Humbucker Shootout: Gibson Burstbucker 1 and 2 Vs. Classic 57s
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- Опубликовано: 6 сен 2024
- Humbucker Shootouts Take 2!
Gibson Classic 57s vs. Gibson Burstbucker 1 and 2
I'm using my 2011 les Paul R8.
Muleskinner Amps MS17 with a Paul C. Tim Overdrive always on.
G12-H30 70th Anniversary speaker.
EQ Cables.
Sennheiser 609 Mic about 4" away from the cab.
Lick 1/5: Guitar Volumes: Full
Lick 2/3: Guitar Volumes: 4
Lick 4: Guitar Volumes: 7
Classic 57s measure: 8.01k and 8.03k
Burstbucker 1 and 2 measure: 7.84k and 8.30k
Enjoy this one and more to come!
0:00 0:28
0:14 0:42
0:57 1:19
1:08 1:30
1:41 2:10
1:55 2:25
2:42 3:11
2:57 3:25
3:40 3:58
3:49 4:07
It’s great to see someone make a pickup comparison video where you feature the sound of the pickups and not effects. I think the 57’s are a little blues’er and the Burstbuckers lean more towards a rock tone. Both sound great. Thanks for the video.
Thanks for watching! Plenty more where that came from!
not at all. classic 57 are potted, balanced and a little hotter; burstsb are unpotted, unbalanced and lower output. Nothing to do with bluesier vs rock tone.
SHORT VERSION:
In my experience with just these two sets of humbuckers, it's a relatively easy decision for me - even if it's a "split decision": I *MUCH* prefer the 57 Classic neck, and *MUCH* prefer the Burstbucker bridge.
There's your "tl;dr". I'll reply-to-self with a *MUCH* longer [optional reading] "long version". :-)
LONG VERSION [optional reading]:
Though I do not consider myself even remotely close to being an expert here, my "101-level" understanding of the major functional difference here is that the bobbins on the 57s are "symetrically wound" (same amount of winding on both bobbins) while the Burstbuckers are "asymetrically wound" (meaning differing amounts of winding between the bobbins, with the greater winding, I believe, existing on the outermost [screw-side) bobbin in both cases). My understanding is that this gives the BBs a more "complex" sound, where it gives the 57s a more "pure" sound.
To my ears, though, while the complexity / simplicity divide is universal between both neck and bridge between the two sets, what's not universal to me is whether the simplicity / complexity does the pickup any favors. In the case of the neck, I feel the "purity" of the 57 results in clean, clear, warm, articulate tones, where the "complexity" of the BB just garbles it, resulting in an unpleasant "marbles in the mouth" effect. However, the complexity of the bridge, even in clean tones, but especially in overdriven tones results in something more like "the snarl of a great beast", meaty, nuanced, multilayered, and pleasantly menacing, where the simplicity of the 57 results in something more like "the yip of a really angry, really small dog". To my ears, it's unpleasantly sharp, and biting, and very one-dimensional. If you bury it under enough intense overdrive, to the point where you're hearing the effects pedal more than the guitar, then the 57 is serviceable, and strong enough chorus effects can make it pleasant as well, but otherwise, I'm not really a big fan of it.
So, in a hypothetical world where BBs and 57s are the world's ONLY pickup choices, the ideal configuration to me would be a 57 neck and a BB bridge. In 2010 or so, I had the stock 2-conductor BB Vs in my 2008 Gibby LP Studio Vintage Mahoganny replaced with 57 classic neck and 57 plus bridge [both modified to be 4-conductor] along with the stock electronics being replaced with [so-called] "Jimmy Page mod" electronics, so split, phase, series/parallel - each pot a push-pull. Had I to do it over again, the only thing I'd do differently would be to have gone with a BB 2 in the bridge.
I'm sure that if I waded into the world of 3rd party boutique pickups, then not only would I get even higher sound quality and definitely a whole range of additional choices and in-betweens and "now for something completely different"s, but that road becomes a) choice paralysis, and b) not "purely Gibson" anymore. So I don't know if I'm ready to go down that road. Hell, even just adding the 490/498/496/500s of the world into the mix makes things a little over-complicated for me, as I think I like the 490R even better than the 57 neck, and the 490/498/500T even less than the 57 bridge.
