57 classic and 57 plus vs. Burstbuckers 2 and 3 vs Pearly Gates and SH-5 Custom

[Chistopher]

So I have a pretty decent les paul with Burstbuckers 2 and 3 and I am thinking of replacing them with classic 57s and 57+s or Pearly Gates and an SH-5 custom. Which would you recomend or should I just keep the Burstbuckers?

 

[blueman335]

Re: 57 classic and 57 plus vs. Burstbuckers 2 and 3 vs Pearly Gates and SH-5 Custom

The obvious choice for me is Burstbuckers, which are some of the better PAF's made today. The unbalanced coils add some 1950's magic. On the other hand, I think '57's are easily the worst PAF's I've owned (and I've had a lot of PAF's over the years); dull & muddy. Taking out Burstbuckers and replacing them with '57's is insanity.

As a blues/classic rock player, the Custom just doesn't have the tones I want (unless I swap the magnet and put in an UOA5 or A8). I don't care for PGN's as they're too warm and rounded for me. I want neck HB's with some high-end edge to them.

What are you looking for that you're not getting from the Burstbuckers? Or are you bored and looking for something to do?

 

[Chistopher]

Re: 57 classic and 57 plus vs. Burstbuckers 2 and 3 vs Pearly Gates and SH-5 Custom

That's pretty much it. But now I'm thinking since I only have one guitar buy a liberator and not have to decide.

 

[chadd]

Re: 57 classic and 57 plus vs. Burstbuckers 2 and 3 vs Pearly Gates and SH-5 Custom

BB3 is one of my favorite pickups in a les paul, so it's an easy call for me. The Custom will do heavier stuff better and the 57/57+ combo isn't terrible, but I find the BB3 to be more versatile and I have had all three in the same Les Paul over the years.

 

[JimmyO]

Re: 57 classic and 57 plus vs. Burstbuckers 2 and 3 vs Pearly Gates and SH-5 Custom

I'm also into classic rock and blues, so for me the custom bridge is not really my style, if you'd have put a pearly gates bridge and neck option I would have chosen that one. I ended up choosing the classic 57 option (controversial I know) based on my own experiences. So much of a pickups performance depends on the base tone of the guitar it's going in, amp and playing style. I had a BB3 / BB2 set in an Epiphone and in that guitar the bridge was too harsh and the neck too muddy. Went with a pearly gates set and now it's perfectly balanced.

I have the Classic 57+ / Classic 57 set in a U.S. les Paul and in that guitar they sound great. I get woman tone and jazzy blues from the neck and some Jeff Beckish tones from the bridge with the tone rolled down a bit. However the guitar acoustically is very alive so this helps I think.

Overall for the price there are some more economical options than the Gibson pickups that will get you where you need to go, like Seth Lovers, Pearly Gates or even a basic 59 set.

What is it about the existing set that's not working for you?

 

[AlexR]

Re: 57 classic and 57 plus vs. Burstbuckers 2 and 3 vs Pearly Gates and SH-5 Custom

A nice set of paf clones will kill any of these.

Zhangbucker has measured plenty of burstbuckers and his findings have been that they are most likely not mismatched coils, the offset is within the range that you normally see in symmetrically wound coils.

 

[jeremy]

Re: 57 classic and 57 plus vs. Burstbuckers 2 and 3 vs Pearly Gates and SH-5 Custom

if you like what you have then id just keep them