toneseeker74
New member
Anyone try this? I found an old thread where somebody asked the same question, but there was no report of the results.
gibson 490R with A3 or A4
- Thread starter toneseeker74
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blueman335
Mojo's Minions
Re: gibson 490R with A3 or A4
- I put A5's in my 490R's, and it's a big improvement: more treble and clarity.
- A3 give fat mids without a lot of bass, and while brighter than an A2, the high-end is softer than an A5.
- A4's have a balanced EQ, and would also be a good choice. More treble than an A2.
- UOA5's are like an A2, but with less mids and a little more treble not a drastic change from an A2, but they'll add more high end if you need it.
- I put A5's in my 490R's, and it's a big improvement: more treble and clarity.
- A3 give fat mids without a lot of bass, and while brighter than an A2, the high-end is softer than an A5.
- A4's have a balanced EQ, and would also be a good choice. More treble than an A2.
- UOA5's are like an A2, but with less mids and a little more treble not a drastic change from an A2, but they'll add more high end if you need it.
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Aceman
I am your doctor of love!
Re: gibson 490R with A3 or A4
Then A3 is my choice…
I dig the A3 in the neck. Haven't tried an A4 in anything.
Then A3 is my choice…
I dig the A3 in the neck. Haven't tried an A4 in anything.
blueman335
Mojo's Minions
Re: gibson 490R with A3 or A4
+1. A3's are definitely under-used. They've got a bright, but soft high end, never seem to have too much bass, and the fat mids are nice in the bridge and neck slots.
+1. A3's are definitely under-used. They've got a bright, but soft high end, never seem to have too much bass, and the fat mids are nice in the bridge and neck slots.
mariosyjp
Member
Re: gibson 490R with A3 or A4
just a couple of days ago I traded my LP's classic 57 neck for a 490r in order to use it with A3 (it is almost impossible to make the c57 neck sound good unless you use A4 but i don't like the feel of A4 in most situations)
just a couple of days ago I traded my LP's classic 57 neck for a 490r in order to use it with A3 (it is almost impossible to make the c57 neck sound good unless you use A4 but i don't like the feel of A4 in most situations)
LtKojak
New member
Re: gibson 490R with A3 or A4
A3s are great for palliate the "muddy neck in a LP" syndrom in PAF winds.
Seths, Ants, '59s, Jazzs and APH1s, all sound great in the neck position in LPs, 335s and even big Jazz boxes like a L5-CES. Even 490Rs, '57 Classics and Burstbuckers sound "better" in the neck position with this mag.
Guess how do I know this...?
A3s are great for palliate the "muddy neck in a LP" syndrom in PAF winds.
Seths, Ants, '59s, Jazzs and APH1s, all sound great in the neck position in LPs, 335s and even big Jazz boxes like a L5-CES. Even 490Rs, '57 Classics and Burstbuckers sound "better" in the neck position with this mag.
Guess how do I know this...?
mariosyjp
Member
Re: gibson 490R with A3 or A4
experimenting is fun and the only way to know what works for one's tastes!
IMO 57 classic in the neck with A3 doesn't work so good probably because this pickup is all about low mids and bass and A3 reduces these frequencies a lot, makes it sound lifeless
whereas the 490r has strong upper mids and A3 makes them shine through by cutting the bass
experimenting is fun and the only way to know what works for one's tastes!
IMO 57 classic in the neck with A3 doesn't work so good probably because this pickup is all about low mids and bass and A3 reduces these frequencies a lot, makes it sound lifeless
whereas the 490r has strong upper mids and A3 makes them shine through by cutting the bass
blueman335
Mojo's Minions
Re: gibson 490R with A3 or A4
I also like 490's (with mag swaps) much better than '57's (with any mag combination). I don't understand what they were going for with the '57 wind. My least favorite PAF by far.
I also like 490's (with mag swaps) much better than '57's (with any mag combination). I don't understand what they were going for with the '57 wind. My least favorite PAF by far.
