LP pickups

[MattS]

Hi, I'm new to these forums, but I've been reading them for a few weeks now, and I figure you guys are the best source to ask this.

 

Anyway, I'm looking to buy a new Gibson at some point in the next few months. It'll be my first, and really, it'll be my first nice guitar of any brand. Anyways, I'm mainly interested in Les Pauls, though the "lower" prices of SGs are tempting too. The one thing I'm having trouble figuring out, though, is the difference in all the pickups.

 

It seems to me like the main pickups the Gibson uses in the Les Pauls are:

 

- 57' Classics

- Alnico 490/498s

- Burstbuckers

 

Can anyone explain the difference to me? Are any of them flat out better pickups than others, which are good for certain kinds of music, etc.? It seems to me like the Alnicos are the most popular, but the Burstbuckers go on the highest end models, whereas the 57s are put mostly into guitars like the re-issues, Goldtops, etc.

 

 

Thanks

[FennRx]

1)57 classics are evenly wound alnico II pickups...very similar to the PAFs form the 50s. nice fat, vintage type tone.

 

2)490/498 are gibsons modern take on the pafs. these have higher output. i personally think these are good all around pickups for vintage and more modern gain scenarios.

 

3)the Burstbuckers comes as 1,2,3 and Pro.

 

the 1,2,3 have alnico II magnets, the Pros have alnico V magnets. the BB1/2 are the same as the 57 classics EXCEPT they have uneven windings, just like the original PAFs. the BB3 is a hotter version of the BB2. the BB Pros are higher output than the other BBs- they can be very bright and trebly.

 

there is no best pickup. i had a faded std with the BB Pros and i thought they were great, until i bought a historic with the BB1/2 combo- these are now my favorite PU that gibson makes.

[MattS]

1)57 classics are evenly wound alnico II pickups...very similar to the PAFs form the 50s. nice fat' date=' vintage type tone.

 

2)490/498 are gibsons modern take on the pafs. these have higher output. i personally think these are good all around pickups for vintage and more modern gain scenarios.

 

3)the Burstbuckers comes as 1,2,3 and Pro.

 

the 1,2,3 have alnico II magnets, the Pros have alnico V magnets. the BB1/2 are the same as the 57 classics EXCEPT they have uneven windings, just like the original PAFs. the BB3 is a hotter version of the BB2. the BB Pros are higher output than the other BBs- they can be very bright and trebly.

 

there is no best pickup. i had a faded std with the BB Pros and i thought they were great, until i bought a historic with the BB1/2 combo- these are now my favorite PU that gibson makes.[/quote']

 

 

Thanks. I really wasn't sure about the pickups. I can hear tonal differences between the 57s and 490/498s obviously (haven't gotten my hands on anything with Burstbuckers yet), but I wasn't sure what was best over the long run was. I'm interested in playing something with BBs because a lot of the really high end LPs seems to have them.

 

Mostly I play classic rock, so I'm looking for something that can do that Zeppelin and Cream sound well (I know, I know, Clapton played an SG with Cream), and can also sound good with some heavy stuff, like Judas Priest, Iron Maiden, and Opeth.

[Tom99SS]

FennRx review is right on.

 

One thing I found out about the BB Pros is that they are very sensetive to pickup height and as far as I am concerned they come too high from the factory. Also, the pickup polepieces can be adjusted to help with the tone.

 

Just a little info.

[FennRx]

 

 

Mostly I play classic rock' date=' so I'm looking for something that can do that Zeppelin and Cream sound well (I know, I know, Clapton played an SG with Cream), and can also sound good with some heavy stuff, like Judas Priest, Iron Maiden, and Opeth.[/quote']

 

you will love the BB1/2 and 57 Classics. they are what you want.

[MattS]

 

you will love the BB1/2 and 57 Classics. they are what you want.

 

Cool. The Customs have BB 1/2s right? Though, the recent 500 price bump is a pretty big turnoff... How about the triple humbucker Custom? I know those are BB 1s and 2s. Anyone know if that thing is any good?

[FennRx]

 

Cool. The Customs have BB 1/2s right? Though' date=' the recent 500 price bump is a pretty big turnoff... How about the triple humbucker Custom? I know those are BB 1s and 2s. Anyone know if that thing is any good?[/quote']

 

there are different types of Customs- all made in the custom shop.

 

the "regular" custom has thr 490/498. the historic 57 BB (B7) will have the BB1/2. the historic 1954 BB (B4) will have p90s. other customs like the chambered 68 model have the 57 classics. are you confused yet?

[MattS]

 

there are different types of Customs- all made in the custom shop.

 

the "regular" custom has thr 490/498. the historic 57 BB (B7) will have the BB1/2. the historic 1954 BB (B4) will have p90s. other customs like the chambered 68 model have the 57 classics. are you confused yet?

 

I'm doing OK lol. I've been doing some research on all the different kinds.

 

The Custom I was referring to was the regular Custom I think. Used to be $3,400, then was bumped up to $3,900 a week or two ago... and now I can't find it. Hmmm... There's another one the "Gibson Les Paul Custom All Mahogany" for 3,600 with a BB1 and a BB2. I wanted to try it at GC, but they didn't have one in stock.

