Taming a 500T

[eclecticsynergy]

Upgrading the humbuckers in an Epi korina Explorer. Not looking to buy more pickups, for now.

Just got a Gibson 500T as part of a package deal and I'd like to put it to use, but by all reports they're blazin' loud. I prefer vintage to vintage-hot output so I don't need to tweak my amp when I switch guitars. Some bridges I have in that range are the BroBucker, 59/C Hybrid, Suhr DSH and Tom Anderson H2. I don't want to go much stronger than those.

So, here come a whole bunch of questions.
Is there any hope for me with the 500T, maybe installing an A2 or UA5? Has anyone here tried it?
And would it be reasonable to keep the ceramic mag spacers?
If so, are extra thick alnicos available to replace the thick ceramic I'd be pulling out, or would it require some sort of shim?

What's the thickness spec on the big ceramics, does anybody know? These are comparable to the ones in a DD, yes?
And if I shim, would the shim need to be magnetic, or metallic, or doesn't it matter?

I could cannibalize a junk pickup for keeper & spacers if necessary, which leads to another question- does the keeper bar have significant impact on tone in a pickup this strong, and would reusing one from a cheap Asian humbucker be a bad idea?

Also have an 8.71K humbucker that came paired with it which I figure must be a 496R. (No labels on either one of course- thanks, Gibson! The guy I got them from said they were a 490R/T set but the DCRs are wrong.) This one would be ceramic, but standard size rather than extra thick. Some say these are a good sounding neck pickup the way they come. I'm generally not a fan of the way ceramics clean up when you roll back the volume but I might try it in a lower wind like this. Could always swap for alnico if I don't like it.

Or should I hold off on using the 500T and swap an A8 into the 496R to use as a bridge pickup?
I have a 490R I could use as a companion neck, also a spare 59n available.

What do you think? What do you recommend?

 

[dotsdad]

Re: Taming a 500T

The first thing you could do is lower the pickup height so it isnt too "blazing loud" any more.

 

[eclecticsynergy]

Re: Taming a 500T

The first thing you could do is lower the pickup height so it isnt too "blazing loud" any more.

Thanks, but I just got them; they're not in the guitar. By all reports this is Gibson's loudest humbucker, so I expect that even set low it would be too much to play nicely with my others without resetting the amp. Prefer not to install a pickup that's so much hotter. I'm asking advice about bringing it more in line with the pickups I mentioned. If that's even possible.

 

[Demanic]

Re: Taming a 500T

In an Explorer, I say, try it as it is, you may like it. If you want to tame it, I would say put an A8 in it and maybe remove the spacers. If you do decide to get rid of the spacers, PM me.

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: Taming a 500T

Exploit the 500T's 4-con + shield cable to introduce a series/parallel switch.

*

I have the stock 500T in my Gibson SG-X. It is adjusted so that the distance between the top of the stud poles bobbin and the underside edge of the strings is 4/64" (high E) and 7/64" (low E), respectively.

Where my SG deviates from stock is in the control circuitry. I upgraded to a DiMarzio Pro Parts volume pot. I also replaced the original DPDT series/split mini switch to a DP3T on-on-on series/split/parallel switch. This has confirmed what I suspected all along: on an SG, in split coils mode, the 500T sounds lousy. On the other hand, parallel mode sounds eminently usable.

 

[ItsaBass]

Re: Taming a 500T

IME, even the most extreme mag swaps and mods to a 500T do not tame it, or even alter its character that much. It's a thick, midrangey, honky, and loud pickup with any commonly available pickup magnet, even when run with no keeper bar under the screw coil. I had a keeper-less, side-magnetless, thin A3 (i.e. super weak magnet) version, and it really didn't sound that much different than stock, or than the same pickup with A4 or A5 mags. In other words, these are all fairly extreme steps to tame its hotness. If they really didn't work much at all, then UOA5 or whatever else you mentioned certainly won't.

The best thing you can do to tame a 500T is to convert it to five-wire leads and run it either parallel or split. Magnet swaps and other such mods are pretty useless IMO.

That said, to answer your specific questions about removing the side magnets from a 500T: If you want to use a fat bar magnet, you need to shim. You can use anything to do this, really. Some scrap wood cut to size is a nice way to do it IMO. If you use a thin (meaning regular sized) bar magnet, you can just use two regular humbucker spacer bars (which can be purchased in wood or plastic, or homemade). I used two PAF-style wood spacers when I modded my 500T. This, of course, leaves you without a keeper bar. It'll work fine without one, or you can get a 52.4 mm one, though they are not carried in that size by most pickup parts suppliers. Addiction FX does have them, however.

 

[blueman335]

Re: Taming a 500T

Sell those PU's and use the money to get what you really want.

 

[Shooter.556]

Re: Taming a 500T

500t is the only gibson pickup that I actually like.
I think you may like it in the explorer.
They're not that loud, they are no louder than any other hot passive pickup in the bridge.
Gibsons pickup descriptions suck, they are notorious for making pickups that sound nothing like they're description.
Too me, the 500t probably sounds closest to a Duncan Custom or a Dimarzio Super Distortion they sit in the middle of them two.
The Custom is more snarly and the Super D is more articulate and the 500t is kinda like both.
They are really Gibsons only good hard rock pickup.

