Gibson Midtown Pickup swap advice needed

N

Newget

New member
Hello, I'd like to change out the Burstbucker 1 & 2 out of my Midtown for something warmer and smoother. I find the burstbuckers a bit too thin and snappy on the treble. Their vintage tone is nice and there is a bit of an "airy" quality to them but I'd like more air and fullness. I'm trying to get more 335 tone than SG tone. The Midtown seems to be planted somewhere inbetween the SG and 335 to ally to my ear. I figured a pickup change may help.

I like the stock tone of the Midtown, it has a shimmery clink to it that sounds "macho" but when I want to dial in some Dickey Betts or Clapton 335 tones it is very difficult to dial out that shimmer. Thanks for your suggestions.
 
Re: Gibson Midtown Pickup swap advice needed

Before replacing those pups, do what Pepe says and set the BB pups close to the strings. If that doesn't help enough, you also may want to try replacing the vol pot with a lower value 250k pot (measured at close to 225k).

But it's not a simple task to replace a pot in the Midtown, so you may just want to turn down the tone pot after raising the pups.
 
Re: Gibson Midtown Pickup swap advice needed

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u2sjeVQpS94

To listen through good headphones... Compare for example 8:42 to 8:52 and ask yourself which length of cable Clapton used to plug his 335. Maybe you'll find there one more parm to explore before to change your pickups.

Good luck in your quest!
 
Re: Gibson Midtown Pickup swap advice needed

Welcome to the Forum!

If you try these, and you still want to find some warmer pickups (I would too), check out the Seth Lovers, which sound great in any semi-hollows I have tried them in.
 
Re: Gibson Midtown Pickup swap advice needed

Thanks for the info. I had the pickups closer when I bought it back in December and I do like the tone better when they are closer but I've got this weird problem when the neck pup is closer. When I drive the amp harder any note I play above the 16th fret has a rattle/buzz as if it's fretting out. I lowered it and it went away. I raised it again tonight and got better tone but the rattle returned. The bridge is less than 1/4" away and it still sounds thin but has such a great snap quality to it, like a snarling bite. I rather like this bite but wish it could be thicker.
Thanks for the suggestions
 
Re: Gibson Midtown Pickup swap advice needed

Do you have the midtown Bigsby model, or one of the other Midtowns?

I have a Bigsby version. It has 57 classics (I think a Classic Plus in the bridge) and I love the way mine sounds. And I say this as someone who does *not* like 57 classics.

Midtowns are killer guitars. They aren't the prettiest girls at the dance but damn.... :p
 
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