Gibson releases exclusive new 'historic' PAF: 1959 Humbucker Collector’s Edition Series 1

[Wilko]

The cover shape is still wrong

 

[Wizard1183]

Someone offered me a set in trade for a guitar I have listed on Reverb. The item I have listed is about $1600. I didn't take them, but the guy was pretty adamant that I was an idiot for turning him down.

I figure if I install them and don't like them I'll lose about $300 because they won't be collector grade anymore. Plus, I don't need any fancy pickups, or 'pups' as the forum-speak goes!

Well I’ll play devils advocate here however I’m not in agreement. Basically 15-1600 is what they’re trying to sell them for after they saw. The test price of $2850 failed miserably. Thing is and his thoughts are you can’t get them and they’re prolly worth somewhere around the figure? But if they’re at #300? They have a ways to go before they DONT make them.

But to call you an idiot over it? Even if the pups go to to say $3k later? If you’re not wanting the trade then it’s fine. I’d have said. Buy the guitar and put those pups in it ?

 

[Wizard1183]

The cover shape is still wrong

It ain’t getting fixed. Gibson will not make an EXACT clone of the burst. They make it close enough to satisfy the masses. Not for a few to say it ain’t right. Gibson doesn’t care. They’re selling those not right ML braz board LPs all day long….

 

[Amp360]

Well I’ll play devils advocate here however I’m not in agreement. Basically 15-1600 is what they’re trying to sell them for after they saw. The test price of $2850 failed miserably. Thing is and his thoughts are you can’t get them and they’re prolly worth somewhere around the figure? But if they’re at #300? They have a ways to go before they DONT make them.

But to call you an idiot over it? Even if the pups go to to say $3k later? If you’re not wanting the trade then it’s fine. I’d have said. Buy the guitar and put those pups in it ?

True. I figure maybe he was damaged from getting felt up by Ron Thorn or something.

 

[NickiC]

What’s your serial? I thought they began at CI0001 and just go up. Cause those on reverb are like 114,115,176 then I noticed newly sold out batch has #CI0064. So I’m like hmmmm weird numbering…

C1 #0010
Canceled order from The Gibson Garage.

 

[ADP]

C1 #0010
Canceled order from The Gibson Garage.

Sent a message.

 

[Mr. Legit]

I had originally bought two sets. I retained number 216 and sold the other one numbered in the 190s for a small fortune. I asked my contact at Gibson if they’d let me choose too, but no cigar on these. The legs on my set 216 came bent in on the serial sticker side so I had to bend the legs back straight. I tore the stickers off and preserved the stickers elsewhere. The shape of the covers is not even remotely as good as the competition, but they’re not nearly as horrible as they could be.

I tested the pickups at a gig this weekend at stage volume in a borrowed Historic, and like all my other PAF style pickups, they performed well. My wife loves the fancy box though, and I convinced her she could keep the box if I kept the pickups which with these I am. While I don’t swap pickups like I used to anymore in my attempts to keep my guitars stock, these will go in a very special guitar build I’ll share in another thread at the end of 2024.

 

[Amp360]

I had originally bought two sets. I retained number 216 and sold the other one numbered in the 190s for a small fortune. I asked my contact at Gibson if they’d let me choose too, but no cigar on these. The legs on my set 216 came bent in on the serial sticker side so I had to bend the legs back straight. I tore the stickers off and preserved the stickers elsewhere. The shape of the covers is not even remotely as good as the competition, but they’re not nearly as horrible as they could be.

I tested the pickups at a gig this weekend at stage volume in a borrowed Historic, and like all my other PAF style pickups, they performed well. My wife loves the fancy box though, and I convinced her she could keep the box if I kept the pickups which with these I am. While I don’t swap pickups like I used to anymore in my attempts to keep my guitars stock, these will go in a very special guitar build I’ll share in another thread at the end of 2024.

Any chance of hearing some clips?

 

[Mr. Legit]

Any chance of hearing some clips?

Sorry I don’t. I don’t feel I could do a recording justice anyways. You really have to try them in person which might be a tall order given how much the buy in is.

 

[Wizard1183]

C1 #0010
Canceled order from The Gibson Garage.

