Best 'Classic Rock' Replacement Bridge Pickup for SG Standard?

DeterOblix · Aug 10, 2025

I recently purchased a 2011 Gibson SG Standard with original 490r / 498t pickups. I actually like the 490r in the Neck. So, that's staying. I'm mostly a late 60's & 70s Rock & Roll music type player - some '80s rock too. Mostly rock n' roll, melodic rhythm bands with some swing in their rock grooves, eg: Skynyrd, Zeppelin, Wings, Journey, Stones, Boston, etc. Looking for your opinion on replacing the bridge pickup. I play through a few amps Marshall Origin 20, Fender 68 Silverface Deluxe Reverb and Princeton (w/ 12" speaker). I'm thinking:

Seymour Duncan - Pearly Gates
Seymour Duncan - Seth Lover
Lindy Fralin - Pure PAF
Gibson - '57 Classic Plus
Gibson - Burstbucker Type 1 or Type 2
Gibson - 60's Burstbucker (new-ish type of pickup from Gibson, I believe?)

thanks in advance.

flognoth · Aug 10, 2025

For what's worth, I'd probably go with either a pickup not mentioned: Lollar Imperial, possibly high wind, or the '57 Classic.

billjr · Aug 10, 2025

DeterOblix said:
I recently purchased a 2011 Gibson SG Standard with original 490r / 498t pickups. I actually like the 490r in the Neck. So, that's staying. I'm mostly a late 60's & 70s Rock & Roll music type player - some '80s rock too. Mostly rock n' roll, melodic rhythm bands with some swing in their rock grooves, eg: Skynyrd, Zeppelin, Wings, Journey, Stones, Boston, etc. Looking for your opinion on replacing the bridge pickup. I play through a few amps Marshall Origin 20, Fender 68 Silverface Deluxe Reverb and Princeton (w/ 12" speaker). I'm thinking:

Seymour Duncan - Pearly Gates
Seymour Duncan - Seth Lover
Lindy Fralin - Pure PAF
Gibson - '57 Classic Plus
Gibson - Burstbucker Type 1 or Type 2
Gibson - 60's Burstbucker (new-ish type of pickup from Gibson, I believe?)

thanks in advance.

Porter pickups anthem paf set are the best humbucking paf style pickups ive ever used. You can find them cheaper than most seymours. I have 2 pairs and if I ever need another set ill be buying them again

DeterOblix · Aug 10, 2025

billjr said:
Porter pickups anthem paf set are the best humbucking paf style pickups ive ever used. You can find them cheaper than most seymours. I have 2 pairs and if I ever need another set ill be buying them again

You just made me remember that I'm on Porter's email list. I get their emails every so often. Thanks for the reminder, I'll check them out.

Derald · Aug 11, 2025

The pickups you have will cover all those tones if you roll the volume back a little.
The pickups you mentioned are all pretty much the same - moderate wind alnico 2 which will get you the tone you want.
Unless you have a very specific tone you want or a certain budget, you could pick any of those pickups, spend some time dialing your amps in, and cover any 60-70-80s rock tone.
The stock 498 will get you those tones plus the added benefit of being hotter than typical PAF pick ups allowing you to have your low gain and high gain sound with a turn of your volume pot.
I did all the tone searching and spending hundreds or thousands of dollars.
That tone search is part of the fun.
But if you’re just looking to get in the ball park, the stock pickups will work for you.
If you want to change the bridge then even the Gibson 490T will work, and they’re cheap.
Tone Rider Birmingham pickup set is cheap too and that will also get you in the ball park of the tone you’re looking for. This is my non-Gibson go to.
My Gibson go to is a classic 57 plus or Super 57 in the bridge and a Gibson 490 with an alnico 5 magnet in the neck.

