Tokai Love Rock Les Paul Upgrade - BurstBuckers vs Alnico Classic Pro vs Epiphone Probuckers
HTML-код
- Опубликовано: 24 июл 2024
- This week we try three more sets of pickups including a set of Burstbuckers which we robbed out of the Gibson enabling us to do a back to back comparison. Is it true that different mahogany, headstock logo, and $3000 don't make any difference to the tone?... well let's find out!
Support this channel at: theguitaristas.vhx.tv and join our growing list of members enjoying AD FREE viewing of all our videos, plus exclusive extras and a members only forum.
0:00 play in & coming up
1:21 what's happening today
3:57 installing the Alnico Classic Pros
10:17 what do they sound like?
12:24 let's discuss part 1
15:16 installing the Probuckers
17:57 I need a little time to decide
19:10 wiring tips and burnt fingers
22:20 what do the Probuckers sound like?
23:35 let's discuss part 2
24:00 a slight change of plan
25:20 installing the Burstbuckers
28:27 what do they sound like?
29:49 Gibson & Tokai back to back
30:11 how to do a comparison video
32:55 Gibson & Tokai back to back (dumbed down version)
34:25 let's listen to all today's pickups back to back
35:47 what I think the differences are
38:54 five different pickups back to back
40:13 it's starting to make sense
43:33 let's wrap this up for today
45:16 play out jam
Here are links to parts 1 & 2:
• Tokai Love Rock Les Pa...
• Tokai Love Rock Les Pa...
Signal Chain Info:
TC Polytune / Boss RC5 Looper / Boss SD1
Amp: Marshall JCM900 with 1936 Vintage 2 x 12
Mics AKG C414 & SM57
Focusrite Scarlett 18i20 into Protools
I AM NOT AN EXPERT. Some things I do know and some things I don't know but think I know and sometimes I say things that are not entirely correct. Once I have said things it's too late to correct them so please check any 'so called facts' with an adult, google, wikipedia, or someone else that knows.
We run this channel to provide therapy for our gear addiction and for an excuse to buy more. Please like and subscribe and keep coming back to watch our films if you would like to support the channel!
#tokai #guitar #lespaul #guitaraddict #theguitaristas #guitarist #burstbucker 
Развлечения
I'm a firm believer that the quality of one's guitar tone is closely related to the brand of beer which one is drinking. Excellent stuff, Colin. Thanks!
It works for you as well! I thought it was only me 😂
Debate settled.
My guitar sounds like tabs..
This is true
Yep! Enough New Castle for me and they all sound good...
This channel is criminally underrated. Great content, phenomenal playing, and highly entertaining. Keep up the great work!!
Thanks mate that’s appreciated! 🙏😎
Loving this series, Colin. I had to do some catching up on episodes as I was out of town dealing with ailing parents, but I am back home now and all is well. Thank you for all of the amazing work on these films.
Thanks man, hope you have a relaxing weekend 😎👍
Excellent series Col. Look forward to the future episodes.
great stuff, thank you for the hard work. the burstbuckers sounded great today, cant wait to see how she sounds with the brass bridge config and looking forward to the next installment in this series.
What I love about your presentations is your honesty and easy going manner, if you make an error you leave it in and that makes what you say completely credible. Everyone can learn from that. 👍👍👍
Your channel is an absolute marvel. I can't say which were better, but I personally loved the Alnico ones because of that extra bite. Great stuff 🍻
The Murray's by far my favourite sounding, would love to try a set similar out at some point. The Epiphones surprised me how well they held up, that wiring loom is really doing the work helping them be their best.
This is a great one, Colin! I'm was really very eager to hear how these pups compare. From these 3 sets, I liked the Burstbuckers most, then Probuckers close 2nd. It's definitely not by a mile! The boutique pups were probably better in the feel and responsiveness, but definitely not in my price range... I really appreciate the fact that you did the comparison back to back this time so that we could hear the real differences! And soldering and tinkering part was also very interesting, I can definitely benefit from your experience. It must have taken a lot of time and effort, thanks!