I figured there was some cancellations to get low numbers….next batches should be around 250-300 or so. They may not even go to 1000? Who knows?

 

[Bumhucker]

I’m amused/bemused by the use of A4 magnets. I guess the last phenom of A3 is passe and A2/5 is too been there, done that.

A thousand bucks.

 

[Wizard1183]

I’m amused/bemused by the use of A4 magnets. I guess the last phenom of A3 is passe and A2/5 is too been there, done that.

A thousand bucks.

$1000 today was $500 yesterday…

 

[LG King]

The finale is coming. Old growth. There is literally NOTHING more Gibson can do their flagship other than recreate the original. Now? They MAY drag it out to capitalize on say Pearly Gates $50lk, Jimmy Page #1, the Beast, Beano etc at $50-60k? But then what? Then it’s time to finalize the history with old growth braz board P.A.F. pups and the end…..not like they can recreate old growth later on for cheaper? That’s insanely limited. There is literally nowhere else to go. And 50 of those at a cost to Gibson of say $4-7k (on the high end) a guitar? They’ll make like almost $4.5 mil profit on the deal.

I understand that the trees that were harvested back in the '50's were probably older than todays current harvest. But when Bloomfield was delivering (to my ears) killer sounds and tones in 1967, it was on an 8 year old guitar. J. Page in 1969 on a 10 year-old guitar. All of my current guitars are way older than that.

 

[Wizard1183]

I understand that the trees that were harvested back in the '50's were probably older than todays current harvest. But when Bloomfield was delivering (to my ears) killer sounds and tones in 1967, it was on an 8 year old guitar. J. Page in 1969 on a 10 year-old guitar. All of my current guitars are way older than that.

You’re not understanding, I’m talking about the accuracy. Where all of the parts are as accurate as Gibson will get it to. Everyone claims the wood is part of the “magic.” Its the reason why they’re pitting braz boards when Indian RW or Madagascar RW or…and not many if any can hear the tone from it.

 

[Wizard1183]

In stock now

 

[TM1]

The cover shape is still wrong

Get a pair of ThroBak's and solder those in!

 

[Mustardc Caps]

Looks like Gibson, may finally taking Tom Holmes advice on pickup building.

In the 90s, Tom worked for Gibson, and designed the machines, the 57 Classics are still wound on, and had input, on the original design, and materials, of the 57 Classics.

BUT, Gibson told Tom, the pickups were to expensive to build. So Tom told them to stop using his name, in association, for advertising these pickups. Tom also got to see all of the order sheets for magnets, in the 50s-60s.

They did use Toms Wire recommendation, but stopped, after a few years.

And when Tom, first started winding pickups, in 1971, he sent an original magnet, to one of the original manufacturers that supplied Gibson, with magnets. Thomas and Skinner.

In the 50s- Gibson got magnets from Thomas and Skinner, in Indiana, and Arnold Magnetics, in Illinois. Both of these companies are still in business, and make magnets for Aerospace, NASA, and the Military. They will also make magnets, nobody else can, or will make.

Both have been in business, for more than 100 years.

When Tom, sent off an original Magnet, to T&S, in 71, it came back as an Unknown Hybrid, but they eventually nailed it down to an A4 magnet, and told Tom, they hadnt used that formula, for some time.

He told them he wanted some of these A4 magnets, and they told him, he would have to buy a Whole Pour/Vat, and that the cost was, $2000. And remember, this is in 1971. So that cost is now at least $16,000 for the same order.

Seems like Throbak, has also raised their prices, since last summer. I think last summer they were about the same price as Tom Holmes H450-H455, and now, they are $720.

Probably $200-$300 is what Gibson is charging for the box, they come in, so that takes them down to about $700, which is competitive, with Throbak. And add in the collectability.

Toms pickups have been $580, for 10+ years. I also think Tom, makes the most Vintage Accurate Shape, vs anyone. And his covers, are second to none. He stamps, and electroplates, his own covers. Only thing is, you wait a year, to get them. And, he doesnt take preorder payments.
When he passes, his pickup prices, will be astronomical.

 

[Wizard1183]

Looks like Gibson, may finally taking Tom Holmes advice on pickup building.

In the 90s, Tom worked for Gibson, and designed the machines, the 57 Classics are still wound on, and had input, on the original design, and materials, of the 57 Classics.

