Giblson 490R / 498T pickup question

[wyldefan]

Does anyone know the output of these pickups? 10K or higher?

[jimfog]

I believe they are in the 7-8K range..........pretty clear and vintage-y.

At least the ones I'm selling CHEAP in the emporium (hint, hint) are! lol

[SoCalSteve]

I measured mine the other day. Neck is 7.9, bridge is a hot 13.9

[wyldefan]

Thanks guys. I was thinking of swapping out the 498 or bridge pickup for a WCR Godwood but that is even lower in output. I might try a Suhr SSH+ instead. I did not think the 498 was that hot. It is not a bad pickup just a bit sterile for my taste.

[SoCalSteve]

I think Gibson's description of the 498t is pretty accurate - that it emphasizes midrange and highs. Makes it pretty clear and bright for AC/DC type of low gain but when I turn up the gain I find it gets too bright for me with the guitar volume on 10. I also have an RS hit in mine with 50's wiring so that opens it up even more.

I put the stock pups back in when I installed the RS kit and am now wishing I'd kept the aftermarket pickups I had and just put covers on them for a better look.

[FrankieSixxxgun]

Yeah, the 490 is average PAF rang, but the 498 is pretty hot. Like you, I didn't care for them in my Les Paul either and swapped 'em for some Duncan '59s.

[RockStarNick]

SSH+ is a great pickup.

I just always find the 490/498 set to be kinda eh... The bridge is kinda clangy, the neck is kinda muddy. For my tastes. They don't seem like much of a "set". Kinda mismatched.

I feel like there's two schools for pickup sets.

Old School: Smooth, warm, round (almost muddy) jazzy neck pickup. And a bright, biting bridge pickup.

New School: This is what I prefer. Smooth, warm, but CLEAR and bright neck pickup, and a big, fat sounding bridge pickup.

The Gibson set falls into the former category.

[wyldefan]

Ok let's put this to a vote. I play hard rock not newer death metal more in the hard rock/blues category. I like a smooth warm tone. For my les paul to replace the 498T what pickup should I go with?

Suhr SSH+

WCR Godwood

Chime in and give me your vote......

[skhan007]

I am not a fan of the 490 & 498 pickups that came stock in my Les Paul. For the music you described, I would suggest a Duncan JB or a Duncan Custom for the bridge and either a Dunacan Jazz or Duncan '59 in the neck. If you like DiMarzio, then I would suggest a Tone Zone bridge and a PAF Pro for the neck. I have owned every one of these pickups I mention here.

[Clapton is God]

I don't mean to hijack, but are the 490R and 498T pickups ceramic magnets? Thanks.

[SoCalSteve]

According to Gibson the 490r is Alnico II and the 498t Alnico V. I've wondered if the 498t would be a little smoother with an A IV magnet in there.

I like the 490r much more now with 500k pots and the cap soldered to the middle lug of the volume pot. It's a keeper now. I may go for a DiMarzio 36th Anniv. PAF Bridge.

[fuzzz]

After ripping off every 498\490 set,from various gibsons that have passed through my hands and happened to carry it(something that most people do as i can see...not a popular set definitely..) i finally found out the trick to make those sing...use 500KΩ pots and you'll see that it's not a bad pu set at all.With the 300k pots that gibson uses in most production guitars it sounds muddy and dark though..

[FrankieSixxxgun]

I used mine with 500k pots and they still sucked. For the output and magnet type of those pickups you'd expect them to be a lot better. The 490 in the neck isn't terrible, but that 498T really left me wanting a lot more.

[dcooper830]

I might have an unusually good set or something....... but the 490/498 set in my 1991 Gibson LP Studio sound AMAZING!!!!!

I wouldn't dream of replacing them.

[fuzzz]

It's always a matter of taste after all,but with 500k pots I find them to be decent enough...not something particularly good,but not sucking either...