Classic 57 in Gibson Les Paul Tribute

[PavlosK]

Hi folks,

Nice to meet everyone, this is my first post in this forum and I am very excited to join the community. I recently got my hands on a Classic 57 that I would like to install in the neck of my Gibson LP tribute. Two Qs for which I would really appreciate your opinion/help:

1. Has anyone tried the combination of a 57 in the neck and the 490R in the bridge? Do they work well together? From what I have read and listened to, the 57 should be much closer to the sound that I want the neck to have, but I am very happy with the 490R in the bridge (which I don't use that often anyway) and I am not looking into changing it atm.
2. What would be the easiest and least disruptive way of changing the pups considering that the tribute comes with quick connect pcbs? I have bought quick connectors but they are for 4-wire pickups and the 57 is a 2-wire.

Many thanks!

 

[dc007]

Welcome to the forum. I personally don't know of an easy way to do what you are wanting to do leaving the PCB board intact. It is not to difficult to remove the PCB board and if you have the soldering skills to rewire it. Good luck. I am sure someone more knowledgeable than me will weigh in

 

[searswashere]

I would put the 490R in the neck as that is the intended position for that pickup (and it sounds great there). Try the 57 in the bridge.

 

[LocoTex]

I put a traditionally wired P90 in a Les Paul with a PCB board by just soldering it like it was a non-PCB setup. Turned out great.

 

[Knoby]

This should help...

 

[PavlosK]

I would put the 490R in the neck as that is the intended position for that pickup (and it sounds great there). Try the 57 in the bridge.

I stand corrected, the 490T is in the bridge; got confused.

 

[PavlosK]

Thanks everyone for your responses; I will try out some of the suggestions and get back to you with the results.

 

[gibsonofabitch]

One thing I’ve learned is Gibson has got pickups figured out. Keep what came with it and adjust your amp accordingly

 

[Christosterone]

490r in neck is divine
57 or 57+ in the bridge is divine

welcome to the cult

490r in the neck is my favorite pup setup btw

-chris

 

[Mr French]

490r in neck is diving
57 or 57+ in the bridge is divine

welcome to the cult

490r in the neck is my favorite pup setup btw

-chris

Years ago on this forum, like 16 years ago that is, a few claimed the 490's was the closest thing to a TTop pickup as it was designed to the same specs. No clue if it was ever true since Gibson never described it like that.

 

[icantshred]

Years ago on this forum, like 16 years ago that is, a few claimed the 490's was the closest thing to a TTop pickup as it was designed to the same specs. No clue if it was ever true since Gibson never described it like that.

There was a video floating around where a guy swapped the magnet in a 490R and put it in the bridge of a LP. He was able to nail the '73 Jimmy Page tone pretty well.

Actually, I just found his thread here

 

[Mr French]

There was a video floating around where a guy swapped the magnet in a 490R and put it in the bridge of a LP. He was able to nail the '73 Jimmy Page tone pretty well.

Actually, I just found his thread here

I remember when that thread started. I think MrRhoads was one of the folks who said the 490 was built to ttop specs.

 

[icantshred]

I encountered it quite a long time ago when I was looking for Jimmy Page tips. I think the guy who started it managed to get pretty close. I've also seen someone from this forum who winds pickups get really close to JP tones. I don't know what his specs are or if its similar to a 490 in any way.

 

[Derald]

Alnico 5 short magnet in the 490R is pretty close tone wise. Any even bobbin, low wind, alnico 5 short magnet will get you the t top tone pretty closely.
The Classic 57/57+ in the bridge and 490R neck is a winning combo. I have a Super 57 in the bridge with a 490RA5 in the neck - it’s bananas.

 

[LeftyGtrPlr]

This should help...

View attachment 678356

Those would help if Gibson made them available vs. the aftermarket options from eBay, Reverb, etc.

 

[gkelm]

Looks like with the help of that diagram and a little soldering (I’m thinking a wire lead from the braid), you should be able to make it happen.

I like the 57 classic, I also like the 490/498 pickups okay, although the 57s are fatter and smoother versus the others a bit brighter and more fuzzy with gain.

All the best!

 

[searswashere]

Alnico 5 short magnet in the 490R is pretty close tone wise. Any even bobbin, low wind, alnico 5 short magnet will get you the t top tone pretty closely.
The Classic 57/57+ in the bridge and 490R neck is a winning combo. I have a Super 57 in the bridge with a 490RA5 in the neck - it’s bananas.

The 57+ that came in my used classic was underwhelming on the wound strings. It was weird. Put a 500T in the bridge and the guitar sounds right, now. 498/490 in my standard sounds awesome too.