Gibson 498T - 1st impressions

Re: Gibson 498T - 1st impressions

My Firebird Studio has a 498T in the bridge and at first I hated it until I completely re-thought the EQ on my amp and also spent a lot of time on the pickup and polepeice heights. Now I think it's great although I can see where folks with more specific requirements might prefer something else. I learnt a lot about pickup adjustment from this site after following recomendations for adjusting the JB. They didn't work for me but opened my eyes (and ears) to just how much difference a few relatively small adjustments can make. I think you should spend a fair amount of time on this before you start thinking about magnet swaps or replacing the pickup.
 
Re: Gibson 498T - 1st impressions

richard parker said:
My Firebird Studio has a 498T in the bridge and at first I hated it until I completely re-thought the EQ on my amp and also spent a lot of time on the pickup and polepeice heights. Now I think it's great although I can see where folks with more specific requirements might prefer something else. I learnt a lot about pickup adjustment from this site after following recomendations for adjusting the JB. They didn't work for me but opened my eyes (and ears) to just how much difference a few relatively small adjustments can make. I think you should spend a fair amount of time on this before you start thinking about magnet swaps or replacing the pickup.
Click to expand...
By adjusting the neck pup a tad and even the poles will effect the bridge tone, more treble or bass :) Polarity!!
 
Re: Gibson 498T - 1st impressions

I've done the same swap and think it opens up the pickup and gets rid of some of the "blah".
 
Re: Gibson 498T - 1st impressions

ken361 said:
yeah i seen the sg's have 300k volume pots, if i changed to 500 it should open it up huh?
Click to expand...

I think most Gibbys have 300s except for anything that says "custom" in the name. Studios and Standards be it LP or SG have 300s, and the LP Customs have 500s. Not sure what others have 500s.
 
Re: Gibson 498T - 1st impressions

I finally slapped an SH-5 in the bridge of my guitar. DONE! For me, the SH-5 blows a 498T outta the water.
 
Re: Gibson 498T - 1st impressions

Not so fast Johnny. In my opinion they are both great, the SH-5 can easily do metal and is slightly scooped, it is very dynamic, tight it really shines. But one thing the SH-5 would need some tinkering (on your volume/tone knobs or even pole pieces) would be trying to make sound as big headroom rock sounding as the 498T therefore I believe it did blow the 498t to what you expected or wished for. Happy you are enjoying the custom. I am a fan of it and also of the 498t. THat is why I ask so much about them on this site. :friday:
 
Re: Gibson 498T - 1st impressions

JohnnyGuitarCA said:
I finally slapped an SH-5 in the bridge of my guitar. DONE! For me, the SH-5 blows a 498T outta the water.
Click to expand...

I really like the SH5, too. I hear it works really well with an Alnico 8 magnet, but the 498 also responds well to the A8.

BTW, has anyone tried the SH5 with the nickel covers? Do the covers tend to reduce high end a touch? My obsession with the 498 is because I like the chrome covers. :)
 
Re: Gibson 498T - 1st impressions

Hi - I'm a new member of this forum - I was searching for someway to fix my dissatisfaction with the 490R / 498T combo in my 91 LP Std, and found this discussion. About a year ago I rotated the magnet in the 490T to get the cool Peter Green OOP sound in the middle position, so was interested to hear about how swapping magnets can help balance those two pickups. As a first step I just swapped them, putting the A2 into the 498T, and the A5 into the 490R (taking care to retain the OOP). I'm very impressed! The pickup heights needed careful adjustment as the A5 in the neck 490R is powerful, and the A2 in the 498T less so. But it wasnt hard to balance the levels out neck to bridge, and now I'm delighted. The 498 has much more colour to it, and the 490 is much less dark. I'm sure its not the perfect combo, but its way better than stock.

CAUTION: for all those reading about magnet swapping and trying it for the first time - on Gibson humbuckers, at the end the braided wire goes in, there are multiple small wires going between the coils and from the coils to the baseplate. I recommend you get a fresh roll of electrical tape and carefully peel off all the old tape before trying to push the magnet out as if you cant see those wires you are sure to break one. I did, but was lucky, as it was the connection to baseplate, and I managed to resolder it. Enjoy!
 
Re: Gibson 498T - 1st impressions

I am a gigging player. I only learned about the swapping after I put 57s in my LP standard and BB pros in my LP classic.

My SG has the A5 neck and A8 bridge swap in 490s and it has opened up the sound a lot in both rehearsals and gigs.
 
Re: Gibson 498T - 1st impressions

I don't think magnet pull makes as big of a difference in the bridge, since the string tension is much higher that close to the bridge. It makes a much bigger difference in the neck position, where tension is looser.
 
Re: Gibson 498T - 1st impressions

brunogio said:
I am a gigging player. I only learned about the swapping after I put 57s in my LP standard and BB pros in my LP classic.

My SG has the A5 neck and A8 bridge swap in 490s and it has opened up the sound a lot in both rehearsals and gigs.
Click to expand...

How do you like the 57s and BBs? I was considering swapping to either the 57s or BBs in my LP Custom, but never heard either one in person.
 
Re: Gibson 498T - 1st impressions

Soulcrusher_X said:
How do you like the 57s and BBs? I was considering swapping to either the 57s or BBs in my LP Custom, but never heard either one in person.
Click to expand...

I like the 57s and they seem to me to have a really vintage tone to them. Others have said that they are a bit bright which I can agree with but I don't mind that. They bring a lot of clarity that I think is missing in the 498t with the stock magnet.

BB pros are fuller sounding but equally vintage output. Again, good clarity with a more rounded sound than the 57.

I really like having these two.

But there are a lot of guys who suggest an A8 or UOA5 in the 498 as a starting point which is good advice given the price of Gibson pups. If you still dislike them you can then decide to do a pup swap.
 
Re: Gibson 498T - 1st impressions

Does anyone have any examples of what the A8 or the UOA5 sounds like in the 498T in the bridge? I'm using an A2 now but as experimentation is so cheap I doubt I can stop myself... my tonal nirvana is Gary Moore in Blues for Greeny - would love to know if a 490 / 498 could get anywhere near that with the right magnets (and playing of course!)
 
Re: Gibson 498T - 1st impressions

Gryphon said:
Does anyone have any examples of what the A8 or the UOA5 sounds like in the 498T in the bridge? I'm using an A2 now but as experimentation is so cheap I doubt I can stop myself... my tonal nirvana is Gary Moore in Blues for Greeny - would love to know if a 490 / 498 could get anywhere near that with the right magnets (and playing of course!)
Click to expand...

I use both A8 and UOA5 in my 498T's. The UOA5 is a little warmer with more dynamics. The A8 is higher output. Both have full mids and eliminate the scooped sound, while dialing down the treble a bit. Which one you pick depends on if you want to sound more vintage or modern. Both are excellent PU's. Peter Green and Gary Moore...great taste in guitarists.
 
Re: Gibson 498T - 1st impressions

Soulcrusher_X said:
How do you like the 57s and BBs? I was considering swapping to either the 57s or BBs in my LP Custom, but never heard either one in person.
Click to expand...

Not a big fan of '57's, at least with the stock mags. The neck is too dark and prone to mud; the bridge has a thin 'ribbony' sound to it. As with my BB's and 490's, I put A5's in the neck to get more clarity and treble. In the bridge, I've used an UOA5, A8, and RC A2, all of which were an improvement.

If you want an A2 PAF, I'd recommend Duncan's instead. I like them much better.
 
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