I have a Gibson New Century Explorer. It has a 500t bridge pickup which is a good PU but I would like to try something different. I play mainly metal and was considering either a SD distortion or invader PU. I would prefer to not go to active PUs due to issues with the body cavity. Anyone with any opinions on a good PU or your thoughts on the 500t?
Gibson 500T replacement
- Thread starter Matman1
- Start date
Re: Gibson 500T replacement
I have a dimebucker in a Washburn and its a great pickup for that guitar but for the explorer I would like something different. Is the 500T already considered a hot rodded PU? If there is a PU ou there that someone recommends or how they view the 500t I would appreciate any input.
I have a dimebucker in a Washburn and its a great pickup for that guitar but for the explorer I would like something different. Is the 500T already considered a hot rodded PU? If there is a PU ou there that someone recommends or how they view the 500t I would appreciate any input.
Re: Gibson 500T replacement
Anything from hard rock to heavy metal. Black Label Society Metallica megadeth slayer ozzy pantera. I have SD LiveWires and EMGs in some of my other guitars. So I am have active pickups but am only contemplating changing the 500t to another passive PU. Its a good pickup I just wanted to hot rod my guitar and get a more aggressive sound.
Anything from hard rock to heavy metal. Black Label Society Metallica megadeth slayer ozzy pantera. I have SD LiveWires and EMGs in some of my other guitars. So I am have active pickups but am only contemplating changing the 500t to another passive PU. Its a good pickup I just wanted to hot rod my guitar and get a more aggressive sound.
Aceman
I am your doctor of love!
Re: Gibson 500T replacement
A 500t is pretty darn close to a Distortion, which, IMO is a pretty good pup for what you want!
But consider this:
Distortion = mids/highs
Custom = lows/highs
Invader = lows/mids (I'm guessing on that...)
Do you even need a high output pup is another consideration. What amp? Fx?
A 500t is pretty darn close to a Distortion, which, IMO is a pretty good pup for what you want!
But consider this:
Distortion = mids/highs
Custom = lows/highs
Invader = lows/mids (I'm guessing on that...)
Do you even need a high output pup is another consideration. What amp? Fx?
metalmachine
New member
Re: Gibson 500T replacement
your right about the invader but is mids are rather crisp so it's Not as dark as u would think. Also I like to set it a bit lower than most other pups. I also never understood why some ppl think it's muddy
your right about the invader but is mids are rather crisp so it's Not as dark as u would think. Also I like to set it a bit lower than most other pups. I also never understood why some ppl think it's muddy
Dark Order Lord
New member
Re: Gibson 500T replacement
Your right, the Invader has a larger mid range growl than the DD, and its not muddy, but in some mahaogany guitars, like mine, it's bottom end is a bit boomy, but easily tightened up via your amp, especially a Marshall
Your right, the Invader has a larger mid range growl than the DD, and its not muddy, but in some mahaogany guitars, like mine, it's bottom end is a bit boomy, but easily tightened up via your amp, especially a Marshall
Re: Gibson 500T replacement
Personally I like the 500T and also the 496R that's in the neck position of the Explorer and in my opinion are pretty hot pickups. My Explorer is the only guitar I own that's completely stock because it will cover everything I need when playing hard rock and metal. I can easily get thick bone crushing metal tones with all the pinch harmonics you could ask for, but without losing clarity or the ability to control the dynamics. I even replaced the stock pickups in my SG with the same 500T/496R set and it really brought that guitar alive.
I'm sure there's a Seymour Duncan pickup that would provide all the same capabilities but honestly I haven't felt the need to mess with it.
Personally I like the 500T and also the 496R that's in the neck position of the Explorer and in my opinion are pretty hot pickups. My Explorer is the only guitar I own that's completely stock because it will cover everything I need when playing hard rock and metal. I can easily get thick bone crushing metal tones with all the pinch harmonics you could ask for, but without losing clarity or the ability to control the dynamics. I even replaced the stock pickups in my SG with the same 500T/496R set and it really brought that guitar alive.
I'm sure there's a Seymour Duncan pickup that would provide all the same capabilities but honestly I haven't felt the need to mess with it.
Re: Gibson 500T replacement
So you have no clue about the 500T and just want to swap pickups just for the sake of spending money and saying you've customized your guitar?
What if I told you the 500T was the most aggressive and you would be downgrading with anything you replaced it with?
So you have no clue about the 500T and just want to swap pickups just for the sake of spending money and saying you've customized your guitar?
What if I told you the 500T was the most aggressive and you would be downgrading with anything you replaced it with?