Your videos are very entertaining and informative. I love them and I appreciate the time and effort you put into these films. Thank you
Cheers Mike thanks for the support! 😎👍
Great entertainment! Please keep these kinds of videos coming. I recently bought an Epiphone Les Paul Custom fully expecting to hate the Probuckers and planned on changing them. I was surprised how good they sound to me and I will keep them. I think the Murray's sounded very nice!
Cheers man, I am seriously close to getting one of those.... white, korina, or Jerry Cantrell wino has me in a spin! 😆👍
Colinn Thanks so much for this sound comparison of not only the pickups, but hardware, and the actual bodies/resonance at the end as well!!! This was a Great Journey with You, and many times guitarist may know a sound they prefer, but haven't taken the time to really listen and discern the differences!!! I really appreciate Your time, effort, and Humor during this process!!!! Cheers!!!
Cheers Blake! 😎👍
Excelent video as always, i really enjoy your content. I have a set of Probuckers that came in my Les Paul and i love them.
Awesome video Colin! Lots of hard work put into this. I can definitely hear the differences and appreciate your work because i love hearing the comparisons. Those Murray's sound amazing. I have Seymour Duncan Saturday Night Specials in my Les Paul that have similar bite. Also, i always find the slow motion shots totally hilarious! Great fun as always! Cheers, brother!
😆👍 Cheers Vad!
Really enjoying the show this week. Great source of info and that joke ‘let’s solder on’ priceless🤣
😆👍
Thank you very much for this huge amount of work that you did for our entertainment, Colin 👌👍🙏
My pleasure! 😎👍
Colin's back! Really looking forward to this episode, as I am a big fan of the Epi Probuckers!
They did good! 😎👍
Really interesting series Colin. I'm looking forward to what comes next and that's a great tip with the spring and the crocodile clip, I'm fed up having springs pinging all around the room 👍👍👍.
Yet another entertaining and informative show cheers, I have to say I really love the sound of the Murray's. So much so that I've ordered a set for my tokai sg. Will let you know how I feel once there in. Thanks again mate your content is really very helpful and entertaining.
Nice one Troy! 😎👍👍
After years of swapping Pups in and out of various guitars I came to the conclusion that its horses for courses, certain Pups suit certain types of music but then you can always use EQ to adjust the sound to suit, I have not bought any new pickups for about three years and am happy with the sounds of my guitars but knowing fullwell that somewhere along the line someone will come out with a set of Pups that have me drooling at the mouth
True. I've got stock Wilkinson 's in my Vintage which sound fine with my modest pedal board and some tweaking to my Code 50.
Having said that I can spend hours poring over pedals and pick ups etc. !
Yes Colin! I found that strumming the chords simply and letting them ring back-to-back was perfect! For me personally, I was much better able to discern if there was a significant difference between the two guitars with the exact same pickups. For all intents and purposes, the Gibson pickups in the (Tokai/Epiphone) made the two virtually identical in sound. Quite frankly, it's all about the pickups and not anything much to do about the company that made the guitar. It seems to me it becomes difficult to justify paying thousands extra for the name on the headstock...Thanks for a fun series!
I love your channel and was especially looking forward to this comparison. I have an Epiphone ES 335 Pro which I really like and which of course has the Classic Pro pickups. I had been considering upgrading them, But after seeing this have decided to wait. I liked the Gibson pickups best of these, They were more articulate in my opinion, but I don't think there was enough of a difference to justify upgrading yet. To be honest I have more important things to focus on such as improving my playing. Your videos are always enjoyable, and usually share some valuable information as well. Thanks.
Cheers Jeff, I think this does show that these Alnico Pro pickups I removed from my 335 were not the cause of the problem! 😆👍
Excellent video and a lot of work. thanks so much for going through all that so we can all hear it for ourselves.
