Any experience with Gibson T-Tops?

[G3ordy]

Hey everyone. I just scored a 2004 Gibson CS LP G0 on eBay. The seller said it didn't have stock pups in it, but that they had been replaced with early '70s Patent Sticker T-Tops. He said they have a "Page" sound to them.

I have never heard of these before I made the purchase and of course the guitar is en route. I had planned on slapping on some Alnico 2 Pros in it for that Slash tone, but if the T-Tops are better, then I'll just leave them in.

Does anyone have any experience with these pups?

 

[formula73]

Re: Any experience with Gibson T-Tops?

T Tops are generally bright and not particularly powerful but they are very clear and very classic rock sounding. They're not potted so you may experience some feedback problems. My 73 LPC had a set just like you're talking about and I swapped them out for Ibanez Super 70s, though I'm putting them back in once I get back to the States. Also keep in mind that they're not position specific so the neck will likely have to be dropped WAY down to match the bridge, which may sound a bit thin, regardless.

If you're going for Slash tone, they're not your ticket, though Page and Slash have very different tones. Pagey's #1 or #2 has a T Top in the bridge as the original PAF shat itself sometime in the 70s, so they don't sound bad, as did all his backups (Norlins) and his doubleneck (also Norlin).

Of course, most people (myself included) usually can't tell on which recordings he used his 59 or Tele...

Keep em for a while. Do your thing. From there, you can figure out what it needs.

 

[uOpt]

Re: Any experience with Gibson T-Tops?

They aren't that great, they usually lack power. In professional use you usually see people driving them with large slabs of mahogany like Flying Vs and Norlin LPs.

But they bring excellent money on Ebay if they are covered.

 

[JeffB]

Re: Any experience with Gibson T-Tops?

Love em. They can be bright in a subpar guitar and definitely low output. Take gain well.

They are all about the amp setup. They were designed in a day when a big ass stack ruled and was the defacto amp setup for the rock guitarist. If you are playing some little booteek 18w combo or deathnumetalcore or whatever, chances are you wont find them ballsy enough.

Worked for Lifeson, Schenker, and Downing in the 70s, along with a whole lot of other heavy rock players of the time.

 

[Gypsyblue]

Re: Any experience with Gibson T-Tops?

In the days of T-Tops, pickups were not calibrated for the neck and bridge position. They were all wound to the same strength.

A T-Top used as a neck pickup can sound really GREAT. Less mud and more clarity but still plenty of balls. If you're a player who actually plays chords, not just distorted power V chords, you'll appreciate the T-Top. They're sort of like a Duncan Jazz - but not exactly.

They're not my favorite bridge humbucker - I like something a little stronger.

 

[Aceman]

Re: Any experience with Gibson T-Tops?

I have had a pair since 1979. Meh.

The neck is pretty awesome, and I'm never taking it out. The bridge, you couldn't pay me enough to put it back in. They are Jazz like for the most part.

I repeat: Meh. In a blind folded tonal test you'd never pick them for anything.

 

[G3ordy]

Re: Any experience with Gibson T-Tops?

Thanks for the feedback guys. I'm thinking that I may just yank them out as soon as the LP comes in and eBay them.

 

[G3ordy]

I decided on some Bare Knuckle Pickups. I special ordered a Black Dog for the bridge and a Mule for the neck. Anyone have any experience with them? The clips that I've heard sound sick!

 

[Ventilator]

Re: Any experience with Gibson T-Tops?

I'm starting to really see why the super distortion was so popular back then.

 

[G3ordy]

Re: Any experience with Gibson T-Tops?

I'm starting to really see why the super distortion was so popular back then.

The T-tops are pretty weak for my taste. The bridge pup is anyway. I can't wait till the Bare Knuckles come in.

 

[rocksoldier]

Re: Any experience with Gibson T-Tops?

It's the best sounding neck pickup I've ever tried. Unfortunately, it was too feedback prone to me... :/