Burstbucker 5

[bluesbreaker1]

Hello everyone, I'm new here, but I have been reading these threads for awhile now. I got an Epi LP and I want to change the pickups, but I got a few ?'s. I've already read all the old threads on here about the clapton tone. I was wondering if the SL's had uneven bobbin windings like the BB's do? I also read on here how you all thought that Clapton used alnico 5 magnets on the Beano album. I got a friend that will sell me some BB5 for cheap. They use mismatched bobbin windings with alnico 5, so would this get me closer to the Beano album then SL's? I had another ? but I can't remember it now :smack: I've been waiting for my application to get approved so I can write on this forum and Ive forgotten the ?. Oh well.
Cheers

 

[Benjy_26]

Re: Burstbucker 5

If I'm not mistaken, Beano was done with an alnico II leaded LP. If so, the Seths, which use symmetrical windings, will be closer to that tone than the BB Pro's.

 

[dr.barlo]

Re: Burstbucker 5

Who knows. Maybe it was a a5 maybe an a4 or a3 or a2. People tend to forget the biggest ingredient call the WOOD! I had bright guitars in which a2s sounded like a a5 pickups in darker sounding guitars. So it is all about the wood's natural tone. Magnets should be used as a fine tuning tool.

That said, I came across really crappy sounding BBv's but also great sounding ones. I dunno, can't say for certain. I guess Gibson's QC is not as strict as I would like it to be. That's why I'd advise you to have a good look into 59b's and Jazz-b's. Both of them are great pickups for the money. 59's %100 vintage accurate, more than BB's are anyway.

B

 

[gripweed]

Re: Burstbucker 5

I think Duncan '59's would get you there.

I agree that there are a lot of reasons why his tone was bright. One possibility is that he was using a treble booster:smack:

There was an excellent thread by Lewguitar about Clapton's tone (do a search). In it, Evan asked Seymour what kind of magnet Clapton used on that album. Seymour said he didn't know, but he thought it might be a4 or maybe a5. I would take Seymour's word for it over anyone elses on this forum.

 

[JeffB]

Re: Burstbucker 5

In the general sense 59s and BB pros (BB V's) don't sound much alike at all.

I'm with the Doc...some BBpros don't sound so hot, others sound great (and of course wood has a alot to do with it).

My Faded Standard sounds awesome w/ BB pros...just classic Les Paul tone...raw, crunchy when pushed...sweet otherwise. mismatched wind. 59s are smoother, brighter, have less mids, don't sound as hot, are even wound, and a little "tubbier" on the low end.

 

[gripweed]

Re: Burstbucker 5

In the general sense 59s and BB pros (BB V's) don't sound much alike at all.

I'm with the Doc...some BBpros don't sound so hot, others sound great (and of course wood has a alot to do with it).

My Faded Standard sounds awesome w/ BB pros...just classic Les Paul tone...raw, crunchy when pushed...sweet otherwise. mismatched wind. 59s are smoother, brighter, have less mids, don't sound as hot, are even wound, and a little "tubbier" on the low end.

I'm still of the opinion that the '59 would get him in the Clapton zone though. And if I'm not mistaken, they would be a h**l of a lot cheaper too.

 

[JeffB]

Re: Burstbucker 5

Agreed..I just was making general comments on the 59s vs. BB pros

59s are def more "cream" , and BBs are more "zeppelin", if you will...tonally they are both cool..but quite different.

PAF tones are all over the place...

 

[OlinMusic]

Re: Burstbucker 5

I have used Bursts thru a MARSHALL BLUES BREAKER. If you want the BEANO tone, get the amp with the green backs or G12H greens in 'em. That is far more important than the pickup magnet. That is where the bright top came from, the amp itself. I love the BB's and would take them over a 59 anyday for mid gain, fat classic sound. Else, I like the Alnico Pro 2s though they can be a touch tougher and more bad ass in the mids.

 

[bluesbreaker1]

Re: Burstbucker 5

yea in my dreams could i plunk out 2 grand for an amp. any ideas to a good cheap amp that sounds like a bluesbreaker? also, are seth lovers available in uncovered versions?