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  1. It all comes down to trying and testing my friend. If you google 'what are good humbuckers", everyone has a different opinion. It all comes down to how much you're willing to spend on testing different humbuckers.

    If you want a hotter sound, you want ceramics, if you want a brighter cleaner tone, go for alnico magnets. I've heard great things about the Gibson 57 (neck) and Gibson 57 Plus (bridge) combo, and I'll be putting that in my Les Paul around Christmas. But again, I've heard great things about Burstbuckers, some of the Seymour Duncan stuff, some of the Dimarzio sets, etc.

    I'm sure Jeff has tested more than I have though, so wait for him to reply! I know you asked for his opinion in the first place, but I thought I'd give mine too That's what the forums all about!

    Alex
  2. Originally posted by EyesWithPrideB3:Speaking of pickup rec's, Jeff, do you have any recommendations for a PRS Singlecut SE?

    [image]

    I've been looking to upgrade since the stock pickups are still in, and while I'm not UNHAPPY with the way they sound, I feel like I could be getting something better out of the guitar.

    Also, please share your recs for the Epi Les Pauls...I've got an old one that needs severe updating.


    T-Tops are what Edge has in his LP Customs & Explorers.

    Seymour Duncan Seth Lovers are really good. They have a nice warm sound and are similar in tone to The Edge's.

    Gibson Les Paul Music Rising have a Gibson 490R at the neck and 498T at the bridge - Burstbucker Pro pickups.

    I don't recommend ceramic pickups for Edge tones. To my ears, they are a bit too 'metal'-y.
  3. Thanks a lot everyone! I'm not sure how to really "test" pickups without buying them and using them, and that gets expensive..


  4. I would get what sounds nice based on some "big name" whose equipment I am familiar with. You could get what people get for Les Pauls, since you guitar has almost the same design.


  5. That's pretty much how it works. To be honest I know a few professional guitarists (in the family, friends etc.) that don't even bother changing pickups in a guitar. They think it's a waste of money and that they don't change the sound enough to justify spending 200 bucks on a set and spending 50-90 more having them installed (unless you do it yourself). After all, like they say, the tone is in the fingers.
    I disagree to an extent. I think changing the pickups DOES make a difference, but I don't think people should rely on that to make their tone THAT much better. Unless you start out with really sh!t pickups (which assuming you have a PRS, they're good pickups) changing them isn't really necessary. The reason I'm changing mine is because the humbuckers in my epi les paul custom are muddy as hell, and I want ones that are much brighter and clearer. And after reading plenty of reviews. the Gibson 57 classics seem just to be what I'm looking for. Classic les paul sound, very clear, very nice.

    My advice is, if you do want to change them out, just read plenty of reviews. PLENTY of reviews. And say you have it down to two different sets, and you can't decide. Google something like (And this is an example) "GIbson 57 classics vs Burstbuckers" . and chances are someone has asked the question before you.

    Alex
  6. It's honestly 75% because I want better tone, which as I said- I dont have a BAD one now, I'd just like to toy around and kick it up a notch...and 25% because of the style. For whatever reason, I think they plated-style pickups look much sleeker and much nicer than the coil pickups, which on my PRS, have already all rusted over and don't stand out as much as a shiny new plate would.

    Since I'm probably not using proper terminology, I would want to switch to:



    from what I have now:

  7. Originally posted by EyesWithPrideB3:It's honestly 75% because I want better tone, which as I said- I dont have a BAD one now, I'd just like to toy around and kick it up a notch...and 25% because of the style. For whatever reason, I think they plated-style pickups look much sleeker and much nicer than the coil pickups, which on my PRS, have already all rusted over and don't stand out as much as a shiny new plate would.

    Since I'm probably not using proper terminology, I would want to switch to:

    [image]

    from what I have now:

    [image]


    Only difference between the pictures you posted is that one has a cover and the other doesn't

    Both are humbuckers.


  8. So if I put in Burstbuckers, I'm looking at no noticeable tone change?


  10. I'll probably just leave the ones I have in, then. And I've had this conversation with someone (perhaps on this very thread) before, but I'm determined to try again...

    My pickups are rusting over, and while I know its natural and the only thing it does to the sound is make it FRACTIONS more "original" (doesn't make it loads worse, or so I've heard), it just doesn't look appealing. Is there anything I can do that won't damage the pickups that will remove the rust? I don't want to use some regular rust cleaner that will end up hurting the pickups.


  12. While I agree to your recommendations I have to state the fact that 490R/498T are neither Burstbuckers nor Burstbuckers Pro.

    Gibson invented the term "Burstbucker" to mark a humbucker with slightly different coil windings to simulate the uneven production from the stone age of guitar building.

    So the coils of every Burstbucker are unevenly wound. The 490R/498T are part of the "Modern Classics" series - these are evenly wound.

    I have a pair of BB Pros in my Worn Brown Les Paul and love them - perfect allrounders to my ears. But not really cheap if you buy them as aftermaket replacement.

    For classic tone I'd recommend a pair of PAF- types, i.e. Seymour Duncan SH-1N/SH-1B or DiMarzio 36th Anniversary. For a more rockin' approach I'd recommend a hotter bridge pickup, i.e. the Duncan Hot Rodded Set (SH-2N/SH-4). You could also go the Filtertron way but that would take you in a different direction.

    Alex
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