Replacing Gibson 490s with Duncans

[organictimbre]

Re: Replacing Gibson 490s with Duncans

The gibson pickups have reversed magnets, and one is technically out of phase with the other........thats why on the diagram it states 'reverse phase' on the bridge pickup and 'normal' on the other. Then the order of the wires is completely switched around (you can see the different order of the wires on the molex connectors) so that you get hum cancelling with them both split (a 'virtual' humbucker) but then the full tone is not OOP.

Have you tried any of the coil cut operations since??

Ah, that reversed magnet was the missing bit of info. It seems to me this bit of info isn't too well known, but I'm not too experienced in the world of pickup wiring.

My guitar does not have coil split.

 

[AlexR]

Re: Replacing Gibson 490s with Duncans

Maybe the whole guitar electronics is also stock for another model which does have splits or similar. Otherwise the whole double reverse thing is a bit odd.

 

[organictimbre]

Re: Replacing Gibson 490s with Duncans

Maybe the whole guitar electronics is also stock for another model which does have splits or similar. Otherwise the whole double reverse thing is a bit odd.

Yes, I believe it is something like that. Some of the fancier Les Pauls do have coil split, although it is not with the same 490T humbucker, but I guess they built it in to the 490T just in case. I saw that on the website for the guitar, the reverse polarity thing is explicitly listed for the bridge pickup. It states, "reverse polarity for better hum canceling". I'm not sure if this is for all 490T humbuckers or they just reverse the polarity for certain guitars.

 

[AlexR]

Re: Replacing Gibson 490s with Duncans

It would have to be for the splits......humbuckers already cancel hum.

 

[organictimbre]

Re: Replacing Gibson 490s with Duncans

I asked Gibson and they confirmed that they reverse the bridge humbucker polarity for specific guitars. That must be confusing for them to keep track of internally.

 

[donaldr]

Re: Replacing Gibson 490s with Duncans

@organictimbre: Thanks a lot

 

[Nostalgic Distortion]

Re: Replacing Gibson 490s with Duncans

Ehhh, this is why I just replace the entire harness with one of my own when I change pickups in my Gibson's....

I don't have anything against the PCB's except the fact that they make it so difficult to use other manufacturers products & I could probably see my way past if Gibson offered anything aftermarket with quick connect adapters that I found even sorta good?

Recently I've started keeping the PCB's & original puppies in case I decide to sell the guitar down the road but mostly so I can also recover what I've spent on my replacement pups. It's a PIA but IMHO worth it in the end because you can tailor the harness to the pickups you've chosen & once it's in you can use any humbuckers you like, including pickup's that have vintage braided leads...

 

[organictimbre]

Re: Replacing Gibson 490s with Duncans

Ehhh, this is why I just replace the entire harness with one of my own when I change pickups in my Gibson's....

I don't have anything against the PCB's except the fact that they make it so difficult to use other manufacturers products & I could probably see my way past if Gibson offered anything aftermarket with quick connect adapters that I found even sorta good?

Recently I've started keeping the PCB's & original puppies in case I decide to sell the guitar down the road but mostly so I can also recover what I've spent on my replacement pups. It's a PIA but IMHO worth it in the end because you can tailor the harness to the pickups you've chosen & once it's in you can use any humbuckers you like, including pickup's that have vintage braided leads...

I like the PCB connectors because you can more easily remove and install stuff without busting out the soldering iron every time.