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  1. 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
  2. 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:

  3. 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.


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


  6. 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.


  8. 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
  9. Originally posted by Alex:[..]

    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


    I don't remember where I got the 490R/498T designations. That part was apparently wrong. I have double-checked with the guy I know at Gibson.

    He said:

    "Thanks for the email. The Gibson model came with Burstbucker Pro pickups and the Epiphone model came with Epiphone Alnico Classic humbuckers."

    So there you have it. 490R/498T might have been the wrong designation but they are indeed Burstbucker Pro pickups (in the Gibson LP Music Rising)

  10. Seems that Edge has been experimenting with which Stratocaster for using for "Where The Streets Have No Name".

    Melbourne: Not sure which night this was. Edge using a Black w/white pickguard 1970's era Stratocaster (Instead of the all black Start he'd been using over the past few tours.




  11. OFF TOPIC: BUT THEY'VE LENGTHENED THE INTRO FOR "STREETS" BACK TO NORMAL

    Holy damn. First few legs they only let Edge go for a few bars.

    Sorry...Thanks for sharing the video Jeff. In relation to that, I really can't tell the difference between the guitar tone for that one.
  12. Originally posted by EyesWithPrideB3:OFF TOPIC: BUT THEY'VE LENGTHENED THE INTRO FOR "STREETS" BACK TO NORMAL

    Holy damn. First few legs they only let Edge go for a few bars.

    Sorry...Thanks for sharing the video Jeff. In relation to that, I really can't tell the difference between the guitar tone for that one.


    My thoughts exactly

    As for the tone of the strat. I really don't notice a difference here, but when he switched strats during that mess up on Bad a few weeks ago, I did notice a difference, but that could've been due to a malfunction in one of the strats. Who knows.
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U2start is run by fans for fans. Help us reduce personal costs. Consider to make a donation to support us.
U2start is run by fans for fans. Help us reduce personal costs. Consider to make a donation to support us.