Any Gibson 498T users?

[DrNewcenstein]

Re: Any Gibson 498T users?

I had a 498T in an import Jackson Kelly and thought that was the best pickup for that body (having swapped around a Distortion, JB, Gibson Iommi, before settling on the 498T).

Maybe they don't do so hot in mahogany, but they sure liked Alder. At least for me. Your mileage may vary.

 

[blueman335]

Re: Any Gibson 498T users?

LOL...there's some "sound" advice. Buy a new guitar just so you can experiment with the pups. I like it.

I can't be the only one who does this!

 

[blueman335]

Re: Any Gibson 498T users?

The 498T is a decent pickup, but the combination is bad. The bridge is too bright, and the 490R in the neck is too muddy. I can get a useable tone from either of them, but if I switch pickups, I feel the need to run back to the amp to change settings. I'm not a big fan of the Hot Ceramics in the LP Classic, but I would take those any day over the 490R/498T. I think if you're a metal guy using a Marshall tube stack and an LP Custom, the 498T might work very well...I really think the LP Supreme deserves a better pickup set. Burstbucker 1 & 2, '57 Classics, or the '57 Classic/Classic Plus would all be a huge improvement over the 490R/498T.

+1. The pairing of the 498T/490R is probably Gibson's strangest pairing, and they put that combo in so many models! I don't if it's possible to get an amp setting that'll work well for both PU's; I can't do it. Why doesn't someone in Gibson's management team speak up. This is like the emperor's new clothes. The company that invented HB's shouldn't have such a bizarre pair in dozens of models.

BB's are pretty good PU's, and the 490T/490R is okay but definitely improved with a mag change, becomes a decent set (UOA5 or A8 in the bridge & an A5 in the neck). The frustrating thing is that it would take very little effort on Gibson's part to significantly improve the sound of their PU's. Better pairings, a few mag changes, and an occaisional new idea or two. I wish they still had the innovative spirit they did under Ted McCarty's leadership.

 

[doesitmatter]

Re: Any Gibson 498T users?

Yes.

In general, most people that have issues with this pickup have it in an LP.

Agreed. I have them in my LP and it's a one trick pony. Great for stinging gain solos and nothing else. Bad clean, bad on rhythm. I'm counting the days until the Triple shot comes out so I can swap it for a P-Rail.

 

[RockStarNick]

Re: Any Gibson 498T users?

I'm very curious as to the specs on the 498T.

I know that it's around 13-14K, with an Alnico 5, which is what the Duncan Custom series is.

But what guage wire is the 498T? 43 or 44 AWG? 44 would make it an underwound JB, and 43 would make it right around a Custom 5, but surely, it doesn't sound like a Custom 5.

What other factors would make it stingy-er, grainier, etc?

 

[DesertRat]

Re: Any Gibson 498T users?

My 498t now lives in my strat. It's good for slide and leads. It's pretty hot output wise, but not blistering.

 

[smorgdonkey]

Re: Any Gibson 498T users?

I never really had much of an issue with the pickups initially but as time went on I liked them less and less. I'd tweak the volume and tone knobs and tweak the amp but I just couldn't get what I didn't like out of the sound which to me was mud and graininess. I'm not saying that I completely dislike mud...the SD'59 in the neck could be described as muddy when driven but it's a smooth muddiness that I typically describe as cream. That's not to say that I want smooth mud in my coffee. By the same token I like edge and bite but not graininess or harshness.

I had the 490R and 498T removed from a Les Paul a few months back and then I simply couldn't live with the other 490R/498T set in my other Les Paul so I swapped those out too. It was nice that the Gibson pickups sold so easily but it was WAY nicer to have pickups in the Les Pauls that make the guitar sound fantastic - as it was meant to sound.

 

[Zhangliqun]

Re: Any Gibson 498T users?

I think DonP is correct, the various "T" and "R" series pickups didn't come out until the early 90's.

Judging by the sound and the size of the coils, I'm 99% certain the 498T is 43 gauge wire. Not sure of the mag but it's likely A5.

 

[blueman335]

Re: Any Gibson 498T users?

Judging by the sound and the size of the coils, I'm 99% certain the 498T is 43 gauge wire. Not sure of the mag but it's likely A5.

Yes, it has an A5.

 

[LtKojak]

Re: Any Gibson 498T users?

the 500T/496R set is basically the 498T/490R with ceramic magnets, so either pair can be turned into a virtual C8/'59N with a magnet swap

Well... no sweat changing the magnet in the 496R, but the 500T is a three-magnet monster... how you do it? Just take'em out and use some spacers to fill the voids?

Did you ever tried it? I'm curious. :feedback:

 

[Fusion1]

Re: Any Gibson 498T users?

I think DonP is correct, the various "T" and "R" series pickups didn't come out until the early 90's.

