Burstbucker Pro equivalent by SD?

[wallyhooker]

Hi all! I'm new here, but have been a Seymour Duncan user for years. very cool forum!

I recently purchased a Les Paul Standard "premium plus" with burstbucker pro pickups, and the microphonic squeal at high stage volume/high gain is driving me nuts. But I love the tone of the pickups! Crunchy with a bit of bite, and a nice more vintage tone when playing clean or slightly distorted.

At first I thought it was my new Boss GT-6 into my Marshall causing the squeal, but I took my old Charvel with a Duncan Distortion in the bridge and a Pearly Gates in the neck, and no squealing feedback at all! Same for my Strat with a JB jr.

So I want SD pickups for the Les Paul that will have the burstbucker pro "alnico" sound without the microphonic squeal. Any ideas for the closest match?

thanks!
Wally

 

[bryvincent]

Re: Burstbucker Pro equivalent by SD?

'59 set

 

[Benjy_26]

Re: Burstbucker Pro equivalent by SD?

Except for the mismatched coils, the 59 set would bget close. Slap some Alnico V's into the Pearly Gates set, and I think that would get very, very close to the Burstbucker Pro's.

 

[BachToRock]

Re: Burstbucker Pro equivalent by SD?

That's it... PG's with Alnico 5!

 

[Jeff_H]

Re: Burstbucker Pro equivalent by SD?

I'm not too famalier with the BB's, but I know they're Gibsons shot at a true PAF Replica.

In the Duncan line, the Seth's are A2 based pups, not potted. I've use the neck bucker in my Dean Hardtail thru a Marshall JCM 800, and have had zero squeel issues, even at very high volumes. That seems to be the case with most Seth users that have posted about the issue. The Antiquities will be a little smoother than the Seths.

The 59's are a good start as well, although for my taste they are a tad too bright, but that's all personal taste. I'm an A2 guy at this stage in my life. The APH is IMO one of the best buckers SD makes, I have the set in my Hardtail and love them. Long story short, my suggestions, in order, for what would be closest to your BB's withj far less squeel:

Seth Lovers
Antiquities
APH
59'

I'm sure some of the guys with more experience comparing BB's to Duncans will chime in.

 

[papersoul]

Re: Burstbucker Pro equivalent by SD?

Hi all! I'm new here, but have been a Seymour Duncan user for years. very cool forum!

I recently purchased a Les Paul Standard "premium plus" with burstbucker pro pickups, and the microphonic squeal at high stage volume/high gain is driving me nuts. But I love the tone of the pickups! Crunchy with a bit of bite, and a nice more vintage tone when playing clean or slightly distorted.

At first I thought it was my new Boss GT-6 into my Marshall causing the squeal, but I took my old Charvel with a Duncan Distortion in the bridge and a Pearly Gates in the neck, and no squealing feedback at all! Same for my Strat with a JB jr.

So I want SD pickups for the Les Paul that will have the burstbucker pro "alnico" sound without the microphonic squeal. Any ideas for the closest match?

thanks!
Wally

That's odd! I have a 2003 Standard with BB Pros and they are dead quite at all gain and volume levels. The only squeel or feedback I get is when I want it....hehehe.

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: Burstbucker Pro equivalent by SD?

Your pickups can be wax potted to eliminate the squeeling. They'll need to be unsoldered and removed from the guitar. If you ship them to me I'll wax pot them for you. Lew

 

[Artie]

Re: Burstbucker Pro equivalent by SD?

If you ship them to me I'll wax pot them for you. Lew

Very cool, (hot), offer to a new forum member. :wink:

 

[Pauleo]

Re: Burstbucker Pro equivalent by SD?

That's odd! I have a 2003 Standard with BB Pros and they are dead quite at all gain and volume levels. The only squeel or feedback I get is when I want it....hehehe.

My 20003 LP standard came with BB Pros and they are also dead quiet at all levels of volume and gain as they are wax potted. The BB 1,2 and 3 models are not wax potted however, so it may be possible that you didn't get the BB Pros in your LP by accident.

However, that is besides the point, if you like the sound of the pickups in your LP, I'd just as sooon save some money and get some parafin wax and pot your pickups and that should take care of your squealing problem.

 

[papersoul]

Re: Burstbucker Pro equivalent by SD?

I thought that potting a pickup also effects the tone? That is why some say they only pot the pickup to the point of still allowing good harmonic complexity and overtones, etc.

 

[wallyhooker]

Re: Burstbucker Pro equivalent by SD?

Your pickups can be wax potted to eliminate the squeeling. They'll need to be unsoldered and removed from the guitar. If you ship them to me I'll wax pot them for you. Lew

Thanks for the kind offer!!!

per this and the other replies, give me a day to take them out and see if they're potted or not. Maybe they're not the burstbucker pros?!

thanks again!!
Wally

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: Burstbucker Pro equivalent by SD?

I thought that potting a pickup also effects the tone? That is why some say they only pot the pickup to the point of still allowing good harmonic complexity and overtones, etc.

I don't know from experience that potting a pickup affects the tone adversely...some say it does tighten up the tone slightly and makes it a little less breathy. I think the effect would be very, very slight and that most would not notice any diff.

Squeeling however definately affects the tone :yell: and if it can be eliminated with wax potting, I say do it.

There are other ways besides wax potting to dampen microphonic squeeling in a covered humbucker though. I usually just put a piece of 1/2" masking tape inside the cover and then clamp the cover on really tight before soldering.

Works beautifully!

Lew