Re: black beauty 3
Hi, all. Me first time on a pick up forum and it makes sense to choose SD
Welcome to the forum
So here's what's going on. I'm changing the wiring in my 3PU Black Beauty to have have 3 volumes and 1 tone. It has currently 2 57H pu's and 1 HOTCH. My Gibson has 57's with a lower output but sounds more gainy, which I like.
Lower output but 'gainy' doesn't make sense to me. I'll assume 'gainy' has something to do with brighter tone maybe?
Why do the Epi pickups sound cleaner?
Are you sure the Epis are higher output? Did you measure them? Any resistance numbers, just to get a ballpark clue? The things you say about the sound contradict the idea that the Gibsons are lower output.
All pickups set to the same height?
Are they now? Or are you asking if they should be? For Gibson factory spec, the pickups start at the same distance from the strings when fretted at the highest fret, then the bass side of the neck pickup is lowered slightly. I'm not going to bother with the distance numbers yet, since I'm still trying to figure out what the issue is here.
What pick ups can I use to have the same output as my Gibson '57's? On a bit of a budget so don't want to spend a whole lot.
57 Classic? Or 57 Classic Plus? Do you want it to sound better? Or just not spend a certain amount? What amount is 'a whole lot' to you? The range is going to be anywhere from $30 - $200 per pickup, depending.
Gibson Burstbucker 1, 2 and Pro Neck are in the range of the 57 Classic, output-wise.
Gibson Burstbucker 3 and Pro Bridge are slightly below and above the 57 Classic Plus, respectively, output-wise.
Duncan Seth Lover Neck is right in between the 57 Classic and 57 Classic Plus, output-wise.
Duncan Pearly Gates Neck, 59 Neck, Parallel Axis Neck are somewhere around the output of a 57 Classic Plus, output-wise.
Duncan Alnico 2 Pro Neck Antinquity Neck and Jazz Neck are slightly higher output than a 57 Classic Plus, output-wise.
...and there are 20-30 other pickup manufacturers/winders out there that make a pickup with similar output.
But output isn't the only consideration, IMO. You need to figure out what is good and bad inherent in the guitar itself, regardless of the pickups, and choose pickups that will compensate for the guitar's weaknesses. Then be open to changing your amp settings after that to work with it.
Do I need a higher output to compensate for the the pick up covers? MY Gibsons are open.
Output won't compensate for covers. The wire wind / magnets and other factors might help compensate for the slight high-end tone loss. But if you are replacing pickups, why not just buy open ones?
I was also thinking about having a higher gain in the middle position just because
I would like to hear opinions and advice
I wouldn't have a higher output pickup in the middle position, unless the guitar was wired to have the middle pickup on by itself. Typical Gibson 3-PU wiring is Bridge, Bridge+Middle, Neck. If the middle is lower output, it makes a better, clearer sound when mixed with the bridge, and is actually useful. Putting a higher output pickup there could sound like mud - but you can always try it and if it works keep it. I don't know what amp you are using and what kind of music you are playing and I don't know what the guitar itself sounds like acoustically or what flaws/issues it has inherently in it's sound, so who knows. It just might work.