TwinACStacks · Aug 11, 2025

DeterOblix said:
I recently purchased a 2011 Gibson SG Standard with original 490r / 498t pickups. I actually like the 490r in the Neck. So, that's staying. I'm mostly a late 60's & 70s Rock & Roll music type player - some '80s rock too. Mostly rock n' roll, melodic rhythm bands with some swing in their rock grooves, eg: Skynyrd, Zeppelin, Wings, Journey, Stones, Boston, etc. Looking for your opinion on replacing the bridge pickup. I play through a few amps Marshall Origin 20, Fender 68 Silverface Deluxe Reverb and Princeton (w/ 12" speaker). I'm thinking:

Seymour Duncan - Pearly Gates
Seymour Duncan - Seth Lover
Lindy Fralin - Pure PAF
Gibson - '57 Classic Plus
Gibson - Burstbucker Type 1 or Type 2
Gibson - 60's Burstbucker (new-ish type of pickup from Gibson, I believe?)

thanks in advance.

Give the DMT Mountain of tone a try.

DeterOblix said:
I recently purchased a 2011 Gibson SG Standard with original 490r / 498t pickups. I actually like the 490r in the Neck. So, that's staying. I'm mostly a late 60's & 70s Rock & Roll music type player - some '80s rock too. Mostly rock n' roll, melodic rhythm bands with some swing in their rock grooves, eg: Skynyrd, Zeppelin, Wings, Journey, Stones, Boston, etc. Looking for your opinion on replacing the bridge pickup. I play through a few amps Marshall Origin 20, Fender 68 Silverface Deluxe Reverb and Princeton (w/ 12" speaker). I'm thinking:

Seymour Duncan - Pearly Gates
Seymour Duncan - Seth Lover
Lindy Fralin - Pure PAF
Gibson - '57 Classic Plus
Gibson - Burstbucker Type 1 or Type 2
Gibson - 60's Burstbucker (new-ish type of pickup from Gibson, I believe?)

thanks in advance.

Give the DMT mountain of tone a try.

DeterOblix · Aug 11, 2025

Derald said:
The pickups you have will cover all those tones if you roll the volume back a little.
The pickups you mentioned are all pretty much the same - moderate wind alnico 2 which will get you the tone you want.
Unless you have a very specific tone you want or a certain budget, you could pick any of those pickups, spend some time dialing your amps in, and cover any 60-70-80s rock tone.
The stock 498 will get you those tones plus the added benefit of being hotter than typical PAF pick ups allowing you to have your low gain and high gain sound with a turn of your volume pot.
I did all the tone searching and spending hundreds or thousands of dollars.
That tone search is part of the fun.
But if you’re just looking to get in the ball park, the stock pickups will work for you.
If you want to change the bridge then even the Gibson 490T will work, and they’re cheap.
Tone Rider Birmingham pickup set is cheap too and that will also get you in the ball park of the tone you’re looking for. This is my non-Gibson go to.
My Gibson go to is a classic 57 plus or Super 57 in the bridge and a Gibson 490 with an alnico 5 magnet in the neck.

Thanks Derald for the great insight and recommendations. I have been getting more and more used to finding good tone by rolling back the volume on the v pot using the 498t as I continue to experiment.

skelt101 · Aug 11, 2025

DeterOblix said:
I recently purchased a 2011 Gibson SG Standard with original 490r / 498t pickups. I actually like the 490r in the Neck. So, that's staying. I'm mostly a late 60's & 70s Rock & Roll music type player - some '80s rock too. Mostly rock n' roll, melodic rhythm bands with some swing in their rock grooves, eg: Skynyrd, Zeppelin, Wings, Journey, Stones, Boston, etc. Looking for your opinion on replacing the bridge pickup. I play through a few amps Marshall Origin 20, Fender 68 Silverface Deluxe Reverb and Princeton (w/ 12" speaker). I'm thinking:

Seymour Duncan - Pearly Gates
Seymour Duncan - Seth Lover
Lindy Fralin - Pure PAF
Gibson - '57 Classic Plus
Gibson - Burstbucker Type 1 or Type 2
Gibson - 60's Burstbucker (new-ish type of pickup from Gibson, I believe?)

thanks in advance.

What do you not like about the 498T and what direction are you looking to go by making a change?

