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Your Style And Pups


robertscott

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Every now and then I get it into my head that I might want to switch out my 490/498s for something else. I don't even really know why, as I love how my guitar sounds.

 

Out of curiosity, what kind of pick ups do you use and what style of music do you play?

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The pickups of all of my Gibson guitars are stock. There are 490R/498T combos in the two 2011 L6Ses of mine. My LPs came with a pair of '57s, '57/'57 Plus, BurstBucker Pro Neck & Bridge, BurstBucker 1 & 2, and 496R/498T. I'm fine with all of them.

 

My original music ranges from soft pop songs to hard rock, the amp tones from clean as can be to high-gain. Anyway, I play some Fenders, too, moat of them with retrofitted noiseless pickups. Basically all of my guitars serve me well for the entire variety of desired musical and sonic styles. This also includes the Explorer from my avatar and her Dirty Fingers + pickups.

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robert,

 

I must confess, I have never been one to chase the Tone Monster down the rabbit hole of pickup change-out.

(Wow, did I mix metaphors, or what?)

 

 

Of all the variables of tone, and there are many, making modifications to the guitar is at the bottom of my list when it comes to getting that sound just right.

 

If a guitar sounds right to me when I try it out, and I know full well how much I can tweak things with the volume knobs, tone knobs, string gauge, amplifier settings, PA mic'ing, effects pedals, and (mainly) the techniques in my hands, I prefer to leave it bone-stock.

In other words, if the pickups sound weak or inconsequential the first time I plug a guitar in, I don't buy it.

 

Every one of my electrics are just as they came out of the factory, except for my Gibson Les Paul Studio Copper Top, from 2001.

The previous owner had installed a Seymour Duncan Dimebucker pickup in the bridge position.

I must say that I like the Dimebucker very much, and it's hotter than a nymphomaniac librarian.

 

But then again, I would have paid the same price for the guitar used if it had had the stock pickup in it.

 

All that said, I have nothing against the blokes who love to tinker with their guitar's tonal possibilities, and who enjoy soldering-in different pickups.

I admire them, and wish them all the best.

But it's just not my thing.

 

I hope this helps.

:)

 

And oh yeah;

I (and my band) play rock, pop rock, classic rock, hard rock, soft rock, blues, country, and a few things that resemble jazz.

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490R/498T in my SG and 57 Classic and Super 57 in my Les Paul - difficult to comment on the difference because the guitars themselves are too different. The 490s sound woodier, 57s are perfect for the classic blues/Rock Les Paul sound. Not great if you want that scooped mid super saturated modern metal thing - but then I guess if you did you probable wouldn't choose a Gibson!

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My style of music is getting wider but my main style is metal (Zakk Wylde, Randy Rhoads). 2 of my 3 Les pauls have active ZW emgs (81 bridge, 85 neck) My 1996 studio had the 498 and 490 but those were swaped out for the emgs. The ZW bullese les paul came with the ZW eds. Now here is my main guitar and slight issue from a topic I posted about pups. My #1 guitar is my 2015 Gibson Les Paul Clasic. It has the 57 classic in the neck and the Super 57 in the bridge, The guitar has coil splits and a 15db boost. I love the 57 classin in the neck and do not want o change it but the super 57 in the bridge is the pup I want to change. The bridge pup needs to be a bit hotter and have more output for me and the 15db boost has nothing to do with how hotthe pupis. My problem is thet the coil splits and 15db boost are awsome and give me such great tonal variations that I do not want to loose any of those benifits just to gain a little more output. I'm on the lookout for a pickup (my 2015 has Quick Connects) that will match up with the 57 classic in the neck and will still be able to have the coil split and boost capabilities with some added output. The 57s are alinco II magnets so I think an alinco V in the bridge will work well. I'm thinking as long as I stick with an Alinco magnet and not switch to a ceramic magnet the pups will match up well. On a side note, Other than My ZW bullseye and my 2015. Every other guita I've ever owned I have swapped out the pups. In my opion if you go active I think EMGs are the best and for passive pups Seymour Duncans are top notch.

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References to the lady you compared to the humbucker would be helpful... [biggrin]

 

 

Hmmm......

Well, you asked for it.

