Gibby's vs. SD Antquities

[BanditPanda]

Good day.
My 2014 LP Studio came stock with Gibson's 490 T & R p/u's.
I do own a set of Antiquities which I currently have loaded into a ES335 clone.
I am debating putting the Antiquities into the LP.
My question is to those who may be familiar with those Gibson & SD pick ups is:
Is the difference in tone of the SD's far enuff superior to warrant the change/expense or will the difference in tonality be negligible and not really worth it.?
Thanks
BP

 

[Derpottsie]

Re: Gibby's vs. SD Antquities

Honestly no. I much prefer the stock pups just to save time and hassle. The antiquities may sound slightly different but not "better". I swapped my stock pups out for alternative 8's. Thats a drastic change. Antiquities wont be drastic nor worth it imo

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[Derpottsie]

Re: Gibby's vs. SD Antquities

Dont get me wrong, they'll sound different. Just not a huge difference

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[Lewguitar]

Re: Gibby's vs. SD Antquities

Good day.
My 2014 LP Studio came stock with Gibson's 490 T & R p/u's.
I do own a set of Antiquities which I currently have loaded into a ES335 clone.
I am debating putting the Antiquities into the LP.
My question is to those who may be familiar with those Gibson & SD pick ups is:
Is the difference in tone of the SD's far enuff superior to warrant the change/expense or will the difference in tonality be negligible and not really worth it.?
Thanks
BP

What do you think? You have both, each in separate guitars.

When you compare them, which sound turns you on more?

 

[jeremy]

Re: Gibby's vs. SD Antquities

for me the switch from 490 r&t to antiquitys is a no brainer. the 490 are kinda flat sounding and the antiquities are magnificent (at least if you are an a2 junkie like me)

 

[AlexR]

Re: Gibby's vs. SD Antquities

There is no way any other poster can in any way make a choice for you and tell you one pickup will or won't sound better.

Your ears are king here, if you think the ants sound better, then they are.

 

[BanditPanda]

Re: Gibby's vs. SD Antquities

Thanks Pots. Appreciate it.

 

[BanditPanda]

Re: Gibby's vs. SD Antquities

What do you think? You have both, each in separate guitars.

When you compare them, which sound turns you on more?

Can't compare semi hollow body pick up tonality to that of a Maple/Mahogany Modern relief LP

 

[BanditPanda]

Re: Gibby's vs. SD Antquities

for me the switch from 490 r&t to antiquitys is a no brainer. the 490 are kinda flat sounding and the antiquities are magnificent (at least if you are an a2 junkie like me)

Thank you Jeremy. The 490's are also Alnico 2's

 

[BanditPanda]

Re: Gibby's vs. SD Antquities

There is no way any other poster can in any way make a choice for you and tell you one pickup will or won't sound better.

Your ears are king here, if you think the ants sound better, then they are.

Sure they can.

 

[AlexR]

Re: Gibby's vs. SD Antquities

Nope, they can't.

They can write the words in a post, sure. And in a few cases might have a similar outcome based on pure chance. But 'better tone' is a phrase that automatically means personal preference, irrespective of what the user of the words desperately wants others to think.

 

[jeremy]

Re: Gibby's vs. SD Antquities

Thank you Jeremy. The 490's are also Alnico 2's

yep, i know. they arent bad but the antiquitys just do much more for me

Nope, they can't.

They can write the words in a post, sure. And in a few cases might have a similar outcome based on pure chance. But 'better tone' is a phrase that automatically means personal preference, irrespective of what the user of the words desperately wants others to think.

everyones ears are different and what is great through my rig to my ears might be awful though your rig to your ears. as far as paf type pups the antiquitys are great, not everyone will loved the aged a2 magnets but if you want to go down that road there are a bunch of magnets that sound great with that wind. for me, a pair of ants is great. if i pair the bridge with something else, a pgn for example, i prefer a full strength a2

 

[BanditPanda]

Re: Gibby's vs. SD Antquities

Nope, they can't.

They can write the words in a post, sure. And in a few cases might have a similar outcome based on pure chance. But 'better tone' is a phrase that automatically means personal preference, irrespective of what the user of the words desperately wants others to think.

