Which Duncan sounds the most like a Burstbucker?

[Jessie Sammler]

As many have seen me post, perhaps too many times, I love the sound of the Gibson Burstbucker 2 & 3 in my Epi Custom. They're said to be very authentic late 50's style humbuckers like what Gibson was putting in the now-quarter-million-dollar Les Pauls -- PAF style, non-potted, uneven windings, Alnico II, wooden spacer.

I'd love to hear Seymour's take on a pickup like this, maybe in another Les Paul, SG, V, or some other Gibson type of instrument. It looks like the Seth is the closest, but I've read that it has even windings. The Pearly Gates also seems to be very close to what I'm looking for; one forum member described it as more "uneven-sounding" than the other Duncans.

So, my questions are:

1.) Is the closest production Duncan going to be:
a. Seth Lover
b. Pearly Gates
c. something else?

2.) Could I do custom-order Seths with uneven windings?

3.) Could I go crazy specifying how uneven I want them?

 

[Jessie Sammler]

Re: Which Duncan sounds the most like a Burstbucker?

Don't tell me… Invader, right?

 

[Benjy_26]

Re: Which Duncan sounds the most like a Burstbucker?

All my PG's are pretty mjuch evenly wound. I own 9 of them, some are neck, some are bridge, some are the + model. The hottest bridge I own is right around 8.7k. Theyre in the ballpark of the BB's, but they have their own thing going. Keep in mind, the BB's aren't potted. The Seth's I've played have been warmer and more even that the BB's, but that might just be the pattern of the wind.

Just remember, the BB's are modeled on the average 'bucker coming out in the late 50's, the Pearly's are based on the 'buckers in one particular axe, and the Seths are the IDEALIZED PAF, as per Mr Lover and interpreted by Seymour.

 

[Jessie Sammler]

Re: Which Duncan sounds the most like a Burstbucker?

Hmm. I see. So I need all of them.

 

[ACH91332]

Re: Which Duncan sounds the most like a Burstbucker?

BB's are really bright right? On paper to me the '59 looks bright so maybe the '59? I've never used it so I don't know. The PGb pretty badass but can be too bright for some in the bridge. It has a lot of presence.

 

[claytonc]

Re: Which Duncan sounds the most like a Burstbucker?

actually some BB's are potted and some aren't.....there appears to be no rhyme or reason behind which get potted and which do not.

on paper, the PG's should be the closest but they don't seem that similar in person.

 

[Jessie Sammler]

Re: Which Duncan sounds the most like a Burstbucker?

actually some BB's are potted and some aren't.....there appears to be no rhyme or reason behind which get potted and which do not.

on paper, the PG's should be the closest but they don't seem that similar in person.

I thought the Burstbucker Pros with the A5 magnets were potted. But didn't I see someone else posting recently that some BB's were potted in some Gibson guitars?

Mine definitely aren't. I bought them stand-alone a few years ago, and they squeal like pigs in my Epi Custom. Now there's an authentic vintage-style experience.

 

[Jessie Sammler]

Re: Which Duncan sounds the most like a Burstbucker?

BB's are really bright right? On paper to me the '59 looks bright so maybe the '59? I've never used it so I don't know. The PGb pretty badass but can be too bright for some in the bridge. It has a lot of presence.

I don't know about the '59. I've got two of them, and in both guitars they sound pretty far from Burstbuckers. They were very even-wound sounding, they had the thick, smooth, buzzy-kazoo tone -- as opposed to the thick, yet snarling, biting, three-dimensional sound of the BB's. They're also potted and have A5 magnets. There's probably a good argument for them sounding like Burstbucker Pros, maybe.

 

[claytonc]

Re: Which Duncan sounds the most like a Burstbucker?

the BB1 and BB2 that came in my '09 R9 were potted. They had to go!