 

 

The mid-1960’s. Atchison, Kansas.

 

The librarian drummed her fingernails on the check-out desk.

 

“Darn these wayward kids and their Dean Martin Show, their Frank Sinatra scooby-dooby-doo records, and their library-subsidized pornographic materials,” she fumed. “When will it all end?”

 

Just then, a noise by the wooden bookshelves dedicated to ‘Natural sciences & mathematics, 501 Philosophy & Theory thru 505 Serial publications’ caught her attention.

 

She cocked her head, and then followed her instincts to the dark corner of the library where the periodicals and slickly-veneered magazines were stored.

 

Slouched against the doorframe leading to the Non-Fiction section of the library was a hulking and surly teenaged Sparquelito. Clutched in his paws was the latest LOOK magazine, replete with a photograph of a nubile and provocative Audrey Hepburn on the cover.

 

“YOU again,” she shouted. “First you interfere with yourself in the Arts and Nature section, then you claim to the Holy Father at the Catholic school that I made all that up, and now my very employment with the County Library System is in jeopardy. What do you want next, my dignity??”

 

The librarian paused to dab a bead of sweat from her brow with a delicate white handkerchief.

 

Sparquelito shrugged. “Naw. I guess I just wanted your attention. Maybe I dig you, you know?” He ran his free hand thru his hair much like a scrawny and under-nourished Marlin Brando, and then fixed her with his devastating gaze.

“Maybe I just dig you.”

 

He never would figure out what turned the librarian that evening; his insolent attitude, or his adolescent man-scent. Sparquelito was fresh-scrubbed and smelling of Ivory Soap, but he also had an earthy pheromonal musk about him that was probably very close to cat-nip for the sexually-frustrated librarian lady.

 

Sparquelito later related to his therapist:

“She quickly put me in shackles, and then began to interrogate me. I didn’t have any knowledge of any subversive elements operating in the immediate area of the library, this was quickly apparent. After that, it simply became sport for her.”

 

"Is it hot in here, or is it just ME?" she queried, and then unbuttoned her otherwise matronly suit-coat. Underneath was a tiny black leather number that could only be described as 'brief', and 'the stuff of fetish dreams'.

 

"Come here and kiss my thigh-high leather boots!!" she barked out.

 

“I was terrified,” Sparquelito wept. “Her body was magnificent, and terrible all at the same time. She had small breasts as pert as a martini glass. A sleek, slender, pale body, and tender bits that begged to be explored. I became painfully aroused, and the buttons on my trousers literally strained at the seams.”

 

 

 

The counselor leaned forward and offered Sparquelito a tissue.

The old fellow’s shoulders shuddered as he recalled the shame, the indignity.

 

“It’s ok, really it is.” The therapist sat back in his armchair and adjusted his eyeglasses. “We’ve all done things we aren’t particularly proud of. I myself once abused myself in the 1970's while perusing the Sports Illustrated swimsuit edition that featured Cheryl Tiegs. On the roof of the dorm where I resided while attending grad school.”

 

Sparquelito implored the psychiatrist with his teary eyes, “Yeah? And what’s so wrong with that?”

 

“Well, for starters, my dorm was only two stories high. And it was broad-daylight. And the neighboring ladies dorm was right next door, and it went five stories high.”

 

“And so all the girls next door got to witness you…”

 

“Doing the self-imposed nasty,” the therapist elaborated. “Beating my meat. Get it? I was mortified.”

He leaned forward. “But guess what?”

 

Sparquelito held his breath for just a moment, and then reluctantly let it out.

“What?” he finally responded.

 

“I got over it. And you will too. If you just let yourself.”

The counselor glanced at his wristwatch in a manner that told his patient that the time was up for today.

 

“Look. It’s been over forty years now. I want you to go out and visit the nearest library. Do it today. Do not hesitate, go visit, read some books, and enjoy it. And above all, do not feel guilty about what happened all those years ago.”

 

Sparquelito stiffly got to his feet, gathered his belongings, and stood by the door. “You really think that forcing myself to go back into a library is going to do me some good?”

 

The shrink ushered his patient out the door, and fixed him with his most piercing and meaningful gaze.

 

“It’s just a library. They have normal librarians, books, and computers. What’s the worst that could happen? You might end up hanging out on guitar web forums or something?”

