paul Gibson Custom
Pickups
Pickups Model
The 496R in the neck position offers higher output and increased fidelity, while a 498T in the bridge position is made in the image of the PAF humbuckers of the late '50s and early '60s, but with extra turns of wire for hotter lead tones. Pickups
Magnet Material
Gibson's 496R (neck) carries a ceramic bar magnet, while the 498T (bridge) has an Alnico V bar magnet. Magnet Material Tonal Characteristics
In the neck position of the Alex Lifeson Les Paul Axcess the 496R provides a warm, deep and creamy tone reminiscent of classic Les Paul blues and rock tones, with added clarity and increased fidelity, and more power on tap when desired. The 498T in the bridge position yields a higher output for more singing sustain and sizzling lead work. Push/pull volume pots offer the expanded versatility of series/parallel wiring of these pickups for a broader palette of tones.
Electronics
Volume Controls
The Alex Lifeson Les Paul Axcess uses an independent volume control for each pickup, which consists of a quality linear potentiometer with push/pull switch to access series/parallel wiring. The GraphTech™ Ghost® loaded bridge has its own independent push/pull volume control which governs the level of the acoustic tones in the guitar's signal, and also functions as a kill switch when pulled up. Volume Control Knobs Tone Controls
The guitar has a single master tone control for the two magnetic pickups, which comprises a 500k non-linear potentiometer with a .022uF tone cap. Note: The tone control does not affect the GraphTech™ Ghost® bridge saddle pickups. Tone Control Knobs
Toggle Switch
The Alex Lifeson Les Paul Axcess features a quality Switchcraft three-way toggle switch, which acts as the instrument's pickup selector. 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. Note: The toggle switch does not affect the GraphTech™ Ghost® bridge saddle pickups. Toggle Switch Output Jacks
The guitar features two high-quality ¼" Switchcraft output jacks labeled "Regular" and "Life-O-Sound." The "Regular" output jack carries a blend of magnetic and piezo signals when used as a regular mono jack with one guitar cable. Using two separate guitar cables, the "Life-O-Sound" output jack carries the piezo acoustic signal only, and the "Regular" output jack carries the magnetic pickup signal only, which allows routing to different electric and acoustic guitar amps, or independent channels of a mixing board or other PA or recording system. Output Jacks