1 Topic by motörhead (edited by motörhead 2010-09-28 06:28:01)

  • From: Germany
  • Registered: 2009-12-25
  • Posts: 101

Topic: Help with Pickups

Hey!

I was wondering if anyone could help me with the right choice of pickups.
I wanted to buy new pickups for my LP. At first I thought about Burstbucker3 and 2 or Burstbucker2 and 1.
But Burstbucker3 will be the right one I think. In the neck position I was thinking about the P-57 Classic instead of the Burstbucker2.

Would the "Burstbucker3/P57Classic-combination" be a good choice?
Any tips or recommendations?


Regards
Felix

(I hope I'm in the right section with my topic...)

Lookin' back in front of me
  • From: Germany
  • Registered: 2009-12-25
  • Posts: 101

Re: Help with Pickups

Ok. I've done some research. And now I have a question.

The Burstbuckers (1/2/3) don't come wax potted (when you buy them alone, not in a guitar).
I guess Joe's Burstbuckers 2 and 3 (with covers) are wax potted.
I think you will have lots of feedback with the unpotted covered Burstbuckers.
Now my question.
Does anyone now how much uncontrollable feedback the open coil Burstbuckers produce? (I mean the unwanted sqeals from the pickups)
(I play loud but with an ampshield. I don't use much gain, except for my lead parts I boost a little bit with a Boss DS-1)



Felix

Lookin' back in front of me
  • From: Troy, Michigan
  • Registered: 2010-07-16
  • Posts: 27

Re: Help with Pickups

If you're lucky enough to find them, Burstbucker Pro's are waxed potted. For some reason, Gibson discontinued them as an aftermarket product but can be found in LP Standards and (oddly enough) in the Studio Faded series.

"Just enough gear to play what I want to hear"
  • From: Germany
  • Registered: 2009-12-25
  • Posts: 101

Re: Help with Pickups

Yes Burstbucker Pros would be nice.
But I'm also considering the 57 classic / 57 classic plus combination. They're wax potted.

I play my Marshall JCM900 just with its natural overdrive (not too much) and only with a Boss DS1 for a little solo boost. No other effects or noisgates. And I don't know if the unpotted (but uncovered) Burstbucker3 would squeal with no noisegate (I don't want one).


Thanks for your reply DetroitBlues.

Lookin' back in front of me
  • From: Detroit
  • Registered: 2006-06-02
  • Posts: 5,807

Re: Help with Pickups

Are you stuck on Gibson pickups?
You can always get burstbuckers and wax pot them yourself... or pay a luthier $5 to wax pot them either briefly for a minimal effect (quick seconds dip)  or until the bubbles go away.

- Nic from Detroit... posting on JB's Forum since 6-2-2006
Ask me about my handwound Great Lakes Guitar Pickups
Since 2010, Bonamassa fans have taken advantage of my JB friend discount = my cost + shipping. cool
  • From: Germany
  • Registered: 2009-12-25
  • Posts: 101

Re: Help with Pickups

Yeah, you're right. I could wax pot them myself. ... never thought about that.

Anyway, I just checked out the Seymoure Duncan website.
The PearlyGates Pickup seems very interesting. Anybody with PearlyGates-experiences?
(Ah, by the way. Wax potting, does anybody know if they come potted? I think they do but I can't find nothing if they really are potted)

Lookin' back in front of me
  • From: North Carolina
  • Registered: 2008-10-26
  • Posts: 2,926

Re: Help with Pickups

I've played a few Gibson guitars with unwaxed burstbucker 1, 2, & 3 pickups.  I've never had a problem with them while trying them out.  I know exactly what your talking about and if the wind them correctly they don't need wax.  They breath more and have a very organic sound to them.  Wax was brought in to make the job easier on the winders.  Basically they have a couple of loose coils that might not have been wound as tight as they could have been.  At low volume they work fine, but when your amp is pegged and the Fequency is picked up through the pickup it starts to make the coils vibrate.  This vibration causes the harmonic feedback that is uncontrolable.
Burstbuckers are held to very high standards and don't have the loose coils like they used to back in the early days of pickup winding so they don't need the wax potting.  That said they feedback quicker then a pickup that is wax potted and if you ask me thats a good thing because this feedback is controllable.  Sustaining notes, and even turning towards the amp can bring these colorfull feedback sounds out.  My vote is a 1 & 2, the 3 is great too but I feel like shredding ever time I play a Les Paul with a BB3, and feel bluesy on a 2...  I would even go as far as saying give me a 2 and a 2 because they sound good.

AD3THREE's Website

  • From: Germany
  • Registered: 2009-12-25
  • Posts: 101

Re: Help with Pickups

Hey, thank you! That was exactly the kind of information I was looking for.

I guess I'll look around and test a bit more. Maybe it's gonna be the Burstbucker(s), maybe the Pearly Gates, maybe the 57classic(+),....

Thanks again.
But i f anyone has more information about "my" pickups, I'd appreciate that.


Have Fun
Felix

Lookin' back in front of me
  • From: North Carolina
  • Registered: 2008-10-26
  • Posts: 2,926

Re: Help with Pickups

I've had Pearly Gates, and 57' classics.  To be honest I hated the Pearly gates.  They were the muddiest sounding pickups I ever had in my Les Paul.  I had a JB and a 59' as well and that combination was pretty good, but the 59' was muddy as well.  Seymour Duncan 59's are better then the Pearly Gates in my humble opinion but they're more muddy then a gibson 57' classic.  The Gibson 57' Classic's are my favorite pickup all around.  When I think Les Paul sounds I think Eric Clapton Blues Breakers era and early Cream, Those do that no problem.  Burstbuckers do for me as well, they have that raw sound a little more wild then the 57' classics.
Its a taste thing and its different for different people, but I know there are better P.A.F. Style humbuckers out there if you look hard enough. 

I'm a single coil Strat guy also so my opinion doesn't count for much these days.

AD3THREE's Website

  • From: Troy, Michigan
  • Registered: 2010-07-16
  • Posts: 27

Re: Help with Pickups

motörhead wrote:

Yes Burstbucker Pros would be nice.
But I'm also considering the 57 classic / 57 classic plus combination. They're wax potted.

I play my Marshall JCM900 just with its natural overdrive (not too much) and only with a Boss DS1 for a little solo boost. No other effects or noisgates. And I don't know if the unpotted (but uncovered) Burstbucker3 would squeal with no noisegate (I don't want one).


Thanks for your reply DetroitBlues.

With humbuckers, you really don't need noisegates/supressors...

"Just enough gear to play what I want to hear"
  • Registered: 2010-09-30
  • Posts: 163

Re: Help with Pickups

My '10 R9 has the unpotted BB2 and BB1 combo. I've had no issues at all with feedback problems at high volume thus far (knock on wood). So far, I've been quite pleased with the tone as well, and I usually nitpick everything.  lol I have 57 Classics in my 335 which are also nice. Hard to directly compare, as the guitars are very different. I think that I would prefer the BB's in my Lester, though. In any event, lots and lots of great LP type pickups to choose from, though, so best of luck and enjoy the hunt!

Cheers,
-Matt