Derek Trucks & '57 Classics

[BluesJunkie]

I saw Derek Trucks this weekend, and good grief, that kid can play! This was the 3rd time I'd seen him, and he just keeps getting better and better.

Anyway, his tone is to die for, and after the show I asked him what pickups he used. He said, "I don't know, they're just stocks". Since he was playing a '61 re-issue SG, I assume they were '57 Classics. Anybody have any experience with them? (The last Gibsons I bought came with the 498T/490R combo.) What magnets do they use? What's the output? What Duncans would be the closest to these?

Thanks.

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: Derek Trucks & '57 Classics

I saw Derek Trucks this weekend, and good grief, that kid can play! This was the 3rd time I'd seen him, and he just keeps getting better and better.

Anyway, his tone is to die for, and after the show I asked him what pickups he used. He said, "I don't know, they're just stocks". Since he was playing a '61 re-issue SG, I assume they were '57 Classics. Anybody have any experience with them? (The last Gibsons I bought came with the 498T/490R combo.) What magnets do they use? What's the output? What Duncans would be the closest to these?

Thanks.

I saw Derek Recently and yes, that guy can play! I was very impressed with his tone through an old Fender Super Reverb using that same SG you mentioned. The 57 Classics are excellant pickups tho, IMO, there are Duncans and others that are even better...like the Antiquity and Seth Lover for example. Compared to them, the 57 Classics are a little metallic...but only compared to a pickup as great as the Antiquity or Seth Lover. I replaced the 57 Classics that came with my '00 Les Paul Historic with Tom Holmes Humbuckers...those are superb too. All the pickups I've mentioned, including the 57 Classics, are alnico 2 magnet pickups with vintage 50's Gibson paf output. Here's a good link with more info on the 57 Classics. Click to guitar reviews and read the pickup review: http://www.legendarytones.com/
Lew

 

[dystrust]

Re: Derek Trucks & '57 Classics

In my experience a '59 was the closest Duncan to a '57 Classic. Antiquities or Seths would also be good as Lew suggested.

 

[Mac-P]

Re: Derek Trucks & '57 Classics

Yea, Derek is awesome. So mature for a player of his age. And his wife Susan Tedeschi is an AMAZING singer and guitar player as well.

The '61 re-issue SG comes stock with a '57 neck and a '57+ bridge. I like the neck a lot, but the bridge was a bit too edgy for my taste.

BUT...... I wouldn't be surprised if his particular '61 re-issue SG wasn't a Custom Shop one like Warren's 61 re-issue that he plays in Phil & Friends.

If that is the case there could be Burstbuckers or anything else in there.

 

[jeremy]

Re: Derek Trucks & '57 Classics

derek is a great player and as others mentioned i think seths or antiquitys would work well for his tone. in his old super he used to have pile driver car speakers, got killer tone with em though