Old Gibson Pickups Comparison?

[Bruce Reed]

I am curious to know a couple of things about the stock humbuckings in my April '69 LP Custom:

1) Do they have Alnico magnets? Common knowledge is that the switch to ceramic began around '69 or '70, so wonder if anyone can answer that one.

2) What is the basic tonal difference between this era pickup vs. a late '50's PAF?

Thanks!

[Zhangliqun]

Very few if any LP's had ceramic magnet pickups at that time so it's 99.999999% certain that your stock pu's are Alnico. Gibson never made a big switch to ceramics -- even today the overwhelming majority of Gibson guitars come stock with Alnico pickups. In recent years the LP Classic and some variations on the SG, Explorer and V did and/or do come stock with the 500T/496R ceramic combo, but most are Alnico 2 or 5.

As for the sound difference, late 60's Gibson pu's varied as did PAF's so it's hard to say. Your LP might have T-tops, which are more consistent than PAF's, solidly in the mid to high 7k's, while PAF's could be all over the place. Chances are a PAF would be a touch beefier.

[hamerfan]

The most drag down with the T-Tops is that neck and bridge are the same wind. That means they were not compensated for bridge use.
I acquired a Gibson LP Custom some 20 years ago with a dead neck pup. I found out that the stud coil was broken. I went to a pickup winder and let this coil overwind (5k). This pickup (nearly 8.7k) went into the bridge position and the old bridge went into neck.
This was a great balanced combo - unfortunately i sold this guitar.

[Bruce Reed]

I just measured the '69 pickups from my Custom and made an interesting find. By the way, both are T-tops. Neither pickup was in the guitar, as I've been using a JB in the bridge for many years and recently replaced the neck pu with a zebra Duncan PAF (and reversed the magnet, like Greeny).

The bridge PU measured 7.24k, and the neck measured 7.90k. I was never happy with the stock bridge PU - and I now I think I can understand why!

[jeremy]

yeah 7.2 sounds a little weak for a bridge pup but i bet it would make a wonderful neck pup

[The Usual]

I have the Shaw pickups in my '86 SG. Or rather, I had the Shaw pickups in my '86 SG. Both are in the 7.4k range. The neck stayed in, because it sounds fantastic, and the bridge is on the shelf, awaiting an open neck slot. That's just too weak for an SG bridge.

[LtKojak]

I just measured the '69 pickups from my Custom and made an interesting find. By the way, both are T-tops. Either pickup was in the guitar, as I've been using a JB in the bridge for many years, and recently replacing the neck pu with a zebra Duncan PAF (and reversed the magnet, like Greeny).

The bridge PU measured 7.24k, and the neck measured 7.90k. I was never happy with the stock bridge PU - and I now I think I can understand why!

They're wired the other way 'round! If you wire'em correctly, maybe you'll get some good tones.

[Bruce Reed]

Ciao. I was fortunate to get to Milano once - I loved it!! Grazie!! Ciao

[Christopher Caruana]

to the OP. your les paul is from the T Top era, so it most likely has alnico magnets. If i had to guess either A2 or A5