General Consensus on burstbuckers?

 
Re: General Consensus on burstbuckers?

I really like burstbuckers. I love my duncans, dont get me wrong, but I wont get rid of my burstbuckers as I think they sound great. BB1 neck is a great pickup. I like it better than the 2 in the bridge but both are fantastic. They have a very open, clear defined sound and they respond surprisingly well under gain. Different sound than duncans. Not better or worse just different. Although to me, duncan 59 and custom hold their place as some of the best sounding and versatile pickups Ive ever played. Ive done mag swaps and hybrids with these two pups and have had nothing but wonderful results. the 59/jazz hybrid is the best sounding neck pickup ive ever heard and gives any gibson or PRS pup a run for their money and then some. Even the 59 A2, as Pepe suggested, is a superior pickup to the burstbucker 1 to my ears. It is big, warm, open and lush sounding. The A2 mag evens out the eq, tames the bottom end and adds to the warm lush tone that pickup is known for. And dont even get me started on the custom, especially with A8 mag. It kills any gibson pickup ive ever played. Again, that is only my opinion. I'm sure some guys can chime in about the 59/custom hybrid who have also played burstbuckers and give their opinion between those two. I havent played one yet, just heard clips but ive done custom/jb hybrid because I enjoy hotter modern sounding pickups and its fantastic!. The mismatched coils will give you similar feel as the gibson pups but to me, Duncans are just quality pickups all the way around and can go toe to toe with any manufacturer in production today. I'm really not trying to sound like a fanboy. I give props to the burstbuckers for sure, but I gotta have my duncans!
 
Last edited:
Re: General Consensus on burstbuckers?

Out of the ones I've tried-BB3 and Pro-I prefer the Pro. It seemed to have more cut and better midrange.
 
Re: General Consensus on burstbuckers?

Gone_Shootin said:
Pepe, would that mag swap do anything for an Epi HOTCH(G) and an Epi 57CH(G)?
Click to expand...

Well, considering that this particular set is the worst known to mankind... unless you do a "boutique conversion", it won't do much, really.

A ""boutique conversion" is to change everything but the actual bobbins and replace'em with hi-q parts that are hand-picked materials and alloys for a certain tone. The cost of the "boutique conversion", is about the same as buying an used Duncan or a Gibson p'up, so you do the math IF YOU'RE IN THE US.

For Europeans the cost of the "boutique conversion", although a bit on the expensive side, still is affordable. The only thing is that BOTH the "converted" '57CH and HOTCH can function as BRIDGE p'ups, so you still need a good NECK p'up to "convert" so you can build a calibrated set.

Duncan Designed HB101Ns, HB102Ns and HB103Ns are excellent choices to "boutique convert" and pair up with "boutique converted" '57CH or HOTCH in the bridge.

If you have an Epi Probucker set, the price of a "boutique conversion" kit is worth every penny.



The tone I get from my Epi ES-339 with the "boutique converted", "Vintage Whisperer™" (A3n/UOA5b) modded Probucker set is second to none.

HTH,
 
Last edited:
Re: General Consensus on burstbuckers?

I have an over-the-counter Burstbucker 2 & 3 set in my Epiphone Les Paul. They do exactly what I wanted in that guitar -- like an overwound, unpotted, slightly microphonic PAF set. They have more quack and bite than most humbuckers I've played, and it's very rewarding to play them fingerstyle because of the way they respond to those dynamics. It's pretty much my idea of what I'd want an old-fashioned Les Paul to sound like. I still want another LP with a more modern sound, though -- maybe a Custom & Full Shred set to complement the Jackson Dinky I have with the same pickups.
 
Re: General Consensus on burstbuckers?

LtKojak said:
Well, considering that this particular set is the worst known to mankind... unless you do a "boutique conversion", it won't do much, really.

A ""boutique conversion" is to change everything but the actual bobbins and replace'em with hi-q parts that are hand-picked materials and alloys for a certain tone. The cost of the "boutique conversion", is about the same as buying an used Duncan or a Gibson p'up, so you do the math IF YOU'RE IN THE US.

For Europeans the cost of the "boutique conversion", although a bit on the expensive side, still is affordable. The only thing is that BOTH the "converted" '57CH and HOTCH can function as BRIDGE p'ups, so you still need a good NECK p'up to "convert" so you can build a calibrated set.

Duncan Designed HB101Ns, HB102Ns and HB103Ns are excellent choices to "boutique convert" and pair up with "boutique converted" '57CH or HOTCH in the bridge.

If you have an Epi Probucker set, the price of a "boutique conversion" kit is worth every penny.



The tone I get from my Epi ES-339 with the "boutique converted", "Vintage Whisperer™" (A3n/UOA5b) modded Probucker set is second to none.

HTH,
Click to expand...

Thanks. I was curious because they've been sitting on a shelf collecting dust since '05 or so. I yanked them out because I didn't care for them. And it sounds like it wouldn't be worth the trouble.

And thanks for the info, I've learned alot from your posts ever since I found this forum, and continue to now that I am a member. Thank you.
 
Re: General Consensus on burstbuckers?

Gone_Shootin said:
Thanks. I was curious because they've been sitting on a shelf collecting dust since '05 or so. I yanked them out because I didn't care for them. And it sounds like it wouldn't be worth the trouble.
Click to expand...

Don't throw'em in the garbage just yet. They make cool paperweights! ;)

Gone_Shootin said:
And thanks for the info, I've learned alot from your posts ever since I found this forum, and continue to now that I am a member. Thank you.
Click to expand...

You're most welcome and I thank YOU for the kind words.

Yours very truly,
 
Re: General Consensus on burstbuckers?

I found them to somewhat thin sounding, they didn't hold there own in a band setting for me. I much prefer 59's.
 
