Nickel on Chrome?

[hi13ts]

Friends,

 

I'm thinking of switching on the 57's on my SG to Burstbucker 3s or 2s. I've been thinking of using the same pickup type for both positions as that was how it was done back in the day. I also heard Gary Moore's Les Paul was two Burstbucker 3s. Anyway, my question is will nickel pickups be close enough to chrome where the difference won't be so salient as to throw off the guitar's look? The SG is setup with chrome, and I can't find any of the PAF Burstbuckers (1,2,3) in a chrome cover option. I realize I could buy chrome covers and stick 'em on, but if nickel really won't be such a stark difference, then why not?

 

Thanks in advance!

 

P.S. If you have any suggestions for a nice raunchy, yet subtle-y vintage and warm pickups on an SG, please share them! I'm a fan of vintage pickups with their responsiveness, dynamics, and treble-y bite (which probably has a bit to do with the fact that they're unpotted), but I would like to have some roar and fire. Burstbucker 3s seem like a nice fit, but I'm not against looking at others (BB2s may offer a truer vintage vibe).

[Ryan H]

Can't comment on the nickel-on-chrome thing, but can offer my personal preference for raunchy vintage-hot humbuckers.

 

I've always been a Wolfetone guy. His pickups are handwound, one at a time, and assembled by hand. His prices are fair for custom pickups ($100-$150 depending on the model) and he really captures that "vintage-hot" sound. If you want your pickup polite and tame, he can do that. He can also do paint-peeling high output Humbuckers. But his speciality is raunchy, growling vintage-style pickups.

 

I would suggest the Marshallhead model, it sounds like exactly what you're looking for. If you want to spec out your own custom pickup, you could try the Legend (Every aspect of the Legend is up to you). Talk with Wolfe, he can probably give you a better idea than I can. He's a really friendly and knowledgable guy.

 

Good luck in your search,

 

-Ryan

[Gary Moore Tribute]

Unfortunately yes. I had for a time an Epiphone with Nickle coating fitted with chrome tuner heads and the difference is quite a few shades.

In your case it will be the tailpiece & bridge will stand out different to the nickle pick ups

 

For 2nd hand Gibson parts I recommend this guy Gibsondependable

He's a Gibson parts seller and the parts range from new to used and start at 99c!

 

He currently has a whole bunch of 490/498's a T type and a set of BB Pro's (Similiar to 1&2)

 

I will say tho that 57's are PERFECT for the Peter Green sound (I have a LP with them) but to get the exact tone you need a luthier to flip the neck magnet and fit USA made Bumble Bee caps (Use 500k CTS post & 50's wiring also recommended)

 

 

Its true that the 2000/2001 GM Standard did have 2 BB3's but the Peter Green model was most certainly closer to the 57's

 

Best of luck