I bought some gibson pickups

[rick31797]

I bought what i think are 498T /490R, the one has a tag on the bottom saying 498T. The other pickup has nothing,on the underside other than Gibson USA.

Is there a way of telling without a tag what the pickup is, or if its a Neck or a bridge pickup>> and the number it may be ?

Rick

 

[decoy205]

T stands for "Treble" for bridge and the other is the R for "Rhythm" you can also tell by the pole piece spacing. The pole pieces on the treble should be slightly further from each other to compensate for the string spacing by the bridge.

Great pickups i have them in my custom I really like them.

 

[les strat]

The resistance on the 498 should be around 13-14K, and the 490 would be 8-9K. They would have "Gibson USA" stamped underneath. If they have covers, they would be gold or chrome, not nickel.

 

[dcmey]

Those pickups are commonly found in the studio model. They are excellant pickups.

 

[Lyrica]

Those pickups are commonly found in the studio model. They are excellant pickups.

also they were the only pickups used in the Goddess before it was discontinued. i love them

 

[tarddoggy]

Those pickups are commonly found in the studio model. They are excellant pickups.

also they were the only pickups used in the Goddess before it was discontinued. i love them

+1...I kept both sets outta my Studio's,really decent stock pups

 

[rick31797]

Thanks for the Info.. The poles on the Treble are slightly farther apart..Not by much.
Now to check the resistance i would need a OHM meter..is this right?? I have a friend that can do this, if thats the instrument i need. I don't know much about this, but thanks for the numbers that i should looking for.

I am building a Guitar, so it sounds like i have a pair of excellent pickups. They have the gold covers.
I am a long ways off to installing them, i just got the wood ordered, so i thought i would buy some hardware.

Rick

 

[Liam]

Yep, bigger spacing on the bridge (treble) pickup is normal for these.

Yes, an Ohm meter is the thing you need. Don't look for exact numbers, you won't get them, but it sounds like you have a 498T and a 490R anyway. They are great for most humbucker applications!

Enjoy.

Liam

 

[coldsteal2]

They are great pickups, they are in alot of different Les Pauls
besides the Studio. Thier bridge pickup is really good.
They are also in the LP Supreme, Les Paul Custom, Les Paul Studio
and LP Menace, SG Standard, SG Special, they are great.

 

[rick31797]

I have a 1982 LP Custom, i bought new..Its all original, i would dare change anything. I think i was told they have Tim shaw pickups..If i got it right .., I wonder what the difference in tone would be to the 498T/490R pickups i bought.
I dont know alot about this stuff, as you can tell. I see people in other forums, always changing and trying different pickups.

I thought these would be a good choice and by the sounds of it, everybody here likes what they produce. If there putting them in the customs and supreme''s i would think they have to be really up there in Quaility.
I was thinking about a set up Dearmond gold tone pickups, but i am glad i got these.

I have a DeArmond starfire and the Gold tone Dearmond Humbuckers are awesome..I really like the tone they produce.


Rick

 

[kissfanps]

OMG thank you guys so much, i took mine out of my custom and replaced them with DiMarzzio Super Distortions and have been trying to figure out which one is which for like almost 2 years now!!! Even gibsons help line couldnt tell me!

 

[coldsteal2]

I have a 1982 LP Custom, i bought new..Its all original, i would dare change anything. I think i was told they have Tim shaw pickups..If i got it right .., I wonder what the difference in tone would be to the 498T/490R pickups i bought.
I dont know alot about this stuff, as you can tell. I see people in other forums, always changing and trying different pickups.

I thought these would be a good choice and by the sounds of it, everybody here likes what they produce. If there putting them in the customs and supreme''s i would think they have to be really up there in Quaility.
I was thinking about a set up Dearmond gold tone pickups, but i am glad i got these.

I have a DeArmond starfire and the Gold tone Dearmond Humbuckers are awesome..I really like the tone they produce.


