Gibson pups
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benji657
Guest
Re: Gibson pups
here ya go
here ya go
Re: Gibson pups
They are humbuckers that use a ceramic magnet. For great Tone, I highly recommend Duncan pups instead.
They are humbuckers that use a ceramic magnet. For great Tone, I highly recommend Duncan pups instead.
Alvin Lee Fan
New member
Re: Gibson pups
490 = A2 mag
498 = A5 mag
490 is pretty sweet with a high-mid hump, more modern sounding than a '57 Classic.
498 is pretty hot, again good strong mids.
I personally find they don't balance well together, there's too much difference in the outputs. YMMV
490 = A2 mag
498 = A5 mag
490 is pretty sweet with a high-mid hump, more modern sounding than a '57 Classic.
498 is pretty hot, again good strong mids.
I personally find they don't balance well together, there's too much difference in the outputs. YMMV
Re: Gibson pups
490 is A2 magnet, around 7.7-8.0k resistance. It's a thick, warm PAF type.
498T is A5, around 14k resistance; it's tight and has a sharp midrange bite and glassy highs.
Some like these, some hate them. The biggest complaint about them(which I tend to agree with) is they are a poor match for each other; EQ your gear for one, and the other sounds lousy. But individually I think they're better than they're given credit for around here.
490 is A2 magnet, around 7.7-8.0k resistance. It's a thick, warm PAF type.
498T is A5, around 14k resistance; it's tight and has a sharp midrange bite and glassy highs.
Some like these, some hate them. The biggest complaint about them(which I tend to agree with) is they are a poor match for each other; EQ your gear for one, and the other sounds lousy. But individually I think they're better than they're given credit for around here.
Captain Tightpants
New member
Re: Gibson pups
Agreed, as far as the 490 goes. I've got a 490R in the bridge of my Strat and a 490T in my Warmoth Tele, very good pickups in those applications for blues and rock. I don't have much experience with the 498, tho, sorry.
Agreed, as far as the 490 goes. I've got a 490R in the bridge of my Strat and a 490T in my Warmoth Tele, very good pickups in those applications for blues and rock. I don't have much experience with the 498, tho, sorry.
Gearjoneser
Gear Ho
Re: Gibson pups
Ironically, I prefer them in Fenders or superstrats over Gibsons......mostly because they impart a bit of Gibson-ness to a bolt-on guitar.
However, in Gibsons I tend to want the sweetness of Duncans, although Gibson does make some very worthy pickups.....especially the Burstbuckers and 57 Classics.
Ironically, I prefer them in Fenders or superstrats over Gibsons......mostly because they impart a bit of Gibson-ness to a bolt-on guitar.
However, in Gibsons I tend to want the sweetness of Duncans, although Gibson does make some very worthy pickups.....especially the Burstbuckers and 57 Classics.
Empty Pockets
BadHairDayologist
Re: Gibson pups
not to hijack the thread, but do you guys know what the 500T's resistance is? I'm trying to compare it in my head to some Duncan pickups, 'cuz it's really close to what i want but not quite there.
not to hijack the thread, but do you guys know what the 500T's resistance is? I'm trying to compare it in my head to some Duncan pickups, 'cuz it's really close to what i want but not quite there.
Empty Pockets
BadHairDayologist
Re: Gibson pups
well i think i'm actually 'on topic' if this is just a thread about Gibson pickups. Your questions were answered before I posted.
well i think i'm actually 'on topic' if this is just a thread about Gibson pickups. Your questions were answered before I posted.
Boogie Bill
New member
Re: Gibson pups
I think the 500T is up around 16K at least. Of the 500T vs. the 498T, I actually prefer the ceramic 500T to the A5 498T. I think the 500T sounds closer to a typical lower output PAF-type, but it is JACKED. It would just totally overload the LEAD channels of my Mesa amp and make the bass notes very flubby (sort of like what Santana's got on "Supernatural"). I think the high-output 496R/500T work very well with old black-face Fenders and non-MV Marshalls, but you can lower them and clean them up a bit. I replaced the 496R/500T on my two Les Paul Classics with the MF 50th Anniv. Seth Lovers and a set of Antiquitys, and got the sound I was looking for.
At least the sound of the 496R/500T are consistent and coherent--the 490R/498T are not. The 498T is probably a good pickup for the guy that wants a hard rock/metal sound from his LP Custom into his Marshall amp. But it is not a good all-around pickup, at least not for me.
Bill
I think the 500T is up around 16K at least. Of the 500T vs. the 498T, I actually prefer the ceramic 500T to the A5 498T. I think the 500T sounds closer to a typical lower output PAF-type, but it is JACKED. It would just totally overload the LEAD channels of my Mesa amp and make the bass notes very flubby (sort of like what Santana's got on "Supernatural"). I think the high-output 496R/500T work very well with old black-face Fenders and non-MV Marshalls, but you can lower them and clean them up a bit. I replaced the 496R/500T on my two Les Paul Classics with the MF 50th Anniv. Seth Lovers and a set of Antiquitys, and got the sound I was looking for.
