Whole Lotta Humbucker vs. Burstbuckers?

SlyStrat

New member
I have a new Gibson Les Paul '59 Reissue with BB1/2's.
I also have an unopened set of WLH's.
What tone changes can I expect if I swap pups?
 
Re: Whole Lotta Humbucker vs. Burstbuckers?

Hi and welcome to the forum.

I have subscribed to your thread because I am also curious but I do not have any answers for you at this time.

Guys, please help this kat out. I'm curious about what you have to say.


~LD
 
Re: Whole Lotta Humbucker vs. Burstbuckers?

havent played WLH yet but ive got a set of BBs. I would think the WLH would be fuller and hotter. both are PAF type. WLH would push the amp a bit harder. burstbuckers should be chimier and a bit more open sounding. I would think a bit thinner than the WLH too. I like the BB 1/2 tho. I think they are great pickups
 
Re: Whole Lotta Humbucker vs. Burstbuckers?

havent played WLH yet but ive got a set of BBs. I would think the WLH would be fuller and hotter. both are PAF type. WLH would push the amp a bit harder. burstbuckers should be chimier and a bit more open sounding. I would think a bit thinner than the WLH too. I like the BB 1/2 tho. I think they are great pickups

+whun

The WLH should be the duncan equivalent of the Burstbucker pros. Whether or not the bbpros or wlh sound anything alike, I have no clue. But on paper the WLH should be a deal hotter and beefier, and you can get more gain out of them. If I were you I'd keep the bb1 in the neck and throw the WLH bridge in it then use the other 2 pickups elsewhere. OR you could swap the pickups, then (unless you plan on selling them) Mag swap the bbs so the neck has an alnico 3 and the bridge has an alnico 5 and then wax pot them both. Now you have 2 kinds of Page sets!
 
Re: Whole Lotta Humbucker vs. Burstbuckers?

I'd play your LP stock for a little while, and see what you think about the BB's. They're very good PU's. If you think something's missing, then pop in the WLH's. You can always put teh WLH's in another guitar. Or put the BB's in another guitar.
 
Re: Whole Lotta Humbucker vs. Burstbuckers?

yeah i would not get rid of those BBs. if you do, PM me and Ill buy them. keeping the BB1 in the neck is a good suggestion. That is a surprisingly great neck pickup. I like it better than the 2 in the bridge. Putting a WLH in the bridge should work out great and give you very good tone. Try that before you pull both of them out.
 
Re: Whole Lotta Humbucker vs. Burstbuckers?

I really like Burstbuckers and Burstbucker Pros
Gritty, open and a little gnarly

Duncans winds are not scatter wound and uneven. So there's that besides the mags and resistance. I'd say experiment if you've never done it or are curious. You can always put em back.
 
Re: Whole Lotta Humbucker vs. Burstbuckers?

+whun

The WLH should be the duncan equivalent of the Burstbucker pros. Whether or not the bbpros or wlh sound anything alike, I have no clue. But on paper the WLH should be a deal hotter and beefier, and you can get more gain out of them.

BB Pros are not hotter than BBs. BB Pro 1 and 2 are about the same as BB 1 and 2, but with Alnico 5 magnets. The Pros are thinner and drier than the regular BBs, not beefier in the slightest.
 
Re: Whole Lotta Humbucker vs. Burstbuckers?

I have a new Gibson Les Paul '59 Reissue with BB1/2's.
I also have an unopened set of WLH's.
What tone changes can I expect if I swap pups?

I have a r8 I just did this to. You can expect more tone. More mids. More clarity. More gain, but in a clear way. The bb's sound like a cheap overseas made pickup compared to the wlh. Just do it.
 
Re: Whole Lotta Humbucker vs. Burstbuckers?

I have both BB Pros and WLH humbuckers in my Les Pauls. The BB Pros are going to be a little tighter, thicker mids, more versatile overall. WLH will have a bit deeper low end and a bit softer treble in my opinion. From what I have been able to tell, BB Pros handle distortion better. The WLH has more clarity than I would expect from Jimmy Page pickups but don't hold together like BB Pros with higher gain levels. BB Pros are slightly dryer, more unforgiving and WLH's are looser and have a similar compression to the Gibson 57 Classic pickup. Clean sounds on the WLH are generally a bit better in my opinion, but I love the clean sounds of the BB Pros too. BB Pros seem slightly more open, but the WLH has a slightly wider range. The WLH has some characteristics that remind me of a 59/Custom Hybrid and other characteristics that remind me of Alnico II Pro, but I can't really explain why those two pickups come to mind when I play the Whole Lotta. I think if you're going to play anything clean to 80's rock, the WLH is a good choice. If you are going to play anything from clean to metal or do a lot of soloing, the BB Pros would be a good choice.

Keep in mind the Les Pauls I have them in are very different. Both mahogany with maple caps, but one has a solid finish with 60's neck and baked maple fretboard, and the other is a pre-government rosewood crackdown Traditional with a 50's neck. If you're looking for answers about which pickups are better, then you won't find a good answer. Both pickups are awesome. BB Pros to me have a more unique sound and suit my lead style more, but I enjoy bluesy stuff with the Whole Lottas.
 
Last edited:
Re: Whole Lotta Humbucker vs. Burstbuckers?

Got to try the WLH's. WAY BETTER than any Gibson pickup. One of the BEST pickups out there.

Hey guys, the guy who STARTED the thread posted his results...I don't think he needs any more theorizing.

Glad you like the pups, now rock the R9 till it turns into a lemon-burst!
 
Back
Top