490r replacement pickup

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deuce241

New member
I know this question has probably been beat to death somewhere, but I didn't find too much info when I searched for it. I just got my hands on a 2016 Gibson SG Standard, and I'm loving almost everything about. The only thing I'm not liking is the neck pickup: the 490r.
It's too dark, dull, and lifeless for what I need. And that's even with 500k pots. I'm much more accustomed to spanky, sparkly single coil tone in the neck. I understand I won't completely get a single coil tone from a humbucker, but is there something that will get me close? P-90? Seymour Duncan 59 or Jazz pup? Any other suggestions?

It's not totally necessary for it to take heavy drive well, because I usually just use the neck for cleans and the bridge for dirty tones. But it would be a big plus if it was decent with moderate drive.

Thanks in advance for your input!
 
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Re: 490r replacement pickup

The Seth is so spanky and sparkly, and yas like a single coil!
 
Re: 490r replacement pickup

Mincer said:
I hated the 490r, too, and almost anything Duncan makes would be better. Check out the 59, Whole Lotta Humbucker, and Saturday Night Special for my top choices.
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Man I came here with the intent on keeping the bridge pup, but the Saturday Night Special you recommended quickly changed my mind. Do you suggest I get a set of these, or the Special in the bridge with a Jazz in the neck? Almost all the videos I found of the special only played dirty tones through the neck, so I didn't get a really good idea of how they sound clean in the neck.
 
Re: 490r replacement pickup

deuce241 said:
I have the stock 498t, which I'm actually digging, but the Saturday Night Special is so sweet that that's probably what I'll put in the bridge!
Click to expand...
If that's what you're thinking, then why not just get the set?

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Re: 490r replacement pickup

Demanic said:
If that's what you're thinking, then why not just get the set?

Sent from my MotoE2(4G-LTE) using Tapatalk
Click to expand...

I am considering getting the set, but almost every video I found of them played mostly dirty tones through the neck, so I didn't get too much info on the clean sound in the neck. It's either get the set, or get the SNS in the bridge with a Jazz in the neck. Depending on suggestions and comparisons from other members here.
 
Re: 490r replacement pickup

I don't have an SNS neck, but if it's anything like the A4 59n that I have in my Shecter Blackjack, then it should do cleans very well. My A4 59n is very clear across all the strings, vintage sounding mids, but not overbearing. The top and bottom are just right.

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Re: 490r replacement pickup

I have the 490R in my Studio Deluxe. At first I thought I was going to have trouble trying to liven it up without a heavy and muddy tone, but reading these forums helped me to understand that backing the 490R down a bit can brighten it up. When I measured it today, the distance from both e-string pole screws is exactly two nickels when each string is fretted at the highest fret. I noticed that the pole piece screws are (slightly) radiused to the cure and of the fingerboard. The 6th. String screw slot is flush with the bobbin. The rest is decided as to how I e.q. my amp. This particular 490R is full sounding without any mud. If this quick adjustment does not work for you, then what the Lieutenant suggested might be for you.

Studioplayer
 
Re: 490r replacement pickup

Ok so I messed with the pickup height and basically set it flush with the pickguard, and it's still a bit dark for my taste. Thanks everyone for your suggestions! If anyone has anymore, keep them coming! I'm looking into all the different options available.
 
Re: 490r replacement pickup

If you​ keep the pickup height the same as it is now, and raise the pole pieces, that should brighten it up a bit, or at least increase it's sensitivity to pick attack.

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Re: 490r replacement pickup

That's what I did on my LP Supreme with a 490r neck pickup--lowered the pickup, raised up the pole-pieces. Raised them until I thought they were too high...then raised them some more. Definite improvement in clarity.

Bill
 
Re: 490r replacement pickup

The Saturday Night Special seems like the bridge between vintage pafs like the whole lotta humbucker and Seth and the modernized pafs like the Pearly Gates and 59. They sound great!

15 seconds of clean tone haha: https://youtu.be/toLsIe5EQqQ
 
Re: 490r replacement pickup

deuce241 said:
I have the stock 498t, which I'm actually digging, but the Saturday Night Special is so sweet that that's probably what I'll put in the bridge!
Click to expand...

Ok. So you can proceed performing the adjustment of heigh and poles (as already suggested in other replies) and have a little improvement but I think the problem is the Alnico 2 magnet in it. I swapped the factory magnet with a A5 and the pick up came to life. Not a great pickup, though. But a good pickup with raw sound (the A5 was a polished long magnet). It sounded almost like a T-Top. With the A5 in it the 490R is better balanced with the 498T you have in bridge.

But if you want the Saturday Night Special, buy the set and swap both pickups. You will be happy
 
Re: 490r replacement pickup

Studioplayer said:
I have the 490R in my Studio Deluxe. At first I thought I was going to have trouble trying to liven it up without a heavy and muddy tone, but reading these forums helped me to understand that backing the 490R down a bit can brighten it up. When I measured it today, the distance from both e-string pole screws is exactly two nickels when each string is fretted at the highest fret. I noticed that the pole piece screws are (slightly) radiused to the cure and of the fingerboard. The 6th. String screw slot is flush with the bobbin. The rest is decided as to how I e.q. my amp. This particular 490R is full sounding without any mud. If this quick adjustment does not work for you, then what the Lieutenant suggested might be for you.

Studioplayer
Click to expand...

That worked for mine too. It sounds pretty bright now in my basswood bodied Flying V copy.


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