[scared][crying] :unsure: [unsure]

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I use the pickups that came with the guitar. If I want to try something different, I built it myself. Last time I built a bass, I used Dominger pickups. They customer make them to your style. I will try them again if I build another guitar.

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So far I've used stock pickups, which are '57s and 490's. They are of similar output, and both suit the current stuff I'm doing, which is blues-rock style music. Heavier riffs and lighter clean parts are covered by both with ease! I prefer the vintage-voiced style pickup to higher output models.

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Hmmm......

Well, you asked for it.

 

 

The mid-1960’s. Atchison, Kansas.

 

...

 

[scared][crying] :unsure: [unsure]

It seems still unclear to me what makes the Dimebucker hotter than this lady. The DeCola EB humbuckers annoyed me until I swapped them for Hi-Z EMGs - the only Gibson pickups I ever sorted out and the only EMGs I use -, but no pickup ever made me cry or visit a therapist. :-k

 

Don't know if you read it in January, 2016, but anyway, there's a true story of mine. I was confronted with nymphomania and a paralysis of an origin still unexplained to me. It can be found here: http://forum.gibson.com/index.php?/topic/127546-unearthly-powers-of-mind/

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Always standard...apart from a Tokai Firebird upgraded to Seymour Duncans... [thumbup]

 

Therefore...

490/498

Burstbucker

P90...Gibson, Godin, Gordon Smith, Duesenberg

Strat

Tele

EMG

Dynasonic

Lipstick

Acoustic S/C magnetic

Acoustic piezo under-bridge

 

V

 

:-({|=

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It seems still unclear to me what makes the Dimebucker hotter than this lady. The DeCola EB humbuckers annoyed me until I swapped them for Hi-Z EMGs - the only Gibson pickups I ever sorted out and the only EMGs I use -, but no pickup ever made me cry or visit a therapist. :-k

 

Don't know if you read it in January, 2016, but anyway, there's a true story of mine. I was confronted with nymphomania and a paralysis of an origin still unexplained to me. It can be found here: http://forum.gibson.com/index.php?/topic/127546-unearthly-powers-of-mind/

 

Wow Cappy, that is quite a story indeed, and well-documented!

 

I'm not one to dismiss notions of the girl's possible extra-sensory powers, nor would I dismiss an occult spell or hex either.

 

But here is one other possibility for you to consider;

You worked for a pharmaceutical company at the time.

 

Is there a chance you were subtly and slowly being drugged or poisoned by the lady?

[scared][crying] :mellow:

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Both my Gibsons have 57 Classics. One has a coil tap (which I use most of the time). I use neck pickups for soloing.

 

I play soul, ska, rock, jazz. I don't use much gain.

 

My favourite sounding guitar is a Hagstrom Deuce which uses Korean made Hagstrom Custom 58 Alnico 5 humbuckers. They have a lower end than other pups. I tried to buy these separately (see trading post) but cannot, so I'm looking for another guitar just to rob the pickups out of it. I also use these coil tapped.

 

2nd favourite sounding guitar is a Rickenbacker 650. This uses Ric mini humbuckers. I like this sound as much as the Hagstrom, but its slightly less versatile (no coil tap option).

 

 

The only guitar I ever bought but was 'fooled' by the sound, was a Jackson Elite with active Seymour Duncan pups. I couldnt get a usable sound out of that thing. Shame, because it handled so beautifully.

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My Les Paul has '57 Classic in the neck and '57+ Classic in the bridge.

My style is RUSH and '70's Classic Rock with a little blues mixed in.

 

I might add, like some others in this forum, I don't modify my guitars (except for the Speed Knobs vs. Top Hats and Locking Strap Buttons). When I buy the guitar, if it doesn't sound and feel right, I look for another one.

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Hmmm......

Well, you asked for it.

 

 

The mid-1960’s. Atchison, Kansas.

 

The librarian drummed her fingernails on the check-out desk.

 

“Darn these wayward kids and their Dean Martin Show, their Frank Sinatra scooby-dooby-doo records, and their library-subsidized pornographic materials,” she fumed. “When will it all end?”