My pleasure! 😎👍
Great video! The more I play the Alnico Classic Pros in the Epi 335 the more I like them, and it is interesting how you explained that they are more like the 57s..make sense. Looking forward to the next installment Colin..take care
Cheers Todd, have a good weekend mate! 😎👍👍
Hello again Colin, I've been waiting for this next video since last week. Great work again mate , you came to the same conclusion as I have over the years with pickups and modding . All the pickups you wired in sounded great and you'd be hard pressed to say which ones are better than others . Like you said we all have our own sounds in our heads of what we're looking for so it's all a matter of taste anyway . I can honestly say that my tokai experiments with Dimarzio, BHC and BYO pickups were so negligible that I'd be happy with any of them in the guitar. Without changing any settings on my peavey delta blues each set gave me what I wanted.
Keep up the good work Colin , and like you said it isn't science and nor should it be .
Great vid Colin mate, very interesting to hear the difference between all the pups in the same guitar. Have a great Jubilee weekend mate, hope you get a beer or 2 in! ;)
Man this was a lot of work but it was definitely entertaining! Thank you!
Hey man, I really dug this. Got an excellent '93 Epiphone Custom (Korea Samick Factory) - it's been an excellent guitar to me over the gigging years but I got a bit of crackle in and around the Vol/Tone Knobs & Jack and it's handy to see you work on them, inspiring me into venturing to do the same. Great channel, great content, excellent entertainment. A good manner about ya as well and a real pleasure to listen too!
- Cheers!
Cheers man… hey if I can do it anyone can! 😆👍
Great vid as usual Colin! You’re providing an extremely useful service to our wee guitar community. That Tokai looks superb by the way 👌.
Thanks mate! 😎👍👍
So much information jam packed. I'm inspired to change out some pickups this week. Thanks for all the hard work. (the Epiphones held their own didn't they!)
Cheers Margaret, yes I was pleasantly surprised how good the Epiphone's were by comparison! 👍 So If you do decide to change some this weekend pay more attention than I did and you won't get them the wrong way round. 😂🤷♂️
What a wonderful three weeks. Loved the effing and blinding, goes hand in hand with guitar rewiring, especially 50’s style with switchcraft
😆👍
Loved the same pickups in different guitars comparison, both sounded great, but I think the logo on the headstock must have a psychological effect on me. Would have been interesting to hear them first without knowing which guitar they were in. Great video as always!
Colin- good info. You are a lot braver than me to take apart the guitars. I struggled installing the poker chip on my Tribute…. Keep up the good work- nice guitar work BTW.
Great series of videos Colin, really enjoyed them, learned lots of new stuff. Thanks for sharing man, stay well, take care ✌️😎✌️🎸
Cheers David! 😎👍
Great video again Colin mate. I like the Alnico's surprisingly but every time I hear those Murrays I think "yep, they're the ones".
Cheers Mark! 😎👍
Got to this one late. Excellent comparison clips as far as i'm concerned. That Tokai is awesome.
All the pickups sound good to my ear and would be happy to have any of them in a guitar I owned, but I think the brighter sounding Epiphone Alnico Classic Pros suited the Tokai the most. But as we all know everyone has different tastes so guess you get what sounds best to you and be happy there are folks like you making these great vids to help us decide. I own Epiphone and Gibson Les Pauls all sound different in their own way hence more than one. Cheers Colin.
Great video. Just what I was wanting to compare. Probuckers vs ACPs vs the Burstbuckers. A set of Gibson 57s would have been a great addition, but overall awesome!
Nice one! Murray's and brass saddle would be my top pick so far.
Because of this video, I just bought an Epiphone les Paul Standard IG Ebony to pair with my Epiphone ES335 Raspberry Tea Burst. Thanks for your efforts. Great video.
Nice one! 😁👍
I think for me, the Murry's... and the brass saddle will be cool! Thanks Colin. Have a great weekend. EPIPHONES ROCK
Your summary was spot on. The guitar, its components and the amp are a dynamic system. Your ears and hands are in the loop. And to a certain extent all of us are able to hear and not hear what we want. Obviously what music you play matters, and maybe you play with/against another guitarist. Etc. So I liked the stock Tokai pups fine after the new tailpiece and top-wrap. I could get whatever else I would need from my rig, touch and pick attack If it ain't broke... For me, the Monty's did it and the Probuckers were surprisingly nice. If one is determined to change pups. Cheers from Dallas/Fort Worth!
