Got some Custombuckers, comparing to Burstbuckers, Tim Shaws, Antiquities, SH55

After playing a set of 57 Classics, I went on a Gibson pickup binge. Here are my thoughts:

I pretty much concur with most posters on these pickups. The Custombuckers (74 Sg, underwound 7.3 DCR for bridge and neck) sound fantastic. I put them in my R0 and they are musical, clear, and responsive. They replaced the BB1 and BB2 that were in there (2012 models). The BBs were very good pickups, but, IMO, less clear and less responsive in both neck and bridge. The BB2 in the bridge was outstanding though, and hotter (8.3dcr) than the Custombucker. But the BBs were not "can't put down the guitar" pups to me. And the CBs are indeed just that.

The Tim Shaws were also in the R0 for some time. They sounded fantastic as well. They were the most "raw" sounding out of all the pickups I've tried. The neck pickup couldn't be put down, the bridge pickup was a tad too trebly for me, nothing to cry about, but the BB/CB bridge pickups were amazing. The Tim Shaws are now in my SG original, and sound perfect there. It's probably all in my head since now all the pickups match their hardware! haha..

Biggest disappointment? The Seymour Duncan Antiquities. Had them in another les paul, and the Gibson SG. They never impressed me at all. Maybe not even a true "PAF" tone. They were boring, lifeless and dull. I found the SH55 Seth Lovers to deliver better true "PAF" tone. Anyways, the Custombuckers are fantastic, I'm going to get some Fralin Pure PAFs at some point in time.

Biggest surprise? 57 Classics! They can run with all these pickups! Have them in my LP Artisan, and an Epiphone MIJ LP neck, and they sound amazing. I might like the 57s the best!

Good feedback!

I’ve struggled with Shawbuckers but I love Custombuckers.

Trouble is, there's 57s/Burst/Custom Buckers and there's 57s/Burst/Custom Buckers.
At certain points, all three of these have had spec changes, which do affect their tone - 57s/BBs had their wire and internals changed when they went to being used on non-Custom Shop models, and the CBs are no longer potted.

I've got Fralin Pure PAF's in my Historic ES-335. These are very clean and clear pickups. Lindy has a video where he says that he wanted to develop a really clear humbucking pickup. He succeeded. As long as you are not looking for a "spanky" or "stingy" pickup, the Fralins are great. My R9 has some spank and grit while my 335 is totally different animal. I like that each guitar does its own thing tonally. Hope that info helps.

After reading the original description of the Origin of the Super 74 which I think became the Custom Bucker.... with the exception of the resistance being any where from 7.3 to 8.3. Five or so years later SD came out with a very similar pup called Candy based on A specific 1960 Burst. A3.... 7.5 ish K. The A3 has zero Cobolt so they have to less $$$ in bulk

Can not edit [have to be less money in bulk]