Rick

The 490's i believe are a newer pickup than what was on the
80's pickups, the Tim Shaw pickups were suposed to be
a reproduction of the original PAF's
But i dont know that much about them there are alot of
pickup experts on this forum maybe one of them will ring in

There are alot of people that like the Burstbuckers to,
But i really liked my 490r and 498t expecialy the 498, its
great for lead

 

[decoy205]

+1 on that love the 498 for lead.

 

[rick31797]

I finally got a OHM metre to check these.. I hope i am doing it right.. THe 490R is reading 9 K and the 498T is reading 17K which seems on the high side.

What does this mean when the numbers are higher.. The 498T is suppost to be 13-14K..

Rick

 

[Liam]

Doesn't mean a lot. Might have had a bit of wire "stretch" when they wound it, might have a few extra turns, or might just mean that your ohm meter isn't a particularly accurate one.

Resistance of pickups is just a guide. Only thing that matters is that they sound good to you.

 

[les strat]

The 490's i believe are a newer pickup than what was on the
80's pickups, the Tim Shaw pickups were suposed to be
a reproduction of the original PAF's
But i dont know that much about them there are alot of
pickup experts on this forum maybe one of them will ring in

There are alot of people that like the Burstbuckers to,
But i really liked my 490r and 498t expecialy the 498, its
great for lead

Shaw's were used in the 80's until '88 and '89 when the circuit board pickups were used on Standards (yuck). 1990 is when the 498T/490R alnicos made their way onto most Les Paul, excluding the Classic (500T/496 ceramic), and the Historic line ('57 Classics). In 2002, the Burstbucker V (Pro) replaced the 498T/490R.

 

[Scozz]

I have a 1982 LP Custom, i bought new..Its all original, i would dare change anything. I think i was told they have Tim shaw pickups..If i got it right .., I wonder what the difference in tone would be to the 498T/490R pickups i bought.
I dont know alot about this stuff, as you can tell. I see people in other forums, always changing and trying different pickups.

I thought these would be a good choice and by the sounds of it, everybody here likes what they produce. If there putting them in the customs and supreme''s i would think they have to be really up there in Quaility.
I was thinking about a set up Dearmond gold tone pickups, but i am glad i got these.

I have a DeArmond starfire and the Gold tone Dearmond Humbuckers are awesome..I really like the tone they produce.

Greetings Rick,,,,,,,,,,,,,,I also have a 82 Custom that I bought new, and it also has Tim Shaw pickups. I also have a 06 Studio Premium Plus with the 490r/498t pickups. When compared, the 490r/498t set are a bit hotter and more cutting, but some tone is lacking compared to the Shaws. The Shaws have a thick, smoky, bluesy, sound, and they also rock! Tons of classic, vintage LP tone from the Shaws. Both are great pickups, if I had to pick a favorite, it would be the Shaws.

Hey Rick,,,How about some pics of your Custom??

Here's some pics of my Custom and my Studio PP

 

[shotgunlew]

nice guitars

 

[LoKi]

I have a 1982 LP Custom, i bought new..Its all original, i would dare change anything. I think i was told they have Tim shaw pickups..If i got it right .., I wonder what the difference in tone would be to the 498T/490R pickups i bought.
I dont know alot about this stuff, as you can tell. I see people in other forums, always changing and trying different pickups.

I thought these would be a good choice and by the sounds of it, everybody here likes what they produce. If there putting them in the customs and supreme''s i would think they have to be really up there in Quaility.
I was thinking about a set up Dearmond gold tone pickups, but i am glad i got these.

I have a DeArmond starfire and the Gold tone Dearmond Humbuckers are awesome..I really like the tone they produce.


Rick

Shaw's are the best production pickup Gibson ever put out. Leave those in there, or sell them on Ebay for a ridiculous amount of money... Or better yet, leave em in there and sell them in 20 years for an even more ridiculous amount of money.

 

[floydbreeze]

Yep, the Shaws are the best!