Pickup Choice Help

[squawken]

Ok Guys-I'm going crazy. Looking to replace the pups in my Goldtop 150. Love a thick sound-ranging from Bonamassa to ZZ Top to Thin Lizzy. Narrowed choices down to Rio Grande BBQ-Texas, Burstbucker 2 and 3, and started looking at the SD JB and Custom. I need direction. If you have experience with any of these and say yay or No, or send me somewhere else if need be. Appreciate it!

[tulk1]

Ken,

 

I'd have to offer "don't do the burstbuckers". Pretty sure if you put Gibs pickups in a Heritage one of them will explode. Like mixing skim milk and whole milk. Just ask Richard Pryor (well, if you could). There's a real popular combination right now with the JB and '59. Seems to be a thing. Have you thought of that? As for RG BBQs, my only experience with RGs was a TallBoy and a Twangbucker. Liked the Twangbucker. Oh, and their Dirty Harry P90-ish.

[squawken]

Ken,

 

I'd have to offer "don't do the burstbuckers". Pretty sure if you put Gibs pickups in a Heritage one of them will explode. Like mixing skim milk and whole milk. Just ask Richard Pryor (well, if you could). There's a real popular combination right now with the JB and '59. Seems to be a thing. Have you thought of that? As for RG BBQs, my only experience with RGs was a TallBoy and a Twangbucker. Liked the Twangbucker. Oh, and their Dirty Harry P90-ish.

 

thanks Kenny

 

I have thought about a JB. I certainly don't want the Goldtop to explode. So Burstbuckers would be like Damien in a church "The Omen"?!

[DetroitBlues]

Most of the older rock sounds would use the SD. I personally love the bite and attack of the Gibson BB, but the 1 and 2. If you want AC/DC, go for Gibson. If you want ZZ Top/Slash, go for the SD's. I've heard great things about RG BBQ's, but I have no hands on experience.

[Guest SteveC]

There are so many pick-ups out there that can help you get to approximating those tones. Duncan Pearly Gates would be a good starting point. WCR Darkburst's would fill the bill as well... www.crcoils.com

[mark555]

A subject that has plagued me in the past.

 

I have played guitars with the Seymour JB Humbucker on and it sounds fantastic. I have seymour 59's on my 555 which are excellent, get you that classic rock sound.

 

Another popular combination is a JB in the bridge slot and the Seymour Duncan Jazz humbucker in the neck, I believe Andy Powell of Wishbone Ash has that combination on one of his guitars.

[NoNameBand]

I'm with Tulk1 on the Burstbuckers. I have them in an SG Custom and don't like them at all. Very thin sounding. Burstbucker 1 in the neck is okay but I think there are many better choices. I like SD Pearly Gates and Lindy Fralin Pure PAFs for Les Paul and/or solid body type guitars. The SD 59 is a very good pickup but not as responsive to touch as the afore mentioned.

[squawken]

Thanks guys. I may have deleted the burstbuckers from my list. I have 59's in my other 150 and love them. Just wanted to try something different but the same in this one. Sounds like I am experiencing the same pain as Martygrass!

[Halowords]

Have you considered getting something custom-made?

 

I can't really give you my take yet, I'm finally getting my H-150's pickups swapped and rewired with coil taps, out-of-phase, and in-series push/pull knobs, a set of slightly-hotter Sheptone PAF Tributes. I can give a sound report early next week (took it to the guitar shop, started soldering it as a Father & Son sort of job, realized the Torres instructions left a bit too much to the imagination and didn't quite match with the Seymour Duncan diagram, then my dad said he'd rather I just take it to a shop than risk blowing something up).

 

Anyway, point being, his stuff is favorably reviewed, not terribly expensive, totally custom, and perhaps best for your case, he is a very good communicator. He is very open to what sound you are looking for as a customer and adjusting for whatever you are going for. At any rate, it's just one more option to consider at least looking into. I also thought it was cool that he threw in the different types of alnico magnets for me to test out and was VERY receptive to my input (which was really generous considering how my quasi-OCD was kicking in.

http://www.sheptone.com/landing.html

[squawken]

Have you considered getting something custom-made?

 

I can't really give you my take yet, I'm finally getting my H-150's pickups swapped and rewired with coil taps, out-of-phase, and in-series push/pull knobs, a set of slightly-hotter Sheptone PAF Tributes. I can give a sound report early next week (took it to the guitar shop, started soldering it as a Father & Son sort of job, realized the Torres instructions left a bit too much to the imagination and didn't quite match with the Seymour Duncan diagram, then my dad said he'd rather I just take it to a shop than risk blowing something up).

 

Anyway, point being, his stuff is favorably reviewed, not terribly expensive, totally custom, and perhaps best for your case, he is a very good communicator. He is very open to what sound you are looking for as a customer and adjusting for whatever you are going for. At any rate, it's just one more option to consider at least looking into. I also thought it was cool that he threw in the different types of alnico magnets for me to test out and was VERY receptive to my input (which was really generous considering how my quasi-OCD was kicking in.

http://www.sheptone.com/landing.html

 

Yeah Halo, I would love to get a tone report! Actually about three years ago, here on HOC, someone (can't remember who) swore by the Sheptones.

