Is there any Brobucker Equivalent or something close to it out there?

[Nightburst]

I just love this pickup in my SG and want another one for in my PRS but I don't feel like ordering a custom shop bucker right now. I would be happy enough with something close or similar that is a regular production model.
Is there anything out there?
For me the BB is just right in all aspects, plenty of mids, balls, bass, highs and just the right amount of output. I have really grown to dislike hotter pickups even when I play high gain, I prefer the more open sound of the 10K but a regular PAF is too weak.
Any ideas or suggestions? Doesn't have to be a duncan per se...

 

[Chistopher]

Re: Is there any Brobucker Equivalent or something close to it out there?

Not really. You could get a used Brobucker in the trading post or on Reverb though. You won't have the 6 week wait and it'll be cheaper too.

 

[Discharged]

Re: Is there any Brobucker Equivalent or something close to it out there?

I just love this pickup in my SG and want another one for in my PRS but I don't feel like ordering a custom shop bucker right now. I would be happy enough with something close or similar that is a regular production model.
Is there anything out there?
For me the BB is just right in all aspects, plenty of mids, balls, bass, highs and just the right amount of output. I have really grown to dislike hotter pickups even when I play high gain, I prefer the more open sound of the 10K but a regular PAF is too weak.
Any ideas or suggestions? Doesn't have to be a duncan per se...

I'd start with an A8-modded '59 bridge. It delivers everything you're asking for.

/Peter

 

[eclecticsynergy]

Re: Is there any Brobucker Equivalent or something close to it out there?

I'm a fan of more-than-vintage-but-less-than-high-output humbuckers. I like the 59/Custom Hybrid a lot but find the Custom5 a little too compressed for my taste.

Brobucker is pretty unique and in my book, pretty close to perfect.

One of my ReWind humbuckers is kinda similar though. It's scatterwound to 9.5K with a degaussed A5. James called it the Pale Rider but he said it was a one-off build. The Brobucker is a tad sweeter while the ReWind has slightly better detail and separation. (It could have a bit of coil offset- I don't know because it isn't a 4-wire pickup.)

The PRS 50/09 is in the same ballpark too, mine reads 9.77K. It has more output and seems to have a bit more scream than the Bro; I'm pretty sure it uses a full strength A5. Can't give an exact tone comparison since the 50/09 is in a Les Paul and the Bro is in korina like the ReWind. 59/09s have a marvelously 3-D character though, and I think perhaps one with a degaussed A5 (or maybe fullly charged UA5) might come close to the Brobucker.

My oldest Screamin' Demon is a tad hotter than the newer ones, 10.45K. I've sometimes toyed with the idea of replacing the hex screws with filisters, and trying a mag swap to rough A4 or UA5. But it's an MJ-wound pickup and I'm not so sure I want to mess with it. So I'm holding out for a midrange-heavy guitar to drop it into.

I once got good results using a 9.1K RioGrande Genuine Texas neck as a medium output bridge pickup. Definitely a different animal from the Brobucker, though; the Rio has a pronounced sizzle to it. Just tossing out moderate-output ideas here.

I think Discharged's suggestion of a 59B with A8 could be a good steer, too. Perhaps a more modern feel, but the tone character might be close. I have one 59B with UA5 and it's absolutely great.

 

[hamerfan]

Re: Is there any Brobucker Equivalent or something close to it out there?

Me thinks a WLH Bridge brings you in the ballpark.
I did not like the covered Brobucker from the original run, it was too warm and wooly for me. Later on i asked a boutique winder to make me a 10k Bucker with 42awg poly and uncovered, which was a bit better. He reworked the whole thing for me with a double thick A5, which came out close to what i looked for. The latest try was 9k uncovered with 42 awg poly and standard sized A6 magnet, which is great - great balance of grit and attack.
BTW a Screaming Demon with a RCUO A5, all hexes on the low strings and all filisters on the high, it my fav humbucker.

 

[Securb]

Re: Is there any Brobucker Equivalent or something close to it out there?

