question about gibson pickups

[everybody's x]

I just bought a Les Paul studio last week.

its a 2002 model, they only made this color that year.
Anyway it has the 490t and 490r or whatever pickups in it. It sounds really good, but since I am a gearslut I also have a 57 classic that I am thinking about putting in it. How do the two stack up against each other?
will I notice any real difference here? Will it screw up the value of the guitar given it's limited run?

[Rodney Gene]

Honestly I think it would be a waste of your time...both the 490 series and 57' Classic use Alnico 5 magnets with similiar resistances... the tone, dynamics and response will too close for any value...

Now taking the 490s out of there for something like SD's...that would be worth doing. Personally I find stock Gibson humbuckers very plain...including the 57'.

As for being a collectors guitar? I wouldn't be concerned about swapping out pickups based on that. I wouldn't get my hopes up that the 'limited' part brings anything to the table.

Godd luck bro...

[everybody's x]

thanks rodney, thats what I thought.
I had a friend who had a 68 jazzmaster back in the 80's when you could get them for practically nothing, gut it and put something like seymour duncan invaders or something god-awful in it, so you know Im thinking about that

[pan60]

Originally Posted by Rodney Gene

Honestly I think it would be a waste of your time...both the 490 series and 57' Classic use Alnico 5 magnets with similiar resistances... the tone, dynamics and response will too close for any value...

Now taking the 490s out of there for something like SD's...that would be worth doing. Personally I find stock Gibson humbuckers very plain...including the 57'.

As for being a collectors guitar? I wouldn't be concerned about swapping out pickups based on that. I wouldn't get my hopes up that the 'limited' part brings anything to the table.

Godd luck bro...

agree

but i would save the originals just in case, you just never know what can happen in 50 years.

[everybody's x]

Originally Posted by pan60

agree

you just never know what can happen in 50 years.

this is all im sayin, my buddy with the jazzmaster was pissed when the whole Nirvana deal made them hip again and he had just sold it for $250 or something, I aint going there

[fuzzface777]

If you want REAL PAF tone, buy the seymour duncan antiquities. Seymour has SETH LOVER'S original winders and that IS ALL seymour duncan does...makes pups. Even Gibson tried to copy Seymour's JB pup (their best seller for 12 years a general tone, fairly flat eq'd , higher gain pup that is used in many other guitar companies) by creating the 500T (which sounds pretty good, too for that type of app and style). The real rich tones have to come from the old PAF's (3000 USD) or the seymour antiquities. Go to the music store and compare guitar ( if any) you will see.....

[vodka gimli]

Gibson's 'Burst Buckers are excellent for around $100 each. They will sound more "open" and "Hi fi" than the stock pickups. Be sure to re-wire the controls using "'50's wiring" scheme...it does make a difference.