So what are the differences between burst buckers and classic 57s?

The way I understand it, 57 classics are what PAFs were supposed to be, with evenly wound coils. Burstbuckers have intentionally unevenly wound coils.

 

I was wondering the same thing about the differences. I've tried both and for what its worth, I tend to agree with you that I prefer the burstbuckers.

 

The winds in BB are approximate. In the 57s they are the same. The BB is not wax potted, the 57s are. This makes the 57s sound a little creamier. The BBs have more of an edge, I guess.

Details are here : http://www.gibson.com/en-us/Divisions/Gibson Gear/Pickups

 

i had burstbucker3s in a guitar and they did sound edgier than the 57s.
the flip side is i found the 57s to be more open sounding.

 

Burst buckers hard edged and brittle. 57s..creamy and beautiful. Thats my opinion at least. I LOVE the 57s!!!

 

I agree with Tag, never liked the burstbuckers, every gtr that had them had a sort of artificial "zing" to it, just too bright up top and not open on bottom. ym-will mostlikely-always vary !

57's I like, sometimes too warm/muddy in some gtrs, but a gr8 all-rounder.

 

That is exactly how I hear them. Whatever works for you as a player is all that matters though. :BEER

 

i have 57's and feel that the neck is a bit too muddy and the bridge doesn't have the low end i'd like. if i could skim off some of that bassy-muddyness and slap that on the bridge pup i think i'd be happier.

 

Burstbuckers on the Historics are potted. Hardly my fave but very much a PAF style sounding humbucker with a brighter tone than the '57. They don't suck and work damn good in solid body Les Pauls.

 

+ 1
,
,

 

I've had 3 Custom Shop semi-hollow Gibsons with the 57 Classics and all 3 were warm and fat sounding with nice balance between the lows, mids, and highs.

 

My BB1s have a brittle top end, mushy bottom and sound fizzy through an overdriven amp. My '57 Classics sound just right. Very well balanced.

BTW, they both have PAF stickers on them.

 

Which BB are we talking about? there are BB 1s, 2s, 3s, & Pros...all very different pickups

 

BB 1 & 2 on the Historics are the ones I'm talking 'bout.

 

I didn't like those at all myself, and I'm a huge fan of most Gibby pickups. The Classics are OK, but I would either recommend a set of BB Pros (phenomenally underrated--esp through a Marshall or Marshall-esque amp) or SD Antiquities, which I setlled on after trying almost all the rest of the Duncans (PG, 59s, APIIs, jazz/JB).

Same idea as the BB1&2 set, but with a sweeter, more complex top end and kind of an "airy" quality that really loves most setups.

 

classics is the way to go!

 

57's sound pretty cool in Lola.
BB's sound pretty cool in the 2003 R9.

 

Listen for yourselves -

'57 Classics:
BFF Tremolux
http://soundclick.com/share?songid=7023988
Plexi
http://soundclick.com/share?songid=7023997

Burstbuckers:
http://soundclick.com/share?songid=7023969
http://soundclick.com/share?songid=7023981

I like 'em both, but they are noticeably different.