DeterOblix · Aug 11, 2025

I find for classic rock tone, if I decide I need way more gain, it's easier to make a PAF like pickup (like the ones I listed above) sound like heavier metal when I need it, but taking a naturally heavier trebly / gainy type pickup down is a bit more work to get just right :-). But hey, it's probably my own mental-ish issues when it comes to tone.

spsg · Aug 11, 2025

Most if not all classic rock from the late 60s into the 70s was with real PAF pickups, that includes black Sabbath. I believe Tony Iommi was using P-90s in his early SG. Pete Townshend used them with his SG special during the live at Leeds era.. Back then the overwound had not been invented, that was more on 80s thing. ACDC ( Angus) is straight into the Marshalls with a PAF sg.
A 490T or another R in the bridge will do it nicely.

bgreed2 · Aug 11, 2025

I think the pickups already in the guitar will suffice for the music you're doing. The variation in tone from song to song means you'll need to have a variety of pedals at your command. Your choice of pedals and amplification will make a greater difference.

JMMP · Tuesday at 12:46 AM

DeterOblix said:
I recently purchased a 2011 Gibson SG Standard with original 490r / 498t pickups. I actually like the 490r in the Neck. So, that's staying. I'm mostly a late 60's & 70s Rock & Roll music type player - some '80s rock too. Mostly rock n' roll, melodic rhythm bands with some swing in their rock grooves, eg: Skynyrd, Zeppelin, Wings, Journey, Stones, Boston, etc. Looking for your opinion on replacing the bridge pickup. I play through a few amps Marshall Origin 20, Fender 68 Silverface Deluxe Reverb and Princeton (w/ 12" speaker). I'm thinking:

Seymour Duncan - Pearly Gates
Seymour Duncan - Seth Lover
Lindy Fralin - Pure PAF
Gibson - '57 Classic Plus
Gibson - Burstbucker Type 1 or Type 2
Gibson - 60's Burstbucker (new-ish type of pickup from Gibson, I believe?)

thanks in advance.

I put an alnico II magnet in the 498t, tamed the harshness and it became one of my favorite pickup.

plankton · Tuesday at 6:49 PM

spsg said:
Most if not all classic rock from the late 60s into the 70s was with real PAF pickups, that includes black Sabbath. I believe Tony Iommi was using P-90s in his early SG. Pete Townshend used them with his SG special during the live at Leeds era.. Back then the overwound had not been invented, that was more on 80s thing. ACDC ( Angus) is straight into the Marshalls with a PAF sg.
A 490T or another R in the bridge will do it nicely.

Do you know that PAFs and P90s are different things?

Tony and Pete had P90s in their SG Specials, later Tony went to custom pickups.

I believe Angus' guitars had T-tops in them initially.

plankton · Tuesday at 6:52 PM

I can highly recommend Tonerider pickups. I have used several of their humbucker models. You seem to be leaning towards the A2 sound, check out their Classic Alnico 2 model, I have one in the bridge position of an SG and it's fantastic! Their Birmingham pickup might be good too, A5 and a little overwound.

PermissionToLand · Tuesday at 7:42 PM

DeterOblix said:
I recently purchased a 2011 Gibson SG Standard with original 490r / 498t pickups. I actually like the 490r in the Neck. So, that's staying. I'm mostly a late 60's & 70s Rock & Roll music type player - some '80s rock too. Mostly rock n' roll, melodic rhythm bands with some swing in their rock grooves, eg: Skynyrd, Zeppelin, Wings, Journey, Stones, Boston, etc. Looking for your opinion on replacing the bridge pickup. I play through a few amps Marshall Origin 20, Fender 68 Silverface Deluxe Reverb and Princeton (w/ 12" speaker). I'm thinking:

Seymour Duncan - Pearly Gates
Seymour Duncan - Seth Lover
Lindy Fralin - Pure PAF
Gibson - '57 Classic Plus
Gibson - Burstbucker Type 1 or Type 2
Gibson - 60's Burstbucker (new-ish type of pickup from Gibson, I believe?)

thanks in advance.

If you want a more medium output PAF style pickup, don't for for the '57 Classic Plus, it's the hotter version of the '57 Classic.

The Burstbucker and '57 Classic are alinoc II, which is a warmer, more mid-heavy tone. Between the two, it's hard to say the difference. I tend to think of the '57 Classic as more smooth, very similar to a SD Alnico II Pro. The Burstbucker is a little more dynamic with a slight single-coil tonality because the coils are unbalanced, so one becomes slightly dominant over the other.

The '60s Burstbucker is alnico V, which is brighter and more trebley (think Bon-era AC/DC or Zeppelin).

