Does such a pickup exist? (500T)

[jabps]

I'm looking for a pickup that has a similar kind of attack and presence as the Gibson 500T but with a more refined low end. Even with a low cutting boost, I struggle with getting amps dialed in with this pickup because the low end is just kind of an indistinct mess. However it has an attack to it that I really love in some guitars and that I have yet to really find in another pickup - and I've tried a lot.

Before anyone jumps to offer responses like the Duncan Distortion, Duncan Custom, Super Distortion, etc etc - NO. Stop that. Does not fit the bill. None of those have this same kind of really hard hitting, sharp bite to it that works really well with high gain.

Yep, same experience I have had with the 500T, love them in my Les Pauls, they're a mess in anything else. Also agree with you on the Duncans and Dimarzio's, I've yet to find one that hits like the 500T in my Les Pauls. And I pretty much hate all other Gibson bridge pickups barring the 498T which is alnico and to me it's more JBish.

Agree with @cardinal, the Tremonti pup is a more refined 500T. My two PRS's Tremonti's have the stock pickups. Actually had the 500T in one of them and many other pickups only to come full circle and realize the stock pickup was the best "for me" in that guitar.

Might want to give the Tremonti pup a go.

 

[Music&Chaos]

I have swapped out almost all my pickups with something from Planet Tone and have not been disappointed. DiMarzios, Gibson, Bareknuckle, etc.

Good luck on your hunt - a good pickup makes you want to just keep playing and playing.

They also have a pickup designer if you want to spec out something of your own.

 

[DiezelMonster]

I really like the Gibson Dirty Fingers Plus, it has similar attributes to the 500t but I found it held the bottom end together well in my Explorer and then in my Ironbird.

Both mahogany guitars. one fixed bridge and one with kahler.

 

[BrutalRob]

Instead of getting a new pickup, swap the main ceramic in the middle for an alnico 9

 

[harddriver]

Since you are asking for a high output ceramic with a more defined tighter low end but still with some high end bite....

Bill and Becky Wilde L500XL, Seymour Duncan Jupiter

If you don't like blade pickups then, all of these are big ceramic magnets: New Mighty Mite 1300(14K DCR), Vintage 1980's Seymour Duncan Seymourizer II or newer SH6N(same pickup wind as the Seymourizer II) 12.5 to 13K DCR.

 

[Clay K]

Ever try an EMG 57?

 

[Bardagh]

Ever try an EMG 57?

Yeah, I like them and I have one in a guitar currently but it doesn't do remotely the same thing.

 

[Bardagh]

Yep, same experience I have had with the 500T, love them in my Les Pauls, they're a mess in anything else. Also agree with you on the Duncans and Dimarzio's, I've yet to find one that hits like the 500T in my Les Pauls. And I pretty much hate all other Gibson bridge pickups barring the 498T which is alnico and to me it's more JBish.

Agree with @cardinal, the Tremonti pup is a more refined 500T. My two PRS's Tremonti's have the stock pickups. Actually had the 500T in one of them and many other pickups only to come full circle and realize the stock pickup was the best "for me" in that guitar.

Might want to give the Tremonti pup a go.

OK that's one I have never considered. I have never played a PRS with pickups in it I liked at least for metal, so I wouldn't have thought of it.

 

[Bardagh]

Since Scotts not winding, he's got the belt as "best pickups" heavyweight champion

Wagners are a step above dimarzios and duncans like they are, in turn, a step above your average OEM import

It's actually amazing that he hasn't jacked up the prices to Throbak, Kloppmann, or tone specific levels - and honestly, depending on the type of tone youre going for, a lot of his pickups are better than those super stupid priced ones

For example, if you wanted the classic lower output PAF tone, yeah you can't go wrong with throbaks

But if you want a hotter PAF tone? IMO godwoods shit all over throbak

And the Ironman is better at metal than anything BKP or any other "metal" booteek pup maker has ever put out, easily

There's a ton of great pickups out there, but wagner constantly gets recommended here for a reason

Tangential but if you've ever used the Wolfetone Marshallhead, how would you compare the Godwoods to them? I love the Marshallhead bridge.