Burstbucker Pro - What's the deal?

[BloodRose]

Re: Burstbucker Pro - What's the deal?

Ive never been happy with any stock Gibson pickups. However... I bought an Epi LP 60s Tribute and it came stock with a 57 classic and 57 Classic Plus. Of course I figured when I bought it, the the pups would be quick to go. But, it actually sounds pretty good. may still swap em, but havent been in a big hurry.

 

[hamerfan]

Re: Burstbucker Pro - What's the deal?

BTW did anyone tried a mag swap on them?

 

[Studioplayer]

Re: Burstbucker Pro - What's the deal?

I think the Gibson problem is not one of not caring or lower priority, but their problem is making a guitar that is versatile enough from the factory that, using 'the right amp/equipment' for that target player/market, most customers can get satisfactory sounds and not be so disappointed as to give up on the guitar and return it.

Trouble is, great tone depends on all the idiosyncrasies of the various components, so a jack of all trades pickup can only get in the ballpark but never really excel.

Despite that, there have been a fair number of hit songs and great sounding bands that's got it done with stock instruments. What I've found is everything else in the signal chain has to be the right, period correct, top notch amp, cab, speakers, etc. to get there tone wise.

Good post! I have the same feeling when I play my 2010 Studio Deluxe with the 496R/BB Pro pickups. They came stock with this guitar and I've kept the guitar as a stock instrument. After 5 years with it, I've come to the conclusion that Gibson designed the model to be versatile and for those who'd like to own a Les Paul and not be out mucho $$$. As a used guitar, prices on this model are reasonable. Mine was.

It can do Jazz (and 50's smokey Jazz) one minute and then with the BB Pro, Rock out. Or, in the middle switch position with a Fender amp get a Tele-like "cluck" going on. The more I'e played it, the more I see the design concept. Of course a lot of one's tone can be amp dependent, but no matter what your amp choice, with some thought and experience at tone sculpting, you might be surprised how good this model can sound.


Studioplayer

 

[chadd]

Re: Burstbucker Pro - What's the deal?

BTW did anyone tried a mag swap on them?

The BB Pro neck is a BB1 with an A5 magnet and the BB Pro bridge is a BB2 with an A5 magnet

 

[Chistopher]

Re: Burstbucker Pro - What's the deal?

BTW did anyone tried a mag swap on them?

A4 BB2 and UOA5 BB3 work pretty well, that's what I have in my ES-175.

 

[beaubrummels]

Re: Burstbucker Pro - What's the deal?

The BB Pro neck is a BB1 with an A5 magnet and the BB Pro bridge is a BB2 with an A5 magnet

BB Pro are also potted. Can't recall if they are balanced coil vs BB unbalanced? Or both unbalanced?

I can say they still sound like honking Seths, just not as clear.

 

[Chistopher]

Re: Burstbucker Pro - What's the deal?

BB Pro are also potted. Can't recall if they are balanced coil vs BB unbalanced? Or both unbalanced?

I can say they still sound like honking Seths, just not as clear.

They are both unbalanced ~100 winds or so. Nothing drastic.

 

[AlexR]

Re: Burstbucker Pro - What's the deal?

^ Which is well withing the range of the variance of K you'd find in humbuckers wound to have symmetric coils - according to Zhangbucker.

 

[Discharged]

Re: Burstbucker Pro - What's the deal?

They are both unbalanced.

Not in my experience.

/Peter

 

[kramersteen]

Re: Burstbucker Pro - What's the deal?

Can't believe you're still going on about this......surely by now you'd have realised you're about as far off base as its possible to be.

Careful that guy is known for his EVH bedroom tone.

 

[AlexR]

Re: Burstbucker Pro - What's the deal?

I made the hideous mistake of visiting his forum.......he has a lot of other attributes, none of them positive.

 

[kramersteen]

Re: Burstbucker Pro - What's the deal?

I made the hideous mistake of visiting his forum.......he has a lot of other attributes, none of them positive.

The leader is good! The leader is great! We surrender our will as of this date!

 

[Chistopher]

Re: Burstbucker Pro - What's the deal?

Not in my experience.

/Peter

Like I said earlier, they are advertised at ~100-200 winds offset, which in the grand scheme of things means they are wound the same. Regardless of what the Gibson says.

 

[Gone_Shootin]

Re: Burstbucker Pro - What's the deal?

