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Please bear with me, as this it a bit long, but I figured the back story to my question would help with the answer.

I've been looking at getting an ES335-style semi-hollow, and have narrowed the field down to two guitars: the Ibanez Artcore AS83 and the Epiphone Dot. Gibson is out of the question, mainly because I am not a bajillionaire.

The AS83 I tried was outstanding. The only drawback is it costs $100 CAN more than the Dot, and I would have to get it special ordered (I am a lefty). I have tried a few Epi Dots and a Sheraton II as well, but have found the quality to be inconsistent. Some of them seem to be put together very well, and others not so much. My main complaint with the Dot is that I would have to put a lot of upgrades in to get it up to decent standards. I would basically replace the pickups and almost all the hardware (tuners, switch, pots), especially those terrible Epiphone tuners. With the Ibanez, I was pretty
confident with the stock hardware, and as far as stock pups go I really liked them.

Here's the thing: yesterday I was at the shop getting a set-up on my Strat, and lo and behold there was a lefty Dot in cherry red. I look closer, and notice it has Grover tuners and a graphite nut. Then I read the tag, and see that it has after-market Gibson '57 Classic pickups installed. I ask the sales person about it, and he tells me it is pre-owned, and all the mods were done by the former owner. Price tag is $485 CAN.

I gave it a try, and to me the tone was a bit muddy, even on the bridge. It could have been the crappy amp I was plugged into, or it could have been the fact that the previous owner did some wacky wiring job in there (the tech at the store said he would rewire it back to factory spec for free). In any case, I will give it another shot when I go back tomorrow to pick up the Strat.

Anyway, I was wondering if anyone here had experience with the Gibson '57 Classics, and what your impression was. Comparisons to SD's '59 or other models would be appreciated. Your input will help me tremendously.

Thanks very much!

UPDATE: see below

The 57's are bright when you are using 500K pots. Maybe it had lower value pots in it or, the amp sucked!!!

I have a Gibson ES-135LE that the 57 Classics came stock in. They're decent I guess, but I don't really care for they're voicing. They seem a little compressed, grainey, and gritty to me. They have a pretty decent sound when I use them on a clean channel, but I don't care too much for them with distortion. Then again, I didn't buy that guitar to do distorted stuff with.


Originally Posted by JOLLYThey seem a little compressed, grainey, and gritty to me.

Bingo. You described exactly how that guitar sounded to my ears. I said quot;muddyquot;, but that wasn't as good a description as yours. Thank-you.

I have a Les Paul Classic with Classic '57s in the neck and bridge.

For the neck compared to the '59s the '57 is FAR SUPERIOR in every way. More clarity, less bottom end mush and boom, and an overall sweeter sound that really sings.

Same deal with the bridge pretty much..if you like vintage tones, however it's a little light on output and punch for me as I'm more of a hard rock person.

I had a pair in my '91 LP Classic for a while and I agree totally with Jolly's description. They were OK - no better, no worse. A little too harsh at the bridge and a little too woolly at the neck for my tastes. All the vintage-output Duncans I have tried ('59s, A2Ps, Seths and Ants) are clearer and more articulate and make for a more versatile guitar.


Originally Posted by JOLLYThey're decent I guess, but I don't really care for they're voicing. They seem a little compressed, grainey, and gritty to me. They have a pretty decent sound when I use them on a clean channel, but I don't care too much for them with distortion.

Exactly the way I feel about them. Way too much grit in the sound for my taste. Some guys like em, I just don't, this is the best way I can describe it.

I like this
----.--------------.--------------.---------------.-----------

From 57 Classics I hear

---.---.----.----.---.---.----.----.----.----.----.----.----.----.Luke

Bear in mind that loads of people DO like 57s. Most people here won't, cos they've come to buy SDs... I have heard someone saying that the 57 was a bit dull, but she recommended DiMarzios......

I would have thought that a quot;gritty, grainyquot; sound was more indicative of the amp, though..... I may be wrong...

I like the 57's, although they seem to vary quite a bit in tone in my experience. I think the Burstbuckers a little better overall, but the 57's are very under-rated in my opinion.

UPDATE: Okay, I went back to the shop today and got them to plug me into a Twin Reverb instead of the itsy bitsy Line6 Spider they gave me on Saturday. I figured it would sound somewhat better, maybe a bit beefier at the very least. Man, the little Line6 must be a tone sinkhole, because that guitar sounds BEAUTIFUL in the Twin. The neck pickup was fat and jazzy, and the bridge was bright and chunky.

I still think Duncan PAF-style HB's have more character and clarity, but I was clearly too hard on the 57's when I first tried the guitar. They are light years better than the stock pickups, that's for sure.

I guess I have a tough decision to make now ...