Alex..there are certain universal standards in the guitar playing community when it comes to tone. For example: note separation, clarity, sustain, output, feedback, sensitivity, to name a few. So if you had come back to me and said " " I prefer the Antiquities over the 490's because I find I get more note separation from them when chording in high gain. The SD's do not feedback as much as the 490's at high volume and provide a far superior singing sustain IMO " you would have provided me and everybody else with some real insight into the SD's with information that we can all understand.
Unfortunately you have no experience with the pick ups and cannot provide any insightful info and instead wanted to give us your insights into relativity.
Thanks for sharing.
BP

 

[Mincer]

Re: Gibby's vs. SD Antquities

The 490 set in the Howard Roberts I had was bland and lifeless. Antiquities or Seths (if either had been out then) would have made a huge difference.

 

[AlexR]

Re: Gibby's vs. SD Antquities

Alex..there are certain universal standards in the guitar playing community when it comes to tone. For example: note separation, clarity, sustain, output, feedback, sensitivity, to name a few. So if you had come back to me and said " " I prefer the Antiquities over the 490's because I find I get more note separation from them when chording in high gain. The SD's do not feedback as much as the 490's at high volume and provide a far superior singing sustain IMO " you would have provided me and everybody else with some real insight into the SD's with information that we can all understand.
Unfortunately you have no experience with the pick ups and cannot provide any insightful info and instead wanted to give us your insights into relativity.
Thanks for sharing.
BP

When you have enough experience with playing, get back to me.
EVERY one of those terms is relative.

 

[beaubrummels]

Re: Gibby's vs. SD Antquities

1. Play the 335 with the Ants
Memorize what it sounds like
Don't change amp settings

2. Play the LP with the 490s
Memorize what it sounds like
Don't change amp settings

3. Put the 490s in the 335 and play

You'll immediately be able to distinguish what part of the 490 sound was the guitar and what part was the pickups. From there you can make a decision.

 

[jeremy]

Re: Gibby's vs. SD Antquities

that sounds like a good idea but our sonic memory is pretty crappy. it can hurt to swap the pups and see what ya think though. although its obviously a pita on the 335

 

[Demanic]

Re: Gibby's vs. SD Antquities

that sounds like a good idea but our sonic memory is pretty crappy. it can hurt to swap the pups and see what ya think though. although its obviously a pita on the 335

That's why I'm in favor of recording.

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[Boogie Bill]

Re: Gibby's vs. SD Antquities

No experience with 490t.

I have Ants in a 1997 Les Paul 1960 Classic, replacing the 496r/500t Hot Ceramics. Major change. I liked the tone of the stock pickups but they were too hot for my amps and my style. I love the Ants.

I have Seths in a Les Paul Supreme, replacing the stock 490r/498t. 490r is muddier than Ant or Seth, very warm, nice for jazz. I like it, it's usable, but it does not blend well with the 498T. Seths were a major change, more vintage, better choice for me. Love the Seths. No clear preference for Ants vis-a-vis Seths.

I have '57 Classics in my Les Paul Elegant and my 335s. Not feeling the need to change from the stock pickups. Warm, yet can be a tad grainy. Close to Ants/Seth. Prefer '57 neck to 490r. Good for variety of genres, but there are better choices for rock/metal. Not as much clarity and string separation as Seth/Ants.

I also have A2 Burstbucker 1 & 2 sets in my Historic Les Pauls. I like them, doubt I would ever change them. More clear than '57 Classics, more edgier than the '57s and Duncans. On a rock gig, I prefer the BBs over '57s. I like the '57s over the BBs for jazz, or gigs where there might be a lot of older people who would not like the edginess.

These are all just different flavors...which Baskins & Robbins chocolate ice cream do you like the best?

Do you love the tone of the Ants in your 335 clone? If yes...leave them in there!

Do you love the tone of the Paul and the 490s? If yes, leave them in there! If NO, then it is time to change them.

Decide whether you need the same tonality from both guitars. (I like having a Number One-A, a backup for my main guitar.) So adding another set of Ants should be good. They're hard to beat.

If you are looking for something a little different but still PAF, you can go WLH, SNS, PGs or '59s...plus those from 30 other brands. Or perhaps something "more" like JBs or a version of the Custom for agressive styles. You don't mention loudness levels, genres and amps, but those factored heavily in my decisions.

Work out who you are as a player; your answers will become clearer.

But it's hard to go wrong with Duncans. I hope this helps.

Bill

 

[beaubrummels]

Re: Gibby's vs. SD Antquities

that sounds like a good idea but our sonic memory is pretty crappy. it can hurt to swap the pups and see what ya think though. although its obviously a pita on the 335

If our sonic memory is that bad, then there's no need to swap pickups. ;-)