Not really. You could get a used Brobucker in the trading post or on Reverb though. You won't have the 6 week wait and it'll be cheaper too.

Really the best advice right here. There are so many great Gibson OEM pickups (498T, Burstbuckers, Dirty Fingers) that get an unfair rap on internet forums. This makes them very cheap on the secondary market. I love 498Ts and find them on Ebay for around $50 all the time.

 

[Aceman]

Re: Is there any Brobucker Equivalent or something close to it out there?

As Bruce said - Gibson does make decent pickups. And many are a mag swap away from greatness.

They are just not worth Gibson "new" pricing or the best sets for anyone....

That said I REALLY love BB1/2's, 500t's, and Dirty Fingers

 

[Nightburst]

Re: Is there any Brobucker Equivalent or something close to it out there?

Thanks for the great suggestions so far! Keep 'em coming I'm especially interested in something that will have similar sound and feel.
Yeah if someone has an actual BB for sale please do let me know!

 

[blueman335]

Re: Is there any Brobucker Equivalent or something close to it out there?

As Bruce said - Gibson does make decent pickups. And many are a mag swap away from greatness.

They are just not worth Gibson "new" pricing or the best sets for anyone....

+1. I've swapped out the mags in all my Gibson HB's except for the BB's. It seems like Gibson has a difficult time matching winds and magnets. Their retail prices are ridiculous considering there's so many better sounding PU's for less.

 

[Nightburst]

Re: Is there any Brobucker Equivalent or something close to it out there?

I have spotted good deals for both Burstbucker 2 and 3 and also a 57 classic plus. Which one would suit my needs best? I'm weary of mismatched coils as I believe they will feedback faster or at least induce more noise (slight hum?) into the signal, but maybe I'm totally wrong about this.

I did find this graph, is it accurate?

 

[Securb]

Re: Is there any Brobucker Equivalent or something close to it out there?

I'm weary of mismatched coils as I believe they will feedback faster or at least induce more noise (slight hum?) into the signal, but maybe I'm totally wrong about this.

I have the Gibson MHS (not listed on the graph) which are "unmatched" winds. I am OCD about hum and noise and I get absolutely none from those pickups. They are installed on an ES and I have no feedback issues playing high gain metal with them. In reference to your chart, I am pretty sure that is direct from Gibson. I remember seeing it on their website. It should be accurate.

 

[blueman335]

Re: Is there any Brobucker Equivalent or something close to it out there?

I have spotted good deals for both Burstbucker 2 and 3 and also a 57 classic plus. Which one would suit my needs best?

I've had a couple sets of '57 Classics and out of all the PAF's I've owned over the years, which is a lot, they stand out as the worst sounding by far. Dull 'ribbony' high end, muddy sound. There's no excuse for such mediocre tones at the price they charge for them. One of the sets were aftermarket and came in a guitar I bought. The seller actually apologized for how bad they sounded and sold the guitar cheap because of that. I figured I could sell them and make a few bucks. He was right, they were awful. The other set came stock, and were a big disappointment, I sold those too.

If you want Gibson PAF's, you're much better off with BB's. I don't think there's a big mismatch between coils.

 

[SavageRiffer]

Re: Is there any Brobucker Equivalent or something close to it out there?

If the Brobucker is so good and close to perfect, or whatever, then why isn't it part of Duncan't production line? I've seen that pickup talked about for years, yet it still remains rather obscure. It sounds hyped up to be honest. If you want a pickup that's nearly perfect in bridge or neck position, the 59/Custom hybrid is about as near it as you can get in the Duncan line - in my opinion. I'm not trying to knock the Brobucker here, but it's kind of annoying always hearing it's hype but never seeing it's presence on the market. If it lives up to the hype, then Seymour Duncan should make it available to the world like the rest of their production line.

 

[Mincer]

Re: Is there any Brobucker Equivalent or something close to it out there?

Well, I think that it is talked about here a lot, we are still a tiny part of the buying public. Most guitarists out there have never been on an internet forum. So that keeps it pretty obscure.