Gibson Classic 57s?
- Thread starter MDS
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Kac
Hootersologist
Re: Gibson Classic 57s?
This may not be of any help to you, but I had one in a "frankenstrat" guitar I built from with an Alder body Fender Strat, it sounded great in there, cleaned up better than the higher output humbuckers that I'm used to. It was very versatile for me, and I think they would be good in a Les Paul.
Rock On :headbang:
This may not be of any help to you, but I had one in a "frankenstrat" guitar I built from with an Alder body Fender Strat, it sounded great in there, cleaned up better than the higher output humbuckers that I'm used to. It was very versatile for me, and I think they would be good in a Les Paul.
Rock On :headbang:
Robert S.
Super Moderator
Re: Gibson Classic 57s?
The 57 Classics have somewhat of a bad reputation in a few places on the internet but I don't nessessarily agree with that. The thing is that the 57s are supposed to be a repro of the late 50s Gibson PAFs. Anytime that anyone including Gibson trys to put out a PAF repro they are painting a huge bullseye on their forheads. PAF guys are a very fussy bunch and some seem to get offended just because somebody tries to repro those pickups.
Now I have played on a few PAFs over the years and I know what they sound like. I don't think the 57 Classics are that close to the original PAFS but they are a deceint sounding pickup. I have a 59 re-issue LP that came with the 57 Classics in it and I played that guitar for maybe 2 years before I changed them out. I receintly re-installed them for reasons other than tone and I've been playing them for a couple of days now.
I'm getting some nice tone from them and if I had to have those pickups in that guitar, I wouldn't sell it. That being said, the 57 Classics will be coming out in the next couple of days to be replaced by a set of SD Antiquities that I have in another LP.
I like the 57 Classics just fine but there are better choices for me and what I like from a guitar.
The 57 Classics have somewhat of a bad reputation in a few places on the internet but I don't nessessarily agree with that. The thing is that the 57s are supposed to be a repro of the late 50s Gibson PAFs. Anytime that anyone including Gibson trys to put out a PAF repro they are painting a huge bullseye on their forheads. PAF guys are a very fussy bunch and some seem to get offended just because somebody tries to repro those pickups.
Now I have played on a few PAFs over the years and I know what they sound like. I don't think the 57 Classics are that close to the original PAFS but they are a deceint sounding pickup. I have a 59 re-issue LP that came with the 57 Classics in it and I played that guitar for maybe 2 years before I changed them out. I receintly re-installed them for reasons other than tone and I've been playing them for a couple of days now.
I'm getting some nice tone from them and if I had to have those pickups in that guitar, I wouldn't sell it. That being said, the 57 Classics will be coming out in the next couple of days to be replaced by a set of SD Antiquities that I have in another LP.
I like the 57 Classics just fine but there are better choices for me and what I like from a guitar.
Zhangliqun
Questionologist
Re: Gibson Classic 57s?
I think they're pretty under-rated, as are the Burstbuckers.
I think they're pretty under-rated, as are the Burstbuckers.
Re: Gibson Classic 57s?
I think so too. They're very warm and creamy sounding. I think it personally craps all over the '59 for the neck position....much better definition and less boomy of a bottom end. Just creamy but not muddy.
I wasn't a huge fan of it in the bridge but then again I like something a with a bit more of an aggressive cut.
But in the neck I think that's how a PAF-type humbucker should sound....at least to my ears.
Zhangliqun said:
I think so too. They're very warm and creamy sounding. I think it personally craps all over the '59 for the neck position....much better definition and less boomy of a bottom end. Just creamy but not muddy.
I wasn't a huge fan of it in the bridge but then again I like something a with a bit more of an aggressive cut.
But in the neck I think that's how a PAF-type humbucker should sound....at least to my ears.
Simon_F
Super Moderator
Re: Gibson Classic 57s?
When I acquired my '91 Les Paul Classic it had a set of '57 Classics in it and I played them for about three months. The bridge pickup had a fat aggressive tone that worked really well for classic rock, but didn't clean up as nicely as some of the Duncans I have played. The neck pickup was OK (much nicer than the 490R that was in my Std), but a little lacking in top end for my tastes. Overall, not a bad set of pickups, but I had already played various Duncans that I liked better. The Duncan PAF-alikes seem more responsive to changes in volume and pick attack - somehow they have more "range" and character. Eventually I sold the '57s and invested the money in a set of Antiquities. The Antiquities also do great classic rock tones, but they have the added advantage of doing stinging blues and sweet jazzy tones too.
When I acquired my '91 Les Paul Classic it had a set of '57 Classics in it and I played them for about three months. The bridge pickup had a fat aggressive tone that worked really well for classic rock, but didn't clean up as nicely as some of the Duncans I have played. The neck pickup was OK (much nicer than the 490R that was in my Std), but a little lacking in top end for my tastes. Overall, not a bad set of pickups, but I had already played various Duncans that I liked better. The Duncan PAF-alikes seem more responsive to changes in volume and pick attack - somehow they have more "range" and character. Eventually I sold the '57s and invested the money in a set of Antiquities. The Antiquities also do great classic rock tones, but they have the added advantage of doing stinging blues and sweet jazzy tones too.