I have both the regular and the pro versions. The biggest difference is the magnets (A2 in the BB and A5 in the BBP, IIRC). They're both ok, if you want open and loose sounding pickups. Great for cleans and low to mid gain atuff. But they fall apart under high gain. I suppose a guy could run a compressor to help with that, but I've never tried it.

 

[chadd]

Re: Burstbucker Pro - What's the deal?

I have both the regular and the pro versions. The biggest difference is the magnets (A2 in the BB and A5 in the BBP, IIRC). They're both ok, if you want open and loose sounding pickups. Great for cleans and low to mid gain atuff. But they fall apart under high gain. I suppose a guy could run a compressor to help with that, but I've never tried it.

Since I play low-mid gain stuff, they are perfect for me (BB3/BB1). I just put a slash set in my R7 and swapped the BB1/BB3 combo into my 335. I absolutely need the extra jangle that the BBs give me on some of the stuff we play and the extra mids from the 335 really fill out the sound of the BBs. The pro bridge is just too bright for me and the style of stuff that I play, but I have no doubt that it would work for folks that want their tone to cut more.

 

[Aceman]

Re: Burstbucker Pro - What's the deal?

I think the Gibson problem is not one of not caring or lower priority, but their problem is making a guitar that is versatile enough from the factory that, using 'the right amp/equipment' for that target player/market, most customers can get satisfactory sounds and not be so disappointed as to give up on the guitar and return it.

And that is exactly my point. They are trying to make pickups to satisfy everyone, and managing to make no one really happy. It's why they have shied away from 500t's in recent years. When I pick up a guitar with those - I small when I hit that first chord. I just know. But someone trying to play a pristine Jazz line, or a warm fat blues lick, might be a touch disappointed.

Again - I could play either BBP's or 57's and be ok. Remember - we here prefer to be way more than OK. We are not even close to the typical guitar buyer.

 

[Studioplayer]

Re: Burstbucker Pro - What's the deal?

And that is exactly my point. They are trying to make pickups to satisfy everyone, and managing to make no one really happy. It's why they have shied away from 500t's in recent years. When I pick up a guitar with those - I small when I hit that first chord. I just know. But someone trying to play a pristine Jazz line, or a warm fat blues lick, might be a touch disappointed.

Again - I could play either BBP's or 57's and be ok. Remember - we here prefer to be way more than OK. We are not even close to the typical guitar buyer.

I could not wait to remove that 500T from my 2000 Classic when I bought it New that year. It was not exactly a Blues type or any other type of music asset. Seths are in my Classic today and they are just what the doctor ordered, IMHO.

I get along very well with my BB Pro (uncovered) bridge pup in my Studio Deluxe. Although many cannot find any redeeming qualities regarding this Gibby pickup, I tinkered a lot with its height and its relationship in height to the stock neck 496R. Doing so (endlessly it seemed) produced some interesting, and useable tones; both the clean and gain tones we strive for.

What was important for me was that first I e.q. the amp for the neck pickup; than all the tinkering with the BB Pro is begun from that point so that a good bridge tone and middle position tone is the goal. The downside is that I don't have as much leeway with the guitar's volume controls. I have to operate them in a narrow range from about 8.5 to full on. No matter. I'm satisfied that I now have it dialed in to my satisfaction.

I guess I'm not alone as I recently talked with an owner of R7 goldtop that has BB Pros (covered) as its pickups. He told me he likes them and has no plans on swapping them out.


Studioplayer

 

[LLL]

Re: Burstbucker Pro - What's the deal?

Can't believe you're still going on about this......surely by now you'd have realised you're about as far off base as its possible to be.

Doesn't matter - the word is out. MLP and its sister forums (www.marshallforum.com, for ex. -same owner) will wither and die out like all the others of its kind have.

After all, advertising dollars, bewb pics, paid posters who don't play & sockpuppetry only takes a forum so far. :naughty:

 

[Mincer]

Re: Burstbucker Pro - What's the deal?

One thing we don't like here is attacking other forums, or forum members...so please,, knock it off.

 

[Discharged]

Re: Burstbucker Pro - What's the deal?

advertising dollars, bewb pics, paid posters who don't play & sockpuppetry only takes a forum so far. :naughty:

Yeah, I couldn't agree more. And you're very brave to lead on example.

Please, don't be shy. You should let everybody know that your own Forum, guitaramped, at this very moment, have reached a total of 14 members.

Well done! You should pat yourself in the back.

/Peter