Classic 57 thoughts

[Dmcrisp36]

what are y’all’s thoughts on the classic 57 pups now that they’ve been out of the rotation for les pauls for awhile now

 

[Big Al]

I have always liked them.

 

[Bob Womack]

Many consider them and T-tops the next-best thing to PAFs.

Bob

 

[jb_abides]

They stay in.

 

[1allspub]

Nope. Always yank them. TEHO

 

[dwagar]

I like them. In fact, when I bought my new SG Tribute, I pulled the 490s and replaced them with a 57/57+ set.

 

[jb_abides]

I like them. In fact, when I bought my new SG Tribute, I pulled the 490s and replaced them with a 57/57+ set.

Not sure if there's ever been an established consensus, or just my observation based upon anecdotal evidence i.e. owner comments throughout the years: 57s seem to pair particularly well with SGs. I recall a lot of chatter favoring them in an SG [more so than elsewhere]... again, could just be my perception.

 

[DrewB]

Not sure if there's ever been an established consensus, or just my observation based upon anecdotal evidence i.e. owner comments throughout the years: 57s seem to pair particularly well with SGs. I recall a lot of chatter favoring them in an SG [more so than elsewhere]... again, could just be my perception.

They seem to be especially good with the semi-hollows, as well. I put a pair in a Jay Turser 335 copy years ago and it was fantastic. My '07 ES-335 came stock with them and they're great in that one, too.

 

[Dmcrisp36]

I have them in a les Paul dc. They sound equal or better than all the ”boutique“ pickups I’ve tried throughout the years. Could have just been a lucky set

 

[bursty]

I have very limited experience with them; only one set that is now likely about 20+ years old that were in my circa mid 2000s Momose MLS-STD/J.

I didn't care for them in the Momose but then pickups can offer different sonic results in different guitars.
I haven't installed the Classic 57s in any other guitar since removing them from the Momose; they're in storage with a bunch of old Greco/Maxon sets.

I went through all of my LP type guitars yesterday and my favorite pickups were the circa 2000 SD Seth Lover set in my LS-320.
The neck pickup sounds amazing; like a Strat with at least two set of balls without the 60 cycle madness, of course.

My second favorite set are an uncovered (Bacchus) VH-59 set that I installed in the Momose after I removed the Classic 57s.
The VH-59s are severely underrated pickups.


as delivered with Classic 57s



with VH-59 set

 

[Any Name You Wish]

I have the original '57 classics in my ES-335 historic. Love them. Bright and snappy. If I were looking to try something different in my R9 or SG I would probably try the '57 classics.

 

[MarcB]

good with the semi-hollows

Agreed…

 

[Señor Verde]

I haven't liked the few 57 Classics I've tried, but there was a 57 Classic Plus that sounded great.

 

[MarcB]

Pick ups are a strange thing.. even those in the same product range have different characteristics from each other.. and couple that with putting them in different guitar types, they all react/perform differently.. as do the players.
So you can’t definitively judge a pickup individually, there are too many factors involved.
It’s all just ballpark judgments.

 

[bursty]

Pick ups are a strange thing.. even those in the same product range have different characteristics from each other.. and couple that with putting them in different guitar types, they all react/perform differently.. as do the players.
So you can’t definitively judge a pickup individually, there are too many factors involved.
It’s all just ballpark judgments.

WORD ......

 

[bursty]

They seem to be especially good with the semi-hollows, as well. I put a pair in a Jay Turser 335 copy years ago and it was fantastic. My '07 ES-335 came stock with them and they're great in that one, too.

I sold a 2013 Momose MES1 about a year ago that had original Alnico 2 BEANO pickups in it; sounded like magic
Think I made a mistake selling that guitar but I just never got along with all of the ES types I owned.
Sure would like to get my grubby mitts on a set of those BEANOs but man they are rare as a stand alone item .......

 

[MarcB]

BEANO

I was looking at a Beano online yesterday.. never knew they had their own pickups .. but it makes sense they would now.

 

[DrewB]

BEANO

So I guess if you get a set of those, there'll BE no more GAS?!

 

[Telechamp]

I've got two guitars with '57 Classics - a 2013 SG Standard, and a 2017 335 Studio.

The '57 Classics sound fantastic in the SG. Perfect pickups for this guitar.

The 335 has a '57 Classic in the neck, and a "Super 57" in the bridge. But the Super '57 sounds great. Not sure if the Super '57 is still made, but it's a really great sounding pickup. Slightly hotter than the neck '57 Classic in the 335 Studio.

 

[ch willie]

I have put the Classic 57s in several guitars, and they came stock in my Les Paul. I really like them.