The Electra Forums

Alright, alright, put down your stones!

I haven't done it YET, but I'm looking to put an aftermarket pickup into the bridge position of my X240. I want something hotter and non-microphonic for stage. I'm looking at the Gibson 498t. I want it for rock to hard rock. Any ideas from you all?

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"GREAT Googiley moogilie Jack...jumpin jehosephat, hot dang and all".
- jdwhealton

Well if you decide not to pursue getting the original wax potted then do what you must to get the sound you need to play it live it is after all your instrument. I would keep the originals and just have them waxed if you like the sound they produce.

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Always give thanks for everyday, It may be your last so Rock On Semper Fi!!

Right on Arthur, I will keep and pot the original. I love the sound, excellent for classic rock (of course, it was kind of made for that)!

On the fence between an EVH humbucker and the Gibson 498t.

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"GREAT Googiley moogilie Jack...jumpin jehosephat, hot dang and all".
- jdwhealton

I think a duncan JB - but get a trembucker spaced one for the bridge (poles fit more correctly under the strings) or if you want even more a duncan distortion (lots of midrange). A duncan custom is pretty good too, if the JB is too hot for you. Lots of newer duncans I have not played. But the JB is a fantastic pickup - very versatile, and harder rock - but can back off and do the classic rock thing too. Gibson was probably trying to copy that in their 498T and 500T models.

On the dimarzio side, consider a Super Distortion (hey, they were popular for a reason), or for less output but with a midrange/wah sort of tone try an Air Norton (make the dimarzios F-spaced for the bridge position) - and a Norton is in between, more output than the air-norton. That is what someone would have put in there back "in the day". New dimarzios are potted, very old super distortions may not be. The air norton will sound surprisingly good and balance well with a stock pickup or vintage output humbucker in the neck. It is closer to vintage in output but has a different midrangy tone that does well for Rock and all kinds of things. Some use it as a neck pickup - but I like it in the bridge position. There are some newer models out that I am less familar with, but tone zones and evolutions are voiced more toward basswood body guitars, so they won't sound good in a mahogany body guitar (my opinion). Lots of choices I have not played. Dimarzio used to let you exchange your pickup till you found one you liked - and I have actually done this before. I don't know if they still allow this or not. One time I went through 3 sets of pickups before I found the right ones for the particular guitar.

Also, there is life outside of Gibson, Dimarzio, and Seymour Duncan too. Reverend founder started some new pickups he calls Railhammer pickups. They have medium and high output models that might suit you.

WCR makes some really nice stuff, but pricey. I have had excellent results with his Godwood pickup in the bridge. He makes an EVH pickup too - haven't tried that yet as it is new. He has higher output models too. You might be able to try a set of Tonerider Generators if you want to keep your costs down - that is their high output model that would best fit what you are looking for (supposedly JB-like). There are lots of choices besides gibson.

I have a harmonic designs humbucker in one of mine, but it is more vintage voiced. My pickup went bad in the 90s and back then I just replaced it. Now I'd probably try to fix it. But for a vintage style tone that harmonic designs is awesome. Mine is an OLD version that is not potted (new ones are potted).

Lots of good tones out there (and bad ones too).

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Thorny

Thorny sir, that was GREAT INFO!!! Really appreciate that insight, it's invaluable to hear from someone that really knows like you, thanks!!!

Also been looking at the Suhr SSH+. Ideas?

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"GREAT Googiley moogilie Jack...jumpin jehosephat, hot dang and all".
- jdwhealton

I don't have as much experience with suhr pickups so I can't make a good recommendation on those models but I know their guitars are fantastic and so I am sure they are good stuff in general.

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Thorny

It don't get much hotter than this if an SD is on your list Chad...

http://www.seymourduncan.com/comparetones/view/31

Put one in my wife's Genesis I and never looked back.

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...throw me a frickin' bone here, people...

Oh YEAH - they SCREAM. Wicked distortion pickup.

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Thorny

Those SD's are great! I have some 80's Duncan Distortions in my Vandenberg, they're great. I'm looking for a more "Clear" pickup. Check out this Youtube vid https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZGHJlSJOmM8. It's AMAZING how pickups change a guitar's sound! Do you hear how "clear" the 498t's sound? I REALLY like that sound. To me, they really blow away the competition.

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"GREAT Googiley moogilie Jack...jumpin jehosephat, hot dang and all".
- jdwhealton

Wow, detailed video. The 498T does sound a bit better in the video. I liked the duncan custom in some of the examples too. If you want the Gibson, go for it! You'll never really know until you get it in YOUR guitar.

