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through the Duncan Custom shop I would imagine...

to get an quot;agedquot; ceramic magnet in a Duncan Custom or Duncan Distortion?

Something to quot;warm them upquot; a tad?


Originally Posted by JeffBthrough the Duncan Custom shop I would imagine...

to get an quot;agedquot; ceramic magnet in a Duncan Custom or Duncan Distortion?

Something to quot;warm them upquot; a tad?Jeff, ceramic magnets age at a much slower rate that Alnico magnets and Im not 100% sure MJ could do that. That said, what are you looking for sound wise?


Originally Posted by the guy who invented fireJeff, ceramic magnets age at a much slower rate that Alnico magnets and Im not 100% sure MJ could do that. That said, what are you looking for sound wise?

Christian...I figgered.. I'd heard that ceramic doesn't quot;agequot; well..

Now that I have got it tweaked (and it took awhile to get it right), I *really* like the 498T in my bird...it sounds very much like a quot;HOT PAFquot;, so to speak..it's got more output, crunch and punch while still having a familiar fat PAF type sound.

What I don't care for about it, is it's a biatch to get pinch harmonics out of, something I use alot of in my playing

Having a hard time finding anything similar to the 498T. I really don't want to go ceramic (due to increased highs/bite) in the thin body.

Some folks have told me to go with the Gibson 57 Classic Plus....


Originally Posted by JeffBChristian...I figgered.. I'd heard that ceramic doesn't quot;agequot; well..

Now that I have got it tweaked (and it took awhile to get it right), I *really* like the 498T in my bird...it sounds very much like a quot;HOT PAFquot;, so to speak..it's got more output, crunch and punch while still having a familiar fat PAF type sound.

What I don't care for about it, is it's a biatch to get pinch harmonics out of, something I use alot of in my playing

Having a hard time finding anything similar to the 498T. I really don't want to go ceramic (due to increased highs/bite) in the thin body.

Some folks have told me to go with the Gibson 57 Classic Plus....The Classic 57 and 57 are OK pickups but I wouldn't use them as a replacement, but this is all just my opinion. Im not to familar with the 498T...how hot is it really? I'll tell you this...for killer PAF tone with a nice bite and great harmonics the Pearly Gates is damn hard to beat...


Originally Posted by the guy who invented fireThe Classic 57 and 57 are OK pickups but I wouldn't use them as a replacement, but this is all just my opinion. Im not to familar with the 498T...how hot is it really? I'll tell you this...for killer PAF tone with a nice bite and great harmonics the Pearly Gates is damn hard to beat...

It's pretty hot...same ball-park as a Custom output-wise. I lowered mine a bit more than normal, and then raised the polepieces so that it cleared up the quot;mudquot; that 498T owners frequently complain about. Now it's just about perfect barring the lack of pinch harmonics (for this guitar anyway, I wouldn't want it in a Les Paul)

I'm not a fan of the PG. The one thing I *don't* want is *more* bite or sizzle than I already have. I like a PG in the neck, but the bridge always sounds way too harsh to me with some gain.


Originally Posted by JeffBIt's pretty hot...same ball-park as a Custom output-wise. I lowered mine a bit more than normal, and then raised the polepieces so that it cleared up the quot;mudquot; that 498T owners frequently complain about. Now it's just about perfect barring the lack of pinch harmonics (for this guitar anyway, I wouldn't want it in a Les Paul)

I'm not a fan of the PG. The one thing I *don't* want is *more* bite or sizzle than I already have. I like a PG in the neck, but the bridge always sounds way too harsh to me with some gain.Ok...why not go with a Custom or a CC? Both of those are hotter, have good harmonics as well as a nice thick tone, and even though the Custom has a ceramic magnet it doesn't have the cold quality of a lot of other ceramic pickups.

I remember seeing grades of alnico at a dealers site ranging from alnico II to alnico VIII, with 8 being the closest in characteristics to ceramic. Maybe getting an alnico 7 bar in your pickup will get you the sound you need.

Thanks for the replies everyone.

I thought Custom as well Christian...I've had that pup in Explorers (as well as Paulas)...but I'm not sure how she would sound in the Studio Bird as it's a bit more midrangey..kinda halfway between an SG and an Explorer.

Also was thinking custom five as I'd like to stay Alnico.

And I cannot seem to find either a C5 or C with nickel covers. I'd really like to stick with them.

Grrr...I really need to just $hit or get off the pot with this bird as far as swappin pups. The neck pup is easy..any PAF type will do (59, APII, etc)...but the bridge I can't friggin make up my mind about.

time to make some clip requests over yonder