Robert S.
Super Moderator
Re: Gibson Classic 57s?
I don't know that thick and creamy are the best adjectives to describe the 57 Classics. They are fairly balanced sounding and warm enough thanks to the alnico II magnets but all high 7k - low 8k pickups sound somewhat bright to me. Now I'm not talking glassy like the SD 59s but there is definately some top end to the 57 Classics, especially in the bridge model. Typically I roll off the volume pot or tone pot for clean tones with neck pickups, looking for more of a jazz box type of tone. Quite a few players way back in the day rolled off the volume pots for their clean tones and rolled back up for added output and top end during lead work so maybe thats why I hear tone the way I do.
Like I said the 57 Classics are ok but once you hear a set of Antiquities you're ruined for life. They have so much character and complexity to their tone that nothing else really does it for me in the PAF ballpark.
I don't know that thick and creamy are the best adjectives to describe the 57 Classics. They are fairly balanced sounding and warm enough thanks to the alnico II magnets but all high 7k - low 8k pickups sound somewhat bright to me. Now I'm not talking glassy like the SD 59s but there is definately some top end to the 57 Classics, especially in the bridge model. Typically I roll off the volume pot or tone pot for clean tones with neck pickups, looking for more of a jazz box type of tone. Quite a few players way back in the day rolled off the volume pots for their clean tones and rolled back up for added output and top end during lead work so maybe thats why I hear tone the way I do.
Like I said the 57 Classics are ok but once you hear a set of Antiquities you're ruined for life. They have so much character and complexity to their tone that nothing else really does it for me in the PAF ballpark.
Butch Snyder
ObsoleteChickenPickingologist
Re: Gibson Classic 57s?
Hey Robert, what LP is in your avatar and what pickups are in it?
Hey Robert, what LP is in your avatar and what pickups are in it?
skynyrdlover1
New member
Re: Gibson Classic 57s?
Hey:i Have A Set Of Seth Lovers In My Paul.do You Think They Are Better Paf Copies Than The 57's
Hey:i Have A Set Of Seth Lovers In My Paul.do You Think They Are Better Paf Copies Than The 57's
Simon_F
Super Moderator
Re: Gibson Classic 57s?
That's a matter of opinion, and opinion on what a PAF should sound like varies widely. The Gibson spec was fairly loose in the PAF days.
But, in my opinion, YES.
I've never played a real PAF, but both Seths and Antiquities nail the vintage rock and blues tones I love better than my '57s did.
skynyrdlover1 said:
That's a matter of opinion, and opinion on what a PAF should sound like varies widely. The Gibson spec was fairly loose in the PAF days.
But, in my opinion, YES.
I've never played a real PAF, but both Seths and Antiquities nail the vintage rock and blues tones I love better than my '57s did.
DesertRose
New member
Re: Gibson Classic 57s?
I don't think so. I could be wrong, but the stock LP pickups are far from Duncans. I Even changed my burstbuckers to Duncans
I don't think so. I could be wrong, but the stock LP pickups are far from Duncans. I Even changed my burstbuckers to Duncans
Robert S.
Super Moderator
Re: Gibson Classic 57s?
Butch, thats my 2001 59 RI and the pickups in the picture are zebra 59s. Later that guitar had reverse zebra SD Jimmy Page pickups and now it has the 57 Classics in it.
As soon as my parts order comes in it will have Antiquities in it.
Benjy, The Seths are probably closest spec-wise. I'd have to look the 57 Classic specs up to be sure. Remember though that a pickups tone isn't just a composite of its materials and amount of wind but how it is wound as well. I wouldn't say they sound all that much alike.
Butch, thats my 2001 59 RI and the pickups in the picture are zebra 59s. Later that guitar had reverse zebra SD Jimmy Page pickups and now it has the 57 Classics in it.
As soon as my parts order comes in it will have Antiquities in it.
Benjy, The Seths are probably closest spec-wise. I'd have to look the 57 Classic specs up to be sure. Remember though that a pickups tone isn't just a composite of its materials and amount of wind but how it is wound as well. I wouldn't say they sound all that much alike.
Jeffrec
New member
Re: Gibson Classic 57s?
I totally agree with RS. The '57's are nice sounding pups. Somewhat "toppy", but not too bright. Once you've sampled the SD Antiquities, you're hooked. I don't care what "flavor of the week" the guys over at the LP Forum are raving about, the SD Ants are the best, and closest-to-PAF-sounding pups I've ever heard; and I too, have played many real-deal PAF's, which by-the-way, vary considerably.
JMO,
Jeff
Robert S. said:
I totally agree with RS. The '57's are nice sounding pups. Somewhat "toppy", but not too bright. Once you've sampled the SD Antiquities, you're hooked. I don't care what "flavor of the week" the guys over at the LP Forum are raving about, the SD Ants are the best, and closest-to-PAF-sounding pups I've ever heard; and I too, have played many real-deal PAF's, which by-the-way, vary considerably.
JMO,
Jeff