But, I am thinking very seriously about picking up an SG (at least an Epi, if not even a Gibby), plus I have a super cheap, off-brand ES335 knock-off (Firefly) as well as an Indonesian Ibanez Artcore jazzbox hollowbody that could each use upgraded pickups, and so the question suddenly leaves the realm of the "academic" for the "acutely practical" - and I have very little idea what to do! Gaaaah! :-D
57 + for the bridge is the way to go
Neck 0:01, 0:28
Bridge 0:14, 0:42
This is why you can never have too many guitars. 😁
I know! Lol
bb1 on the neck, 57 classic on the bridge!
I just removed my classic 57,s and fitted 13 year old aged bbs. They definitely have more bite. Still love the sound of the 57,s great video
BB's has offset coils and 57's balanced and this is good demo of that to show peoples the differences about it. You can hear how BB's are brighter and 57's very balanced sounding.
I think that's exactly right and a good description. Thanks!
For neck bb1 covered, bridge 57+ uncovered, thanks for the video, helped a lot in my decision.
That’s the goal! Cheers! Hope you subscribe!
I believe you are 100% correct, but my OCD would have a hard time dealing with that(initially). It’s probably inevitable as the sound is the most important thing and my OCD can’t get past that either
@@The11eleven For 20 years I had a JB uncovered in the bridge and a 57 covered in the neck, always had a bit of OCD with it, after 20 years I changed the bridge to a 498t covered so they were both the same, I had that a couple of years until recently decided I prefer the sound of the uncovered JB in the bridge so I went back to that, now i love it even visually as it is the same as many of the greatest guitarrists (Page Les Paul, Adam Jones Les Paul and many others) and also looks like it has personality, like you know what you want and customized to that.
By the way I now much prefer the natural sound of the 57 in the neck to the compressed muffled BB1, BUT I discovered that wiring the neck 50s style (not the bridge, only neck) opens the 57 gives a bit of extre clarity and makes it outstanding with the volume pot just a bit down.
@@zaldum386 dude, thank you for this response! I’m definitely gonna take note of this. I’m going to be adjusting the heights and poles on the BB that came on my 2022 classic first. Not as happy with these as I have been with 3 classics I’ve had over the last ten years, or even the 490/498 combo on a traditional, or basics on a tribute that were also owned over the last ten years. I don’t remember being this disappointed in whatever PUPs that came on my LP standard from 2001. Again, thank you for the info
From what I have read the only difference between these is that the 1 & 2 burstbuckers have the slug coils wound hotter than the screw coil and the 57 are wound even.
0:00 Burstbucker 1
0:28 Classic 57s neck
0:13 Burstbucker 2
0:42 Classic 57s bridge
0:57 Burstbucker 1
1:18 Classic 57s neck
1:08 Burstbucker 2
1:29 Classic 57s bridge
1:41 Burstbucker 1
2:10 Classic 57s neck
1:54 Burstbucker 2
2:25 Classic 57s bridge
2:42 Burstbucker 1
3:11 Classic 57s neck
2:55 Burstbucker 2
3:40 Burstbucker 1
3:58 Classic 57s neck
3:49 Burstbucker 2
4:07 Classic 57s bridge
Neck bb1, bridge 57.
Nice
I love the sweet, mellow, dark sound of the '57 Classic, but in this video the Burstbuckers are a little brighter...
Cheers!
I liked the Burstbuckers 1 & 2 over the 57's. Funny I thought I would like the 57's. The Burstbuckers sounded more clearer.
Great video. Made me decide to stay with BBs. Cheers!
Loved the sound of BB 1 and 2 in my std 50s les paul. Unfortunately that microphonic feedback was brutal. I swapped them for pros but they’re a bit muddy. 57 classics may be be the answer I’m looking for.
I never cared much for pros either. They’re a bit muddy and sharp at the same time. 57 classics are great.
Call me crazy but I like the 57 in the neck and burstbuker in the bridge
I have a 2012 LP traditional in ebony loaded with 57 Classic neck and 57 Classic plus bridge as well as a 2019 LP Traditional in tobacco burst, and I have to tell you, the output of the Burstbuckers are higher than the 57s. Burstbucker 1 and 2 output are 7.7 neck and 8.2 bridge and 57 Classic neck is only 7.58 while Classic Plus bridge is 7.98. Thought that was interesting. Was always under the impression that 57s were hotter.
Thanks for the input and watching
Classic 57s all the way
Every type of them is very special and they both are perfect.
