What should I do with my 490R?

[explodenator]

So I have a Gibson 490R that I just removed from my L6-S... I was wondering if y'all have any ideas for what I should do with it. Would it make sense to buy a cheap guitar and stick it in there, maybe something with a single humbucker? How does it work as a bridge pickup? Is there much of a market for used 490Rs? Any ideas are much appreciated...


In case your wondering... I installed the 490R when the stock neck pickup on my L6-S went out. It sounded okay, but there was a huge volume difference from position to position on the tone switch. So I recently installed another L6-S stock pickup and I'm much happier.

(And thanks to everyone who suggested options for that project. I really wanted the Whole Lotta Humbuckers. It just turned out to be more economically feasible to find a used gibson pickup then to go with a whole new set. But I look forward to playing something with the Whole Lotta Humbuckers in the future.)

 

[jmcorey]

Re: What should I do with my 490R?

Some people here like to put an A5 magnet in it to make the Gibby version of the 59n.

 

[ItsaBass]

Re: What should I do with my 490R?

They make good bridge pickups, if you want a bright and open sound (for a humbucker, anyhow). They're usually pretty moderately wound (under 8K with 42 gauge wire), with A2's. They seem to have more clarity than the '57 Classics IME. To me, they are one of Gibson's two best humbuckers, along with the Burstbucker 1.

 

[JeffB]

Re: What should I do with my 490R?

Throw a short a5 in it, and you are 90% of the way to a T Top.

If it had the quick connectors I would buy it off ya and do just that

 

[blueman335]

Re: What should I do with my 490R?

Some people here like to put an A5 magnet in it to make the Gibby version of the 59n.

+. That's what I've done to my 490R's, and they sound a lot better that way. More clarity and high end, and not as bassy as a '59N.

 

[El Supremo]

Re: What should I do with my 490R?

Throw a short a5 in it, and you are 90% of the way to a T Top.

If it had the quick connectors I would buy it off ya and do just that

Weren't the T-Tops made with regular length A5's? Anyway, got this link at another forum a while ago (short A5):

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: What should I do with my 490R?

+1 for a magnet swap. I would try an A4.

 

[AlexR]

Re: What should I do with my 490R?

Weren't the T-Tops made with regular length A5's? Anyway, got this link at another forum a while ago (short A5):

No, the magnets on Gibson pickups were short A5 from about 63 or so.

 

[El Supremo]

Re: What should I do with my 490R?

No, the magnets on Gibson pickups were short A5 from about 63 or so.

You're right. Got confused for a second.
1961 was actually the year they started to use short magnets on a consistent basis, but there seem to be pickups from even '59 that have short magnets.

 

[AlexR]

Re: What should I do with my 490R?

61 eh....I know they used generally whatever was cheapest or most available. I was also surprised whilst doing some research on this era of gibson pickups just how early they essentially became T-tops. I had thought it was the late 60's when the shift occurred, but I found it was much earlier. Its almost like the SG heralded the shift to the T-top wind - mind you SG's sound really good with T-tops.

 

[Studioplayer]

Re: What should I do with my 490R?

How would you describe the T Top's tone signature?

Studioplayer

 

[JeffB]

Re: What should I do with my 490R?

They still used plain enamel for several years into the 1960s and the outputs were still higher with the early pat #s. Then the switch over to poly, and gradual lowering of output as they settled on mid 7ks as the standard in the 70s.

Tonewise, T tops are crisp/low output with a balanced EQ. No overabundance or lack of any frequency. They are very articulate and responsive.they also remain much clearer under higher amounts of gain than most PAF types with PE wire do. They are unforgiving to quality of wood- if you have a meh sounding guitar they will sound weak and thin, especially in the bridge, and they often get slagged by those who had them in such guitars.. But they have been responsible for some monster rock tones of their day. Schenker, Lifeson, Downing/Tipton, Ronson, and plenty of other doodz.

The biggest issue with them was QC and they often went microphonic, and were matched with poor tolerance pots/wiring.

 

[El Supremo]

Re: What should I do with my 490R?

The T-Tops I had in a Les Paul Firebrand sounded great. Felt it could have used some more beef in the bridge, though at the age I had that guitar I had absolutely zero knowledge on adjusting anything on a guitar (apart from tuning it).