BUT, Gibson told Tom, the pickups were to expensive to build. So Tom told them to stop using his name, in association, for advertising these pickups. Tom also got to see all of the order sheets for magnets, in the 50s-60s.

They did use Toms Wire recommendation, but stopped, after a few years.

And when Tom, first started winding pickups, in 1971, he sent an original magnet, to one of the original manufacturers that supplied Gibson, with magnets. Thomas and Skinner.

In the 50s- Gibson got magnets from Thomas and Skinner, in Indiana, and Arnold Magnetics, in Illinois. Both of these companies are still in business, and make magnets for Aerospace, NASA, and the Military. They will also make magnets, nobody else can, or will make.

Both have been in business, for more than 100 years.

When Tom, sent off an original Magnet, to T&S, in 71, it came back as an Unknown Hybrid, but they eventually nailed it down to an A4 magnet, and told Tom, they hadnt used that formula, for some time.

He told them he wanted some of these A4 magnets, and they told him, he would have to buy a Whole Pour/Vat, and that the cost was, $2000. And remember, this is in 1971. So that cost is now at least $16,000 for the same order.

Seems like Throbak, has also raised their prices, since last summer. I think last summer they were about the same price as Tom Holmes H450-H455, and now, they are $720.

Probably $200-$300 is what Gibson is charging for the box, they come in, so that takes them down to about $700, which is competitive, with Throbak. And add in the collectability.

Toms pickups have been $580, for 10+ years. I also think Tom, makes the most Vintage Accurate Shape, vs anyone. And his covers, are second to none. He stamps, and electroplates, his own covers. Only thing is, you wait a year, to get them. And, he doesnt take preorder payments.
When he passes, his pickup prices, will be astronomical.

How’s Tom Holmes to ThroBak?

 

[deytookerjaabs]

Looks like Gibson, may finally taking Tom Holmes advice on pickup building.

In the 90s, Tom worked for Gibson, and designed the machines, the 57 Classics are still wound on, and had input, on the original design, and materials, of the 57 Classics.

BUT, Gibson told Tom, the pickups were to expensive to build. So Tom told them to stop using his name, in association, for advertising these pickups. Tom also got to see all of the order sheets for magnets, in the 50s-60s.

They did use Toms Wire recommendation, but stopped, after a few years.

And when Tom, first started winding pickups, in 1971, he sent an original magnet, to one of the original manufacturers that supplied Gibson, with magnets. Thomas and Skinner.

In the 50s- Gibson got magnets from Thomas and Skinner, in Indiana, and Arnold Magnetics, in Illinois. Both of these companies are still in business, and make magnets for Aerospace, NASA, and the Military. They will also make magnets, nobody else can, or will make.

Both have been in business, for more than 100 years.

When Tom, sent off an original Magnet, to T&S, in 71, it came back as an Unknown Hybrid, but they eventually nailed it down to an A4 magnet, and told Tom, they hadnt used that formula, for some time.

He told them he wanted some of these A4 magnets, and they told him, he would have to buy a Whole Pour/Vat, and that the cost was, $2000. And remember, this is in 1971. So that cost is now at least $16,000 for the same order.

Seems like Throbak, has also raised their prices, since last summer. I think last summer they were about the same price as Tom Holmes H450-H455, and now, they are $720.

Probably $200-$300 is what Gibson is charging for the box, they come in, so that takes them down to about $700, which is competitive, with Throbak. And add in the collectability.

Toms pickups have been $580, for 10+ years. I also think Tom, makes the most Vintage Accurate Shape, vs anyone. And his covers, are second to none. He stamps, and electroplates, his own covers. Only thing is, you wait a year, to get them. And, he doesnt take preorder payments.
When he passes, his pickup prices, will be astronomical.

You left out part of that Tom Holmes quote:

I think I paid $2,500 for 2,000 magnets

So, in 1971 that's $1.25 a magnet. It's odd to assume that with the vast increases in productivity across many manufacturing industries that the price is the same...but let's pretend it is.

In 2024 money that's a hair under $10 a magnet.

 

[Wilko]

Get a pair of ThroBak's and solder those in!

I haven't seen throbak's covers. I'm using DMC.