Les Pauls: 498T vs '57 Classic

Re: Les Pauls: 498T vs '57 Classic

I HATED my Les Paul Supreme with the 490r/498t combo. I much preferred the tone I got from the Hot Ceramic 496r/500t sets in my LP Classics. Those were just simply too hot for my amps and my style--but they did sound good. With the 490r/498t set, I could get a decent sound from each pickup, but when I would switch pickups, I had an overwheming urge to go back and re-adjust my amp! Replaced these with Seth Lovers and could not be happier! The Seth set is a much more cohesive sounding set. I can't imagine buying another guitar with 490r/498t pickups and not replacing them.

I have a couple of guitars with the '57 Classics--one has a Classic + in the bridge. I think they are smoother, flatter, less "exciting" than some other pickups. But, to me that makes them a "clean slate"--I can get them to do a variety of things that a pickup with more "personality" might not be able to do.

I have HB guitars with Seths, 50th Anniversary A2 Seths, Antiquitys, BB 1&2, and the '57 Classics--I like them all. To me the differences are subtle, and all allow me to impart my signature tone on my music.

To me, having cohesive tone from neck to bridge is a very important consideration.

Bill
 
Re: Les Pauls: 498T vs '57 Classic

of the 2 pickups mentioned I woudl have to go with the 57 Classics however I have to be honest, I really hate the tone of 57 classics!

If I were you I'd get a nice set of new 500k pots, high quality caps and a nice set of Duncans and be done with it!
 
Re: Les Pauls: 498T vs '57 Classic

Oh...thought I'd just add what kind of sounds I'm after! Realised that I missed that from the post.

I want my Les Paul to sound like Jimmy Page in the Neck and 'Both Pickups' position (think Song Remains the Same), and Kossoff in the Bridge position (that stinging attack that cleans up real well when you roll off the volume). Obviously, the usual choices probably don't apply as my guitar being all-mahogany will reputedly be darker than a Les Paul Standard.

The C5 is a suggestion that has often been put to me when I was searching for a Van Halen type humbucker for my Ash Strat. As well as that DIY hybrid pickup with the mismatched coils that's been mentioned a lot round here.

On the Seymour Duncan soundclips, the Seth Lover is my favourite sounding tone, closely followed by the Custom Custom.

The '59 in the Neck position on my old N4 was probably my favourite neck humbucker sound I ever had. It had a glorious 'bell like' round tone when played clean, and was very sustaining, sweet and smooth when overdriven. Again though, this was in an Alder guitar with no body mass.

My guitar goes through an old JMP 50W Marshall and/or an Orange OTR head. I'm not interested in high-gain sounds anywhere above the gain of Guns and Roses. I play covers of Skynyrd, Led Zep, Free, GnR, ACDC etc etc and I just need more character and presence from my guitar, which is otherwise an absolute beauty to play.

I'm hoping I haven't just ended up with a dark sounding guitar.

Thanks all! :cool2:
 
Re: Les Pauls: 498T vs '57 Classic

I'd say:

You need an a5 pickup. A2's won't do. Don't get me wrong, I love them, for example PG and duncan ants are my favorites. But in your case, your guitar being somewhat dark, you need a5 clarity and snap from your pickups.

Thus, I'd say go with either :

1. a Jazz set - this set has tons of clarity, the middle position is as good as it can get. Clear, alive, with snap. Note that the most important feature of the Jazz set is that it is very clear (check the resonant peak figures ;)).

2. If you wanna get more oomph, go with a C5 (I would definitely object to installing a C5 into an ash strat to get the EVH tones, I would say it would never work, not enough lowmids, too much highs, but anyways...) in the bridge. For the neck, get either a Jazz neck or a 59 neck. 59's are great too, love them. The only problem is that on dark guitars they can be woofy on the wound strings. A4 magnets solve that problem, but in your case I think jazz neck is a much safer bet.

3. If you don't mind the hum, get a set of PhatCats. They are p90 in HB spacing. Thus, highs, clarity, snap whatever is at the max level it can be.

Good luck man,

B
 
Re: Les Pauls: 498T vs '57 Classic

Your '57's would be ideal in a maple-capped LP. With a thick all-mahogany body, I'd insist on an A5 magnet on the neck pickup for clarity & definition. On the bridge, Gibson's somewhat-bright 498T may work well on your dark body (I have one on a thin-bodied SG Std with an A4 magnet that gives a nice tone). The C5 is always a good choice when you want a hot bridge. A5 magnets are bright, and less windings (and lower ohms) means more brightness.

From what you said about your guitar heros, I'm assuming you're referring to early Clapton, Page, & Green (my heros too), all of which were using Gibsons with original PAF's. If that's the case, you'll probably hate the sound of ceramic magnets on the bridge pickup of any guitar, as many of us do. Too harsh & the clean tones are poor. Although I dislike the JB myself, it just may do the trick on a very dark body. Matching guitar, wood, pickup, & magnet provides endless amusement for us simple-minded folks.
 
Re: Les Pauls: 498T vs '57 Classic

I want my Les Paul to sound like Jimmy Page in the Neck and 'Both Pickups' position (think Song Remains the Same), and Kossoff in the Bridge position (that stinging attack that cleans up real well when you roll off the volume). Obviously, the usual choices probably don't apply as my guitar being all-mahogany will reputedly be darker than a Les Paul Standard.
Click to expand...

I've got a similar sounding guitar... I put a Jazz Bridge in neck and a C 5 in the bridge. I'd suggest to use the Jimmy Page wiring scheme as well; then you'll get what you're looking for, IMHO.

HTH,

Pepe aka Lt. Kojak
Milano, Italy
 
Re: Les Pauls: 498T vs '57 Classic

A5 bright, med. to med. high output PAF-esque pup seems to be in order, so a Demon or a C5 should fit the bill, with a Jazzn, Jazzb, or a PGn in neck slot.
 
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