Alternatives for Gibson 490

[gregory]

Re: Alternatives for Gibson 490

I have an 8.8k 57CH in my hands right now. Plenty are on the used market with a multimeter attached indicating 8.8k as well. I do concede it isn't the greatest pickup, though. Horrid in the neck.

I have a Duncan Designed pickup at 8.9k and it's pretty good as are the stock neck pickups in two of my Ibanez SZ520s which are likely made at the same factory to the same spec as the DD HB-101B.

 

[Discharged]

Re: Alternatives for Gibson 490

I have an 8.8k 57CH in my hands right now.

At what temperature the reading is actually taken? Of the literally hundreds of 57CHs (and HOTCHs) I got to replace in many years, not even one got over 8.56K or under 8.37K, which is consistent with the 5,500 turns of either max-nom or min-nom AWG#42 wire in each coil.

Of course, all the readings were taken when the p'ups reached the nominal room temperature, 20C°/68F°. Copper has a coeficient of change of 4% for 10C°, so you need to take that into consideration and make the calculation to make up for that.

I have a Duncan Designed pickup at 8.9k.

I don't think the factory the DDs are wound is the same factory that makes p'ups for IBZ, as the latter changes with the different batches of guitars made in different factories. My DD101B measures 8.28K.

I think that's your meter being a bit generous with its measurings, as they seem to be higher than mine with the same p'ups. I have three, giving roughtly the same results, all within less than 1%.

/Peter

 

[gregory]

Re: Alternatives for Gibson 490

67-68 degrees, 2 different Epiphone pickups, both have read 8.8k and again I see them for sale with pics indicating 8.8k.

https://reverb.com/nz/item/2357680-...iphone-dot-neck-bridge-or-les-paul-neck-8-81k

...but measuring my Epiphone pickups with a fresh battery has brought them down to 8.6k, so I get to be wrong on that.

I'll try to measure my HB-101B again but it's currently in circuit.

The neck pickups from my SZ520s have no indication that they IBZ and not all Ibanez pickups are IBZ.
They look to be made of the same components as my DD and Duncan/Ibanez pickups. The Duncan/Ibanez pickups were built at either of the two factories that made the Duncan Designed pickups.

Anyway, finding an inexpensive 8.8k pickup to try in the bridge with different magnets doesn't seem like a bad experiment for someone in search of an alternative who has thrown out a large swath of options, two of which aren't a good idea (SH-2N or SH-10N in the neck with the stock 490T in the bridge). That aside, I too think height adjustments should be the first order of business.

I will cop to my suggestions getting increasingly worse, am in agreement with Aceman about needing to know what sound the OP actually wants, and have nothing left to offer at this point. FWIW I also like the 59 set, even if we're not supposed to provide our personal preferences, some of which will crap the OPs sound although some of us did like an A2 Neck/A5 bridge recommendation in the past. Regardless, I've taken the hint an am going to shut my trap until more information is provided.

 

[Discharged]

Re: Alternatives for Gibson 490

67-68 degrees, 2 different Epiphone pickups, both have read 8.8k and again I see them for sale with pics indicating 8.8k.

Again, if you don't know at what temperature the pictures were taken, the readings are not really that useful. My meters also have a temperature reading, that's why I consider'em to be pretty accurate.

measuring my Epiphone pickups with a fresh battery has brought them down to 8.6k, so I get to be wrong on that.

Well, my MMs too tend to read higher when the batteries are not that fresh. Ask me how I know? Answer: learned it the hard way!

The neck pickups from my SZ520s have no indication that they're IBZ and not all Ibanez pickups are IBZ.

Exactly! That was my point. Anyway, if the guitar is made in the Samick factory in Incheon, chances are, that the OEM p'ups are made by WSC, as both are located in the same city. FYI, IBZ makes no p'ups. All are made by third-party suppliers for'em with their requested specs.

 

[NJLK]

Re: Alternatives for Gibson 490

Yeah - if this was a 490/498....It would be an easy response. But I find it a little surprising on a 490 set. Not that I would like that either....

I, too, am surprised. The 490r/t set is very balanced...to my ears anyway. When I read the OP, my initial reaction was "he must be talking about the 490/498 set." Anyway, I really like the 490s, especially the bridge pickup. I play mostly 90s and classic rock, and if I were t change one pickup in the 490 set, I'd replace the neck pickup with an Alnico Pro II. APII is quite a bit brighter and clearer sounding, at least to me. Also, I really like the DiMarzio 36th Anniversary.

 

[Niloy63]

Re: Alternatives for Gibson 490

May I suggest a Screamin' Demon in the neck? It works so well with high output bridge pickups.