I usually buy pickups used unless I can't find what I want. That way when I swap them out if I don't like them I can change them and sell the old ones and pretty well get my money back out of them. Some people change pickups like changing underwear. No used to pay 100% for one unless you just can't find it or can't wait. I expect you can find a 498T used and save a few bucks. You can expect to pay between 1/2 to 2/3 the value of it new - so sometimes the saving is substantial.

You might find the 498T sounds differently to you than it does in the video too. In fact, it WILL sound differently than in the video because it won't be in the same guitar, same setup, same player or same amp. How many times have you picked up two of the same guitars off the shelf and one sounds a lot better or different than the other? One would think they should sound the same, same models, same wood types, same design, same parts. Also, how many times have you played something in the store and you thought it sounded fantastic then played it at home and were unimpressed? Happens to me all the time.

But the sound is a combination of everything, the wood in the guitar, the setup of the guitar, the parts (bridge, frets, tailpiece, nut), even the angle of the strings over the bridge (really, part of the setup). Even the environment. That is why I suggest buying used. Because if you trying several pickups you will be out a LOT of cash when you are finished. And you very well may be. Or you might get lucky and the 498T is exactly the right pickup the first time. Gibson makes good stuff, after all, they have been doing it longer than the aftermarket winders. The only real way to find out is to try it for yourself - and if it sounds right it does not matter what the brand is, the number of turns of wire on the coils, whether they are balanced, the inductance, or the type and strength of the magnet.

So try one out, and let us know what winds up staying in there. We all need variety. Unless there is some particular collectability reason, I would not worry about changing a part to make the guitar better suit you. If it is valuable, I'd keep the original part and try not to make any changes that are permanent (extra holes, routes). If the guitar is a beater, have at it! Make it the best player it can be. I think that is the best tribute to an Electra out there.

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Thorny

Right on Thorny, it is a bit of a gamble! I'm looking to buy used for sure, I share your reasoning.

Problem I have is looking for a good deal all the time. I can wait, no problem there, so I'll find my good deal and hopefully be happy.

Your're right about every guitar being different. So very right. Playing two of the same exact model will sound different to one another, it's crazy how that works. Which supports my theory that guitar sound is mostly about guitar construction first, materials second.

Been looking for another floating trem for my Dynasty as well. Fun times here at the Batcave.

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"GREAT Googiley moogilie Jack...jumpin jehosephat, hot dang and all".
- jdwhealton

This is my final offer, take it or leave it...



Top: Gibson '59 Replica Burstbucker, brand new far as I can tell

Upper Middle: Gibson Vintage PAF re-issue, again brand new & never used.

Lower Pair: Seymour Duncan SH-PG1's (Pearly Gates), neck & bridge matched, VERY lightly used.

PM me somewhere to ship them to you Chad and you can experiment to your heart's content.

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...throw me a frickin' bone here, people...

Negative ghost rider. I would not suggest the Gibson replacement but I would rev come d putting in something like Paul reed smith pickups or bare knuckles. Make sure the spacing is correct. Carvin has great pickups as well don't limit yourself subconsciously if you installed Gibson pickups. Then you would say to yourself why doesn't my guitar sound like a Gibson

Alright, so I COMPLETELY missed the last two posts on this thread (the posts from Ice and Shredder)! Ice, I will PM you.

Anyhow... I bought a Gibson 496r for the neck position in my Dynasty project. It arrived and I got my tester out to ensure it was good to go. Measured the ohms and was confused, it was around 8k SPLIT. Looked on the bottom plate and it said "T". Hmmm.... a Gibson treble position pickup that was almost 16k ohm?! I didn't get what I ordered, the seller was wrong... it was actually a 500T instead! Which is what I really wanted to try anyhow. So I slapped her in the X240... WHOA! BIG difference to say the least. The guitar just came alive, and I wan not expecting that. It was already "alive" as far as I was concerned, but man this 500T kicked it up a few notches. Lively, articulate, plenty of body and growls like a lion. Just like I like my women.

For the record, Gibson's 500T is great for a hot pickup. Now for the neck pickup...

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"GREAT Googiley moogilie Jack...jumpin jehosephat, hot dang and all".
- jdwhealton

Wow, that sounds like a HOT pickup for the neck position. I always considered the 500T Gibson's attempt to clone a Duncan JB - or at least to compete with it. I'd bet it would sound good in the bridge, but in the neck is surprising. I bet it sounds good split in the neck (8K single coil).

Sometimes the best thing is an unexpected surprise.

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Thorny