Boogie Bill
New member
Re: gibson 490R with A3 or A4
Blueman, I'm still trying to figure out what to do with my LP Supreme with the 490R/498T pickups. We've talked about this before, how they don't really work very well together. Individually, I can work with them. The 490R is pretty good for mellow blues and jazz stuff, but it can be dark and muddy--and it can get edgy when I turn up the treble and presence on my amp. The 498T has a lot of upper mid and high-end cut, good for hard rock and not much else. And it can be grainy and edgy, too--and it's pretty hot. In the middle position with both pickups on, there are some good tones when the pickups are blended together. But if I'm getting a good tone on one pickup and then switch to the other, I want to run back to the amp to fix the tone--it's an almost overwhelming urge.
I put Seths in the other Supreme I have and I like them. They're kind of mild-mannered after the stock set, but they do everything pretty well. I wanted something different for this guitar, and bought a Pearly Gates set in gold for it and then got a second set of used gold Seths. I'm having trouble deciding; I'm even considering a WLH set. Part of the problem is that this guitar doesn't lend itself to easy pickup and electronic swaps, as there is no access plate--everything has to be done through the over-sized jack-plate. So I'd like to it right the first time.
So, if I were going to swap magnets in the 490R/498T pickups, where would be a good place to start? I'm definitely a vintage guy, looking for good all-around tones that I can use for Classic Rock, Blues, Country, Jazz and whatever else I need it to do. I don't really do anything metal, but I have a lot of gain on tap with the Mesa amps when I need it.
So what kind of magnet swap would suggest for this guitar--hopefully one that will allow the two pickups to work together and not be so radically different? An A3 in the neck and a 498T with an A2? Or should I just do a new set of pickups and forget about the stock pickups?
Thanks.
Bill
Blueman, I'm still trying to figure out what to do with my LP Supreme with the 490R/498T pickups. We've talked about this before, how they don't really work very well together. Individually, I can work with them. The 490R is pretty good for mellow blues and jazz stuff, but it can be dark and muddy--and it can get edgy when I turn up the treble and presence on my amp. The 498T has a lot of upper mid and high-end cut, good for hard rock and not much else. And it can be grainy and edgy, too--and it's pretty hot. In the middle position with both pickups on, there are some good tones when the pickups are blended together. But if I'm getting a good tone on one pickup and then switch to the other, I want to run back to the amp to fix the tone--it's an almost overwhelming urge.
I put Seths in the other Supreme I have and I like them. They're kind of mild-mannered after the stock set, but they do everything pretty well. I wanted something different for this guitar, and bought a Pearly Gates set in gold for it and then got a second set of used gold Seths. I'm having trouble deciding; I'm even considering a WLH set. Part of the problem is that this guitar doesn't lend itself to easy pickup and electronic swaps, as there is no access plate--everything has to be done through the over-sized jack-plate. So I'd like to it right the first time.
So, if I were going to swap magnets in the 490R/498T pickups, where would be a good place to start? I'm definitely a vintage guy, looking for good all-around tones that I can use for Classic Rock, Blues, Country, Jazz and whatever else I need it to do. I don't really do anything metal, but I have a lot of gain on tap with the Mesa amps when I need it.
So what kind of magnet swap would suggest for this guitar--hopefully one that will allow the two pickups to work together and not be so radically different? An A3 in the neck and a 498T with an A2? Or should I just do a new set of pickups and forget about the stock pickups?
Thanks.
Bill
Boogie Bill
New member
Re: gibson 490R with A3 or A4
Thanks. I always appreciate your input Pepe. Anytime, anywhere.
Bill
Thanks. I always appreciate your input Pepe. Anytime, anywhere.
Bill
blueman335
Mojo's Minions
Re: gibson 490R with A3 or A4
The old struggle of how to EQ your amp for the 498T/490R set. I think a lot of guys just EQ for one PU and don't play the other one.
In your guitar, I'd definitely try a mag swap or two rather than replacing the PU's.
I've got 2 or 3 498T/490R sets (that I bought used from people who had yanked them from their guitars). Like you, in their stock form, I found the EQ differences too big to be workable (and to think how many guitar models Gibson's put these in!). The first guitar I put them in was an SG. I did the old recommended swap, and put the bridge magnet in the neck and vice versa. That fixed the neck, and it sounds good. But even with two 500K's the A2 in the 498T had too dull and lackluster of an edge for me, no bite at all. So I put in an A8 with two 250K's, and that had more high-end and bite than the A2 with 500K's. Go figure. It sounded pretty good, but eventually I wanted a more vintage sound, and put in an UOA5 in the 498T. That gave it an A2 feel, but with a sharper high-end. That's what's stayed in that SG ever since. They're balanced tone-wise, which is a priority for me. Both PU's have rich, full tones.
