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?