General Consensus on burstbuckers?

I like the bb3. A buddy of mine has a LP Trad Pro I with it in the bridge (stock). It can be harsh and thin as mentioned but once the guitar is set up right and the pickup adjusted (poles includes), it sounds big and full. He was fighting it and it did sound thin, until I got a hold of the guitar and set it up. Once the guitar was singing unplugged, a few adjustments on the pickup made it sound 100% better. Now he loves it.
 
Last edited:
Re: General Consensus on burstbuckers?

Bottom line is that the BB1, 2, 3's are a righteous run of pups. Preferences there are a matter of taste.

Still, I'll take a Duncan any day, and twice on gigs.
 
Re: General Consensus on burstbuckers?

Anyone compare the Livebuckers to burst buckers?

Sent from my SCH-I535 using Tapatalk
 
Re: General Consensus on burstbuckers?

I really like the 1 and 2 set. To me, they're exactly what they were designed to be.....a recreation of a Gibson PAF.
Since none of us are really wheelin and dealin in 50's pickups, the BB 1&2 may as well be considered that set.
Consider the 57 Classics as a same set, different year, so to speak.

Basically, I like the Duncan pickups that skirt around Gibson's finest, so I can choose to think of all of them as viable options.
 
Re: General Consensus on burstbuckers?

Hey Erik,
Can you enlighten me? I just got mine and I go for that Robben Ford/Dumble tone vibe when I play LP's. Can you share you settings as a starting point? First thing I noticed was that the BB3 was really set high. I haven't had a chance to mess with it yet beyond just playing yesterday.
Thanks Man!
*Also gonna cover the PUP's.

ErikH said:
I like the bb3. A buddy of mine has a LP Trad Pro I with it in the bridge (stock). It ca be harsh and thin as mentioned but once the guitar is set up right and the pickup adjusted (poles includes), it sounds big and full. He was fighting it and it did sound thin, until I got a hold of the guitar and set it up. Once the guitar was singing unplugged, a few adjustments on the pickup made it sound 100% better. Now he loves it.
Click to expand...
 
Re: General Consensus on burstbuckers?

jbear said:
Hey Erik,
Can you enlighten me? I just got mine and I go for that Robben Ford/Dumble tone vibe when I play LP's. Can you share you settings as a starting point? First thing I noticed was that the BB3 was really set high. I haven't had a chance to mess with it yet beyond just playing yesterday.
Thanks Man!
*Also gonna cover the PUP's.
Click to expand...

I'm not Erik, but as a Robben fan that plays several of his songs, the BB3 is not the 1st p'up it comes to mind... the BB2 comes a lot closer.

Anyway, using a Blackface, set the lows @ 2.5, the mids @ 3, and the highs @ 5.

A LP with a A3/UOA5 modded '59 set will get you dangerously close to his base tone. Add a Hermida Zendrive to the equation and you're all set.

The rest is in your fingers. Enjoy!

HTH,
 
Last edited:
Re: General Consensus on burstbuckers?

Loves me some 1/2, and like the 3. I have had the 1/2 in a few guitars and they never fail to deliver the goods. They are super sensitive for setup though and can take some tweak time.


Pros really depend on the individual guitar. In general I would not choose them over a slew of other options, but I have played them in a few righteous wood paulas and there was no way I would change them if I owned the guitar.
 
General Consensus on burstbuckers?

jbear said:
Hey Erik,
Can you enlighten me? I just got mine and I go for that Robben Ford/Dumble tone vibe when I play LP's. Can you share you settings as a starting point? First thing I noticed was that the BB3 was really set high. I haven't had a chance to mess with it yet beyond just playing yesterday.
Thanks Man!
*Also gonna cover the PUP's.
Click to expand...

It has been a few years since I did the set up on it. He told me the other night at a party that it still plays great. Move the pickup away from the strings some. It might be too close. Adjust the screw poles too. If it's too harsh, lower the treble side poles a bit. I like to set them to match the string radius first with the high and low E poles set so only the "dome" of the screw is seen, not the flat sides of the head and then adjust the others accordingly with the string radius. Then I use my ears and adjust to taste.
 
Last edited:
Re: General Consensus on burstbuckers?

Thanks for the info.
I was playing it today A/B-ing with a 95 Studio. The Studio has the 490/498's, 500 pots, and a .015/.022 PIO set...I had to turn the Trad to 7 to get the same vol as the Studio on 4.5 and the Studio had much tighter deeper bass and low mids. The touch on the Studio when I fingerpick is brilliant...I'd like that sort of response from the Trad. I hope can tweak it there...not deciding anything after one session. The tone was killer on both guitars, but...I am wondering if a PUP swap may be down the line. I have several sets around including a Peter Florance Voodoo 59's (couldn't split those), an old pair of Duncan double-screw 59's (also...no split), and a pair of Dominger Classic 58's (split-able...know nothing about them).
Anyway...despite the opinions of some...I am putting .015/.022 PIO's in it and we shall see from there.
BTW...I was using Twin and a Sonic Fusion OD playing mostly Ford covers and some free-style blues.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

S
Gibson 490s in SG opinions
2
Replies
30
Views
296
Sam SG
S
marcello252
Any pickup mod idea before selling a Jumbo MFD equipped G&L ASAT special?
2
Replies
20
Views
235
marcello252
marcello252
S
Modified Blaze Neck in bridge position is awesome!
Replies
4
Views
93
Shooweri
S
B
P-Rails and Tonewoods
Replies
12
Views
133
Mincer
Mincer
Chris EmCee
59/Custom Hybrid and Custom Custom in the Battle of '78
2
Replies
35
Views
405
Ascension
Ascension
Back
Top