Cheers Ed, yes I’d say the new wiring definitely made the stock pickups more useable and they weren’t far off the others 😎👍
Wow Colin the introduction music is awesome 👌 I know it's intermittent but brilliant mate. Some of the things you do and forget in the videos makes me feel like someone has been watching me.. and then doing a replica video lol
Grabbing the wrong axe for the outro is classic! It sounded great!
Burstbucker 2 has very nice clarity and note separation on bridge, at least when using 50's wiring and 500k pots. Duncan 59 set usually works great with Tokai LP's
Enjoyed this ,great stuff ,Colin ,love your channel 👍
Cheers Steven! 😎👍
I like the Murray’s best but they all sound good to my ear.
Thanks Colin, interesting video.
Hi Collin, you are not alone, it happend to me also several times I installed the pickup ring wrong! Your video shows clearly that the "charakter" of the PU and as well all parts like bridge, tailpiece etc., must fit to the guitar and that's it! There is no good or bad! If you want to try out something really different, than try out the Fishmann classic humbuckers!
You are a lovely person with a great sense of humor! I like your videos very much!
Thanks for the kind words and support that's very much appreciated!! 🙏😊
It's the Murray's for me. Had a kind of harmonic resonance and bite that the others didn't. Sounded more vintage authentic at least to me...
Another great show. The differences were very subtle yet substantial at the same time. I sure is a matter of choice in what you want to hear. The more feel you play with as a player, the more you can get out any quality of pickup. For example, Jack Pearson who play’s with affinity strats. We just can’t keep getting bamboozled by the latest new thing and focus more on our time playing.
I agree. Don't know if you have seen Dave Simpsons channel (they've had him on Andertons).
Anyway, the guy is a Beast, and plays budget guitars like squire bullets and you'd think it was some vintage strat!
@@ceebee491 I have seen his channel. He is a beast and very to the point.
Great this little comparison series. You should try the Throbak koss paf pick ups
Love this stuff Colin, congratulations on 20k subs, 🎸✌️
🥳👍
Hi Colin! Thanks for this video! I loved watching the struggles you were having in the beginning, simply because that reminded me of something goofy I would do and I just had to laugh. I also loved watching and hearing the different Epiphone pickups. Epiphone pickups have been slagged for years as junk. But I really think since they've introduce the Alnico Classic Pro's and Probuckers, a lot of people have had to change their minds. I personally think that they are great pickups. My two main guitars (Epiphone Les Paul Studio and ES 339) both have the Alnico Classic Pro's in them. And I have to say that to my ears, my 339 is the best sounding guitar I own! I really love those pickups-so much so, I bought another set and I'm putting them into my new Epiphone 1958 Explorer. That guitar came with some older Epiphone pickups (the previous generation prior to the Alnico and Probuckers). I'm excited to hear what they add to that already awesome guitar.
Anyways-sorry for the ramble. Great video, great series, can't wait to see more!! Cheers buddy!
Don't apologise its always good to hear from you! 😆 I was pleasantly surprised to find out how well these modern Epiphone pups held up! 😎👍
@@theguitaristas They’re not super high end pickups, that’s for sure, but they’re not so bad that they need to be immediately replaced. I know a lot of people used to do that right after they bought an Epiphone. To my ears they’re very good sounding, mid-priced pickup. They’re a great alternative if you’re on a budget and want a vintage sound.
you were staring at the probucker quick-connect , and im thinking - "hmm he's gonna have trouble connecting these" as you proceed to cut the quick connector!! lol. epic moment.
There's a strat talk thread comparing the epiphone probuckers which are alnico 2 and 3 respectively and gibson's classic 57
(They are really close if not exact same) really detailed comparison
To me the BurstBuckers sounded the best of the three today. I'm sure that a huge reason, for me anyway, is because they're unpotted. The other pups don't sound bad, they're just a little stifled by the wax.
