strange pickup...

[EmiAba]

Hi
found it in the neck slot of a 1990 les paul standard (factory installed pickup). it measures 7.3 (I take the measurement with pickup installed)
do you have any hint of what is this? I expected a 490R or at least a HB-R.

 

[beaubrummels]

Re: strange pickup...

Late 70’s T-Top? Whatever it is, it’s not stock factory installed for 1990’s Les Paul Standards.

 

[Archer250]

Re: strange pickup...

They're 490s with the old baseplate style.

 

[Cdwillis]

Re: strange pickup...

I'm guessing it's a Shaw humbucker, but it could be a T-top like beaubrummels said. This is what I dug up from a post on the Gear Page

After PAF pickups were gone, the patent# pickups were next and used from 1962 to 1965. Then from 1965 to 1975 (note overlap) the next Gibson humbucker is known as the "T bucker" or "T top". They are called this because of a "T" that is part of the molding on the front of the two pickup bobbins. These also had the decal with "Patent No 2,737,842" (still the patent number of Les Paul's trapeze tailpiece). The only way to see the "T" is to remove the pickup cover. A small change in late patent# pickups was white PVC bobbin wires instead of black (black was used on pre-1965 humbuckers). Also T buckers can use either slot or phillips head screws to hold the bobbins to the base plate. From 1976 to the 1980s they still used the "T bucker" but now they had the correct patent number stamped in the metal bottom plate (no decal).

When buying used Gibson pickups, many people will buy the "Patent No." style with an unopened nickel-plated cover. This pretty much guarentees you'll get a "good" pickup at a fair price (opposed to buying a PAF pickup with the "Patent Applied For" decal intact, which sell for more money). Sonically the nickel plated covered patent# pickups are excellent values, as they are very similar in sound to a real PAF pickup (but are much less expensive). Note if you buy a chrome covered Gibson pickup, it's a crap shoot as to what's inside - it could be either a T-bucker or not (but chances are good it will be a T-Top). For this reason I would generally avoid chrome covered Gibson humbuckers (unless they are really inexpensive), as the odds are against you in hopes of finding a non-Ttop.

The pat#s made in the '80s could also have been Shaws or P490s (predecessor to 490T/Rs). The Shaws usually have an ink stamped code on the back, until '85 or so when they stopped doing that, IIRC. Shaws are highly regarded pups. The P490s, not so much. So, depending on when it was made, you might have a t-top, or if it was in the '80s, I'd say you most likely have a P490 or if you were lucky, a Shaw.

 

[EmiAba]

Re: strange pickup...

Late 70’s T-Top? Whatever it is, it’s not stock factory installed for 1990’s Les Paul Standards.

Yeah, according to gibson publications a 1990 les paul standard (this one is dated april 90) has the couple 490R/498T installed. And those pickup I expected to see in it. With a little surprise I found that pat number humbucker in the neck and a HB-L in the bridge. i know how gibson acts in the middle of a spec change. the technicians grab everything is remained on the shelves to close the cycle. I swear it's completely stock. My cousin bought it at the end of summer of 1990, and he has never replaced any of the parts

 

[EmiAba]

Re: strange pickup...

I'm guessing it's a Shaw humbucker, but it could be a T-top like beaubrummels said. This is what I dug up from a post on the Gear Page

Don't think it's a shaw. Yes, it reads a DC with a compatible value with a shaw, but the screws on the backplate are not in brass

 

[EmiAba]

Re: strange pickup...

They're 490s with the old baseplate style.

Or a prototype of a 57 classic... in both cases I am disappointed... 490R and 57 classic are the pickup I prefer the less

 

[ToneFiddler]

Re: strange pickup...

+1 for t-top or shaws.
the screws might not be original.
anyway: shaw or t-top, if you don't like the sound, sell it and get a used 490R. You should make a HUGE!!! profit, they are quite worth something. but i am not sure 'bout those huge screws.

 

[EmiAba]

Re: strange pickup...

+1 for t-top or shaws.
the screws might not be original.
anyway: shaw or t-top, if you don't like the sound, sell it and get a used 490R. You should make a HUGE!!! profit, they are quite worth something. but i am not sure 'bout those huge screws.

I don't like a 490R. I am trying not to swap parts. A guitar in this shape of almost 30 years costs 2500 euros and it gets increasing its value. The guitar is a little bit dark for my taste (i think because of the 300K pots) but sounds good, i really dig the HB-L in the bridge, and the neck pickup is not so dull like a 490R

 

[hamerfan]

Re: strange pickup...

Check also the tone pot for their resistance. I have seen pots as low as 180k. If you don't want to swap parts, you always can hook off the tone pots. You won't use them with a dark sounding guitar and the hook-off will considerably brighten up the sound.

 

[EmiAba]

Re: strange pickup...

Check also the tone pot for their resistance. I have seen pots as low as 180k. If you don't want to swap parts, you always can hook off the tone pots. You won't use them with a dark sounding guitar and the hook-off will considerably brighten up the sound.

all four pots are 300K (CTS dated end of 1989)

 

[Discharged]

Re: strange pickup...

That's a P490, aka std. HB made in that era.

It's like a T-Top but the bobbins have no "T"s. SPN poly wire, most probably penny-copper color.

5,000 turns of AWG#42 wire. The DC reading suggests a min-nom wire batch, meaning a slightly thicker diameter; kinda halfway between AWG#42 and AWG#41.5.

Most probably a short A2 magnet. Pretty good for Jazz and music with complex chords where clarity and note separation is a desired feature. Maybe a bit too "wimpy" if the desire is to play Heavy Rock and Metal styles with it. Good with light OD, no so much with heavy usage of gain, specially if setup too close to the strings.

If it's a bit too dark, then set it up a bit farther from the strings, then adjust the bridge p'up to match the output.

The 490R and the '57 Classic are both wound with 5,250 turns of AWG#42 per bobbin, metering @ around 8K.

/Peter

 

[EmiAba]

Re: strange pickup...

That's a P490, aka std. HB made in that era.

It's like a T-Top but the bobbins have no "T"s. SPN poly wire, most probably penny-copper color.

5,000 turns of AWG#42 wire. The DC reading suggests a min-nom wire batch, meaning a slightly thicker diameter; kinda halfway between AWG#42 and AWG#41.5.

Most probably a short A2 magnet. Pretty good for Jazz and music with complex chords where clarity and note separation is a desired feature. Maybe a bit too "wimpy" if the desire is to play Heavy Rock and Metal styles with it. Good with light OD, no so much with heavy usage of gain, specially if setup too close to the strings.

If it's a bit too dark, then set it up a bit farther from the strings, then adjust the bridge p'up to match the output.

The 490R and the '57 Classic are both wound with 5,250 turns of AWG#42 per bobbin, metering @ around 8K.

/Peter

Thanks Peter