I have another 498T/490R set in an LP, with an A8 in the bridge and an A5 in the neck. The neck isn't boomy like a '59N sometimes is, but if it was, I'd go with an A3 or A4.
The old struggle of how to EQ your amp for the 498T/490R set. I think a lot of guys just EQ for one PU and don't play the other one.
In your guitar, I'd definitely try a mag swap or two rather than replacing the PU's.
I've got 2 or 3 498T/490R sets (that I bought used from people who had yanked them from their guitars). Like you, in their stock form, I found the EQ differences too big to be workable (and to think how many guitar models Gibson's put these in!). The first guitar I put them in was an SG. I did the old recommended swap, and put the bridge magnet in the neck and vice versa. That fixed the neck, and it sounds good. But even with two 500K's the A2 in the 498T had too dull and lackluster of an edge for me, no bite at all. So I put in an A8 with two 250K's, and that had more high-end and bite than the A2 with 500K's. Go figure. It sounded pretty good, but eventually I wanted a more vintage sound, and put in an UOA5 in the 498T. That gave it an A2 feel, but with a sharper high-end. That's what's stayed in that SG ever since. They're balanced tone-wise, which is a priority for me. Both PU's have rich, full tones.
I have another 498T/490R set in an LP, with an A8 in the bridge and an A5 in the neck. The neck isn't boomy like a '59N sometimes is, but if it was, I'd go with an A3 or A4.
blueman335
Mojo's Minions
Re: gibson 490R with A3 or A4
I've been intrigued about A3's in bridge HB's, ever since I heard of the Bonamassa set, and since then Gibson's introduced a PAF set with A3's. I think they might work with a 498T, taking off the excess treble and fattening it up. An A4 in the 490R is worth a shot too.
I've been intrigued about A3's in bridge HB's, ever since I heard of the Bonamassa set, and since then Gibson's introduced a PAF set with A3's. I think they might work with a 498T, taking off the excess treble and fattening it up. An A4 in the 490R is worth a shot too.
mariosyjp
Member
Re: gibson 490R with A3 or A4
the 490r/498t set is probably best with A3/A2 as already stated
I'll add that 498t with ceramic produces great tones for hard rock (think scorpions 80s)
it's like a duncan custom but grainier with a bit less bass and more upper mids
overall a great pickup set with really bad choice of magnets! it's good for us swappers because we can get it cheap and make it sing
the 490r/498t set is probably best with A3/A2 as already stated
I'll add that 498t with ceramic produces great tones for hard rock (think scorpions 80s)
it's like a duncan custom but grainier with a bit less bass and more upper mids
overall a great pickup set with really bad choice of magnets! it's good for us swappers because we can get it cheap and make it sing
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blueman335
Mojo's Minions
Re: gibson 490R with A3 or A4
I didn't like an A2 in a 498T, it just took off too much high-end. But that was in an SG; in brighter woods it may work. I wouldn't want to use it in an LP though.
I didn't like an A2 in a 498T, it just took off too much high-end. But that was in an SG; in brighter woods it may work. I wouldn't want to use it in an LP though.
mariosyjp
Member
Re: gibson 490R with A3 or A4
maybe with a 500k volume A2 can work better?
the truth is that the duncan custom (ceramic) which is a similar pickup I found it to be a little too compressed in a LP while I loved it in the V
in the V it was even nice with A2 and 500k pot
in the V 498t with ceramic was nailing scorpions tones but was kind of harsh
maybe 498t with ceramic is great for hard rock in a LP
maybe with a 500k volume A2 can work better?
the truth is that the duncan custom (ceramic) which is a similar pickup I found it to be a little too compressed in a LP while I loved it in the V
in the V it was even nice with A2 and 500k pot
in the V 498t with ceramic was nailing scorpions tones but was kind of harsh
maybe 498t with ceramic is great for hard rock in a LP
blueman335
Mojo's Minions
Re: gibson 490R with A3 or A4
That was with a 500K volume and tone. Sill too dull in that guitar.
For hard rock, I really like an A8 in a 498T.
That was with a 500K volume and tone. Sill too dull in that guitar.
For hard rock, I really like an A8 in a 498T.