Out of all of the pups I think the Monty's take it by just a little bit over the BurstBuckers.
But after all that, that Tokai actually sounded pretty damned good stock in my opinion. If I didn't have my Epi '59 I would seriously consider getting one.
Great video as always...see ya' next Friday!!!
Cheers Joe, have a great weekend mate!
i think we are hearing only the neck picup in the video.
i love the channel !!!!!
greatings from Greece
Well done. One of the most informative episodes. I loved the 6 pick up comparison at the end. Most importantly you stated your thought Colin, it helps promote our own. I've got Gibson burstbukers in my Epi '59 so really unferstood the tone, yet I've got Pro buckers in my Epi 60s plus and the have more grit, and I prefer the tone. Now I want to try the '57s. Very stoked with there tone. Never played P90s but thinking of getting another Epi with them. Thanks again for great info and entertainment. Keep 'em coming. 🍻
Cheers man, glad it’s helpful I am getting to the stage where I’m not afraid to trust my own ears a bit more… it’s quite satisfying to discover my hearing still seems to work! 😆👍
@@theguitaristas mate I just love your channel. Opening up so much info. Helps Im around your age perhaps. Im (a youthful, full of piss an vinegar) 52. Cheers again mate. Inspiring me to check out me guitars. About to watch your SG and looping episode. 🍻
Extremely helpful. Thank you for this.
I think on my Gibson 1992 Les Paul there are the 498T and 490R pickups and in the Epiphone l mantein the stock probuckers...l can tell you that l am becoming a fan of the probuckers...l like how they sound very much,also after seeing your experiments on the Tokai...well done Colin...as Always👍👍👍🤣🤣🤣cheers
Cheers Marco! 😎👍
The Gibson vs Tokai back to back with the same pups proved to be very interesting. There is an overtone or harmonic distinction, both guitars have it, but the Gibson flourishes a bit more I think - but it's very subtle - at least through my pro audio headphones. As you mentioned, how it "feels" when playing and with amp volume and all of the other attributes is the real difference. I realized too late that I should have closed my eyes so as not to be persuaded by the logo on the headstock! There in lies... Another fine video, Colin!! Thanks for everything you are doing!! 😉👍
Thanks mate 😎👍
Everyone's going to think I'm daft for making yet another comment, but here I go. This film is a great resource for hearing the differences between these pups. I appreciate all of the work that it took to make. I just realized that my Epi SG Custom '61 has the Alnico Pro pups, and my knee jerk, pickup snob reaction was that I should put something better in it. After carefully watching and listening to this again, I realize that it's probably a waste of time. Besides, I like the way it sounds as it is. Thanks for your service to the guitar community, as daft and nerdy as we can be!
Colin, I can’t believe that you go through all this trouble swapping in and out and a seemingly endless multitude of pickups for our enjoyment and edification; good on you! I did have to chuckle, however, at the thought of you last time putting in a set of Monty’s pickups and this time saying you’ll be back next week with something completely different. Throw your flannel shirt into the mix and all I have to say is, “I’m a lumberjack, I’m ok!” 😉
😆👍
I LOVE your videos Colin, greetings from Ipswich:)
It's Friday! Thanks for a great project. For me, the addition of the Burstbuckers gets the Tokai about as close as we are going to get to the Gibson. Not quite but close. It is a Gibson after all. I think the Pro Buckers are a nice second place. I look forward to seeing some Seymour Duncans in action. My favorite is a set of '59 Blues (sh-1). Maybe they will make an appearance? Until next week, Cheers!
Cheers man, have a great weekend! 😎👍
Just got the Les Paul 61 SG from Epiphone and the Burstbuckers really have an "attitude" to them the Probuckers and Alnico Classic's kinda don't. That said, I don't think any of these pickups sound bad. Good video! Earned you a sub, been watching various videos of yours suggested to me for a few months now!