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: Taming a 500T

Sell those PU's and use the money to get what you really want.

+1

Gotta agree with blueman on this, chiefly because an unmolested Gibson 500T will fetch its market value whereas a modified one probably would not.

As you have seen above, there are plenty of fans of the 500T. You should have little difficulty trading it for a pre-owned Duncan. Of your candidate list, I think that the '59/Custom hybrid would prove the most interesting in the Epi Explorer. Add a push-pull pot to govern its modes.

If your budget is tight, consider Tonerider Pickups. I suggest the TRH-1B Rocksong and AC4N Alnico IV Classic in gold covers.
http://www.tonerider.com/rocksong
http://www.tonerider.com/alnico-iv
http://www.tonerider.com/alnico-ii

 

[Aceman]

Re: Taming a 500T

Gibson 500t = Duncan Distortion. I love them both.

Option 1 is lower it. Lower it a lot. Maybe it works for you, maybe not.

After that, I agree - sell it and get a 59/Custom hybrid.

 

[TRex]

Re: Taming a 500T

First off put in in the guitar and try it first.

Personally I think I would like one of those in the bridge of an Explorer or V

Sent from my SM-G900T using Tapatalk

 

[blueman335]

Re: Taming a 500T

First off put in in the guitar and try it first.

Personally I think I would like one of those in the bridge of an Explorer or V

For a guy wanting vintage output? Not a match made in heaven.

Wasn't the 500T/496R set put in the first Jimmy Page signature LP's? He disliked them so much he demanded Gibson halt production until more appropriate PU's could be used.

 

[Gibson 1964]

Re: Taming a 500T

For a guy wanting vintage output? Not a match made in heaven.

Wasn't the 500T/496R set put in the first Jimmy Page signature LP's? He disliked them so much he demanded Gibson halt production until more appropriate PU's could be used.

He might find he liked something outside his norm. I don't know. Worth a try if you have it.

 

[eclecticsynergy]

Re: Taming a 500T

Thanks for sharing your thoughts, everyone. Lots to think about.

I'll take the advice about not modding the 500T, and might drop it in just to try out. If it sounds great it may find a home there, even if it is pretty hot.

Sometime the really good things come our way when we think we're really looking for something else.

And if it isn't right, I have plenty of other options- there's another Anderson H2 on its way, used. I might put an A8 into my extra 59b; been kind of wanting to try that. Or a 59/C, which I love in another guitar and could be equally stellar in the Explorer.

And trading the 500T or the set if they don't do it for me is a good suggestion too.

I appreciate the advice and info. When I find something that works for me, will let you know how it turned out.

 

[RayBarbeeMusic]

Re: Taming a 500T

My understanding is that the 500T/496R is the 498T/490R with ceramic mags instead of A5. So if you put A5 in it, that's essentially what you'll have.

 

[blueman335]

Re: Taming a 500T

My understanding is that the 500T/496R is the 498T/490R with ceramic mags instead of A5. So if you put A5 in it, that's essentially what you'll have.

That's what I've heard about the 498T, and I turned my 500T into one by changing mags and spacers. I'm thinking the 496R is hotter than that, maybe more like a 490T than a 490R.

However, a 498T isn't anything like what the OP wants either. He really needs to unload the 500T.

 

[eclecticsynergy]

Re: Taming a 500T

That's what I've heard about the 498T, and I turned my 500T into one by changing mags and spacers. I'm think the 496R is hotter than that, maybe more like a 490T than a 490R.

Yah, this 496R (of course, I'm only assuming that's what it is) reads pretty high, 8.71K. That's a bit outside the usual range even for a 490T, but I guess it's not inconceivable that there could be 490Ts wound that hot.

I think I read somewhere that the 496R with an A8 can do well in bridge position. And of course it doesn't have the thick mag, so swapping would be simpler. No need to switch spacers & keeper, or shim the mag.

 

[blueman335]

Re: Taming a 500T

Yah, this 496R (of course, I'm only assuming that's what it is) reads pretty high, 8.71K. That's a bit outside the usual range even for a 490T, but I guess it's not inconceivable that there could be 490Ts wound that hot.

I think I read somewhere that the 496R with an A8 can do sell in bridge position. And of course it doesn't have the thick mag, so swapping would be simpler.

Right, a 496R with an alnico magnet would be a decent choice for a bridge PU for you. A8 would give it more warmth and mids. An UOA5 would give it a more vintage sound. A2 is a possibility too.

 

[eclecticsynergy]

Re: Taming a 500T

And I have a couple of 490Rs. Could use one at the neck, maybe with A4 to go with an A8 bridge, or with the stock A2 to match with a UA5. I do feel the 500T is likely be outside my comfort zone. Still might try it tho.

 

[blueman335]

Re: Taming a 500T

And I have a couple of 490Rs. Could use one at the neck, maybe with A4 to go with an A8 bridge, or with the stock A2 to match with a UA5.

That's what I'd do.