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Pickups - which ones?

BobbyS

BobbyS

New member
Joined
Oct 9, 2001
Messages
761
I've got an R58 and dig it a lot. The stock 57's aren't bad at all - they have nice quack and sound better than most t-tops I've played. So what is the holy grail? I've heard Tom Holmes and they are great, but Im interested in all possibilities. I don't know much about the Rolphs, not even who sells them. I played an authentic with burstbuckers and wasn't totally impressed but apparently a lot of you are. And I've never really got the Seymour Duncans. Help me out here - what do i get I get that's closest to the real thing? Thanks!
 
A

allenkaatz

Guest
Try the new Gibson "Burstbuckers" that now come stock on the Authentics. They are cheap at $100 a piece, and if you like them, you're set. Search the board here, there was quite a bit of discussion about them a week or two ago.

Al
 
Tomcat

Tomcat

New member
Joined
Feb 1, 2002
Messages
319
'57s, Antiquities or Seth Lovers do it for me, but since the Antiquities cost an arm and a leg, I'm just fine with the other ones!
 
EdA

EdA

New member
Joined
Jul 17, 2001
Messages
311
Your gonna get a bunch of different opinions and mine is just one more. Ive bought Rolphs, Holmes, Fralins, Van Zandts, Seths, Antiquities, 57 classics and a few more. Ive had at least a dozen real PAFs and currently still use PAFs. I personally think the Rolphs are the closest so far. Antiquities are a bit wimpy in comparison and 57s and Holmes are too strong and thick. I have not heard Burstbuckers yet, I hear a lot of good things about them. I think the Rolphs can be very close. I tried a 7.6 Rolph 57 that sounded almost identical (to my ears) to my 7.6 PAF. I havent tried a Rolph yet that sounds the same as my 8.3 PAF but his 8.3 '59 was pretty close. The next question is whether you WANT a pickup that sounds like a PAF. You said you like 57 classics. I used to also, nothing wrong with that. But they are ballsier and thicker than a real PAF. If you like that type of sound (supercharged PAF), you might want to consider Holmes, which to me sound like a refined version of a '57 classic.
 
M

Mike M

Guest
Which model of the Rolph's are you talking about? Do they come in double whites?
 
BobbyS

BobbyS

New member
Joined
Oct 9, 2001
Messages
761
EdA,

I'm very familiar with real PAFs having used a 58 goldtop and 60 ES 345 extensively. Nothing beats the sound of the real thing, but I obviously can't afford the real thing anymore as a set would cost as much as my R58. From what I've heard here it looks like I'm going to have to try the Rolphs Thanks to all for their suggestions.
 
J

Jato

Guest
My 2 cents,
I have a pair of the burstbuckers (2/3) on my '99 R9...and they are absolutely fabulous. I like them as much as the Duncan Antiquities a friend of mine had on his '69 Deluxe. I say 'had', because he is now using burstbuckers (1/2) on all his LP's. Supposedly the 1/2 pups (neck/bridge) are hotter than the 2/3. The 2/3 pups are on all the Authentics, and that is a good thing.
Steve
 
sws1

sws1

Well-known member
Joined
Dec 4, 2001
Messages
2,850
Actually, the 2/3 Burstbuckers are hotter than the 1/2.

I have Antiquities on my '59 and Burstbuckers 2/3 on my '58 authentic. I think they sound very very different. The BBs are much hotter. Not as woody or airy. Much more in your face. I'd even go so far as to say less 3 dimensional. As I've only had the guitar for a week now, the jury is still out.

I suppose the sound will continue to change in teh next few months as this guitar is only 1 month old, whereas the '59 is almost 2 years old. The '59 seems to be becoming more alive over time, which obviously affects the sound.

Regardless, I think the sounds are drastically different.
 
Z

Zhangliqun

New member
Joined
Jul 16, 2001
Messages
5,204
Speaking of the Custom Custom, I just bought one in the hopes that it will give me a smooth but full wailing tone without brittleness. Drawing it up on the chalkboard, the combination of the lighter Alnico II with the heavy DC resistance (14.2k) should get me close, but I haven't put it in so you never know. Your thoughts, gang?
 
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plaintop

plaintop

Active member
Joined
Jul 15, 2001
Messages
9,591
If your looking for PAF tone your best bet would be to get a set of Rolphs. Jim's pickup's have a a lot of PAF characteristics. I have not heard the burstbuckers but, after someone mentioned that they don't have the hollow growl, I doubt I would like them. IMO the next best thing to a PAF would be a rewound T-Top to PAF specs.

I was emaiing a friend this morning and the only analogy I could come up with concerning the tone of a real PAF was..... Once you hear a good PAF you want more kind of like a junky after their first hit of crack.
 
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G

Gazza

Sir Gazzalot
Joined
Nov 13, 2001
Messages
4,261
I had a Gary Moore LP and the Burstbuckers sounded good. I put antiquity's in my '57 Goldtop re-issue they sound good, but I am defintley considering trying Rolphs.
 
B

benfranklin

Guest
Hi Plaintop. what do you mean by rewound t-top? do you mean having someone put old style wire on a t-top bobbin? have you had this done or checked some out? I asked Rolph about this and he told me the t-top bobbins were different, so I gave up on the idea.
 
plaintop

plaintop

Active member
Joined
Jul 15, 2001
Messages
9,591
benfranklin said:
Hi Plaintop. what do you mean by rewound t-top? do you mean having someone put old style wire on a t-top bobbin? have you had this done or checked some out? I asked Rolph about this and he told me the t-top bobbins were different, so I gave up on the idea.
Click to expand...

For the record I am not saying a rewound T-Top sounds like a PAF.

I am not real sure what is involved. I have '70 T-Top measuring 7.6K in my bridge right now. The guy I bought it from said it was rewound by Fralin. I'm not sure about what wire was used. I didn't ask, it was a good deal so I bought it. The pickup really hangs well with the PAF I have in the neck.

I am not condoning the slaughter of perfectly good T-Tops. Maybe check around to see what is available.
 
plaintop

plaintop

Active member
Joined
Jul 15, 2001
Messages
9,591
hmmm...could this pair reach 5K? I heard the seller was a cool guy. ;\
 
G

GotWood

Active member
Joined
Jul 16, 2001
Messages
3,347
plaintop59 said:
hmmm...could this pair reach 5K? I heard the seller was a cool guy. ;\
Click to expand...


I don't know who he is but he has got some nice pickups.
I would be a little hesitant in buying anything from someone with no feedbacks though!
 
plaintop

plaintop

Active member
Joined
Jul 15, 2001
Messages
9,591
Yeah, it seems kind of funny this guy hits the ground running with a bunch of old Gibson parts. High dollar parts at that. I hear he has some nice wood too. :wow
 
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