would gibson 57 classics sound good with high gain

[Hartfeltmusic2010]

Hello everybody. I wanted to know if anybody had any dealings with these pickups and I'm wanting to know how they would sound through a high gain amp. I know they aren't your typical metal pickups but I'm just curious if anyone has tried it as I have always wanted a set.I have a epiphone les paul custom with emgs which of course does thrash very well. I was wanting to convert it back to more of a stock/classic les paul but still be capable of doing some heavey sounding stuff as well. Any advice would be good before I buy them.

[TattooedCarrot]

They can get a little loose in the lows, but its a very aggressively voiced PAF style pickup that's fully wax potted. It's got the sweetness of A2 and the rudeness of A5. Very good rock pickup.

[LatsMcGee]

Livewires!!! I would suggest the Gibson A2 active set but for some reason Gibson doesn't sell them by their lonesome....

[Gearjoneser]

They're like potted Alnico 2 PAF's, which have great tone, but it's definitely a vintage sound. It mostly has to do with how tight the gain is on your amp, but A2 will always have more of a soft woody attack with complex mids.

I think the middleground between what you have and what you want is something like the Custom or C5 with a Pearly Gates neck. Then, you'll have a beautiful singing neck pickup (better than 57 Classic) with a bridge that hits the amp a bit harder and has tighter lows.

[blueman335]

I think the middleground between what you have and what you want is something like the Custom or C5 with a Pearly Gates neck. Then, you'll have a beautiful singing neck pickup (better than 57 Classic) with a bridge that hits the amp a bit harder and has tighter lows.

+1. To me, '57's are prone to mud in the neck in mahogany, whereas PGN's are much clearer. I also like '59N's.

[ErikH]

Yes, they work well with high gain amps, at least the amps I use. I've slapped them in a Strat and had great results. I'm contemplating putting them back in because I like them so much.

[jmh151]

YES. When I had the stock 57 Classics in my 1989 Les Paul Custom, you could nail the Randy Rhoads through a Marshall and MXR Distortion Plus, and it handled the drive well.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_19cG...eature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JRbPWcLode0

I agree with others, the neck did get a little muddy, but I contribute that to the poor 300k pots Gibsons was using.Replacing them with 500K pots makes a huge difference

[ErikH]

I agree with others, the neck did get a little muddy, but I contribute that to the poor 300k pots Gibsons was using.Replacing them with 500K pots makes a huge difference

Yup, 500k pots are a must for these to reap the full benefits. That's all I've ever used with them.

[Johnny Q]

My answer to the OP's question is summed up in two words:

John Sykes

He now uses a 57 Classic bridge and IMHO he gets one of the best high gain tones around.

JQ

[Gearjoneser]

One thing to keep in mind is I always suggest pickups that I think match the details the poster had in their thread. That's what I go by.

But that's sometimes different from what I honestly think is best for me.

If you're seriously wanting an authentic Gibson tone, then yeah.....buy a Gibson with 57 Classics or BB 1/2. Most of the time I buy a Gibson with either of those 2, I just accept it as the Gibson sound and go with it. I only change pickups when I think the stock ones aren't doing it for me. But, I always give Gibson pickups the benefit of working, right out of the gate. Gibson 57 Classics and BB 1/2 are worthy of leaving alone, since they're similar to Seths or PG's.

[blueman335]

But, I always give Gibson pickups the benefit of working, right out of the gate. Gibson 57 Classics and BB 1/2 are worthy of leaving alone, since they're similar to Seths or PG's.

Well, we all have different ears. I think Duncan's A2 PAF's have better clarity, tone, and definition than Gibson's A2's. I'd take a PGN or Seth any day over a '57, BB, or 490R. I've swapped mags in all of my 6 models of Gibson HB's, and that's improved their tones. Gibson tends to ride on past glories, and is just not making the effort with PU's that Duncan, DiMarzio, and other aftermarket manufacturers are.

[Desert]

Though this is not a high gain clip, it really (to me) gets the classic LP tone in spades. NOTE: This is a shootout between the 57 Classic and BKP Mule...the vid is of the 57 Classic (ignore the title shot)



My experience has been that classic style PAFs do a better job with high gain amps than heavy winds and power mags. You get that clarity through the gain that allows the hand subtleties to come through.

