What pickups are you non PAF types using?

[TheArchitect]

I have tried a a set of Seth's that I love in other guitars as well as a set of SD Antiquities. The Seth neck is good but the bridge is a bit bright. The bridge Ant feels a little thin and lacks a little oomph. The neck Ant is boomy.. As I recall the neck and bridge metered out close but the neck is a lot older. I may try the Seth in the neck and the neck Ant in the bridge but I may need to accept that I prefer something a little hotter than a PAF in the bridge. I have had both sets for many years now. I have an older set of 59's that have been on the shelf for some time as well...

I don't want mega hot, but maybe an over wound 10k'ish model for the bridge. That seems to be a relatively unexplored area. What are you guys using for that sort of thing?

 

[Hayden]

Hi
I am new here and I would like to give you yet another option. Low output - I have found you have to compensate by turning your amp up louder! I have just put a set of Bare Knuckle Stormy Mondays into my 88 HCSB and I am starting to really like them. They are very clear so feel "bigger". As some examples of what they are like through a clean amp I would say - Bloomfield Super Session. Robben Ford - The Art of Blues Rhythm DVD.
Hayden

 

[Tom Wittrock]

Duncan Alnico Pro 2s. :dude:

 

[goldtop0]

If they ever put Custombuckers on their price list they're a very good pup.
Other than that if you can pick up a set of Timbuckers off of ebay, I used these in my Historic from 2004 then sold that LP and now have the CBs in my '13 LPs.

 

[Kris Ford]

Patent Sticker T Tops, and Super Humbuckings (aka TARBACKS):yah
And even the dreaded Burstbucker...imho, THE WHIPPING BOY of all pickups, usually the value of the pot's fault rather than the PUP IME..it's a solid HARD ROCK pickup when dialed in, even if it doesn't exactly nail the PAF sound 1000% perfectly...
Oh, and the occasional P90.:yah

 

[DanD]

Gibson '57 Classics do most of what I want. If the neck has some mud a .015 cap will fix that.

Kris I've always found the 498 a bit harsh/strident to my ears even with good paper in oil caps and quality 500k pots. I have found the 490 to be ok but I prefer the '57s.

Back in the late 80s early 90s I ran a 490/498 combo in an SG and 496/500T combo in my '91 Classic. At the time the music we were playing was Sabbath, AIC, GNR, Motley Crue, etc... and the hotter pups were fine for that style.

The 496/500T/LP combo worked better for me then the 490/498/SG. Now I'm more into the smoother tones like ABB Blue Sky. I find the A2 mags get me closer to that sound.

The under wound A5 Live 'buckers in my R9 kinda' split the difference between 57s and BBs. Articulate yet smooth and very touch sensitive. They make me concentrate a bit more when trying to play smooth parts cleanly but chords have a string to string definition that's lacking compared to the '57s.

When I feel like playing some heavier tunes the BBs in my Standard do the trick but getting that smooth singing tone from them has really alluded me. I see them as straight up rock and raunch pups. Fun for relieving some aggression but really not my favorites for overall versatility in differing situations.

If I had to pick one set of pups I'd choose the under wound A5s. They are really versatile and can cover the gamut for me. eace2

 

[Kris Ford]

Gibson '57 Classics do most of what I want. If the neck has some mud a .015 cap will fix that.

Kris I've always found the 498 a bit harsh/strident to my ears even with good paper in oil caps and quality 500k pots. I have found the 490 to be ok but I prefer the '57s.

Back in the late 80s early 90s I ran a 490/498 combo in an SG and 496/500T combo in my '91 Classic. At the time the music we were playing was Sabbath, AIC, GNR, Motley Crue, etc... and the hotter pups were fine for that style.

The 496/500T/LP combo worked better for me then the 490/498/SG. Now I'm more into the smoother tones like ABB Blue Sky. I find the A2 mags get me closer to that sound.

The under wound A5 Live 'buckers in my R9 kinda' split the difference between 57s and BBs. Articulate yet smooth and very touch sensitive. They make me concentrate a bit more when trying to play smooth parts cleanly but chords have a string to string definition that's lacking compared to the '57s.

When I feel like playing some heavier tunes the BBs in my Standard do the trick but getting that smooth singing tone from them has really alluded me. I see them as straight up rock and raunch pups. Fun for relieving some aggression but really not my favorites for overall versatility in differing situations.

If I had to pick one set of pups I'd choose the under wound A5s. They are really versatile and can cover the gamut for me. eace2

Right on Dan!
Yeah, that's my findings as well with the Burstbuckers. A solid raw, rock pickup, and even if it doesn't perfectly clone a PAF in every way, they still scream hard rock. I needed a temporary set for my '74 SG Standard, and the BB 1+2 set I had laying around, (with a 500K spec'd harness) really suit this SG, making it a flat out NASTY rock machine, especially into a Marshall JMP 2203!:yah:yah:yah I think I'm leaving them RIGHT were they are for good. A 498 in a '70's SG is a hard rock flamethrower, like more early 80's hard rock sound IMO. I had one in my '76 SG Standard, and sounded killer!
The T Tops actually dip a toe or 2 into PAF territory sometimes, and it's been proven here that in a double blind test, (thanks J45!!) many couldn't tell the difference. T Tops are '70's hard rock ALL the way, and soo many classic tones just pour out of the Marshall with those, and the Tarbacks have some of that flavor as well, but are a little bit darker and smokier, but not at all in a bad way..
It's nice to have 3 distinct, yet in the same family, Gibson HB sounds, even if they aren't PAFs. No reason to have 4 SGs sound alike!

 

[John Vasco]

Haven't a clue. All are stock.

I have:
1976 Deluxe with mini hums;
1991 Custom;
2009 '08 Standard;
2014 Custom Shop '57 VOS Junior - single P90; and
2014 Custom Shop SG/Les Paul Standard

 

[wnstardis]

I really don't mind the PAF's and have them on a couple of my Lester's but my 1990 LPC has Bill Lawrence designed circuit board Pu's (stock) that I really like.

 

[Tom Wittrock]

I really don't mind the PAF's and have them on a couple of my Lester's but my 1990 LPC has Bill Lawrence designed circuit board Pu's (stock) that I really like.

Cool!! Bursts or Goldtops? :hmm

 

[sonar]

I got nothing other than "good luck". Pickup swapping is my least favorite gas, even more than speaker upgrades. I've always found these two detract rather than add to my playing, so I make do with what I have.

fwiw, I've found Seth Lovers to be pretty solid.