57
I so love the vintage sound of PAFs, and true vintage have an uneven number of windings, so Burstbuckers are truer to real vintage, but honestly, I prefer the sound of the 57s. So, I suppose.... I don't?
🤘
To my ears, the BBs have a little more clarity in the mids and top end.
Right on
57s have higher sustain due to its deeper rich tones. Cracking that pickup with high gain and volume gives such a deep crunch that makes you skip a heartbeat
Tough call. 57s are smooth and warm. Tho The BB's have that top end shimmer i dig. What say you Pickup whisperer?
Think i’ll take the BB here. But, I’d prefer a BB that isn’t potted.
They both sound great. I prefer the more modern hotter pickups like the BB in my 50s gold top. I’ll hit the -6db low input on my amp if I want a more mellow sound.
Nice approach! Thanks for watching
I have an LP with Burst Buckers and was wondering if the '57s we're very different. This was extremely helpful. Thank you.
Thanks for watching! Hope you subscribe!
Nice Demo. . Would have loved to have heard the Middle Positions.
Jimmy Page is my favourite Les Paul Player and he spent most of his time in the "middle Slot" ( certainly live)
This 57's are a little hot side... My 2016 aftermarket 57's are 7.5 neck and 7.6 bridge...
I also prefer BB's that are not potted
Cheers!
Really useful video - you can hear the tone difference for sure. For me burstbuckers are the ones for a Les Paul. I have the bursts on my standard and 57's on my SG but thinking about going full burst.
Goad you find it helpful. I think it really depends on the guitar after trying something like 150. Lol
100%. Burst buckers are brighter and 57 are fuller and mellower (potted pu with higher output and balanced coils). BB are more suited for a a huge and dark mahogany block (aka les paul) and 57 for semi hollows (eg 335).
Both sound great but I can't hear any difference
The only difference is that the Presence of the Burstbucker is slightly better. Other than that. No significant change. Just 10$ difference.
burstbucker sound a tad duller, in the neck think I´d take the 57
Thanks for watching!
I'm assuming that's the same guitar with the pickups changed. Otherwise all bets off. I've had both in various guitars. My R8 still has original BB's, Br-7.9k Nk-7.4k varies with air temp. Personally I think these are probably the closest to what PAF's (in general as they varied alot) sounded like new. Seth's spec's were Cl-57's but reality came out like BB's. In this comparison the BB's sounded more complex, 57's kinda blah. Now also BB's bought from Gibby are not potted but when put in CS re-issues were potted, all 57's are. Originals no. Gibson say's 57's are built to original specs but they wax pot them so? Now if tightly wound won't make as much diff as loosely with no wax. The 57/08's in my Sunburst 22 PRS are heavily potted and sound great so, lotsa variables, no diffinitive conclusions. My 335 has Shaw's at about 7.2k for both no wax, sound great. I use mostly just a lightly overdriven tone, Very low setting on HR 50+ for some leads and no feedback issues with any. Any issues I've had were from loose covers over the tops of the coils.
Its the same guitar, same amp, same settings, same recording settings, same mic, same everything other than right hand.
@@VisualGuy Cool, Thanks
Love these comparison vids mate, appreciate all the work you have put in. I have the same 2011 R8 still completely stock, are the BB’s potted?
These are, but your R8’s are likely not. According to the internets, Gibson makes them in diff ways. Mine that were in my 2010 R8 weren’t but the sets they put in standard USA models are.
According to the pickup chart on Gibson's website (easily found online) all of their pickups except burstbuckers are wax potted.
There’s a reason Tom Holmes became famous among guitar nerds. He knows how to design a good pickup. The 57 classics, which he helped design, are fantastic.
Classic 57 is higher gain
Cool
Burst 57 wins
Man i Got.studio with 489t im the Bridge and 57 im the neck,Sounds much better then this standard..you gitara change that overdrive ..intro Sounds so bad
And some luthieru did crazy goldtop pinstripe finish so its the Nest studio ever
I’m sure your studio sounds great to you. I bet it sounds like crap to me. Tone is subjective! Cheers and thanks for watching!
Burstbuckers all the way! 57’ = boring
0:00 0:14 0:28 0:42 0:57 1:08
1:19 1:30 1:40 1:55 2:10 2:25
2:42 2:56 3:11 3:25 3:40 3:49
3:58 4:07