What are T-Top pickups
- Thread starter JB6464
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SAVAGE DISTORTION
New member
Re: What are T-Top pickups
the duncan jazz bridge is very close to the T-top
the duncan jazz bridge is very close to the T-top
W
WGTP
Guest
Re: What are T-Top pickups
Now that some T-tops are 30+ years old, they are older than the PAF's were in the 50's Les Pauls in the 70's. Magnets should have "softened" by now. Now they are "vintage".
Now that some T-tops are 30+ years old, they are older than the PAF's were in the 50's Les Pauls in the 70's. Magnets should have "softened" by now. Now they are "vintage".
guitfiddle
firstlessonologist
Re: What are T-Top pickups
I like the one in the bridge of my 78 LP Custom...it's the only bridge pickup I have that I can hit as hard as I want and not get brash high end. Tho one in the neck is smooth and the low output lets me wind up the amp more. I find that I fight the guitar controls less, and just ride them more with the T-tops, if that makes any sense.
I like the one in the bridge of my 78 LP Custom...it's the only bridge pickup I have that I can hit as hard as I want and not get brash high end. Tho one in the neck is smooth and the low output lets me wind up the amp more. I find that I fight the guitar controls less, and just ride them more with the T-tops, if that makes any sense.
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thatmanphil
New member
Re: What are T-Top pickups
I'm interested too because they have a unique sound. Love them on Judas Priest "Sad Wings of Destiny" album and Alice Cooper's "I'm Eighteen"
ToneFiddler
New member
Re: What are T-Top pickups
not Les Paul specific. They came stock in every Gibson equipped guitar with regular spaced humbuckers from about 1965 to 1980.
So SGs, Les Pauls, ES-355,...
not Les Paul specific. They came stock in every Gibson equipped guitar with regular spaced humbuckers from about 1965 to 1980.
So SGs, Les Pauls, ES-355,...
Strattone75
New member
Re: What are T-Top pickups
I'm really digging the ttops. I got one in an 81 lp I just acquired.
I'm really digging the ttops. I got one in an 81 lp I just acquired.
Lewguitar
New member
Re: What are T-Top pickups
Interesting coincidence!
I just made an Antiquity neck humbucker into a "T-Top" yesterday.
I removed the 2 1/2" roughcast Alnico 2 magnet MJ had installed, and replaced it with a 2 3/8" roughcast Alnico 5 magnet from AddictionFX.
I also removed the 2 1/2" roughcast A2 magnet from the bridge Antiquity and installed a 2 1/2" roughcast Alnico 5 magnet.
I like the change.
In the 70's I gigged with a 1960 Gibson ES-355 like BB King's. It was all original except the neck pickup had been replaced with a gold T-Top.
The bridge pickup was still the original paf...probably Alnico 5.
I loved that pickup combination.
The neck pickup was great for jazzy chords and had a Larry Carlton kind of tone for solos. With overdrive the tone was breathy and open and not so nasal as some humbuckers can be.
That guitar was stolen when I moved to Denver from Detroit and I never saw it again and I've missed it ever since.
Anyways: if a player is using Alnico 5 humbuckers and needs a little more clarity from the neck pickup, change the 2 1/2" magnet in the neck pickup to a 2 3/8" T-Top style magnet.
You'll get the drive and push of Alnico 5 but a clearer sound.
I prefer roughcast magnets like I've found in my Antiquity pickups and original pafs.
Interesting coincidence!
I just made an Antiquity neck humbucker into a "T-Top" yesterday.
I removed the 2 1/2" roughcast Alnico 2 magnet MJ had installed, and replaced it with a 2 3/8" roughcast Alnico 5 magnet from AddictionFX.
I also removed the 2 1/2" roughcast A2 magnet from the bridge Antiquity and installed a 2 1/2" roughcast Alnico 5 magnet.
I like the change.
In the 70's I gigged with a 1960 Gibson ES-355 like BB King's. It was all original except the neck pickup had been replaced with a gold T-Top.
The bridge pickup was still the original paf...probably Alnico 5.
I loved that pickup combination.
The neck pickup was great for jazzy chords and had a Larry Carlton kind of tone for solos. With overdrive the tone was breathy and open and not so nasal as some humbuckers can be.
That guitar was stolen when I moved to Denver from Detroit and I never saw it again and I've missed it ever since.
Anyways: if a player is using Alnico 5 humbuckers and needs a little more clarity from the neck pickup, change the 2 1/2" magnet in the neck pickup to a 2 3/8" T-Top style magnet.
You'll get the drive and push of Alnico 5 but a clearer sound.
I prefer roughcast magnets like I've found in my Antiquity pickups and original pafs.
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Re: What are T-Top pickups
Technically, you've actually made a 1960 PAF, or a Pat#.
Actually short magnets did make their way into some 1959 PAF's, but 1960 was a time when there was a much greater uptake. Of course the pat# pickups had the short A5 pretty much all the way through.
Technically, you've actually made a 1960 PAF, or a Pat#.
Actually short magnets did make their way into some 1959 PAF's, but 1960 was a time when there was a much greater uptake. Of course the pat# pickups had the short A5 pretty much all the way through.
ToneFiddler
New member
Re: What are T-Top pickups
no, long magnet.
t-tops: short mag and poly wire
pat#: short mag and enamel wire
no, long magnet.
t-tops: short mag and poly wire
pat#: short mag and enamel wire