Cheers man. thanks for the sub and support! 😎👍
Several times through the video, great playing!
I had to grab the Les Paul Tribute and give it a go with the Missing Link Audio Pick Ups in.
It’s really amazing what strings and pick ups can change in tone, feel, and response.
I chuckled when you cut the connector off the pick up’s wires. 😂
Cheers Pinkie, originally that was just a minute of me ‘looking’ at a plug which I thought might test peoples patience a bit? 🤣👍
@@theguitaristas The comedy of looking at it, the slow-mo of cutting it, with the pronounced audio of the “snip” was great.
@@pinkiewerewolf 😆👍I enjoy leaving in moments like that to frustrate the tiktok generation 🤣
@@theguitaristas That makes me chuckle even more! 😂
@@pinkiewerewolf Just gave me an idea for a little extra on the subscription channel... I shall try to upload later! 😆
Great vids. I'm not sure if I'm too late to the party however I stumbled across these videos this week and since watched the Epi 335 ones as well.
I picked up a Tokai 335-type secondhand during lockdown. I assume it's a Chinese one. The tuneomatic was a bit knackered so I ended up doing some of the changes you've done on this Lock Rock and the 335 - such as the Faber ABR and stop tailpiece.
I also replaced the pickups (which weren't terrible but weren't spectacular) with some 57 low wind P.A.F. types from The Creamery in Manchester. They are really good sounding and feel great to play.
I did consider replacing the wiring and pots however all the pots felt really good to use and worked well and the switch felt like a good one in use so I left them all (I did get a tech to put the pickups in though because I wouldn't have been able to manage!).
I found these videos very well done and engaging. I quite liked the playing as well. All the best.
Cheers Paul! 😎👍
@@theguitaristas - no problems. I've watched a couple more videos and subscribed now. As a side note, I was really surprised at the quality of the Tokai I got - it really left me questioning my ability to discern what a 'good guitar' was because I picked it up so cheaply!
BRAVO...!!!
Monty's and Probuckers do it for my ears.
If going for the '57 sounds, the Murray's would be the obvious choice I think.
YES... Personally learning much as well as getting my ears tuned up 😎👍
Thanks Colin...BRILLIANT 😎👍
😎👍❤🖖
Love Brother
Cheers Richard my friend have a great weekend! 😎👍👍
Nice work Colin especially your playing, 59 tones for me maybe it matches my vintage! The Tokai is going pretty good for its price, could you show how your amp is set. Looking forward to more vids , thank you. Cheers
Cheers man, check out part two last week I show the amp settings!
Another great series of videos from you. Out of interest, did you do anything with the pickup ring holes in the body so the wood didn't get all chewed up?
Thanks man... No I didn't need to but I was a careful not to over tighten the screws.
Im getting my tokai tomorrow at last , the als68 model in tobacco burst ❤
more i listen to you ...more i am blow away by ur playing full of feeling and beautiful sound❤❤
Thanks mate that's really kind! 😊🙏
Love that tokai! You do great work. Cheers!
Cheers Chris! 😎👍
great series on this guitar, grtz from the netherlands 🇳🇱
Aloha and Mahalo Colin! Another informative video. Great job. I think I prefer the '57 sound of the Murray. As you say you can always back off the tone. But then again I wouldn't pass up on the Monties. I guess you need a gold top and a burst. At least the Epi gold top on the out take sounded good. Mahalo Colin
Cheers mate! 😎👍
Not pissing in your pocket here Col, but I think we have similar ears. My preference is a P90, so that’s the way my taste goes. Looking forward to hearing the Murray’s back in the Tokai next week. Rock on, mate.
Cheers John, nice one what a great saying and terrible vision that is! 🤣👍 thanks mate have a great weekend 😎
No real bad ones there. Just personal preference as to which you like best. But it was interesting to see that the Epiphone sets were by no measure outclassed.
Loving this series of vids on the Tokai upgrades. Does the pickup height make a difference in tone, Ive found with Strat s/c pups it can make quite a dramatic effect on tone.