[tulk1]

Oh, so now we're into custom made, are we? Well, you gotta check out Bryan Gunsher's BG-Pups. I have about 5 of his custom winds. And Lance (BigBob) uses Byran's pickups quite a bit.

[squawken]

Oh, so now we're into custom made, are we? Well, you gotta check out Bryan Gunsher's BG-Pups. I have about 5 of his custom winds. And Lance (BigBob) uses Byran's pickups quite a bit.

Well Mr Bigshot,,, what can you tel me about these? I can never rely on soundbites, but I like the descriptions.

[blues]

Gibson T-tops humbuckers from the 70s should do what you are looking for. They are still not to expensive. Thin Lizzy,your hearing T-tops. I bought 2 last year for $110 each. I would avoid e-bay unless you know what you are looking for. I think the Duncans are a good option also. I had an old 74 les paul with a t-top in the neck,and a Duncan 59 in the bridge. That had everything I needed.

[rooster]

Gibson T-tops humbuckers from the 70s should do what you are looking for. They are still not to expensive. Thin Lizzy,your hearing T-tops. I bought 2 last year for $110 each. I would avoid e-bay unless you know what you are looking for. I think the Duncans are a good option also. I had an old 74 les paul with a t-top in the neck,and a Duncan 59 in the bridge. That had everything I needed.

 

Weren't Gorham and Robbo's guitars Deluxes with mini-hums?

 

rooster.

[tulk1]

Weren't Gorham and Robbo's guitars Deluxes with mini-hums?

 

rooster.

 

Scott's sure looks like mini-hums.

 

Not so much Brian's. Well, not in this pic. From the headstock he's playing an LPC in this shot.

[Halowords]

Oh, so now we're into custom made, are we? Well, you gotta check out Bryan Gunsher's BG-Pups. I have about 5 of his custom winds. And Lance (BigBob) uses Byran's pickups quite a bit.

 

Yeah, why not? If you're going for something uber-specific or unique, I think it's cool to try something from a smaller builder that might actually make it according to what you're going for rather than just marketing for the masses. And it helps stimulate the economy by supporting small business!

 

Kenny, thanks for mentioning Bryan Gunsher's BG-Pickups. One can never truly know about too many great custom boutique pickup makers, now can they?

 

 

Hey, isn't that a Gibson Robot!!!!!!

 

 

 

 

Sorry, couldn't help myself.

[602a]

I have used 3 or 4 combos with Duncan to get the 'All Around Sound" that we all look for. ZZ to Govt Mule to Allman Brothers etc. I have found 2 that work vey well. First is Pearly gates in both bridge and neck. It is Billy F Gibbons and Warren Haynes at their finest, very southern rock and Bluesy. The next will let you get The same sounds along with the Sharp or Highs of say Thinn Lizzy or Bad Co. That combo is a Duncan Custom Custom in the bridge and PG in the neck. You can also use a Duncan 59 in the neck but I don't care for the 59 with it just in the neck. It's seems to lack a variety to me. It sounds ok but it's kinda basic. I just put the second combo in a LP and it's a ton better than the BB's 1&2 that were in there.

[602a]

Scott's sure looks like mini-hums.

 

Not so much Brian's. Well, not in this pic. From the headstock he's playing an LPC in this shot.

Mini Hum's in Gorhams and Dmarzio in Brian's. Deluxe and Custom.

[tulk1]

Well Mr Bigshot,,, what can you tel me about these? I can never rely on soundbites, but I like the descriptions.

Ken,

 

Hard to describe sounds. Bryan is a small, boutique winder in NoCal. Got his start winding PAF-types based on an old PAF he had. Does repairs, custom winds, etc. I have a Pure 90 (HB sized) and a Vintage 90 in a custom Stambaugh. Pure P90 tone, no doubt. Very powerful pickups, altho the resistance is fairly low. Not sure how he did that. Reverse wound, of course. It's all P90.

 

I also have a set of custom wound Single Coils based on his Vintage 60s, but not quite as bright. They've got SC chime and bite. Sound like Strat pickups without the ice pick. He also created a stacked Single Coil sized Humbucker for me back when he didn't have stacked humbuckers. It was a decent mix between HB and SC.

 

BTW, just to confuse things quite a bit, Tom Short pickups were quite the rage here just a few short months ago. Another Cali boutique builder doing some great stuff. Got a set of TomBuckers in the Millie NFH.

[squawken]

Great stuff guys-thanks!

[plexirocker 68]

Squawken, I've owned all the above pickups you mentioned in your opening post.

 

Far and away the leader in thick would be the Rio Grande BBQ Bucker followed by the Duncan JB

 

Can't go wrong either way with those two. I actually like the Rio BBQ better in a 150 type guitar, if it was a strat I'd go with a JB

 

 

plexi

[squawken]

Squawken, I've owned all the above pickups you mentioned in your opening post.

 

Far and away the leader in thick would be the Rio Grande BBQ Bucker followed by the Duncan JB

 

Can't go wrong either way with those two. I actually like the Rio BBQ better in a 150 type guitar, if it was a strat I'd go with a JB

 

 

plexi

 

Thanks Plexi!

[mtpatty]

GO with Bare Knuckle Black Dogs, Emeralds or Rebel Yells... you have been warned! Lol...

 

Mark

[Guido]

+1 for Tom Short's Tombuckers.

 

Great sounding pickups especially with the "Marc Ford option".

And achievable too.