• Registered: 2012-02-27
  • Posts: 4

Topic: pickup recomendations

Hi guys longtime viewer but new member to the boards. Just wondered if you guys could recomend any pickups similar to gibsons 57classics I absolutely fell in love with these things after playing mostly emgs since I started. I don't care for the sound of burstbuckers. Just curious if any other companies maybe do their own rendition or possibly a better version of the 57 classics. I apologize for the lengthy post just wondered if anyone has come across anything in their own quest for tone.

2 Reply by helrazr84 (edited by helrazr84 2012-02-27 21:05:58)

  • From: York, PA
  • Registered: 2010-08-27
  • Posts: 1,749

Re: pickup recomendations

Just a very general response, but I too like the 57 Classics better than burstbuckers so if it were me, thats what I'd get. I'm sure there are some out there that are very similar, but if they are what you like- then stick with them. I think its cool to search around and compare and contrast things, it helps you learn but personally from my experience, sometimes I used to get too caught up in that and I'd end up losing sight of what my original intent and idea was. I'd end up off track!

  • Registered: 2012-02-27
  • Posts: 4

Re: pickup recomendations

Thanks for the kind response and I know what you mean about ending up off track from where you started lol. I was just curious if someone else had loved the 57s and maybe ran across something that possibly had all the same elements of these pups but maybe they were sonically even richer (which would be hard to achieve smile ) but I totally understand your view point sometimes we become so obsessed with gear we end up chasing our own tail so to speak.

  • From: York, PA
  • Registered: 2010-08-27
  • Posts: 1,749

Re: pickup recomendations

If there are any pickups that are basically a direct representation of 57 classics, but better, I'm sure someone will chime in. One thing I will say is having a 50s wiring kit installed really opened those pickups up. A lot clearer.

  • From: Ridgeland, MS
  • Registered: 2009-08-12
  • Posts: 1,248

Re: pickup recomendations

Call Jim Rolph. His number is on his web page.

  • From: West Sussex
  • Registered: 2011-05-17
  • Posts: 307

Re: pickup recomendations

The '57 classic is supposed to be an reproduction of an early PAF and there are loads of these kinds of pickups from cheap and cheerful to handwound masterpieces.

Personally I would check out the BKP Stormy Monday, S Duncan Antiquities or Seth Lovers which are in that ball park but a bit spendy.

  • wwit
  • wwit
  • Member
  • Offline
  • Registered: 2012-01-25
  • Posts: 22

Re: pickup recomendations

wyldewyatt wrote:

Hi guys longtime viewer but new member to the boards. Just wondered if you guys could recomend any pickups similar to gibsons 57classics I absolutely fell in love with these things after playing mostly emgs since I started. I don't care for the sound of burstbuckers. Just curious if any other companies maybe do their own rendition or possibly a better version of the 57 classics. I apologize for the lengthy post just wondered if anyone has come across anything in their own quest for tone.

Just wondering since you didnt mention it. What guitar will these be for? Matching pickups to guitars is a artform almost in itself. What sounds killer in a 10 Lb LP may not be the best pup for a 6 lb basswood shredmachine.

  • From: West Sussex
  • Registered: 2011-05-17
  • Posts: 307

Re: pickup recomendations

wwit wrote:

Just wondering since you didnt mention it. What guitar will these be for? Matching pickups to guitars is a artform almost in itself. What sounds killer in a 10 Lb LP may not be the best pup for a 6 lb basswood shredmachine.

Good point I always assume everyone on the JB forum plays a Les Paul!

  • Registered: 2012-02-27
  • Posts: 4

Re: pickup recomendations

wwit wrote:
wyldewyatt wrote:

Hi guys longtime viewer but new member to the boards. Just wondered if you guys could recomend any pickups similar to gibsons 57classics I absolutely fell in love with these things after playing mostly emgs since I started. I don't care for the sound of burstbuckers. Just curious if any other companies maybe do their own rendition or possibly a better version of the 57 classics. I apologize for the lengthy post just wondered if anyone has come across anything in their own quest for tone.

Just wondering since you didnt mention it. What guitar will these be for? Matching pickups to guitars is a artform almost in itself. What sounds killer in a 10 Lb LP may not be the best pup for a 6 lb basswood shredmachine.

Sorry an epi LP custom would be the guitar. I too forget that people on the boards play other guitars smile

  • From: North Carolina
  • Registered: 2008-10-26
  • Posts: 2,926

Re: pickup recomendations

I love Classics, I also like Burstbuckers.  If your staying with Gibson I suggest the 57' Classic Plus in the bridge.  Don't care for Pearly Gates Seymour Duncan pickups or 59's.  If I was going for vintage Gibson sounds from Seymour Duncan I have to give Duncan Antiquities a run.  Heard that Joe really likes WRC pickups and had some custom ones made up at some point.  I'm a cheap guy these days and have a lot of cheap guitars now.  If I was installing a pickup in a Epiphone I'd give Guitarfetish.com a look.  These guys are great CHEAP parts.  I just put a mini firebird humbucker in my black telecaster I built and it was outstanding maybe the best pickup I've used from GFS yet, and I've tried a lot of them.  Now in a Gibson I wouldn't like the idea of putting a $35 pickup in a $2500 guitar, but if its the sound I want and its got it then I'd have no beef with that.

AD3THREE's Website

  • From: Detroit
  • Registered: 2006-06-02
  • Posts: 5,807

Re: pickup recomendations

AD3THREE wrote:

If I was installing a pickup in a Epiphone I'd give Guitarfetish.com a look.  These guys are great CHEAP parts.  I just put a mini firebird humbucker in my black telecaster I built and it was outstanding maybe the best pickup I've used from GFS yet, and I've tried a lot of them.  Now in a Gibson I wouldn't like the idea of putting a $35 pickup in a $2500 guitar, but if its the sound I want and its got it then I'd have no beef with that.

+1 on GFS making awesome and cost effective pickups
+1 on contemplating putting them in any of my Gibsons
- its because of the pickup thing that I started winding my own cool

- 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: NH - USA
  • Registered: 2010-11-08
  • Posts: 149

Re: pickup recomendations

If you'd like to experience sticker shock for a completely over the top dead on PAF pickup check out Thobak's... I can't site personal experience with these pickup but from what I've heard and read they are all that...

havoc41's Website

  • From: Detroit
  • Registered: 2006-06-02
  • Posts: 5,807

Re: pickup recomendations

havoc41 wrote:

If you'd like to experience sticker shock for a completely over the top dead on PAF pickup check out Thobak's... I can't site personal experience with these pickup but from what I've heard and read they are all that...

I like the photos of different shapes the amount of coils make on the bobbins... although I can make those by hand-winding pickups. I wish he categorized the tonal differences between the shapes.

- 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
  • DonR
  • Gold Member
  • Offline
  • Registered: 2007-05-14
  • Posts: 98

Re: pickup recomendations

Chris Kleins 58 set is what your looking for.

www.kleinpickups.com

  • From: North Carolina
  • Registered: 2008-10-26
  • Posts: 2,926

Re: pickup recomendations

WOW yeah did I mention I like GFS pickups???  For $400 I could build a great guitar, I know because I just built one less then a month ago for $250, and it was made from Guitarfetish parts.

DonR wrote:

Chris Kleins 58 set is what your looking for.

www.kleinpickups.com

AD3THREE's Website