Though I've never played one, the Custombucker is a really cool option as well. Alnico III splits the difference in characteristics. I have played an Ibanez Super 58 which was alnico III and really loved it though.

Derald said:
The pickups you have will cover all those tones if you roll the volume back a little.
The pickups you mentioned are all pretty much the same - moderate wind alnico 2 which will get you the tone you want.
Unless you have a very specific tone you want or a certain budget, you could pick any of those pickups, spend some time dialing your amps in, and cover any 60-70-80s rock tone.
The stock 498 will get you those tones plus the added benefit of being hotter than typical PAF pick ups allowing you to have your low gain and high gain sound with a turn of your volume pot.

The 498T is one of GIbson's worst pickups IMO and not fitting at all for classic rock. It's a metalhead style pickup; stupidly high output. It never made sense to use in the Standard and eventually they seem to have realized that and replaced it with the 490T.

Dialing back a pickup that's too hot just never sounds the same as a pickup with the right output from the start.

Also, if you don't have a treble bleed mod, rolling back the volume will significantly alter your tone.

rshack · Wednesday at 8:42 AM

If it were me, I'd replace the 498t with a 490t (the PAF-y match for the 490r). That'll give you quality, vintage-y clean tones for cheap... then use knobs and pedals to add the desired kind and amount of extra oomph.

The core idea is that you can use pedals to drive a clean tone into almost any flavor of dirt easily and quite well, but you can't do the opposite.

Disclaimers... my personal biases are:
1. As a veteran of several pickup swaps, I expect most "upgrades" to produce underwhelming improvement. The most fun comes before the upgrade, from looking forward to a remarkable improvement that doesn't show up, figuring out which pups to spend too much money on, etc, etc. ;-)

2. I've become a believer in (1) getting pickup height correct (low for almost everything, but high for P90's & Jazzmasters) and then (2) making far better use of the Vol and Tone controls than I ever used to do. If anything gets upgraded, it's the pots and wires before buying any pups.

3, My theory is that we hear a lot more about upgrading pickups because an entire industry is working hard to sell them, while nobody gets rich from folks simply mastering their own instrument.

4. My personal policy: make sure I'm happy with clean pickups thru a clean amp because that's the best starting point for everything else I care about. Then knobs and pedals let me do everything else, including moving easily among various versions of everything else.

5. I like 490t's way better than 498t's. Dialing back the 498t to 7 can work OK, I just don't like the thing, that's all. But that might be irrational on my part :-)

rshack · Wednesday at 9:10 AM

PermissionToLand said:
The 498T is one of GIbson's worst pickups IMO and not fitting at all for classic rock. It's a metalhead style pickup; stupidly high output. It never made sense to use in the Standard and eventually they seem to have realized that and replaced it with the 490T.

Dialing back a pickup that's too hot just never sounds the same as a pickup with the right output from the start.

Also, if you don't have a treble bleed mod, rolling back the volume will significantly alter your tone.

Nitpicking (sorry)... but IIRC, the 490t and 498t came out at the same time (more or less). But I otherwise agree with what you've said, including your disdain for the 498t ;-)

I expect a 490r/490t pair deserves either 50's wiring or a trable bleed (but not both)... I'm not sure which is best for that pair...

Wise Guy · Wednesday at 12:01 PM

I gravitate towards Gibsons' 496R/500T set for all that type of music. With volume taper pots and orange drop caps, they're really versatile.

skelt101 · Wednesday at 12:04 PM

rshack said:
Nitpicking (sorry)... but IIRC, the 490t and 498t came out at the same time (more or less). But I otherwise agree with what you've said, including your disdain for the 498t ;-)

I expect a 490r/490t pair deserves either 50's wiring or a trable bleed (but not both)... I'm not sure which is best for that pair...

I read the post from @PermissionToLand as Gibson started installing the (already existing) 490T in the bridge position due to customer feedback.

rshack · Wednesday at 8:54 PM

skelt101 said:
I read the post from @PermissionToLand as Gibson started installing the (already existing) 490T in the bridge position due to customer feedback.

I agree that that's what he wrote. I think that one tidbit is incorrect, that's all. But fortunately it doesn't really matter ;-)

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