Hello all, What is the preference, #2,#3 or #1,#2? I just installed a set of vintage Bumble Bee's in my 58RI with #2 and #3, used the 50's wiring set up found here - and noticed a huge difference, much clearer, much more range in the controls. The pup's are 8.2 in the neck and 8,6 in the Bridge. I hava a conversion with real pafs - 7.6 in neck, and 7.4 in bridge - The 58I is still not as nice. I had a short try on Gibson Burstbuckers PUs yesterday,i find them so articulate,warm and complexe but i don t know much about them. Here s what i found on the net. BurstBuckers™ are offered in Three different versions: Burstbucker™ 1 (IM57A-NH) is slightly underwound, with medium 'vintage' output, and works well in both bridge and neck positions.
The Historic SGs have had them stock for some time now.but my experience with Custom shop stuff wasn't that positive. I really like the Burstbucker as a pickup myself, I installed a BB2 in my '65 SG Junior, and it flat out rocks.
I've also dropped a BB1 in the neck of my '76 SG Standard. Gotta have 500K pots for them to really sound their best.If I were to run neck and bridge BBs, I'd recommend a 3 in the bridge and a 1 in the neck.SGs really need a more ballsy pickup in the bridge, as many SGs suffer from woofy neck/weak bridge syndrome. I just moved the 57C+ out of my SG to my Strat bridge and installed a BB2 in the bridge of my SG. Also had a BB1 for awhile in the neck of my SG. What's interesting is the BB1 and BB2 in my SG are the same pickups that my LP has but both guitars with the same pickups sound totally different. I wonder why that is? Could be the rest of the electronics I suppose, but if I were to duplicate my LP electronics in my SG how much closer could they possibly sound?
Hmmm.For those of you that haven't tried a 57C+ in an SG they sound really great and are worthwhile, in the end I might even put it back in my SG. Hi, my 60's tribute (2013 model) came stock with burstbucker 1 & 2 in it. They are good pickups, though I changed them out for the 57/57+ set that came in my 2012 LP traditional which IMO are better in the SG, & I put the burstbuckers in the LP.
As said in the post above, the pickups sound different in the two guitars & I think better suited the way I have them now. Between getting the SG & putting the 57/57+ in it I had some overwound A5's in it, 11k neck & 16k bridge which was good for harder rock, but along with higher output I think you loose articulation, presence etc with overwound pickups. For classic rock the 57/57+ are great in an SG. Hi, my 60's tribute (2013 model) came stock with burstbucker 1 & 2 in it.
They are good pickups, though I changed them out for the 57/57+ set that came in my 2012 LP traditional which IMO are better in the SG, & I put the burstbuckers in the LP. As said in the post above, the pickups sound different in the two guitars & I think better suited the way I have them now. Between getting the SG & putting the 57/57+ in it I had some overwound A5's in it, 11k neck & 16k bridge which was good for harder rock, but along with higher output I think you loose articulation, presence etc with overwound pickups. For classic rock the 57/57+ are great in an SG.
I found the 57's responsive to pole & height adjustment. Someone here on ETSG pointed this out to me & they were right. Its worth spending the time dialling them in. A smaller value tone cap helps on the neck pickup.
There is no 'wrong' value, whatever works for you. The burstbuckers in the LP, on the other hand I find sound better with the pole pieces flush with the pickups. Might I ask, how do you set your amp up. Try setting your tone controls to suit the neck pickup. If this makes switching to the bridge seem overly bright you can always roll back the bridge tone a little. Hope this helps.
Hey Everyone.I have an opportunity to buy an unused set of BB 2 and BB 3. I was thinking about replacing the BB1 and 2 in my RI58. Those of you who have experience with these pickups can you please give my your impressions of them as well as what you think of the change?I know that the BB2 and BB3 in the JBLP are wax potted and the pickups you buy from Gibson are not.does that really make a huge difference? I am not playing any real High gain stuff.the highest gain stuff i do is KISS. And that is very rare.mostly Zeppelin.Cream.Hendrix.Let me know what you think.thanksBarry.
I hated the BB2/3 at first as they are a bit on the hot side for my tastes so you have to really dial back the gain in OD situations. Actually even in VERY clean settings these pups can force clipping so that is my only issue with them.That hot of a wind can darken the pup and clarity suffers a bit. Compared to a 'cooler' wind bucker like a Rolph PAF or Sakashta Vintage Sweet.The Shaw PAFs in the 83-85 ES 335 reissues are the best PAF style humbucker I have ever heard- much cooler wind than the burstbucker.
Keep that in mind.The good news is- for non MV amps they do a great job to help with the natural power section over drive. Old Plexis and even my Dumble style circuits that do very well. I just have to pump the gain and OD gain up when I switch to my other guitars. I always like the 57' Classics better then the Burst buckers. I've tired the 3, and I've tired pro's and to me all those pickups are not creamy sounding. The 3 is harsh, but unlike Joe I don't blend amps so maybe thats a big factor in him liking the 2/3 combo.
Personally I had classics in a ES-335, an SG Standard, and a Les Paul Classic. They sounded best in the ES-335 and pretty good with the SG. Hated them in the Les Paul but things went south with that Les Paul when I installed a bigsby (inspired by Joe's 58' RI) I felt like the tone was thinned out with the bigsby so maybe a burstbucker 3 would have fixed that.
After much hemming and hawing I finally switched out the BB1 and BB2 in my 58RI for the set of '57 classic/classic plus set in my Gold-top Traditional and I tell you what.I am super glad I did. The '58 sounds amazing!!!! The pickups really open her up. The neck pickup is so much clearer and articulate than the BB1.wowPlus I move the black plastic over as well and left off the pick-guard on the '58. She looks beautiful. Even though she is a plain top, the grain is gorgeous. The black pick-up rings and switch washer goes so well with the bourbon burst.
Now I am waiting for the Gold-top to return and see how she looks and sounds. The Gold Top Traditional has returned. It now has the '58's cream plastic on it. I have kept both pick guards off of each guitar. They look amazing.As for tone.WOW!!!!Putting the BB1 and BB2 set into the Traditional really opened up the pickups. I have to say now I am totally happy with the way both guitar's sound now. The tone takes me back to the late 70's.
Sustain that lasts forever. Now I am fully confident that at any point in time either guitar will deliver the goods when needed.just wish the player could too.LOLNow I can focus on getting an amp to complete my rig.JTM 45 or 2550/2553/2554 would definitely work for me. LesPaul4 wrote:The Gold Top Traditional has returned. It now has the '58's cream plastic on it. I have kept both pick guards off of each guitar. They look amazing.As for tone.WOW!!!!Putting the BB1 and BB2 set into the Traditional really opened up the pickups.
I have to say now I am totally happy with the way both guitar's sound now. The tone takes me back to the late 70's. Sustain that lasts forever.
Now I am fully confident that at any point in time either guitar will deliver the goods when needed.just wish the player could too.LOLNow I can focus on getting an amp to complete my rig.JTM 45 or 2550/2553/2554 would definitely work for me.Follow up.The Traditional goldtop now has a '57 goldtop vibe going on and the black plastic on the '58 really brings the red out in the burbounburst of the '58.