C5 compared to a Gibson 498T ?

[KLINKDETROIT]

I have a C5 and my new Gibson Les Paul studio has a 498T in the bridge that is covered in a cool brushed chrome. I was wondering if the c5 is that much better than the 498t and worth the trouble of replacing it with a c5 and using the cover from the 498t? Would I have to repot the pickups?

 

[msplines]

Re: C5 compared to a Gibson 498T ?

I have a studio and I hated the stock pickups and I preferred the C5 but liked the Screaming Demon better, but if you want to use the covers, you will have to mess about a bit and repot them or you risk microphonics. If you are repotting, make sure you don't overheat the wax or you will play merry hell with the bobbins.

 

[Gearjoneser]

Re: C5 compared to a Gibson 498T ?

The 498's have a harsher tone which doesn't clean up as nicely as the C-5.
I yanked out my 498/490 for a C-5/59 nickelcovered. I think it sounds better, and did it to all my Pauls and a McCarty.
If I were you, I'd wait till you have a 59, Jazz, or Pearly Gates neck pickup, then transfer both covers, pot them, and install them at the same time. Having two Duncan pickups in the LP will sound better balanced and be free of problems like noise or phase issues. I sold the Gibson pickups.

 

[KLINKDETROIT]

Re: C5 compared to a Gibson 498T ?

Have you seen the new brushed chrome hardware for gibsons? I wonder if potting them will mess up the finish as dipping them completely in hot wax might do something to the look? I have never potted any pickups so I dont know. What does the 498T compare to in Seymore duncan pickups? A custom or some other similar model?

 

[papersoul]

Re: C5 compared to a Gibson 498T ?

It depends on your guitar and ears. The BB Pros in my LP sound awesome and all I am doing is upgrading the pots/caps/wiring! I have a friend with the 498T in the bridge of his LP and it rips hard...nice and smooth.

If I go Duncan again in my LP it will be C-5/59 (or PGn).......clean....rock....metal, no problem!

 

[KLINKDETROIT]

Re: C5 compared to a Gibson 498T ?

What about the alnico pro in the neck?

 

[Fusion1]

Re: C5 compared to a Gibson 498T ?

Where are you finding brushed chrome or satin chrome for Gibson pickups? I asked one of the moderators a few months ago about it and they acted all aloof like I was crazy for asking.

Besides that I don't think Gibson covers will fit on Seymour Duncan pickups the pole pieces arent aligned the same.

 

[strat_master]

Re: C5 compared to a Gibson 498T ?

If the C-5 sounds similiar tot he 498T then why change the pick ups at all? What si the main differnce?

 

[KLINKDETROIT]

Re: C5 compared to a Gibson 498T ?

I am pretty sure the c5 will sound better as I have one in my schecter and after a search of about 10 pickups I found the c5 to be the best. I am hoping the c5 will also sound great in my new studio. The brushed chrome comes only on the studios that are being sold at guitar center. 2 guitar centers say that they are only making 500 of these so act fast. They list at $1,299 but I got mine for $900 + tax.

 

[Fusion1]

Re: C5 compared to a Gibson 498T ?

I think those Platinum Les Paul Studios also had the satin chrome but Gibson won't sell replacement parts in that finish, so if you bought one of those guitars and need replacement tuners, bridge or covers your SOL.

 

[KLINKDETROIT]

Re: C5 compared to a Gibson 498T ?

That sux

 

[Simon_F]

Re: C5 compared to a Gibson 498T ?

If the C-5 sounds similiar tot he 498T then why change the pick ups at all? What si the main differnce?

The outputs are similar, but the EQ is different. The 498T has a boosted upper midrange, the C5 has more bass, a smoother top end and less pronounced mids.

 

[DTrickle]

Re: C5 compared to a Gibson 498T ?

I have a Platinum Les Paul Studio. I tried swapping the cover off of the original pickup to a SD Custom I had and realized a few things:

1. Gibson Pickup Covers are hard as hell to get off. All I really proceeded to do was melt the wax out of the pickup, which sucked.

2. Standard SD spacing doesn't line up with the Gibson bridge pickup spacing. i talked to someone at SD about it, and they said I needed a Trembucker spaced pickup for the bridge of any newer Les Paul or SG.

I ended up wax potting the original pickup and sticking it back in there. I had the uncovered Custom in there for a while, but it felt a little too muddy in there through my amp (Mesa Tremoverb, at the time).

BTW, yeah, Gibson will not sell the brushed chrome hardware separate.

 

[Fusion1]

Re: C5 compared to a Gibson 498T ?

Gibson... those basdtards!!!! hahaa that felt good!

 

[Fusion1]

Re: C5 compared to a Gibson 498T ?

Klink I have a C5 I;d be willing to trade for your Axis if you don;t want to outright sell it. I haven't heard from you yet.

 

[KLINKDETROIT]

Re: C5 compared to a Gibson 498T ?

I have a c5 trembucker. Will it fit the Gibson cover? Is yours a trembucker spaced c5?
I may still need another c5 trembucker for another guitar though if thats what you have for trade.

 

[DTrickle]

Re: C5 compared to a Gibson 498T ?

I have a c5 trembucker. Will it fit the Gibson cover? Is yours a trembucker spaced c5?
I may still need another c5 trembucker for another guitar though if thats what you have for trade.

The Trembucker is too wide to fit a Gibson cover. As a matter of fact, I would be willing to bet you would have to enlarge the pickup ring to get the Trembucker to fit without tearing the tape off the sides while trying to set the pickup height; my trem-spaced Custom would even fit into the ring at all, I had to use a dremel tool to enlarge the metal mounting ring.

Good luck!

 

[Gearjoneser]

Re: C5 compared to a Gibson 498T ?

Oh yeah, I forgot that Duncan holes don't line up with Gibson holes, on their covers.
You may have to buy black Burstbuckers if you want a better tone than the 498, then you can just leave the 490 neck. I'd get a BB 2 or 3. If you go Duncan, you'll have to use nickel or black in standard spacing. I've never heard of putting Tremspaced on a Gibson. Wrong. Only on Fenders and Floyd guitars.

 

[martinsixstringcustoms]

Re: C5 compared to a Gibson 498T ?

I've got a C-5, and IMHO, it blows away the Gibson 498T. But, tone is a matter of taste, so take it for whatever its worth!

 

[DTrickle]

Re: C5 compared to a Gibson 498T ?

Oh yeah, I forgot that Duncan holes don't line up with Gibson holes, on their covers.
You may have to buy black Burstbuckers if you want a better tone than the 498, then you can just leave the 490 neck. I'd get a BB 2 or 3. If you go Duncan, you'll have to use nickel or black in standard spacing. I've never heard of putting Tremspaced on a Gibson. Wrong. Only on Fenders and Floyd guitars.

The pole pieces on a standard Duncan pickup do not line up with the strings on newer Gibsons. It didn't on the standard Custom I was trying to fit in a '04 Studio. I called Duncan, and they said for the pole pieces to line up, I needed a Trembucker spaced pickup. I asked " I thought that was only for trem guitars?" They said newer Gibsons have a wider string spacing, about the same as a floyd. They even swapped me out with a Trem spaced Custom because of this. When I got the TB5, it lined up pefectly. I don't know man, when was the last time you put a Duncan in a newer Gibson?