Gibson 498T humbucker = what seymour duncan?

[blueman335]

Re: Gibson 498T humbucker = what seymour duncan?

I think an A2 in a 498T is actually a 490T, according to the Gibson website.

No, the 498T is wound much hotter than a 490T. The 490T/490R are PAF's, whereas the 498T is too overwound for that category.

 

[MattPete]

Re: Gibson 498T humbucker = what seymour duncan?

I think an A2 in a 498T is actually a 490T, according to the Gibson website.

-B

A 490t comes with an A2, so an A2 in a 490t is a 490t.

 

[The Usual]

Re: Gibson 498T humbucker = what seymour duncan?

Would an A2 mag in a 498t round out the highs?

Yes it would, and the lows as well. In a LP, it actually sounds pretty good. Like a CC, but more Gibsony, if I may. I used one in an SG, and it sounds pretty good, if you don't mind the lack of low end. The 498 is definatley worth experimenting with mags. Try a 2,4 8 3 whatever. Whatever you do, don't swap it for one of the Custom winds. Waste of cash.

 

[blueman335]

Re: Gibson 498T humbucker = what seymour duncan?

The 498T is definatley worth experimenting with mags. Try a 2,4 8 3 whatever.

+1. It's a good PU. Different than a C5, but can used for the same purposes.

 

[RockStarNick]

Re: Gibson 498T humbucker = what seymour duncan?

Just popped in the 498T lastnight, and gave it a go.

I remember the tone of the C5 very well. It's warm, but dry sounding. Very subdued mids, natural and neutral sounding, in a good way.

The 498T, at first listen, sounds much closer to a JB, than anthing in the SD Custom series. It definitely was not "love at first listen", but we'll see what happens.

 

[Burk]

Re: Gibson 498T humbucker = what seymour duncan?

I talked to some people at the custom shop and they think I should swap the Alnico 8 for a Alnico 5. I think what I'm really missing is the grainy-ness of the 498T. What actually causes a pickup to sound that way....jagged, rough, grainy?

Alex at SD said that sometimes Gibson uses magnets that are (I forgot exactly what he said...) uneven or unbalanced...something like that. It's funny that what I've noticed that some players on this forum don't like (the grainy sound), I seem to like......

 

[uOpt]

Re: Gibson 498T humbucker = what seymour duncan?

I'm getting confused again why you don't just get another 498T then (not that I have one for sale...).

 

[Burk]

Re: Gibson 498T humbucker = what seymour duncan?

I guess because I do love the tone of the 498T, I just want it to be a little hotter, for most of the music that I play........

 

[uOpt]

Re: Gibson 498T humbucker = what seymour duncan?

I guess because I do love the tone of the 498T, I just want it to be a little hotter, for most of the music that I play........

But then isn't that a Custom 5 or Duncan Custom?

 

[LtKojak]

Re: Gibson 498T humbucker = what seymour duncan?

I guess because I do love the tone of the 498T, I just want it to be a little hotter, for most of the music that I play........

Put an A8 magnet in and be done with it.

 

[super rad stuff]

Re: Gibson 498T humbucker = what seymour duncan?

Put an A8 magnet in and be done with it.

definitely this. unless.... how do/did you have the pickup setup in your guitar? if you raised the pickup a bit, that would give you a hotter sound right off the bat. if you were to go a8 though, just take the a8 magnet out of the alternative 8 and stick it in the 498t. word of caution about alnico 8- don't put it too close to the strings or the magnetic pull would kill your sustain and harmonic content since a8 is very strong physically.

 

[The Usual]

Re: Gibson 498T humbucker = what seymour duncan?

I talked to some people at the custom shop and they think I should swap the Alnico 8 for a Alnico 5. I think what I'm really missing is the grainy-ness of the 498T. What actually causes a pickup to sound that way....jagged, rough, grainy?

Alex at SD said that sometimes Gibson uses magnets that are (I forgot exactly what he said...) uneven or unbalanced...something like that. It's funny that what I've noticed that some players on this forum don't like (the grainy sound), I seem to like......

This, in my experience, is the major difference between Gibson and Duncan. I find the Duncan stuff to sound a little more compressed and smooth, and Gibson to be more open and grainy or even clangy. I have not been able to find a wind from Duncan that does the Gibson thing you are describing. Listen to everyone, and try an A8. If you want the 498 to behave like a metal pickup, my guess is that this is as good as you'll get. But it sounds to me that you may be after exclusive things. Grainy and open, and metal output, may be a tall order.

 

[RockStarNick]

Re: Gibson 498T humbucker = what seymour duncan?

So after another jam session, I'm just not loving the 498T at all.

It's definitely Gibson-esque. Not Duncan-y at all. haha.

The more and more I play different pickups, the more and more I keep coming back to old school, 42AWG wound PAF style pickups. Everything with 43 and 44AWG just sounds too compressed to my ears. Moreso, it just feels compressed when I play it, and really lay into it.

The 498T was really the proverbial "nail in the coffin" for me, as far as higher output pickups go... no more for me. I'm sticking with the vintage spec stuff.

Needless to say, this 498T is going up for sale in the emporium very soon.

 

[The Usual]

Re: Gibson 498T humbucker = what seymour duncan?

I'll probably take it off your hands. I'd just add that if you find the 498 too compressed, you won't find a Duncan that isn't. You picked a good place to quit. But I am not a high output expert.

 

[RockStarNick]

Re: Gibson 498T humbucker = what seymour duncan?

I've tried just about every duncan high output bucker. The 498 reminds me of the way the JB sort of compresses and squishes. The Custom5, Custom, and CC, to my ears, don't "squish" as much.

I think all this has to do with the fact that my first les paul had a Duncan 59 set in it. I just got used to playing that - the dynamics are amazing.

 

[uOpt]

Re: Gibson 498T humbucker = what seymour duncan?

The C5 definitely doesn't compress much is anything. I rate it as the least compressing medium/high output pickup.

 

[The Usual]

Re: Gibson 498T humbucker = what seymour duncan?

??? Are you guys for real??

Compression is the result of the wind. How can a CC be so totally compressed and tubby, and putting an A5 just clear it right up? I am lost on this one. To me, the C5 sounds exactly like it is. A CC with an A5.

That's why I love these discussions. We all have different ears!

 

[blueman335]

Re: Gibson 498T humbucker = what seymour duncan?

??? Are you guys for real??

Compression is the result of the wind. How can a CC be so totally compressed and tubby, and putting an A5 just clear it right up? I am lost on this one. To me, the C5 sounds exactly like it is. A CC with an A5.

That's why I love these discussions. We all have different ears!

A2's take off some of the high end, and can make some PU's sound compressed.

 

[The Usual]

Re: Gibson 498T humbucker = what seymour duncan?

Like classic 57s? Or the Aph? or Seths?

 

[RockStarNick]

Re: Gibson 498T humbucker = what seymour duncan?

I view compression, in pickups, as: attack in > signal out. And yes, I'm primarily talking about the coil wind.

I feel like a 59 gives you exactly what you put in. You dig in, it gets loud. It has a very stiff, non compressed feel.

The JB seems like it has a built in compressor. You can play lightly, but it still punches thru very well. However, when you REALLY lay into it, I feel like it reaches a "breaking" point where you can be putting more IN, attack wise, and not getting it all back on the output end. Like it hits a wall.

Does that make any sense?

There's a lot of people that refer to pickups as "compressed", when they're really just reffering to a muted high end. That's not really what I define as compressed in a pickup.