Cheers Sid, yes the height of humbuckers can definitely make a difference... but like most people I often overlook that!
My goodness sir, you are going above and beyond the call. Thank you.
BTW are the Burstbuckers wax potted? I read somewhere that all Gibson pups that come stock with the guitar are potted.
Thanks!! can't wait for the rest of the videos.
No I checked in this film and they don’t seem to be. Cheers! 😎👍
The odd thing, or just what I noticed while pottering around, sometimes not watching, but listening when you did the immediate comparison of the Gibson pick ups in the Tokai, I could hear the difference & looked up to the sound I "preferred" or recognised.... you were playing the Gibson Les Paul. Overall though just on the pick up swapping comparison, the Monty's in the Tokai sounded better to my ear, but that may just be familiarity rather than better. As a child of the 60s my radio memories are Peter Green with Fleetwood Mac & then into Free in the early 70s & that darker, mellow sound. As you said, part of the Les Paul fun is in the volume & tone knobs & fidling with the amp to get what you want. All 3 of my Les Pauls require a fiddle to get the sound, you can't just plug each in & get the same result on the same setting.
Once again, Thank you Sir. Now I know one thing, I like them all!!!😁🎸🎸😁
GREAT STUFF!!!! When comparing the Gibson BB's in both guitars I feel the Tokai ended up almost spot on. The only real difference I was able to hear (which may just be my ears) is the Gibson sustained longer in the comparison.
Yes indeed... could be my pick attack though and I think fluffed the last chord! 😆👍
I thought you'd chewed throught the baseplate thread there Colin...thats why I add those little nuts, you can swap them out several times and not worry about destroying the thread because it has more purchase on the bolt plus holding the pickup more stable helps transfer vibrations.
I thought I had too!.... I can't remember if you include bolts and springs with your pups but it's worth doing as anyone replacing metric pickups will have the wrong bolts. Your system is far superior btw...must take ages to solder those little nuts on! 🙌
@@theguitaristas No I didn't include bolts because I knew you had plenty. Its easy to mount the nut you just screw it onto a bolt and then screw the bolt to the baseplate it lines itself up and you solder away then remove the bolt. It stops the pickups from wobbling in the ring too.
After several listens, the ProBuckers were consistently my favourite. For whatever reason, I liked the BurstBuckers when they were in the Gibson but not in the Tokai.
What your video shows is that Gibson's are very nice guitars and if I had the money I'd have a rack full but I havent. The great thing nowadays is that you can get close sound wise with Epiphones and Tokai's especially if you swap out pickups and for a fraction of the price. Its great really for the guitar buying public.
The Pots will give you the greatest bang for your buck. Crappy pots will make the best pickups sound thin and breathless.
@@MrYatesj1 Replaced a scratchy stock 250K no name volume pot in my 2007 Squier VM HSS strat with a new 500K CTS audio taper dish back pot. The difference in tone was unexpected and shocking. The guitar with it's DD SC-102 stacked single coil pickups before the swap sounded sterile, lifeless and ice picky, actually didn't play it much as a result. After installing the new pot the guitar came alive with so much more depth and clarity and the ice pickiness was completely gone. Huge change for the better. The 500K volume pot paired with the DD stacked single coils transformed the guitar completely. Has me wondering why Fender used a 250K pot for volume in the first place.
Listened to key passages of 2 & 3 over the last 10 days or so and I reckon my vote would go the Gibsons (v 'natural' LP vibe) then the Montys ('edgy' but 'classic'). Murrays also great but a bit ' bright / hot' for my taste - I can imagine one as a great bridge pick-up for a Tele! The Epiphones both great but a little outclassed in such esteemed company. Thanks for investing so much time into such a big (and super entertaining!) experiment! Cheers.
