Gibson 61T and 61R pickup questions:

[David Mays Photography]

Greetings,
The Gibson site says the new 2018 Gibson SG Standard T is equipped with Gibson 61T and 61R pickups. The 2017 Gibson SG Standard T says it has the 57s. Which PU is better and what are the characteristics of each????? I had 57s on an 86 3 pickup Custom so I know how they react.
How is the tone and how do the Gibson 61T and 61R pickups react?? I am trying to decide between the 2017 and the 2018 and want to be happy with the pickups. PS I am using a Marshall DSL 5C. I want to play mostly classic rock but want the rear pickup to be good for Jazz as well. Thank you all in advance.

 

[Bonzo21]

I have no idea... but I wonder if the 61t and r are just rebranded 61 zebras.... If they are, I think they are really good, but the 57s are better IMHO

 

[Biddlin]

57s and 61s and Burstbuckers and Dirty Fingers are all paf clones. I believe 57s have Alnico 2 magnets and 61s have Alnico Vs.

 

[lcw]

Dirty Fingers are super hot pickups with ceramic magnets... not paf at all

 

[David Mays Photography]

Thanks everyone who answered. Very helpful.

 

[Mbell75]

I played the 2017 and 2018 Standards back to back, bought the 2017. I much prefer the '57s for what Im doing.

 

[BOLTAGON]

I played the 2017 and 2018 Standards back to back, bought the 2017. I much prefer the '57s for what Im doing.

Were there other factors other than Pickups.?

 

[Mbell75]

Were there other factors other than Pickups.?

No, its the exact same guitar aside from the pickups

 

[Col Mustard]

Welcome to ETSG...

I've never played an SG with '61s, but lots of other members on these
boards have, and have given favorable reviews. So the consensus here on
ETSG (if there ever is one) is that these are excellent pickups. I haven't read
anyone's post who didn't like the '61s except a few who just couldn't accept
anything Gibson. I didn't think those posts made much sense.

I do own a guitar with '57s and can recommend them without reservation.
One of the best pickup sets that Gibson makes, and one of the best there is IMHO.
Alnico 2 magnets, my SG rings like a bell with them.

But what does that really mean? I play mostly clean and use an overdrive pedal
for some parts, and a chorus pedal for some. That's why the '57s suit me so
well. The clean tone is superb, and I believe the same is true for the '61s.
So if you like the idea of starting with a really accurate tone, these might be
for you. This tone is one that adapts to any style IMHO, you can add gain, add
distortion, delay, anything.

I'd say they were both medium output pickups with accurate rendition
of all the tones. Hard to beat. But not high gain. I wouldn't claim one set was
better than the other. For Jazz, I'd want the '57s. But I'm itching to try out
an instrument that has the '61s.

So I think the only way for you to know if you prefer one or the other
is to play a number of different guitars that have them, and play them through
your preferred signal chain and pedals if they'll let you. Then you can make
up your own mind.

When you do, I'd like to hear what you have to say.

 

[xscottx9]

I bought a 2018 SG Standard T. I also own a 2016 Standard with the 490R, 498T - and a 61 RI with the 57/57+.

I like the 61 pickups, and to me they sound a lot more like the 490/498. I have not done a A/B comparison with the 490/498, but I have A/B'd the 57's. The 57's sound much sweeter, warm .. a bigger low end, and a nice high end. It may be the midrange push the 57's have that give it more low end. I am aware the 498/61T on paper should have more low end .. the 57 just sound .. better? the 61's sound more modern?