Gibson 500T vs. Duncan Custom

[Inflames626]

Hi all,
Been trying out the Custom line and Gibson's "PAFs" (I say that because every PAF thread seems to end up with someone saying "X isn't a real PAF even though it's marketed as a PAF tone.")

Contrary to popular opinion, I really, really like the Gibson 498T. I also like the Custom 5, although the scooped mids make it a bit of a one trick pony (Godsmack, Nickelback, newer Metallica). Very thumpy. Any additional balls I need that are found natively in a hotter design like the Dirty Fingers I can dial in with the amp. I've paired the 498t with the Classic 57+ in the neck and am well pleased for what I consider a metal Les Paul imitation.

I haven't tried the 500t yet or the Custom. I was wondering if anyone has any general observations.

From what I've heard of the 500t, it can be quite shrill and somewhat thin, kind of like a Distortion in the highs. The highs in the 498t sound very well balanced to me. The Custom 5 is a little darker and mushier.

I'm leaning toward the Custom instead of the 500t on most of my guitars, which are Floyded, because to my knowledge Gibson doesn't have a wide variety of aftermarket trem spaced pups with four conductors.

Also, is the 496r a bright neck pup like an EMG 60 or a Duncan Jazz? It's ceramic. I imagine it's on a lot of stock Explorers because it's Gibson's version of a moderate output bright neck pickup.

Thanks.

 

[blueman335]

Re: Gibson 500T vs. Duncan Custom

To me, the 498T and Custom 5 are pretty bright and fairly thin. I'm not a ceramic guy, but out of the several ceramic PU's I've had, I think the 500T sounds the best. JazzN's are bright and clear.

BTW, it's easy to convert a single lead HB so that you can get coil cut from it. I figured out a short cut.

 

[Demanic]

Re: Gibson 500T vs. Duncan Custom

Try a UOA5 in that Custom5 and see what you think.

 

[Aceman]

Re: Gibson 500T vs. Duncan Custom

The thing about the C4, is that it has an extreme eq curve (on paper and to my ears). The Custom is tighter, brighter, and louder, without being as extreme. I much much prefer it.

It's like a Distortion except the bass is very present and thumps, but without as much mids - but it still has mids.

I think PAF on steroids is very true, but also very much an understatement. Custom is HArd Rock or Metal, whereas the Distortion is Heavy Metal.

 

[treyhaislip]

Re: Gibson 500T vs. Duncan Custom

I really love the 500T but I love the "edge" Ceramic magnets tend to have, nice bite even on the clean tones (not saying they are never smooth and clean, just that they tend to have a bit of an edge to them.) I think the suggestion for a UOA5 in the Custom would be very interesting to hear!

 

[Inflames626]

Re: Gibson 500T vs. Duncan Custom

Re Aceman's post, I don't know if I'd like even more bass on a Distortion, which to me is what an Alternative 8 is, with the addition of a very harsh and fizzy spike somewhere in the mids that makes a JB sound tame by comparison.

 

[blueman335]

Re: Gibson 500T vs. Duncan Custom

Try a UOA5 in that Custom5 and see what you think.

The 'Blueman Signature Custom' as one member called it. Lots of vintage texture, with more bite than a CC. That's the Custom variant that sounds the most like a PAF on steroids.

 

[dystrust]

Re: Gibson 500T vs. Duncan Custom

The thing about the C4, is that it has an extreme eq curve (on paper and to my ears). The Custom is tighter, brighter, and louder, without being as extreme. I much much prefer it.

It's like a Distortion except the bass is very present and thumps, but without as much mids - but it still has mids.

I think PAF on steroids is very true, but also very much an understatement. Custom is HArd Rock or Metal, whereas the Distortion is Heavy Metal.

Pretty sure you mean C5 instead of C4. I've had a C5 in my parts bin for over a decade and tried it in several guitars. It was decent but overly bright in my super strat (Kahler instead of a Floyd), while I hated it in all of the Gibsons I tried.

I'm familiar with both the original Custom and Gibson 500T, and I prefer the Custom of the two. The 500T has slightly fizzy high end and generally mediocre clarity, while the Custom really does sound like a PAF on steroids.

 

[Rex_Rocker]

Re: Gibson 500T vs. Duncan Custom

Funny thing is the 500T, 498T, and 490T are all trem-spaced! Gibson's neck pickups and the historically accurate pups (57, Burstbucker, etc.) are G-spaced. The spacing on the "T" models is like 52 mm.

I think it can be seen pretty clearly in this pic from Gibson's site that the bridge pickup is definitely wider-spaced than the neck pickup:

 

[hamerfan]

Re: Gibson 500T vs. Duncan Custom

I got a 500T fairly cheap and found it a bit on the shrill side and put it away. Then i read about a de-shrilling mod for it: get a wood spacer and jank out the side magnet. Yap, thats it: a bit more cutting and clear than the SD Distortion, but still ballsy and pushing in the mids. I like it better than my other two ceramic pickups (Distortion and Custom). Call it the Hamerfan Signature Ceramic Pickup.