"This is not science, this is going to be flawed." Is the guiding principle in my life, all 55 years and so far still breathing. Great videos
Peace ✌️
Cheers Chris! 😆👍
IMO, Monty's are my favorite. I love that dirty growl that they had
I think you are correct in saying the classic pro's are brighter than the probuckers. I have classic pro's in my epi les paul and the bridge is a bit too bright for me. I need the tone knob on 7 or 8. The neck however I really like. Maybe I should consider a probucker bridge and a classic pro neck. Added bonus is no soldering 🤘
With the same pickups, the Gibson sounded slightly brighter and more dynamic than the Tokai. Both of them are within the general parameters of good Les Paul sound. I preferred the Gibson, but I the Tokai sound is how I imagine the Les Paul sound to be having played Les Pauls extensively without ever having owned or fallen in love with one. The Tokai has that kind of syrupy ooze that I imagine some players look for in a Les Paul.
Of the pickups you tried today, I really liked the Burstbuckers and Probuckers. Your final back-to-back has started to convince me of the basis for your Monty's enthusiasm. They sound great. They don't sound like P-90s to me, but they have a stringiness that I really like when I'm playing a guitar as opposed to just listening to it.
Great video Colin.
The burstbuckers have modern twist with vintage vibe. Same with the alnico classic which have brass backplates will sound different to probuckers and burstbuckers which both have nickel silver baseplate. The probuckers sound most like pafs compared to the others.
The biggest difference is due to the metals the pickups are made of, specifically the backplates and covers. Nickel silver was chosen because of its low conductivity.
You see the conductivity or a metal when in presence of a magnetic field causes eddy currents which resist or fight back the magnetic field of the pickup magnet. This results in a loss of induction which changes frequency response of a pickup.
All metals and alloys used for pickup covers have different characteristics because nickel silver was traditional used is what we think a humbucker should sound like. Now nickel silver isn't cheep brass was used as a alternative but because it has different electrical characteristics it sounds more bright where as nickel silver sounds more dark. brass isn't cheep these days either.
As you said Colin it's all subjective all the pickups in the video sound brilliant. Very good video mate.
Cheers Sionyn, that's good info and I shall do some more research... I need to know this stuff!! 😎👍
Thanks again for this great video. My personal preferences are 1st the Murray's and then the Gibson Burstbuckers. I have a feeling that the Gibson still sounds better than the Tokai with Burstbuckers. Maybe that is because of the wood, the one piece neck of the Gibson and the nitro finish. Who knows...
I am looking forward to the next episode because my Epiphone Standard LP with Seymour Duncans sounds and plays better than the Epiphone Lazarus with the Burstbuckers.
I fully agree with you. I had the same perception. My best regards.
I cringed when Colin cut the connector off of that pickup. I didn't think he'd do it but he did. Awesome stuff!
😆👍
Let me start by saying your playing is my favorite part of the video
Well done
All the pickups sounded good
I think I would be happy with all of them
Was pleasantly surprised by the epi pro pickups
I like the high end on those
Thanks that's appreciated! 🙏😊
32:55 that's the way to do it! Great stuff. Thank's!
Hi Collin,!
Thanks for your hard work you have put into this video.
It clearly demonstrates how different pickups of the same vintage
57s ,,/59s sound different in subtle way.
For me I still prefer the Monty's in the tokai.
I also love the sound of the pickups from the epiphone gold top.
As for Gibson 59 the bridge pickup suits the guitar very well witch I
Would leave it in the 59.
Thanks again Colin well done.
Im well sold on the fact that the Epiphone pups are not just "good enough" but strong contenders. I think they hold their own very nicely. Cheers sir!
Yes absolutely! and as you also just proved it's hard to tell them apart from ones that cost much more... I got them all wrong in your test Mike! 🤣🤣
Epiphone have a cool video where they trick the editor of guitarist that they're paf pickups in a blind test.
The video is on RUclips. It's s great watch.
@@SionynJones Cheers I shall check that out! 👍
I wonder how many people watching were telling you that the screws are different😆😆. What about trying a cheap set of wilkinsons in there. I put some wilkinson hot strat pickups in my squier partscaster and they sound great. Cheers Colin, as usual nice vid.
I can imagine them shouting at the screen now... 😂