High Output Gibson Pickups: 498T vs. 500T vs Dirty Fingers

[Lasse Lammert]

I always wondered how Gibson's most common high output humbuckers compared to each other...so that's what I set out to do.
All three pickups are in the same guitar, same strings, same distance to the strings, same riffs, same amp and settings etc. The only variable is the pickup (and the playing obviously, but I tried to keep that consistent). The pickups are:

498T
500T
Dirty Fingers (original from 1980)

Guitar: 2013 Gibson Les Paul Traditional
Amp: EVH 5150 III
Cab: Engl Pro with a single sm57 (my IR in 2n Torpedo Live)
1 track on each side, zero post processing

 

[Swampy]

Re: High Output Gibson Pickups: 498T vs. 500T vs Dirty Fingers

All sound great, but there’s something about the Dirty Fingers that stand out a bit more to me.

Cool video, and very cool little studio you have there. Home Studio?

 

[Lasse Lammert]

Re: High Output Gibson Pickups: 498T vs. 500T vs Dirty Fingers

All sound great, but there’s something about the Dirty Fingers that stand out a bit more to me.

Cool video, and very cool little studio you have there. Home Studio?

Thanks!
yeah I loved the clarity of the DF wilst still having a nice crunchy tone to it.

Studio is actually my day job:

www.LasseLammert.com

 

[Aceman]

Re: High Output Gibson Pickups: 498T vs. 500T vs Dirty Fingers

Great vid! You know what would be awesome? If you could crossfade say the 498 to the 500 to the DF in just the Holy Diver riff....or maybe just cut three times together pup to pup to pup. Just to put them a little closer for even better comparison. Some solo riffage would have been nice also for lead tones.

Comments:

1. I thought the 498 sounded great. I know a lot of people love to hate, but seriously, what was wrong or bad about that. Just a little more bass, a little smoother, and a touch less aggressive than the others. I repeat: You could play anything decently with that. Stop hating. I'd be happy playing a lot more less aggressive music with that compared to the others.

2. Ahhh - 500T. You could hear the tighter bass, the extra mids, and the immediacy and a crunch. It just was just angry and brash. Love the 500T. But I also love the Duncan Distortion, so, no surprise their. That sound is my happy place.

3. Dirty Fingers is just awesome hot stupidity IMO, just like the X2N. I could just feel the hair on each note with that. Not always in the mood for that extra evil that a DF brings, but when I am, I love it.


Well done!

 

[Rex_Rocker]

Re: High Output Gibson Pickups: 498T vs. 500T vs Dirty Fingers

I really liked the 500T in here. Sounded the most aggressive to my ears.

 

[Aceman]

Re: High Output Gibson Pickups: 498T vs. 500T vs Dirty Fingers

I would choose the 498 for Def Leppard or Maiden

I would pick the 500t for Priest or early Metallica or Ratt

I'd go with the DF for mid-era Megadeth or Black Album Metallica