Which pickups are most commonly replaced

[Jacew]

Re: Which pickups are most commonly replaced

Well, pickups come with the new guitar, right? I think it is natural to look for 'better' than what you have after awhile. Once people learn that they can not only get a better sound than their stock guitar, but they can change the sound of their guitar, they start getting interested in pickups.

Sure. I meant it should be relative to how big percentage of certain pickup type gets upgraded from stock ones. Not just that humbuckers sell most so they also get replaced most often.

My english might be failing again... sorry about that.

 

[PicoRiveraTele]

Re: Which pickups are most commonly replaced

With Epiphone installing Probuckers stock and Squier installing Toneriders in the CV's, it's just a matter of time until Fender stops putting those ceramic garbage pickups in their import models, and at that point there won't be the same need to replace stock pickups that there used to be. The whole thing might move down market to even cheaper guitars, but the aftermarket pickup makers would have to further drop their prices in order to compete in that price range. People seem to feel that as long as the replacement pickups don't cost more than the guitar itself, they're doing OK.

 

[cliffenstein]

Re: Which pickups are most commonly replaced

Stock Gibson pickups

Which is quite amazing...nothing wrong with the mighty 498/490 combo.

 

[cliffenstein]

Re: Which pickups are most commonly replaced

For me, the most common pickup replaced has been the JB. I find it's overrated. It's loose in bass and sometimes muddy. It can be okay in certain guitars.

Depends on the user's amp and playing style. Every JB and JB Jr I've used has been fantastic for the tones I go for and the way I play.

 

[Jacew]

Re: Which pickups are most commonly replaced

With Epiphone installing Probuckers stock and Squier installing Toneriders in the CV's, it's just a matter of time until Fender stops putting those ceramic garbage pickups in their import models, and at that point there won't be the same need to replace stock pickups that there used to be. The whole thing might move down market to even cheaper guitars, but the aftermarket pickup makers would have to further drop their prices in order to compete in that price range. People seem to feel that as long as the replacement pickups don't cost more than the guitar itself, they're doing OK.

Do they still do that? I though squiers already come with at least some alnico 5's these days.

 

[blueman335]

Re: Which pickups are most commonly replaced

Which is quite amazing...nothing wrong with the mighty 498/490 combo.

Mighty? One of the most bizarre PU pairings I've seen. Bright thin bridge, warm fat neck. That's frustrated some players who can't get an amp EQ that works well for both PU's. I suspect a common solution (besides replacing them) is to just use one PU and forget about the other. I've seen this set rotated on a number of Gibson models over the years, god only knows why. I haven't seen any other PU maker with such a mismatched set. To me, this just shows that in some areas Gibson is asleep at the wheel.

I bought a used 498T/490R set that some unhappy camper yanked out of his Gibson, and swapped mags to get the EQ's so they wouldn't be at opposite ends of the spectrum. An A5 in the neck clears that up, and an UOA5 in the bridge takes off the high-end harshness and fills in some midrange. Much better pairing. Still not worth the retail aftermarket price, which is up in the boutique range.

 

[blueman335]

Re: Which pickups are most commonly replaced

Depends on the user's amp and playing style. Every JB and JB Jr I've used has been fantastic for the tones I go for and the way I play.

Depends to some degree on the genres played and the woods involved. Like every other PU, it's not a universal PU for all purposes.

 

[cliffenstein]

Re: Which pickups are most commonly replaced

Mighty? One of the most bizarre PU pairings I've seen. Bright thin bridge, warm fat neck. That's frustrated some players who can't get an amp EQ that works well for both PU's. I suspect a common solution (besides replacing them) is to just use one PU and forget about the other. I've seen this set rotated on a number of Gibson models over the years, god only knows why. I haven't seen any other PU maker with such a mismatched set. To me, this just shows that in some areas Gibson is asleep at the wheel.

The 498T has not been overly bright or thin in my experience. I've had a Gibson LP Studio, a Gibson LP Special, an Epiphone LP Custom and an Aria Pro II LC-550 (LP Custom) with the 498T. The other guitarist in my band has an early 90's Gibson LP Custom with that combo in it as well. The 498T has sounded equally fantastic in all 5 of those guitars. The 490R isn't actually relevant to either of us though, as we're bridge pickup only players. We play through Marshall half stacks and go for a very big rock sound.

 

[cliffenstein]

Re: Which pickups are most commonly replaced

Depends to some degree on the genres played and the woods involved. Like every other PU, it's not a universal PU for all purposes.

I've used them in my Strats with great success. I've heard them used in Les Pauls with equally great success, though my first hand experience with the JB and JB Jr has been with Strats.

 

[audiocheck]

Re: Which pickups are most commonly replaced

Exactly! I was just talking to my friend and guitar tech about Brian May's tone. He loves it! He says it sounds like a mix of P-90's/Single Coil goodness. For me, it's crap! Sounds crappy on recording and crappy live. Many of you will agree or differ with me. Still, with the good or the bad, the man's tone is iconic!

Yup!

For me it's a matter of what feels better than sonically. Sonically, I can sculpt the tone with my amp. also I have many different Les Pauls, so I don't mind a little sonic diversity. What doesn't work for me is how any of them feel. If they are too compressed or stiff, then thats a killer. out it comes and a Vintage or moderate output Duncan goes in.