 

Just then, a noise by the wooden bookshelves dedicated to ‘Natural sciences & mathematics, 501 Philosophy & Theory thru 505 Serial publications’ caught her attention.

 

She cocked her head, and then followed her instincts to the dark corner of the library where the periodicals and slickly-veneered magazines were stored.

 

Slouched against the doorframe leading to the Non-Fiction section of the library was a hulking and surly teenaged Sparquelito. Clutched in his paws was the latest LOOK magazine, replete with a photograph of a nubile and provocative Audrey Hepburn on the cover.

 

“YOU again,” she shouted. “First you interfere with yourself in the Arts and Nature section, then you claim to the Holy Father at the Catholic school that I made all that up, and now my very employment with the County Library System is in jeopardy. What do you want next, my dignity??”

 

The librarian paused to dab a bead of sweat from her brow with a delicate white handkerchief.

 

Sparquelito shrugged. “Naw. I guess I just wanted your attention. Maybe I dig you, you know?” He ran his free hand thru his hair much like a scrawny and under-nourished Marlin Brando, and then fixed her with his devastating gaze.

“Maybe I just dig you.”

 

He never would figure out what turned the librarian that evening; his insolent attitude, or his adolescent man-scent. Sparquelito was fresh-scrubbed and smelling of Ivory Soap, but he also had an earthy pheromonal musk about him that was probably very close to cat-nip for the sexually-frustrated librarian lady.

 

Sparquelito later related to his therapist:

“She quickly put me in shackles, and then began to interrogate me. I didn’t have any knowledge of any subversive elements operating in the immediate area of the library, this was quickly apparent. After that, it simply became sport for her.”

 

"Is it hot in here, or is it just ME?" she queried, and then unbuttoned her otherwise matronly suit-coat. Underneath was a tiny black leather number that could only be described as 'brief', and 'the stuff of fetish dreams'.

 

"Come here and kiss my thigh-high leather boots!!" she barked out.

 

“I was terrified,” Sparquelito wept. “Her body was magnificent, and terrible all at the same time. She had small breasts as pert as a martini glass. A sleek, slender, pale body, and tender bits that begged to be explored. I became painfully aroused, and the buttons on my trousers literally strained at the seams.”

 

 

 

The counselor leaned forward and offered Sparquelito a tissue.

The old fellow’s shoulders shuddered as he recalled the shame, the indignity.

 

“It’s ok, really it is.” The therapist sat back in his armchair and adjusted his eyeglasses. “We’ve all done things we aren’t particularly proud of. I myself once abused myself in the 1970's while perusing the Sports Illustrated swimsuit edition that featured Cheryl Tiegs. On the roof of the dorm where I resided while attending grad school.”

 

Sparquelito implored the psychiatrist with his teary eyes, “Yeah? And what’s so wrong with that?”

 

“Well, for starters, my dorm was only two stories high. And it was broad-daylight. And the neighboring ladies dorm was right next door, and it went five stories high.”

 

“And so all the girls next door got to witness you…”

 

“Doing the self-imposed nasty,” the therapist elaborated. “Beating my meat. Get it? I was mortified.”

He leaned forward. “But guess what?”

 

Sparquelito held his breath for just a moment, and then reluctantly let it out.

“What?” he finally responded.

 

“I got over it. And you will too. If you just let yourself.”

The counselor glanced at his wristwatch in a manner that told his patient that the time was up for today.

 

“Look. It’s been over forty years now. I want you to go out and visit the nearest library. Do it today. Do not hesitate, go visit, read some books, and enjoy it. And above all, do not feel guilty about what happened all those years ago.”

 

Sparquelito stiffly got to his feet, gathered his belongings, and stood by the door. “You really think that forcing myself to go back into a library is going to do me some good?”

 

The shrink ushered his patient out the door, and fixed him with his most piercing and meaningful gaze.

 

“It’s just a library. They have normal librarians, books, and computers. What’s the worst that could happen? You might end up hanging out on guitar web forums or something?”

[scared][crying] :unsure: [unsure]

Love the story Sparquelito... Are you a Romance Novelist? If not, you should be... [thumbup]

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Wow Cappy, that is quite a story indeed, and well-documented!

 

I'm not one to dismiss notions of the girl's possible extra-sensory powers, nor would I dismiss an occult spell or hex either.

