Nostalgic Distortion
New member
I've got a LPM on the way that I've only ever played once and it was not under ideal conditions by a long shot!!! For those of you that know please enlighten me.....
Gibson 61 Zebra Humbucker Impressions....
- Thread starter Nostalgic Distortion
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JeffB
Let it B
Re: Gibson 61 Zebra Humbucker Impressions....
They are a Burstbucker with reversed coils...slug coil is hotter. I have had both the a2 version (59 Tribute) and the a5 version, the 61s.
My 61s had/have roughcast mags and are similar to the BB Pros. They are not very midrangey and have that Tele-like uneven wound PAF tone. Not scooped, but not pushed either. They are bright and low output. My lead version was at 8k and neck barely cracked 7.8 They are sweeter sounding than their burstbucker counterparts, not as brash/harsh and have slightly more low end and sweeter top end.
Not all guitars came with a lead and standard version. The SGs for example came with two standard (neck) versions. Unsure about your guitar.
They are a Burstbucker with reversed coils...slug coil is hotter. I have had both the a2 version (59 Tribute) and the a5 version, the 61s.
My 61s had/have roughcast mags and are similar to the BB Pros. They are not very midrangey and have that Tele-like uneven wound PAF tone. Not scooped, but not pushed either. They are bright and low output. My lead version was at 8k and neck barely cracked 7.8 They are sweeter sounding than their burstbucker counterparts, not as brash/harsh and have slightly more low end and sweeter top end.
Not all guitars came with a lead and standard version. The SGs for example came with two standard (neck) versions. Unsure about your guitar.
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EmiAba
Active member
Re: Gibson 61 Zebra Humbucker Impressions....
they are a variant of burstbucker pros. and like pros, they are loaded with A5 magnet and have unbalanced coils. in this case the screw coil has more winding turns than the slug coil; this means that the "single coil like" effect of pros is reduced.
in my opinion they are too midscooped (like all A5 pickups), harsh with high gain and uninspiring. only a marketing operation like the 59 tribute (a copy of 57 classic)
they are a variant of burstbucker pros. and like pros, they are loaded with A5 magnet and have unbalanced coils. in this case the screw coil has more winding turns than the slug coil; this means that the "single coil like" effect of pros is reduced.
in my opinion they are too midscooped (like all A5 pickups), harsh with high gain and uninspiring. only a marketing operation like the 59 tribute (a copy of 57 classic)
hydro
Prayin' to Cheeses
Re: Gibson 61 Zebra Humbucker Impressions....
I liked the ones that are in my SGJ. I think someone said the neck version was in both positions, maybe that was why the bridge position did not sound harsh to my ears. They are a little mid scooped, as I recall. Overall I found them to be pretty clear sounding and well balanced EQ. That guitar is loaned out right now so I can't check it out again to be sure, but my recollection was that they were nice pickups for a guitar in that price range.
I liked the ones that are in my SGJ. I think someone said the neck version was in both positions, maybe that was why the bridge position did not sound harsh to my ears. They are a little mid scooped, as I recall. Overall I found them to be pretty clear sounding and well balanced EQ. That guitar is loaned out right now so I can't check it out again to be sure, but my recollection was that they were nice pickups for a guitar in that price range.
donaldr
Well-known member
Re: Gibson 61 Zebra Humbucker Impressions....
I have them in my Gibosn LPJ 2014 and like them.
Mine are reading both 7.8k. They are bright but there's a tone knob on your Les Paul for that!!!
For me they are performing better with EB 11-48 strings than with DR strings (which I have on all my other guitars). I think Gibson LPM is coming with 9-42, so a bit thin to start with.
I would say there are versatile pickups. I can go from a clean sound on neck with volume on 3 to a heavy sound on bridge and everything in between on single channel Marshall JCM800 without boost/distortion and just by playing with the volume knob. Useful for blues to classic rock to '80s hard rock (and maybe other styles that I don't play).
I had to play with the height a bit to have them sounding the way I liked.
I have them in my Gibosn LPJ 2014 and like them.
Mine are reading both 7.8k. They are bright but there's a tone knob on your Les Paul for that!!!
For me they are performing better with EB 11-48 strings than with DR strings (which I have on all my other guitars). I think Gibson LPM is coming with 9-42, so a bit thin to start with.
I would say there are versatile pickups. I can go from a clean sound on neck with volume on 3 to a heavy sound on bridge and everything in between on single channel Marshall JCM800 without boost/distortion and just by playing with the volume knob. Useful for blues to classic rock to '80s hard rock (and maybe other styles that I don't play).
I had to play with the height a bit to have them sounding the way I liked.
stratguy23
New member
Re: Gibson 61 Zebra Humbucker Impressions....
I agree a lot with JeffB's assessment and somewhat with EmiAba's. The 61 worked great in an LPJ I had, and not so great in an SGJ. I think the low end muscle of the LPJ complemented the bright/thin qualities of the 61.
It's a very decent PAF, if not a standout one. I didn't find it particularly nuanced, though it was sort of enjoyably rough-edged, like a garage rock interpretation of a PAF.
The neck 61, being an A5, might actually match well with the 498T bridge.
I agree a lot with JeffB's assessment and somewhat with EmiAba's. The 61 worked great in an LPJ I had, and not so great in an SGJ. I think the low end muscle of the LPJ complemented the bright/thin qualities of the 61.
It's a very decent PAF, if not a standout one. I didn't find it particularly nuanced, though it was sort of enjoyably rough-edged, like a garage rock interpretation of a PAF.
The neck 61, being an A5, might actually match well with the 498T bridge.
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