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Burstbuckers vs '57 Classics

Cranknfrank

Member
Joined
Feb 7, 2011
Messages
64
Hello all,
I own a LP Standard '50's with BB's. I'm considering another guitar with 57 Classics. What are the key differences in these pickups? Sorry if this has been covered elsewhere. Any advice is appreciated. Thanks very much.
 

El Gringo

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Joined
Apr 8, 2015
Messages
5,657
I want to say the 57 Classics are wax potted which I believe the Burst Bucker's are not . It depends though as the BB 1,2,3, ( the numbered are not potted ) where the Burst Bucker Pro's are potted . Don't quote me as I can't swear under oath , but I can swear that the Classics are potted . So the one big thing would be if you play thru a high gain amp where the unpotted pickups will likely squeal ( yuck ) where the potted pickups IMHO would work better with a high gain amp . I hope this helps .
 

Cranknfrank

Member
Joined
Feb 7, 2011
Messages
64
I want to say the 57 Classics are wax potted which I believe the Burst Bucker's are not . It depends though as the BB 1,2,3, ( the numbered are not potted ) where the Burst Bucker Pro's are potted . Don't quote me as I can't swear under oath , but I can swear that the Classics are potted . So the one big thing would be if you play thru a high gain amp where the unpotted pickups will likely squeal ( yuck ) where the potted pickups IMHO would work better with a high gain amp . I hope this helps .
Thanks El Gringo!
 

oldog

Member
Joined
Nov 28, 2003
Messages
201
To me Burstbuckers are a bit brighter than Classic 57s due to having one coil wound dominant. They are also slightly noisier to me for the same reason.
 

El Gringo

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Apr 8, 2015
Messages
5,657
To me Burstbuckers are a bit brighter than Classic 57s due to having one coil wound dominant. They are also slightly noisier to me for the same reason.
I had a set of Burstbucker 1 & 3 and they did have a nice sound except for the darn squealing which annoyed me to no end .
 

mdubya

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Joined
Mar 31, 2010
Messages
1,020
In my cynical opinion, they have all changed specs depending on the year, right down to: I believe Gibson just put whatever sticker on whatever pickups at some point. Early 57's were great, middle period 57's were good, but at some point, 2013 or so, I think they were 57 Classics in name only and were not even close to the same as the earlier pickups.

JMHO.
 
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Cranknfrank

Member
Joined
Feb 7, 2011
Messages
64
In my cynical opinion, they have all changed specs depending on the year, right down to: I believe Gibson just put whatever sticker on whatever pickups as some point. Early 57's were great, middle period 57's were good, but at some point, 2013 or so, I think they were 57 Classics in name only and were not even close to the same as the earlier pickups.

JMHO.
Thanks for the heads up. The BB's I've played in different guitars seem to be consistent. Each guitar is unique but the vibe of the BB's seem similar even in different guitars.
 

Sol

Active member
Joined
Oct 26, 2001
Messages
775
Ive only just become aware that the DCR of all Gibson BB,s, '57 Classics and the 490r and 498t have been reduced pretty drastically.

For example. My early' 57 classic is 7.8 k the classic plus was 9 k. My early BB 1 2 and 3 respectively measure, 7.8k, 8.2k and the BB 3 was 8.7k.
My early 490r is 7.8k and 498t is 14k

The current 490r is 7.4k and the 498t is just 9k.

The point is that giving advice or sharing playing experience has become a lot more complex, the current BB1 has gone from 7.8k to approx 6.8 - 6.9k. Thats a huge difference in DCR, and perhaps induction too.
 
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