Judging by the sound and the size of the coils, I'm 99% certain the 498T is 43 gauge wire. Not sure of the mag but it's likely A5.

The Les Paul Lite came out in 1986/1987 and it had the 496R/500T set. The 496R/500T IS the 490R/498T only with ceramic magnets instead of AL2 & AL5. So these pickups did exist before 1990, and I'm pretty sure the 496R/500T came after the 490R/498T as it was called the Hot Ceramic set whereas the 490R/498T was called the Hot Alnico set. I'll have to find some old Gibson literature from that era.

 

[Sokar]

Re: Any Gibson 498T users?

I had them in a 2006 SG Standard. Absolutely hated them.

Flat but screachy sounding. Horrible high mid peak on the bridge. Neck was pure mud despite 10 thousand adjustments. High, low, tilted, polls. Nothing helped. Even tried swapping out the pots with true 500k's.

That axe sat around for a year and I wouldn't take it out. I put a Brobucker in the bridge and a 59n in the neck and couldn't be happier.

I don't know what they would sound like in a maple top, but in a thin all-mahogany body, it sounded so dull I couldn't help but wonder why Gibson would use this set on this type of guitar.

Duncan > Gibson pickups x1 million.

 

[Invader09]

Re: Any Gibson 498T users?

I had a 498T in my Les paul when I got it, didn't like it, not alot of output for me, kind of thin, too many highs, and this was w/ a 300K vol pot.... I perfer my Full Shred w/ 300 K much better in the paul now.

I do like the 490R though for the neck... but like other neck pickups more, so swapped that too...

 

[blueman335]

Re: Any Gibson 498T users?

Well... no sweat changing the magnet in the 496R, but the 500T is a three-magnet monster... how you do it? Just take'em out and use some spacers to fill the voids? Did you ever tried it? I'm curious. :feedback:

I converted a 500T to an A8 a couple years ago in a Flying V, and I believe I put in a set of extra standard spacers and everything worked fine. Since then I've done a few 498T's, also putting in A8's. You can take spacers out of a cheap Asian HB & use them in a 500T or any HB with a double thick ceramic magnet.

 

[Aceman]

Re: Any Gibson 498T users?

All of this 498 love is making me want an SG!

 

[hamerfan]

Re: Any Gibson 498T users?

I have the 490R/498T set in one of my LP Supremes and can't wait to get them out of it. But, changing pickups on the Supreme is a HUGE hassle--there's no back plate, so I'm goiing to have it professionally done.
Bill

Hi Bill, if you dont want to change the pots and the caps at the same time, there is the 'quick n dirty' method for you.
Put the pup out of the ring and cut (yes cut!) the hook up wire near the baseplate. Then solder on the new pups. You can do at you own again if you dont like the PGs (this is and the C5 are the only pups i did not like from SD line).
Then get some gibson style hookup wire and mend the pups. This is far easier then degutting a semi or the Supreme!

(For all other readers: i did two complete electronic exchanges on asian semis with new CTS pots and orange drops, even the jack and the toggles had to go!)

 

[blueman335]

Re: Any Gibson 498T users?

All of this 498 love is making me want an SG!

You need an SG. I love mine.

 

[Invader09]

Re: Any Gibson 498T users?

You need an SG. I love mine.

+1 ! SG STandards are the best !

 

[The Usual]

Re: Any Gibson 498T users?

I have been through a ton of pups in my SG bridge slot, and the 498T is the right wind for that classic SG sound. Mag swaps will get you different EQs of that flavour, but it is the best wind for that slot. And yes, the CC is almost exactly the same, but a little more compressed and less grainy. They are essentially the same pickup. If you like smoother, more modern sounds, go with the Custom wind. If you want a Gibson to sound like a Gibson, use the 498T. Try an A4 in it. Yep.

It's common knowledge on this board that the C5 is the number 1 recommendation for the bridge position in an SG. Always makes me smile, 'cause it's essentially a 498T.

The way SGs are constucted, the 14K output in the bridge makes perfect sense. The bridge is closer the pickup than on say, a LP. This makes most low output pickups sound thin and weak.

And SGs do rock.

 

[blueman335]

Re: Any Gibson 498T users?

It's common knowledge on this board that the C5 is the number 1 recommendation for the bridge position in an SG. Always makes me smile, 'cause it's essentially a 498T.

The way SGs are constucted, the 14K output in the bridge makes perfect sense. The bridge is closer the pickup than on say, a LP. This makes most low output pickups sound thin and weak.

And SGs do rock.

I'm liking my C5's and 498T's best with A8's these days, although the A5 versions are very good too. I agree, I think LP's tend to be better suited for PAF's than SG's.

SG's do rock. I'm surprised that they're not more popular; they certainly sound fuller & warmer than a Strat. And full access to all the frets is nice when you're in the mood for solos.