Neck pickup

[nopicknick]

Let’s say I wanted a brighter neck humbucker than my 490r, but wanted to stay with a Gibson pickup. What is considered Gibson brighter neck humbucker….or do I already have it

 

[DrBGood]

Have you tried lowering it lower than the plastic ring, or flush to the pickguard if you have s full guard, then slowly bring it up to find its sweet spot ?

For neck pups in general, low will give it definition, clarity.

 

[RGX_Custom]

Also if you want your neck pickup brighter...use 500k volume pots instead of the Gibson 300k pots which will let the sound out more of your 490R pickup.

 

[nopicknick]

I apologize for not wording my post more accurately. I’m not dissatisfied with the 490r. My question should have been is there a Gibson neck pickup that is generally considered brighter than the other offerings?

Why I ask is I never use a pick. So some pickups can be a tab bass heavy with just my fingers. I appreciate your input and suggestions.

 

[Rusty Chops]

I’d be tempted to try 57 classic, which you can get with the plug-in end (my SG Standard has circuit board).
Or Burstbucker 1.

 

[skelt101]

I've had pretty good luck with the lower output Burstbuckers. Currently have a Burstbucker 2 in the neck position of a Les Paul. However, the magnet has been changed to an alnico 3. The Custombuckers are supposed to be pretty nice, if you want to fork over the big bucks...

 

[DrBGood]

Why I ask is I never use a pick. So some pickups can be a tab bass heavy with just my fingers. I appreciate your input and suggestions.

Makes sense, but even with no bass at all on your amp's EQ ?

 

[Decadent Dan]

Also if you want your neck pickup brighter...use 500k volume pots instead of the Gibson 300k pots which will let the sound out more of your 490R pickup.

My last 2 Gibsons had 500k from the factory

 

[Decadent Dan]

I apologize for not wording my post more accurately. I’m not dissatisfied with the 490r. My question should have been is there a Gibson neck pickup that is generally considered brighter than the other offerings?

Why I ask is I never use a pick. So some pickups can be a tab bass heavy with just my fingers. I appreciate your input and suggestions.

The 490R has an A2 magnet. Something with an A3 or A5 would sound brighter.

 

[skelt101]

My last 2 Gibsons had 500k from the factory

Yep. The SG Wiki page says the SG Standard has been using 500k pots for Volume and Tone since 2014...

 

[Decadent Dan]

I apologize for not wording my post more accurately. I’m not dissatisfied with the 490r. My question should have been is there a Gibson neck pickup that is generally considered brighter than the other offerings?

Why I ask is I never use a pick. So some pickups can be a tab bass heavy with just my fingers. I appreciate your input and suggestions.

Another idea, try brighter strings on that particular guitar.

 

[Col Mustard]

Rather than shelling out dollars for new pickups, and performing surgery on
a perfectly good guitar, I would FIRST use the little screws that Gibson supplies us with.

If the 490 sounds too woofy, lower the bass side a quarter turn at a time
play it and listen. Or raise the treble side in the same careful way.
If individual strings seem too dominant or too recessive in the tone,
their pole pieces can be raised or lowered.

Play it and listen. Also, old dead strings lose their high frequency range as
well as their ability to stay in tune. if your guitar sounds like it needs to be
brighter, that's how you know it's time to replace strings. If you can't remember
how old your strings are, they are too old.

We see many posts where players attempt to analyze the tone of their guitar
or their hardware without considering the age of the strings.
Old strings are also prone to breakage as well as dead sounding.

It's a simplistic answer, but it's also Step #1, before surgery.
And it's easy, cheaper, more practical and it needs to be done regularly.

 

[nopicknick]

Rather than shelling out dollars for new pickups, and performing surgery on
a perfectly good guitar, I would FIRST use the little screws that Gibson supplies us with.

If the 490 sounds too woofy, lower the bass side a quarter turn at a time
play it and listen. Or raise the treble side in the same careful way.
If individual strings seem too dominant or too recessive in the tone,
their pole pieces can be raised or lowered.

Play it and listen. Also, old dead strings lose their high frequency range as
well as their ability to stay in tune. if your guitar sounds like it needs to be
brighter, that's how you know it's time to replace strings. If you can't remember
how old your strings are, they are too old.

We see many posts where players attempt to analyze the tone of their guitar
or their hardware without considering the age of the strings.
Old strings are also prone to breakage as well as dead sounding.

It's a simplistic answer, but it's also Step #1, before surgery.
And it's easy, cheaper, more practical and it needs to be done regularly.

I appreciate the long and thoughtful response, but I’m not planning on changing pickups anytime soon. If at all for that matter. Just curious what folks consider to be Gibson’s brighter neck pickup.

 

[DrBGood]

I appreciate the long and thoughtful response, but I’m not planning on changing pickups anytime soon. If at all for that matter. Just curious what folks consider to be Gibson’s brighter neck pickup.

I guess we didn't get that you don't want to replace the 490 :)

 

[SGBreadfan]

If I’m using a darker neck pup, I tend to pick closer to the bridge to add some definition/brightness.

 

[ichocobo]

57 classic, if you want something affordable and from gibson. Pearly Gates from Seymour Duncan if you want to step up a little bit. Maybe one of those humbucker sized P-90s? SD Phat cat has good reviews, but I haven't tried them...

But if you just want just more treble bite first try any or all of the sugestions about lowering the pickup, raise pole pieces, 500k pots, get new strings... and I'll add, some amp loop fx EQ!!!
All of them can get you there if you're already happy with the current pickup's sound.

 

[ichocobo]

.
(how the f*** can I delete this reply???)

 

[hippielovegod]

Let’s say I wanted a brighter neck humbucker than my 490r, but wanted to stay with a Gibson pickup. What is considered Gibson brighter neck humbucker….or do I already have it

Try the Gibson 57 Humbucker…they have really nice upper partial resolution….with the 57 PAF which I have in the neck of my 61 SG LP(the original was a bit anemic)Gibson created an amazing pickup. Combined with the original Pat No PAF there is really no difference. As did Seymour Duncan with the SH1 which is the best after market version of the real thing, along with the Lollar Imperial….I have tried and still use various brands, also Holmes,Amalfitano,Throbak,DiMarzio,Kloppmann,Arcane,Häussel, they sound good in their respective guitars.But my fave PAF sound has to be my 2023 PRS DGT. That guitar is like a Strat,Tele,Les Paul,335 in one package.

 

[Maguchi]

Let’s say I wanted a brighter neck humbucker than my 490r, but wanted to stay with a Gibson pickup. What is considered Gibson brighter neck humbucker….or do I already have it

Let me be the 1st one to say you "already have it." I have the 490R in the neck position of both of my Gibson LP Special Tributes and I do a lot of fingerpicking and hybrid picking. The 490R when setup properly to me is plenty bright and clear enough on the 2 LP Spcl. Tributes I got.

 

[zachspecial]

Let me be the 1st one to say you "already have it." I have the 490R in the neck position of both of my Gibson LP Special Tributes and I do a lot of fingerpicking and hybrid picking. The 490R when setup properly to me is plenty bright and clear enough on the 2 LP Spcl. Tributes I got.

View attachment 55640

just wondering, why do you have 2 guitars that are identical other than color. is there differences under the hood we can't see. not trying to criticize just genuinely curious.