 

[treyhaislip]

Re: Gibson 500T vs. Duncan Custom

I got a 500T fairly cheap and found it a bit on the shrill side and put it away. Then i read about a de-shrilling mod for it: get a wood spacer and jank out the side magnet. Yap, thats it: a bit more cutting and clear than the SD Distortion, but still ballsy and pushing in the mids. I like it better than my other two ceramic pickups (Distortion and Custom). Call it the Hamerfan Signature Ceramic Pickup.

That is interesting! I have it in a Strat and replaces the screws with hex/allen keys and loved the tone–a bit more focused. Never heard of that mod, sounds interesting!

 

[RiverDog]

Re: Gibson 500T vs. Duncan Custom

I got a 500T fairly cheap and found it a bit on the shrill side and put it away. Then i read about a de-shrilling mod for it: get a wood spacer and jank out the side magnet. Yap, thats it: a bit more cutting and clear than the SD Distortion, but still ballsy and pushing in the mids. I like it better than my other two ceramic pickups (Distortion and Custom). Call it the Hamerfan Signature Ceramic Pickup.

Where would one find this mod kind sir? I have a 500t that could use a little de-shrilling.

 

[King IzzO)))]

Re: Gibson 500T vs. Duncan Custom

There's a trick for getting rid of the fuzzy sound that the 500T has too, involves swapping the screws and slugs.

I like the 500T myself, and the 496R. With a few mods they're excellent, if you've already got a set. That said, I wouldn't buy them new. What Gibson charges is ridiculous.

 

[King IzzO)))]

Re: Gibson 500T vs. Duncan Custom

Where would one find this mod kind sir? I have a 500t that could use a little de-shrilling.

You just pop it open and remove the spacer mags. Put in new wood or plastic spacers and put it back together, done.

They also sound warmer/less harsh with a keeper bar installed, which they don't come with stock. You need to have a donor pickup (like a dead 498T) though.

 

[Inflames626]

Re: Gibson 500T vs. Duncan Custom

Interesting. Thanks for the info on pole pieces.

I generally prefer Floyded guitars just because you can do more tricks with them, but I have a few tune-o-matics that I use for quick retunes on rhythm parts. I generally kept things Seymour for Floyds and Gibson for tune-o-matics because I thought the spacing wouldn't match up. That, and I couldn't imagine a fizzy pickup like a Distortion or 500T in a fixed bridge axe when fizzy pups are meant for leads and whammy tricks. Something thumpy with a fixed bridge for rhythm like a C5 while a Distortion does the solos fits my ear better.

If a 500T is fizzier and more shrill than a Distortion though I don't think it would be that useful. My complaints with the Distortion is why I generally went with a FS set instead, and will soon try a neck model Distortion in the bridge. Cutting highs are fine as well as the saturation those pickups provide but they need not cause ear fatigue.

Fear of fizz is what lead me to try the 498t instead of the 500t, with the 498t being one of my favorite thump pickups. Seems very well balanced.

Does the 496r clean up well?

 

[ItsaBass]

Gibson 500T vs. Duncan Custom

IME:

The 500T is a thick and honking pickup. It's all about pure midrange and huge output. There is no "treble" to speak of. Low-headroom amps and "warm" speakers hate it; it's at home piped through a 100W amp and tight speakers. Its very similar to a JB in its basic character, but a bit more articulate and aggressive sounding. I find it to be a good pickup for a one trick pony of a guitar, but very hard to find a decent neck match for, and very hard to get much versatility out of. Also, magnet swaps, even of the most extreme variety, pretty much do nothing to it. Weird. I converted mine to an A3 half-airbucker, yet it pretty much sounded the same as stock. If you don't already know, A3 is the weakest commonly used Alnico magnet, and an air or half-air and mod also generally kills some output and adds some clarity. But I think the pick up is just wound too extremely to be affected much by the finer details of magnet selection and placement.

The Custom is a bit cleaner and more articulate. It is still a hot pick up, but not as thick and juicy as the 500T. But it is quite a bit more versatile in my opinion. It still isn't big on the treble. They are both hot, midrangey pickups.

If you like the 498, I would highly suggest the Custom over the 500T.

 

[Rex_Rocker]

Re: Gibson 500T vs. Duncan Custom

So... is the 500T wound with 44 awg wire or 43? I've read in this forum it's just a 498T with triple ceramic mags (43 awg), but I also remember reading it's a 44 awg like a JB. So which is it?

 

[hamerfan]

Re: Gibson 500T vs. Duncan Custom


These are the innards of a 500t. You see no keeper bar but 2 side magnets. You can remove both and take the lead wire thru the channel and fill the second gap with a wood spacer. amuch less aggressive pickup.

 

[Aceman]

Re: Gibson 500T vs. Duncan Custom

IME:

The 500T is a thick and honking pickup. It's all about pure midrange and huge output. There is no "treble" to speak of.

You need to get your ears cleaned or your hearing checked! :chairfall

The 500t is a ceramic SCREAMER plain and simple. It will cut glass.

 

[blueman335]

Re: Gibson 500T vs. Duncan Custom

You need to get your ears cleaned or your hearing checked! :chairfall

The 500t is a ceramic SCREAMER plain and simple. It will cut glass.

Remember, Itsabass is a big single coil fan, and his ears are conditioned. A lot of HB's are going to sound thick to him.