 

But here is one other possibility for you to consider;

You worked for a pharmaceutical company at the time.

 

Is there a chance you were subtly and slowly being drugged or poisoned by the lady?

[scared][crying] :mellow:

I think she wouldn't have had a chance of doing so. Her contact was limited to packaging means and leaflets, and how should an active ingredient work so fast, in such a short-term manner, and through the air in a specific, small area only? Furthermore, no other people were affected by the disorders I experienced, neither same time, same place. In my opinion this also excludes abuse of any substance.

 

I still don't have a clue how it happened, let alone a valid explanation. :unsure: It is still eerie to me. [scared]

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Love the story Sparquelito... Are you a Romance Novelist? If not, you should be... [thumbup]

 

Well, much of my writing is just absurd humor, but some of my chapters could well be termed romantic.

 

I am working on a book, but it's sort of a free-form collection of short stories.

Am trying to figure out how to package up such a mishmash of styles and genres (fiction, non-fiction, romance, humor, sci-fi, etc etc).

 

 

 

well this thread got a lot more erotic than I expected, but I'd be lying if I said I hadn't enjoyed it

 

Ha ha ha ha!

 

I actually toned-down my librarian story.

 

The original draft was beyond vulgar and explicit.

[unsure]

 

 

 

I think she wouldn't have had a chance of doing so. Her contact was limited to packaging means and leaflets, and how should an active ingredient work so fast, in such a short-term manner, and through the air in a specific, small area only? Furthermore, no other people were affected by the disorders I experienced, neither same time, same place. In my opinion this also excludes abuse of any substance.

 

I still don't have a clue how it happened, let alone a valid explanation. :unsure: It is still eerie to me. [scared][thumbup]

 

It's very eerie indeed, sir!

[unsure] :unsure: :mellow:

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Well, much of my writing is just absurd humor, but some of my chapters could well be termed romantic.

 

I am working on a book, but it's sort of a free-form collection of short stories.

Am trying to figure out how to package up such a mishmash of styles and genres (fiction, non-fiction, romance, humor, sci-fi, etc etc).

 

...

A collection of short stories seems a very good idea to me. [thumbup] Perhaps the term novelty stories would match them best. :-k

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Am trying to figure out how to package up such a mishmash of styles and genres (fiction, non-fiction, romance, humor, sci-fi, etc etc).

 

 

That describes perfectly what political news reads like.

 

Thought about being a political journalist?

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That describes perfectly what political news reads like.

 

Thought about being a political journalist?

 

 

I do agree, but no, I could never write for any length of time about politics.

US politics anyway.

 

It would be just a matter of time before the Secret Service guys showed up in an un-marked van and hauled me away.

[unsure] :unsure:

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I am in both camps (ie, I leave the stock pickups in some guitars and with others I swap in different ones). It's really about the given guitar and what I am trying to get out of it.

 

I'm not a professional musician... I don't gig, it's a hobby for me, I just play for my own enjoyment (mostly on my own, but occasionally with buddies who are also hobbyists). And part of the fun is trying to dial in a certain guitar to a certain tone or sound (and/or look, ie, maybe I want one guitar to have chrome covered pickups, but I want another to have uncovered zebras, etc). So swapping out pickups and experimenting with different ones for different tones and different looks is just part of the hobby for me. Now, if a guitar just absolutely sounds like I want it to sound I'm not gonna monkey with it... but if there's even a bit of question that it could be better (and/or I just want it to have a different "look") then I'll start the process of experimenting with different pickups. As I said... it's part of the hobby for me and part of what makes it fun.

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All of my guitars currently have the stock pickups:

 

ES-335 - 57 Classics

Les Paul Classic - 496R/500T

Les Paul Faded Special - 490R/498T

SG Supreme - 57 Classics

'67 SG Special Reissue - P90s

ESP Ltd H7 2015 40th Anniversary - 7 string version of the active EMG 57/66 set

ESP Ltd MH-100QM NT - ESP Designed LH-150s. (Decent pickups, but I may upgrade these in the future.)

 

I'm a hobbyist and mostly into classic rock, old school metal (Sabbath, Deep Purple), blues and some jazz.

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