Difference between C5 and 498T?

[GURU1979]

Both are A5 around 13.5k...know how the 498T sounds...and i like...it's not wintage like a 59 but it's a good lead pick up...sounds very big and open.
what about the C5?

[jimlp]

The 498t to my ears was a better balanced pickup, I had a C5 in a LP style guitar and the mids were to scooped for my tastes and I was running it through a Marshall that has mids galore. The C5 has a better/tighter low end than the 498t but single notes with the C5 can be a bit on the thin side due to the mid scoop. It will most likely depend on what guitar/amp combo you are using.

[LoFiBrian]

The C5 has a big sound like a PAF with more push...

a fair amount of bass-pretty even sounding low end

The mids are there but not in a way that they push you up front like a CC does. more like a 59b I guess

The highs are nice. Perfect in a LP setting IMO

[MikeS]

Kind of what they've said. C5 has a bigger bottom end, with a bit more articulation on the low notes. Both have strong top ends that can get away from the player if you aren't careful. The 498 has the better mid range, which is why I think the highs, while still very much there, feel tamer than the C5 because of better balance from the mids. Both have a big open PAF vibe. In a Les Paul I prefer the 498. In an SG I prefer the C5 because of the mid scoop. The 498 in an SG can get too honky in the mids.

[GURU1979]

ok...so my initial thoughs about 498 are right.
now...what a good matching neck pick up?
i want to put them on a PRS santana se...that's very live acoustically speaking...
the stock pick up are not bad at all...just a little too much bass on the neck and not enough on the bridge (however neck is not muddy and bridge is not shrill...just a bass question)

i've a couple of 59 on my sg...and the neck is just on the limit of bass...think that on the prs that has also the pick up nearer to neck a 59 will be a little overhelming...so what about a Jazz neck - 498T combo?
Isn't the jazz too low in output?
i want a neck pick up that sound clear but not thin...good for bluesy sound...so quite thick on higher strings!

Tnx a lot once more!

[MikeS]

Jazz should work. Perceived output would favor the 498, but that's how I like it. The 498 should be louder than a Jazz neck. Perhaps a Jazz Bridge model in the neck would punch the ticket. Similarly, a 59B would close the gap in output as well as be a touch brighter than the neck model.

You certainly can't find a worse match for the 498T than Gibson's own 490R. Why they like that combo so much is beyond me.

[pstarove]

JSimilarly, a 59B would close the gap in output as well as be a touch brighter than the neck model.

No, it will not be brighter, it will have less treble than the 59N model.


The easiest mod that is recommended before dumping the 490R/498T combo is a magnet swap between them. Alnico5->490R and Alnico2->498T.

[blueman335]

Jazz should work. You certainly can't find a worse match for the 498T than Gibson's own 490R. Why they like that combo so much is beyond me.

I agree on both points. A JazzN or JazzB would be a nice match with a 498T. And a stock 490R is a poor match for it, unless you put in an A5, which improves it quite a bit. I like a 490R A5, which brightens it nicely & brings it to life, with a 498T A4, which warms it with more mids. THAT's a very usable combination that ought to be on factory models.

Gibson really needs to listen to player's input more.

[MikeS]

No, it will not be brighter, it will have less treble than the 59N model.

Bah, thanks for catching that. Typed one thing, meant the other.

Not to hijack, but for those who have done it, how did the A5 improve the 490? Clear it up? The stock 490R swims in mud. Conversely, what change to the 498T did the A2 bring? Intuition tells me the things I like about the 498 would disappear with an A2 magnet, while the things I don't like would become more apparent. Perhaps that's just my personal bias towards A5.

[blueman335]

how did the A5 improve the 490? Clear it up? The stock 490R swims in mud. Conversely, what change to the 498T did the A2 bring? Intuition tells me the things I like about the 498 would disappear with an A2 magnet, while the things I don't like would become more apparent. Perhaps that's just my personal bias towards A5.

It's the A2 magnet that makes it dark & muddy, with a loose low end, and a poor match with the bright 498T. An A5 clears it up nicely. I've done that in all my 490R's & '57 Classics. Whole new PU. With the neck brightened, you may want to leave the A5 in the 498T. But if the bridge is too bright, put an A4 in it to add some mids, or use a 250K pot or two to shave off a little high end.

[Jazz Rock]

An A5 mag in the 490R is definitely a smart move. You loose the muddiness of the stock 490R and get closer to '59 territory but a bit more aggressive, more cutting.

I think it is good but not exactly to my liking, so I will try to put an A4 before throwing it away.

Haven't tried the 498T with an A2 yet. I put a ceramic mag instead, which make it tighter sounding than the A5 but not brilliant. Wasn't really inspiring to me.