So for Brian May, i am sure it's what works for him. Since he has been using them from back when he built the guitar with his dad, I think he isn't about to change now. What you perceive as his crappy tone, may have more to do with those damn Vox amps in conjunction with his guitar and pickups. Those Vox amps are not my cup of tea, but others love them.

 

[audiocheck]

Re: Which pickups are most commonly replaced

The 498T has not been overly bright or thin in my experience. I've had a Gibson LP Studio, a Gibson LP Special, an Epiphone LP Custom and an Aria Pro II LC-550 (LP Custom) with the 498T. The other guitarist in my band has an early 90's Gibson LP Custom with that combo in it as well. The 498T has sounded equally fantastic in all 5 of those guitars. The 490R isn't actually relevant to either of us though, as we're bridge pickup only players. We play through Marshall half stacks and go for a very big rock sound.

The 498T is a 14K Alnico 5 right? Yeah they probably work well pushing Marshalls, I can see that. For me I still need to pull a pair of 498/490 from one more Les Paul.

 

[Chistopher]

Re: Which pickups are most commonly replaced

The 498T is a 14K Alnico 5 right? Yeah they probably work well pushing Marshalls, I can see that. For me I still need to pull a pair of 498/490 from one more Les Paul.

I had a 24 fret El Diablo with a 498/490 set. Most of my bandmates at the time were part of the whole "Gibson is rubbish" crowd and they couldn't believe the pickups I had in it. They thought it was some fancy boutique set. I think it's partially the slightly different location of the neck pickup that brought them closer in tone. A roughcast A5 in the bridge also helped close the gap in eq. I was considering putting an A4 in the neck, but I didn't really feel the need to after a while. The set was amazing as they were.

Definitely not everyone's thing though.

 

[blueman335]

Re: Which pickups are most commonly replaced

The 498T has not been overly bright or thin in my experience. The other guitarist in my band has an early 90's Gibson LP Custom with that combo in it as well. The 498T has sounded equally fantastic in all 5 of those guitars. The 490R isn't actually relevant to either of us though, as we're bridge pickup only players. We play through Marshall half stacks and go for a very big rock sound.

Which is what I was saying: some players solution to the big EQ gap between the 498T & 490R is to use only one PU. You're dialing in the amp for the 498T to get just what you want from it, but you evidently aren't be thrilled with the 490R with the same amp settings. A 490R isn't a particularly good match for the 498T, and Gibson could come up a better pairing. It doesn't take much effort to talk to players to find out how many are only using one PU, or pulling the set & replacing them. Duncan, DiMarzio, etc are selling thousands of PU's every year and a number are replacing stock Gibson PU's. If I worked at Gibson, I'd keep a watch on how many used Gibson PU's are being sold and what models they are, because if players aren't happy with them, there's also some players who aren't buying Gibsons in the first place because of that too. Who wants to spend $2,000 or $3,000 on a guitar and then replace the PU's?

The 498T/490R retail for $135 each, and there's many better PU's for that or less. To me, if you have a 2 PU guitar, you should get very good tones from both.

 

[Securb]

Re: Which pickups are most commonly replaced

Mighty? One of the most bizarre PU pairings I've seen. Bright thin bridge, warm fat neck.

Sounds like you are describing the 57 set more than the 498/490 set. I find the 498 to have a lot more bottom can chunk than other Gibson pickups I have tried and do not find them to be treblly at all. I have them in 4 of my main players and all sound great.

 

[blueman335]

Re: Which pickups are most commonly replaced

Sounds like you are describing the 57 set more than the 498/490 set. I find the 498 to have a lot more bottom can chunk than other Gibson pickups I have tried and do not find them to be treblly at all. I have them in 4 of my main players and all sound great.

It's all relative. I tend to be treble sensitive with bridge PU's. Part of the 498T thing is that it seems brighter than it is because it's paired with a 490R.

 

[cliffenstein]

Re: Which pickups are most commonly replaced

Which is what I was saying: some players solution to the big EQ gap between the 498T & 490R is to use only one PU. You're dialing in the amp for the 498T to get just what you want from it, but you evidently aren't be thrilled with the 490R with the same amp settings. A 490R isn't a particularly good match for the 498T, and Gibson could come up a better pairing. It doesn't take much effort to talk to players to find out how many are only using one PU, or pulling the set & replacing them. Duncan, DiMarzio, etc are selling thousands of PU's every year and a number are replacing stock Gibson PU's. If I worked at Gibson, I'd keep a watch on how many used Gibson PU's are being sold and what models they are, because if players aren't happy with them, there's also some players who aren't buying Gibsons in the first place because of that too. Who wants to spend $2,000 or $3,000 on a guitar and then replace the PU's?

The 498T/490R retail for $135 each, and there's many better PU's for that or less. To me, if you have a 2 PU guitar, you should get very good tones from both.

well...I don't change amp settings for my guitars.

I currently play 3 electric guitars...one has the 498T, one has a Burstbucker type 2 and one has a JB Jr. All 3 guitars sound equally great in my amps (currently a JCM 2000 DSL100 and a modded Windsor...both through JCM800 cabs). None sound thin or harsh in any way, shape or form. These guitars also sounded great when I've played them through late 70's JMP 2204 and VTM60 heads.