[BloodRose]

One thing to keep in mind is I always suggest pickups that I think match the details the poster had in their thread. That's what I go by.

But that's sometimes different from what I honestly think is best for me.

If you're seriously wanting an authentic Gibson tone, then yeah.....buy a Gibson with 57 Classics or BB 1/2. Most of the time I buy a Gibson with either of those 2, I just accept it as the Gibson sound and go with it. I only change pickups when I think the stock ones aren't doing it for me. But, I always give Gibson pickups the benefit of working, right out of the gate. Gibson 57 Classics and BB 1/2 are worthy of leaving alone, since they're similar to Seths or PG's.

Alil off topic, but whats your thought on the BB3? I cant get satisfied with mine.. put an A8 in it and improved alot, but still kinda fizzy

[TattooedCarrot]

Alil off topic, but whats your thought on the BB3? I cant get satisfied with mine.. put an A8 in it and improved alot, but still kinda fizzy

BB3 has a lot of fizzy top-end bite to me. Not bad in the right gutiar, but in general that's what comes to mind.

[icantbuyafender]

One thing to keep in mind is I always suggest pickups that I think match the details the poster had in their thread. That's what I go by.

But that's sometimes different from what I honestly think is best for me.

If you're seriously wanting an authentic Gibson tone, then yeah.....buy a Gibson with 57 Classics or BB 1/2. Most of the time I buy a Gibson with either of those 2, I just accept it as the Gibson sound and go with it. I only change pickups when I think the stock ones aren't doing it for me. But, I always give Gibson pickups the benefit of working, right out of the gate. Gibson 57 Classics and BB 1/2 are worthy of leaving alone, since they're similar to Seths or PG's.

I agree whole-heartedly

Plus it seems to be a rumor that BB's1,2,3 that come stock on guitars are actually wax potted. Is this true since the aftermarket BB's are not??

[TeleLubber]

My experience has been that classic style PAFs do a better job with high gain amps than heavy winds and power mags. You get that clarity through the gain that allows the hand subtleties to come through.

Agree.

I visited my old Marshall.. nephew has it. He also has a Dual Rectifier with insane gain.. played his LP with 57s in it, sounded killer. I preferred that to my V with Distortion pups. The Distortion pups are heavy/gainy, but I hear that "fizz". I will likely pull em back out, and go with 8k PAFs.

[Black Bock]

Desert speaks the truth, some of the heaviest tones I have heard (metal we are talking about) were guitars with classic PAF reproductions in them.

[MetalManiac]

my take on it is this;
if you are getting most of the balls from your amp, like a dual recto, then the 57 Classic would work, although it would be a bit smoother than a BB1/2; I would go with a burstbucker.
If you are running a stock or hot rod Marshall, you'd want something like Custom to tighten the sound for high gain sound.
Doesn't Mark Morton use Duncan PAF's with Rectos? Now THATs heavy!
Many guys on the Les Paul forum are in live with Seths. Its a true vintage replica that will eet or exceed the BB's or 57 Calssics in tone.
P.S- for real high gain sound I like to use the word "sound" and not "tone". Its a matter of semantics, sure, however when I think true "tone", I think of a stock Marshall and a Seth, and NOT a high gain Recto/Uber and a SHO ceramic pickup.

[TeleLubber]

yeah.. it's funny, my nephew actually like the high output Distortion pups "sound", and I preferred the 57s.. matter of taste..

the Distortions have massive sustain, almost artificial sounding to me.. I can see why metalheads dig 'em, being an old metalhead myself

[Despair]

I don't care for the high end of a ceramic like the Distortion for leads, but the punch and compression can be awesome for some rhythm styles. Some people find it essential for thrash rhythms.

Whatever works for the individual. A more open feel in heavy music can be a lot of fun. So can a vicious compressed punch. Variety is good.

I like a dynamic high output pickup, best of both worlds. Punch without the lost dynamics, smoothes out with a lighter touch.