eclecticsynergy Posted June 22, 2014 Share Posted June 22, 2014 I bought a Gibson humbucker this afternoon which the seller says is a Burstbucker 1 out of a recent Les Paul reissue. I thought the absence of stickers might be due to the fact that it was factory installed but the resistance reads 8.1K and I don't think that's right for a BB1. Do all Burstbuckers have a PAF sticker and a label with the initials of the person who wound it? And if it isn't a Burstbucker, what do you think it is? Thanks. This is what the back looks like: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pwrmac7600 Posted June 22, 2014 Share Posted June 22, 2014 I bought a Gibson humbucker this afternoon which the seller says is a Burstbucker 1 out of a recent Les Paul reissue. I thought the absence of stickers might be due to the fact that it was factory installed but the resistance reads 8.1K and I don't think that's right for a BB1. Do all Burstbuckers have a PAF sticker and a label with the initials of the person who wound it? And if it isn't a Burstbucker, what do you think it is? Thanks. This is what the back looks like: I don't think gibson is very consistent in the labeling of pickups. From the picture it's hard to say but the output seems a little high for a 1. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pwrmac7600 Posted June 23, 2014 Share Posted June 23, 2014 I don't think gibson is very consistent in the labeling of pickups. From the picture it's hard to say but the output seems a little high for a 1. Not sure if this will help but I found it posted by another member. Compiled list of measured DC-resistance values that aims to aid in the identification of your Gibson or Epiphone pickup. The "relative pickup output"-chart from Gibson, basicly tells you nothing regarding tone and output. http://www.gibson.co...ickup_Guide.pdf The list is limited to pickups currently in use with Gibson or Epiphone(with 1 or 2 exceptions). For vintage pickup identification please consult the resident experts on the appropiate forums. •Magnets• Magnet-type is usefull in visually identifying a pickup. All Alnico-types are a metal composite. Ceramics are resembling dark-grey/black bars of plastic/clay. •KO-values• (measured extremes in Kilo Ohms) Depending on the coilwind and temperature(colder equals lower KO values) values may fluctuate. Gibson PUs seem deliberately wound to "approximates", to mimic fluctuating DC-resistance values just like in the old days. The KO-values of the Epi-pups show less fluctuation, since they're wound to exact K specification. However, this is pure speculation from my part. Any comments, additions welcome! Gibson Burstbucker Pro..........(sim: BB1, Alnico5, potted).....7.4KO Gibson Burstbucker Pro..........(sim: BB2, Alnico5, potted)......8.0KO Gibson Burstbucker 1.............(Alnico2)..........................7.5KO Gibson BurstBucker 2............(Alnico2)..........................8.0 - 8.4KO Gibson Burstbucker 3.............(Alnico2).........................8.2 - 8.8KO Gibson '57 Classic.................(Alnico2)...........................7.44 - 8.5KO Gibson '57 ClassicPlus.............(Alnico2)..........................13.8KO Gibson Dirty Fingers..............(2xCeramic)......................16.0 -16.6KO Gibson Mini-humbucker...........(Alnico2)...........................6.0 - 6.4KO/8.1K(bridge) Gibson 490R........................(Alnico2)..........................7.2 - 7.83KO Gibson 490T........................(Alnico2)..........................7.9 - 8.53KO Gibson 498T........................(Alnico5)..........................12.32-13.46KO Gibson 496R........................(Ceramic).........................8.3 - 8.63KO Gibson 500T........................(Ceramic).........................14 - 15KO Gibson Angus Young...............(Alnico5)..........................13.5KO Gibson Tommy Iommi.............(Alnico2+Ceramic)...............16.5KO Gibson Joe Perry(BB2&3?).........(Alnico5)..........................8.4(neck)/8.8KO(bridge) Gibson Jimmy Page................(Alnico5)..........................7-8KO(not found yet, but I reckon within these values) Gibson P-90R.......................(Alnico5)...........................7.7 - 8.5KO Gibson P-90T.......................(Alnico5)...........................7.8 - 9.35KO Gibson P-100R......................(Alnico5)...........................6.1KO Gibson P-100T......................(Alnico5)...........................9.4 - 16.0KO Gibson P-94R.......................(Alnico5)...........................8.1KO Gibson P-94T.......................(Alnico5)...........................9.1KO Gibson HB-R.........................(Alnico5)..........................7.06 - 9.13KO Gibson HB-L.........................