Who has replaced Burstbucker Pros with 57 Classics?

[UberMetalDood]

I dig the tone of the Les Paul traditional more than the standard, but I like the playability and features of the 2008 standard more. I played the traditional and standard side by side, over and over again, trying to get a good idea of the tonal differences.

I know weight relieved and chambered Les Pauls have some tonal differences but in my mind the pickups seemed to make most of the difference. I would like to think that the 57 Classic pickups appealed to me more.

It would suck if I replaced my Burstbucker Pros with 57's and came to find out that they don't work as well in a chambered Les Paul so I need to your opinions. Would I be better off putting up with the humongous neck profile of the traditional to get that tone or will the 57's do the job?

The perfect Les Paul tone in my mind is Joe Bonamassa. I have been able to get the exact kind of tone I've been looking for with the Traditional but not so much with the Standard. I'm just not sure how much difference chambered vs. weight relieved makes. Are the pickups the key?

 

[marvar]

Re: Who has replaced Burstbucker Pros with 57 Classics?

Santa brought me a new LP Traditional plus- non chambered, but weight relieved.
so far, I'm not digging the vibe of the 57 classic and classic plus pups. They just don't give me the LP tone I've always loved. I know they are supposed to the the hot ticket, but I prefer something just a little hotter and beefier, and less glassy. Single string things sound pretty good, but they don't sound that great playing chords, at least IMO.
I have some BB pros I was thinking of putitng in, but, in all fairness, over the last few years I've lost my taste for Gibson made pickups.
I'll wait until the honeymoon is over before I make a decision.

 

[UberMetalDood]

Re: Who has replaced Burstbucker Pros with 57 Classics?

Santa brought me a new LP Traditional plus- non chambered, but weight relieved.
so far, I'm not digging the vibe of the 57 classic and classic plus pups. They just don't give me the LP tone I've always loved. I know they are supposed to the the hot ticket, but I prefer something just a little hotter and beefier, and less glassy. Single string things sound pretty good, but they don't sound that great playing chords, at least IMO.
I have some BB pros I was thinking of putitng in, but, in all fairness, over the last few years I've lost my taste for Gibson made pickups.
I'll wait until the honeymoon is over before I make a decision.

The 57' Classics are higher output than the Burstbucker Pros. Check out Gibson's pickup chart. It shows the output. One thing I've noticed about Gibson pickups is that they seem to sound just as good when raised very close to the strings. I've seen some players have them so high they almost touch the strings.

 

[marvar]

Re: Who has replaced Burstbucker Pros with 57 Classics?

The 57' Classics are higher output than the Burstbucker Pros. Check out Gibson's pickup chart. It shows the output. One thing I've noticed about Gibson pickups is that they seem to sound just as good when raised very close to the strings. I've seen some players have them so high they almost touch the strings.

This is true, except that I've taken a BB3 and put an A5 in it, so that's what I would use in the bridge.
But, it's not so much about output as it is tone- I'm thinking the BB's will make it a bit more 'ragged' so to speak, less sterile maybe.

 

[scurvydog]

Re: Who has replaced Burstbucker Pros with 57 Classics?

I've replaced a couple of burstbuckers with a SD Custom 5 in the bridge and a '59 in the neck. I love the sound of the Custom 5 (to be clear this is the SH-15 not the Custom SH-5). The best thing about this pickup is what it does to your volume and tone pots.

The thing I disliked about the burstbuckers was how I had to run the tone pot at 10 just to get a tone I liked...down below 8 and everything was just muddy. With the Custom 5, I run my tone knob between 4-5 and get the sweetest tone. Plus I've got plenty of room either way to dial in my tone for specific pedals or amps.

As if it couldn't get any better I put two arch top Triple Shot mount sets on them. I highly recommend the parallel switching, but the single coil and series are great as well.

Finally, the volume knob is pretty much the best gain knob I've ever had. Turn down to 2 or 3 and there's this sweet clean sound. Up to 5-6 and the tone gets crunchy. Up toward 9-10 and it's heavy and full gain. All in all I'd say the best two pickups I've ever owned is the Custom 5 and a JB I've got in a Jackson.

In summary I think the Custom 5 ends up functioning as advertised...vintage sound with plenty of flexibility when you need it.

Pic below at the link

http://www.flickr.com/photos/57793741@N04/5318823384/

 

[raystone]

Re: Who has replaced Burstbucker Pros with 57 Classics?

i have a weight relieved les paul studio that sounded like crap with the stock gibson pickups so i put pearly gates duncans in both positions and it sounds great

 

[BloodRose]

Re: Who has replaced Burstbucker Pros with 57 Classics?

watching this thread too.. I can get a great creamy blues tone with my 57classic neck pup, but Im not sold on the BB3. It is set very near the strings and seems have a decent level out output, but lacks string clarity.. I tried to back it down some and it got bland..

 

[GuitarDoc]

Re: Who has replaced Burstbucker Pros with 57 Classics?

watching this thread too.. I can get a great creamy blues tone with my 57classic neck pup, but Im not sold on the BB3. It is set very near the strings and seems have a decent level out output, but lacks string clarity.. I tried to back it down some and it got bland..

Of course, when you lowered the pup you raised the poles.........?

 

[blueman335]

Re: Who has replaced Burstbucker Pros with 57 Classics?

'57's are very good PU's like any of Gibson's, but A2's aren't necessarily the best magent for them (a problem I have with other Gibson PU's). '57 necks are too dark & muddy for me, and the bridges have a thin, muted, ribbony sound. I put an A5 in the neck to get treble and clarity (voila!), and an UOA5 in the bridge to get some bite and crunch, which also preserves the A2's rich dynamics. Big improvement. I ended up doing the same thing with my BB's.

You're a magnet swap away from getting the tones you want. If you still want A2 PAF's that sound great with the stock magents, you can't beat Duncan's PG's, A2P's, and Seth's. Seymour knows how to wind PU's that bring out the best in A2's, and downplay their shortcomings. When I'm buying new A2 PAF's, it's Duncan all the way.

 

[marvar]

Re: Who has replaced Burstbucker Pros with 57 Classics?

Santa brought me a new LP Traditional plus- non chambered, but weight relieved.
so far, I'm not digging the vibe of the 57 classic and classic plus pups. They just don't give me the LP tone I've always loved. I know they are supposed to the the hot ticket, but I prefer something just a little hotter and beefier, and less glassy. Single string things sound pretty good, but they don't sound that great playing chords, at least IMO.
I have some BB pros I was thinking of putting in, but, in all fairness, over the last few years I've lost my taste for Gibson made pickups.
I'll wait until the honeymoon is over before I make a decision.

OK, after practice last night- I'm sold on the 57+ and 57 classic combination-
At home, playing by myself, I wasn't digging the tone- but last night, playing with the band, I was convinced. Pure LP tone, and it cut through the mix like I've never heard. All the boys were impressed.

 

[BloodRose]

Re: Who has replaced Burstbucker Pros with 57 Classics?

Of course, when you lowered the pup you raised the poles.........?

Got alil better when I adjusted the poles, but still not sold on em.. The neck isnt bad.. We'll see

 

[skynyrd]

Re: Who has replaced Burstbucker Pros with 57 Classics?

Mag swap