Burstbucker Pros too”pokey”

[PATXL69]

Love my LP Modern as a playing platform, but find the BB Pro’s striking me as being too bright, and “pokey” (as The Capt. at Anderton’s would say). I’m looking for something with a tad more grit and somewhat darker without rolling off too much of the more pleasing highs, especially on the the bridge. Playing through a Marshall Origin 20 with a Boss DS-1 and/or SD-1.

 

[Big Al]

Use the tone control.

 

[Bob Womack]

Yes, the BB Pros are a bit bright, and hot! But, it gives your guitar that "Tele on steroids" sound. I just pull the bridge pickup back to three or four.

Bob

 

[Classicplayer]

You should be able to get any number of tones from the Pro's. Turn off the pedals, dial your amp and guitar to the volume and grind you prefer (I'd start with a bit of a crunchy amp, then experiment with your guitar's volume amd tone knobs. You'll get better results. Experiment with the pedals later after you like what you hear from the Marshall.

Classicplayer

 

[CK6]

Love my LP Modern as a playing platform, but find the BB Pro’s striking me as being too bright, and “pokey” (as The Capt. at Anderton’s would say). I’m looking for something with a tad more grit and somewhat darker without rolling off too much of the more pleasing highs, especially on the the bridge. Playing through a Marshall Origin 20 with a Boss DS-1 and/or SD-1.

What strings are you using?

 

[NickiC]

Have you considered a 490T?

 

[PATXL69]

What strings are you using?

StringJoy 10-48

 

[PATXL69]

Have you considered a 490T?

Indeed I have. Its on the short list.

 

[CK6]

StringJoy 10-48

Not sure who makes their strings, but D’Addario have been very pokey with certain pickups that I had, including the burst buckers. Try some Ernie Ball or GHS strings & see if it makes a difference

 

[spidey]

My 2003 standard had burstbucker pros on when I bought it. I found them to be brash, hot and abrasive.

I tried the Seymour Duncan Pearly Gates but didn't bond with the bridge. I loved the neck pup though.

I switched to Jim Wagner Crossroads pickups and they have been in ever since.

Around that time Jim's pickups were very popular on this forum.

JWP Guitar Pickups

 

[NickiC]

It’s got to be the A5 magnets that Gibson uses. Swap a Gibby A5 into most pickups; let’s say a 57 Classic or even a Duncan 59/ vintage blues,
I find this will make the pickup sound sterile, strident and brash. Some have had good results with. BB Pro can be a lifeline for a semi hollow body. Or a dark sounding Les Paul.

 

[synthetic88]

Tried to get along with the Burstbuckers in my LP Traditional for years. Finally swapped in Duncan Antiquities and it was a massive difference. All the icepickiness was instantly gone. Worth trying if that 6k spike is bugging you.

 

[NickiC]

Tried to get along with the Burstbuckers in my LP Traditional for years. Finally swapped in Duncan Antiquities and it was a massive difference. All the icepickiness was instantly gone. Worth trying if that 6k spike is bugging you.

How do they sound in the neck, is it boomy at all? I find BB’s in the neck position to be less boomy, bottom heavy than most PAF types. They fall in to weak and thin, or just not correctly calibrated to work with the bridge pickup.

 

[Dreamin90s]

This thread still alive? Unlocked up a 2024 lp studio with bb pros, it ice o idk my ears like crazy. My old 95 studio was so warm on full (using high gain, 90s grunge style)…. What did you do?

 

[Bob Womack]

Roll back the bridge tone to 3 or 4. It leaves you in the neighborhood of a '57 Classic Plus. You may have to pull back the neck tone a little as well. It still isn't quite as midrangey as a '57 Classic or a T-Top but it is nice. Also, see my post above about the BB Pros allowing the Tele on Steroids thing. It really does.

Bob

 

[Dreamin90s]

Roll back the bridge tone to 3 or 4. It leaves you in the neighborhood of a '57 Classic Plus. You may have to pull back the neck tone a little as well. It still isn't quite as midrangey as a '57 Classic or a T-Top but it is nice. Also, see my post above about the BB Pros allowing the Tele on Steroids thing. It really does.

Bob

Oddly, I just noticed the poles are all the way screwed into the pick up. Read somewhere around here that kills some of the brightness. Guess whomever owned it for 2 months couldn’t take the brightness ice pick in the ears, or could this be making it worse? I’ve never seen the poles screwed all the way in.

Maybe my only option is to have a 498t with the chrome plate put in (so it matches) I would like it to sound like my old 95 studio I use to have. Currently on moderate gain to high gain this thing as I said above is like ice picks in your ears. Can’t use v30 speakers with it. Have do dial all the treble out of the amp and it destroys the gain tone and note clarity. I’ve tried this guitar on multiple amps now. Always the same. What was Gibson thinking? The 498t was such good sounding pickup for rock & metal. That’s why we all bought studios back in the day!! If I do change the pickup, my old lp’s didn’t have coil tap etc like this new one (I don’t think) is it as simple as changing the pickup or pots needs changed etc to get that same tone I had in the 90’s?

I have my eyes on a new studio session that has what looks like a aaa flame top even though they are suppose to be aa. Played so nice, perfect neck and finish for the factory… but it’s got 57+ in the bridge, is it less bright than the BB pros? I need a second lp for a different tunning anyway.

 

[charliechitlins]

If you have modern wiring, try backing off the volume a bit.
If not...try modern wiring.
I have a guitar that just cannot be played on 10, but it sounds so great rolled off a bit.

 

[Dreamin90s]

If you have modern wiring, try backing off the volume a bit.
If not...try modern wiring.
I have a guitar that just cannot be played on 10, but it sounds so great rolled off a bit.

Must be modern, it’s a 2024. It has those little quick connect boards. I tried to roll off the tone a little bit, it effects the color of the gain to much imo. It feels like it’s around 6k ish.. I’ve read others complain about this with burst bucker pros, the ice pick to your ears effect using moderate to high gain. Using v30s amplifies it even more I assumed going to something inside to use like a 498 would fix this issue but with the eiffeeent pots now I’m not sure… I can’t find a quick connect 498t to buy even though Gibson makes them as used set sound on reverb, taken out of different guitar.

 

[CK6]

Must be modern, it’s a 2024. It has those little quick connect boards. I tried to roll off the tone a little bit, it effects the color of the gain to much imo. It feels like it’s around 6k ish.. I’ve read others complain about this with burst bucker pros, the ice pick to your ears effect using moderate to high gain. Using v30s amplifies it even more I assumed going to something inside to use like a 498 would fix this issue but with the eiffeeent pots now I’m not sure… I can’t find a quick connect 498t to buy even though Gibson makes them as used set sound on reverb, taken out of different guitar.

Which brand of strings are you using? I found D’Addario strings didn’t always work for my Burstbucker & Wolfetone pickups.

You’d be surprised at the results by switching to Ernie Ball or GHS etc

 

[charliechitlins]

Must be modern, it’s a 2024. It has those little quick connect boards. I tried to roll off the tone a little bit, it effects the color of the gain to much imo. It feels like it’s around 6k ish.. I’ve read others complain about this with burst bucker pros, the ice pick to your ears effect using moderate to high gain. Using v30s amplifies it even more I assumed going to something inside to use like a 498 would fix this issue but with the eiffeeent pots now I’m not sure… I can’t find a quick connect 498t to buy even though Gibson makes them as used set sound on reverb, taken out of different guitar.

With modern wiring, backing off the volume mellows the tone.
I don't know if you're a volume-locked-on-10 player...many are.