[CajunBlues]

Hi' date=' I'm new to these forums, but I've been reading them for a few weeks now, and I figure you guys are the best source to ask this.

 

Anyway, I'm looking to buy a new Gibson at some point in the next few months. It'll be my first, and really, it'll be my first nice guitar of any brand. Anyways, I'm mainly interested in Les Pauls, though the "lower" prices of SGs are tempting too. The one thing I'm having trouble figuring out, though, is the difference in all the pickups.

 

It seems to me like the main pickups the Gibson uses in the Les Pauls are:

 

- 57' Classics

- Alnico 490/498s

- Burstbuckers

 

Can anyone explain the difference to me? Are any of them flat out better pickups than others, which are good for certain kinds of music, etc.? It seems to me like the Alnicos are the most popular, but the Burstbuckers go on the highest end models, whereas the 57s are put mostly into guitars like the re-issues, Goldtops, etc.

 

 

Thanks[/quote']

 

Really there isn't a whole lot of difference between the three you listed.. I listed the small differences below...

 

57 classics are very warm... great for jazz and blues... These are my favorites... You can use them for rock also... However they do get a little muddy (un-clear). But I don't care about that. I would rather have the warmth and woody sound.

 

I cannot tell the difference between a 490R and a 57 Classic... 498T's have more twang that the 57 Classic (or plus) in the bridge position.... I prefer the 57 Classic Plus in the bridge... 498T's are REALLY twangy....

 

Burstbuckers possess a lot of warmth but are SUPER clear... No muddy-ness at all... They are superb when used in conjunction with a drive/distortion pedal... They are not as warm as the 57 Classics. But they are more clear.

[SRV-Zeppelin]

Welcome to the forum Matt, also keep in mind that if you're buying your first Gibson NOT to buy it based on the pickups alone. you can always switch pups in and out of guitars. when deciding on an LP, play it dry, get used to the feel of the neck, see how it resonates, check for fret buzz, harmonic response, etc etc. you should ideally play a guitar unplugged for about an hour before you see what the PUs are like. compare a couple different models and take the one you like best played dry, and if you don't like the pickups, swap 'em out.

Good advice from CajunBlues by the way. I play a lot of Classic Rock and Blues- Zeppelin, SRV (duh), GnR, Hendrix, Chili Peppers, etc... and 57s are perfect for me. my favourites after that are the BB's but I prefer the 1 and 2s (found in most VOS guitars) as opposed to the Pros (in LP standards.)

[CajunBlues]

Welcome to the forum Matt' date=' also keep in mind that if you're buying your first Gibson NOT to buy it based on the pickups alone. you can always switch pups in and out of guitars. when deciding on an LP, play it dry, get used to the feel of the neck, see how it resonates, check for fret buzz, harmonic response, etc etc. you should ideally play a guitar unplugged for about an hour before you see what the PUs are like. compare a couple different models and take the one you like best played dry, and if you don't like the pickups, swap 'em out.

Good advice from CajunBlues by the way. I play a lot of Classic Rock and Blues- Zeppelin, SRV (duh), GnR, Hendrix, Chili Peppers, etc... and 57s are perfect for me. my favourites after that are the BB's but I prefer the 1 and 2s (found in most VOS guitars) as opposed to the Pros (in LP standards.)[/quote']

 

Agree... If you have the chance to try out the guitar you are purchasing, you have a huge advantage... Find the one that has the best tone both plugged in and unplugged.... Electronics are a constant... Guitars (believe it or not) can have a lot of variance within the same model/brand... Certain parts of the tree maybe have better tone ??? I am not really sure. But, try out a lot of guitars at the shop...

[MattS]

Welcome to the forum Matt' date=' also keep in mind that if you're buying your first Gibson NOT to buy it based on the pickups alone. you can always switch pups in and out of guitars. when deciding on an LP, play it dry, get used to the feel of the neck, see how it resonates, check for fret buzz, harmonic response, etc etc. you should ideally play a guitar unplugged for about an hour before you see what the PUs are like. compare a couple different models and take the one you like best played dry, and if you don't like the pickups, swap 'em out.

Good advice from CajunBlues by the way. I play a lot of Classic Rock and Blues- Zeppelin, SRV (duh), GnR, Hendrix, Chili Peppers, etc... and 57s are perfect for me. my favourites after that are the BB's but I prefer the 1 and 2s (found in most VOS guitars) as opposed to the Pros (in LP standards.)[/quote']

 

Oh yeah, I know not to buy on pickups alone, and that guitars can vary greatly even within the same brand. Luckily, I have the good fortune of a wide selection of things to try near my house. Two Guitar Centers within 45 minutes, a local shop that has a few good used guitars (and they occasionally bring in some used gems, like 1970s LPs in great condition.) And best of all, the music shop I use most often is kind of like a dealer of all high end guitars. So they have a big selection of SGs and LPs to play, plus a room with basically any tube amp you could ever want to test out the guitar with. That, and my guitar teacher has been playing since the 1970s, so before I make a purchase he offered to inspect the guitar and make sure it doesn't have any noticeable defects that could cause damage down the line.