(Alnico5)..........................13.39 - 15.3KO Epiphone 650R/650T...............(Ceramic8)........................7.8(neck)/16.6(bridge)KO Epiphone P90(Casino)...............(Alnico5)..........................8.1KO alltho some owners report 11-11.8K for neck and 12.0K values for Bridge-PU respectively Epiphone P90(IJL Casino)..........(Alnico5)..........................8.1KO Epiphone P90('56 GT)...............(Alnico5).........................8.8KO Epiphone P90(WildKat).............(Alnico5)......................... 8.8KO alltho some owners report 11.17K(neck)-11.40KO(bridge) Epiphone 57CH(Classic).............(Alnico5).........................7.8 - 8.13KO Epiphone HOTCH(Classic +)........(Alnico5).........................13.3 - 14KO Epiphone HOTH8B...................(Alnico5).........................13.14-13.58KO Epiphone HB6N.......................(Alnico5)..........................8.12-8.30KO Epiphone Mini HB.....................(Alnico5)..........................6.65KO Epiphone Special2....................(Ceramic).........................12.85(neck)/16.6(bridge)KO Epiphone P100('57 LP Jr)..........(Alnico5)..........................10KO Epiphone H90(nighthawk)..........(Alnico5)..........................10KO? Epiphone Elitist 50SR/50ST........(Alnico5)..........................8.5KO Epiphone Elitist 60ST.................(Alnico5)..........................13.8KO Epiphone Elitist N.Valensi P90.....(Alnico5)..........................8.1(neck)/9.1KO(bridge) Epiphone Elitist Casino/Lennon....(Alnico5)..........................8.1KO Epiphone Elitist Country DLX.......(Alnico5)..........................5.7KO EMG HZ H4..............................(Ceramic)..........................13.6KO EMG HZ H4A............................(Alnico5)..........................13.6KO DiMarzio SuperDistortion............(Ceramic)........................13.65KO Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
capmaster Posted June 23, 2014 Share Posted June 23, 2014 The two Gibson '57 Classic Pluses of mine read around 8.2 kOhms, not around 13.8 kOhms. My eleven Gibson '57 Classics are close to 7.9 kOhms. The tolerances are fairly small and are caused by wire gauge variations in my opinion. Same is valid for any other Gibson pickup which is several times in my arsenal. Dirty Fingers should come with three ceramic magnets each, and I guess the 500T, too, but own none of the latter. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eclecticsynergy Posted June 23, 2014 Author Share Posted June 23, 2014 Thanks to all for the info. It's encouraging to learn that the absence of any stickers or labels doesn't mean anything. I'd been afraid any genuine Burstbucker had to have the PAF sticker and a label with the initials of the winder. So at 8.1K resistance, my pickup could be a Burstbucker 2 or a Burstbucker Pro BB2. (Or possibly a '57 Classic Plus) The pickup appears to be potted, but I think all the factory installed Burstbuckers are that way, though among aftermarket Burstbuckers only the Pros are potted. I'm reluctant to remove the nickel cover and probably couldn't tell the difference visually between A2 and A5 mags even if I did take it off. Spoke with the seller again; he tells me the Les Paul it came in is a new AAA Standard and not one of the R-series reissues. And he says it's stated right on the hang tags that the axe has Burstbuckers. He mentioned there's a small "1" embossed in the nickel- I thought he meant in the cover, but I see on the baseplate that there's a small T at the edge where the cover's soldered on. I believe that's what he was talking about. There could be one on the opposite edge too, covered by the somewhat bigger solder blob there. The screws holding the bobbins to the basplate are brass, I don't know if that's significant. Also, it turns out this pup was in the bridge position, not at the neck as I had thought. So it's seeming more likely that this is a legitimate Burstbucker 2. I'm still hoping somebody can help me find a detail or two that'll help me to know exactly what I've got... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jon S. Posted June 23, 2014 Share Posted June 23, 2014 I bought a Gibson humbucker this afternoon which the seller says is a Burstbucker 1 out of a recent Les Paul reissue. I thought the absence of stickers might be due to the fact that it was factory installed but the resistance reads 8.1K and I don't think that's right for a BB1. Do all Burstbuckers have a PAF sticker and a label with the initials of the person who wound it? And if it isn't a Burstbucker, what do you think it is? Thanks. This is what the back looks like: I doubt it's a Burstbucker. I've never seen one with the "Gibson USA" stamped baseplate. My guess is a 490R or 490T. What is the polepiece spacing? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eclecticsynergy Posted June 23, 2014 Author Share Posted June 23, 2014 I doubt it's a Burstbucker. I've never seen one with the "Gibson USA" stamped baseplate. My guess is a 490R or 490T. What is the polepiece spacing? Best I can tell with a wooden ruler is that it looks like a hair under 10mm, maybe 9.5. Overall spacing appears to be 50mm exact. Are the polepieces on Burstbuckers spaced differently than the standard PUs? I guess at 8.1K resistance it could be a 490T. Seller still says it's a Burstbucker according to the hangtags that came with the guitar. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eclecticsynergy Posted June 24, 2014 Author Share Posted June 24, 2014 Okay, I'm still stumped- I was thinking it could be a 490T, but as far as I know they are all 4-wire pickups now, is that correct? This one is old style, single wire with braided shield. The center wire is not plastic insulated; it has what appears to be braided cloth insulation, black and slightly shiny, with a couple of white (nylon?) threads visible among the frayed ends where it's been cut. Would that be consistent with a 490T, or is it still possible that this is an unstickered Burstbucker? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
capmaster Posted June 24, 2014 Share Posted June 24, 2014 Okay, I'm still stumped- I was thinking it could be a 490T, but as far as I know they are all 4-wire pickups now, is that correct? This one is old style, single wire with braided shield. The center wire is not plastic insulated; it has what appears to be braided cloth insulation, black and slightly shiny, with a couple of white (nylon?) threads visible among the frayed ends where it's been cut. Would that be consistent with a 490T, or is it still possible that this is an unstickered Burstbucker? Don't think it's nylon (polyamide) as it wouldn't stand soldering heat. They make all of them "old style" for stock equipment, too, although most aftermarket pikups are sold four-conductor wired. Sadly, braided one-conductor wired pickups don't allow for reading separate measurements for both the coils, so it can be hard to discern between a BB and types with balanced coils. All of my four-wired '57s, '57 Pluses, 490Rs and 498Ts are nicely balanced, my four-wired BBs are definitely not. Can't say anything about my "old style" wired pickups in this respect, of course. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
capmaster Posted June 24, 2014 Share Posted June 24, 2014 Best I can tell with a wooden ruler is that it looks like a hair under 10mm, maybe 9.5. Overall spacing appears to be 50mm exact. Are the polepieces on Burstbuckers spaced differently than the standard PUs? I guess at 8.1K resistance it could be a 490T. Seller still says it's a Burstbucker according to the hangtags that came with the guitar. The "T" pickups and DirtyFingers are T or F spaced which means 52mm, all the others, i. e. "R" as well as BB, '57s, '59s and '61s, should read 49.2mm, measured between 1st and 6th pole piece centers. Reading close to 50mm, it shouldn't be a 490T. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cjsinla Posted June 25, 2014 Share Posted June 25, 2014 The "T" pickups and DirtyFingers are T or F spaced which means 52mm, all the others, i. e. "R" as well as BB, '57s, '59s and '61s, should read 49.2mm, measured between 1st and 6th pole piece centers. Reading close to 50mm, it shouldn't be a 490T. Can't be a Dirty Fingers because those pickups have two rows of screws and read much higher. I doubt that it Is a 57 Classic because they don't have the Gibson logo stamped on the baseplate. The recent 57's also seem to have a PAF sticker and the date and initial sticker as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eclecticsynergy Posted June 28, 2014 Author Share Posted June 28, 2014 Okay, so we've narrowed it down to either a 490R or possibly a Burstbucker 2. I'm thinking it's more likely a 490R since it has the Gibson USA baseplate and no stickers. Either way it should have nice loose Alnico II dynamics. It just remains to find out how bright it sounds in the guiitar. Thanks everyone for your help. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eclecticsynergy Posted July 5, 2014 Author Share Posted July 5, 2014 One last detail I noticed: can see a bit of wood spacer through the extra hole in the baseplate. I figure a BB would definitely have wood spacers, but a 490R might not. Does anybody know what kind of spacers are in 490s? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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