At least the sound of the 496R/500T are consistent and coherent--the 490R/498T are not. The 498T is probably a good pickup for the guy that wants a hard rock/metal sound from his LP Custom into his Marshall amp. But it is not a good all-around pickup, at least not for me.
Bill
Boogie Bill
New member
Re: Gibson pups
I haven't had that much experience with the BB Pros. I do like the BB 1 & 2 set better, I think.
Bill
I haven't had that much experience with the BB Pros. I do like the BB 1 & 2 set better, I think.
Bill
blueman335
Mojo's Minions
Re: Gibson pups
The 490R/498T are good PU's, but like many think, not that good together. The easiest solution is to swap magnets. By putting the A5 in the neck (490R) it makes it come alive & gives it sparkle; otherwise, I find A2 magnets to be too dark, dull & lifeless in neck PU's, at least in my LP's, SG's, and 335's. The neck position is naturally very strong on mids & lows as it is, and A2's are very heavy on mids (with very little treble) so dark plus dark doesn't work so well, unless you have a really bright body wood.
Putting the A2 in the bridge (498T) takes off the shrill high end & smoothes it out nicely. Makes it warm. The bridge position is naturally very sharp & bright, and A5's can make it too bright because they have scooped mids. An A2 will replace the missing mids & balance the EQ on a bridge PU.
Too many players remove their 490R/498T's & sell them, when in many cases, they could get the sound they want by simply swapping the magnets.
The 490R/498T are good PU's, but like many think, not that good together. The easiest solution is to swap magnets. By putting the A5 in the neck (490R) it makes it come alive & gives it sparkle; otherwise, I find A2 magnets to be too dark, dull & lifeless in neck PU's, at least in my LP's, SG's, and 335's. The neck position is naturally very strong on mids & lows as it is, and A2's are very heavy on mids (with very little treble) so dark plus dark doesn't work so well, unless you have a really bright body wood.
Putting the A2 in the bridge (498T) takes off the shrill high end & smoothes it out nicely. Makes it warm. The bridge position is naturally very sharp & bright, and A5's can make it too bright because they have scooped mids. An A2 will replace the missing mids & balance the EQ on a bridge PU.
Too many players remove their 490R/498T's & sell them, when in many cases, they could get the sound they want by simply swapping the magnets.
Aceman
I am your doctor of love!
Re: Gibson pups
Here is a way to think of it. This is NOT correct, but I think it gives the right relative relationships...
490 is kinda like an A2P...just not as good sounding.
498 is kinda like...well, nothing, Distortion light maybe? Mega 59? But it is an A5 rocker.
See why they don't match well? A2P + DD - but it would cover a lot of ground!
500T is a ceramic sceamer! JB but a bit less harsh IMO - very cool!
BB's are like progressively hotter PG's. BB1 = PG neck, BB2 = PG bridge, BB3 = PG bridge on steriods.
Not sure about the pro's . Anyway, that's how I look at them....I agree that Gibson pups are much maligned for no good reason. Any given one of those is pretty cool, and flexible. I think most here would take a 500t over a JB in blind tests. I also agree the 490/98 combo is not good.
Here is a way to think of it. This is NOT correct, but I think it gives the right relative relationships...
490 is kinda like an A2P...just not as good sounding.
498 is kinda like...well, nothing, Distortion light maybe? Mega 59? But it is an A5 rocker.
See why they don't match well? A2P + DD - but it would cover a lot of ground!
500T is a ceramic sceamer! JB but a bit less harsh IMO - very cool!
BB's are like progressively hotter PG's. BB1 = PG neck, BB2 = PG bridge, BB3 = PG bridge on steriods.
Not sure about the pro's . Anyway, that's how I look at them....I agree that Gibson pups are much maligned for no good reason. Any given one of those is pretty cool, and flexible. I think most here would take a 500t over a JB in blind tests. I also agree the 490/98 combo is not good.
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disturb
New member
Re: Gibson pups
Mine is 14.8K. Of course it's out of the guitar. Replaced with AII Pro bridge. Much better.
Mine is 14.8K. Of course it's out of the guitar. Replaced with AII Pro bridge. Much better.
marvar
New member
Re: Gibson pups
I don't think that is correct- at least mot by measuring the DC resistance-
My 498 =14.6K
My 500=16.2K
The only guitar I've been happy with the 498 in is my ES 335, in every other guitar I've tried it in it was just too bright for me.
BTW I have a zebra 498T for sale.
I don't think that is correct- at least mot by measuring the DC resistance-
My 498 =14.6K
My 500=16.2K
The only guitar I've been happy with the 498 in is my ES 335, in every other guitar I've tried it in it was just too bright for me.
BTW I have a zebra 498T for sale.