Gibson '57 Classic Plus

Pickup features: humbucking
Impedence or other specs: 8.5 to 9.0 k

Model of guitar or bass: tested in 81 335dot and 95 les paul std
Position: bridge
Pickup being replaced: stock junk (dot heritage reissue pu's )
Other pickups on guitar: neck position 57 classic 8.0k both guitars
Artists using this pickup: who cares really,
You musical style(s): classic rock, play in a top 40 classic rock cover band
Reason for pickup change: stock pickups were dull muddy and lifeless
the guitars played great and intonated well and rang well unplugged so
a little sonic experimentation was in order
further last year i purchased a new 335 dot reissue
which came stock with 57 classics and sounded extrordinary

also note that
the standard les paul 300k volume pots
and the 335 300k volume pots and 100k (yep thats right) were replaced as well
"correct value for gibson volume pots is 500k, so why don't the guitars come with them???)
the lindy fralin was purchased based on rave reviews in a recent issue of vintage guitar
where testers prefered it to a real PAF and early patent # pickup

Perceived output level: stock PAF type output
Tone: wider frequency response than non paf type pickups of simmilar specs, more bass, more smooth treble, and most noticeably vast amounts of sustain
Sonic evaluation: tested the pickups, and a b'd them using
a 62 princeton, and a 59 tweed bassman, i also ran both thru a boss distortion pedal into the princeton
i have used the 57 plus (which has been in my main guitar for 6 months thru every possible set up)
the big news here is that the fralin and the gibson classic plus were almost indestinguishable ... the fralin appeared to have slightly more top and upper mid squawk when pushed hard the fralin also appeared to have a longer pick attack ...(see description below)
both pickups have "the magic" i associate with PAF tone
and it was easy to obtain
gary moore/ carlos santana sustain
cream era clapton sutain and squawk
and billy gibbons style harmonics
the pick attack of both pickups displayed that neat paf characterisitic of accenting both the attack and muting of notes
you hear this on the bluesbreaker recording

again if pushed to hear a difference i'd say the fralin was slightly briter sounding ie 1% to 3% but in fact both pickups dever the goods in spades ...
the only drawback to this type of pickup is that the traditional PAF design was not wax potted ...though both the fralin and the gibson display evidence of being potted they tend to squeal when subjected to
heavy heavy overdrive at extreme volume ... this has only been a problem once for me but a buddy who plays METAL loved the 57 classic pickup till he went to band rehearsal...
at "normal" real giging, and rehearsal volume these pickups are great
all in all i highly recomend both the fralin and the gibson 57 classic plus, (i also recomend the 57 classic for neck position)
i have been using the regular 57 classics for 2 years
i liked them so much i installed them in my other gibsons
i used the 57 plus in my 335 (bridge)
and the fralin overwound (bridge) in my les paul
in the past i had been unable to find a PAF style pickup that played cleanly enough to effectively gig with and produce a range of tones
many of my buddies have heard them in action and poped them in their guitars ...

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: i play top 40 classic rock in a professional cover band, my friends who are now using them play in a RAP METAL original band, and an EMO band so these pickups (57 classic plus) are versatile

Comments: i have made multiple purchases of this product, and highly recomend it to my friends .... i was surprised that the Lindy fralin PAF was not noticeably better than the gibson and unless time and further testing reveal a more noticeable superiority i will continue to convert all my gibson guitars to the 57 (neck) 57plus (bridge) configuration
don't forget to check your pots ... even those marked 500k might not measure UP !!!
pat

Pickup features: Nickel Covered Reissue Humbucker
Impedence or other specs: Mine measure 9.2k

Model of guitar or bass: 1993 Les Paul Standard (Vintage Sunburst)
Position: all positions
Pickup being replaced: 490R and 498T (stock models)
Other pickups on guitar:
Artists using this pickup: Uncle Salty and lots of others I guess!
You musical style(s): Loud Blues/Hard Rock
Reason for pickup change: The stock pickups were powerful but they weren't "sweet"
enough for my tastes

Perceived output level: A little less than the stock units but then again these "kick" a little different
Tone: The tone is Clear and very well Balanced ( I can finally hear the actual sond of my guitar!)
Sonic evaluation: I use Les Pauls and JMP era Marshalls etc..These pickups are the sound I was wanting from this guitar. The stock ones were fine for a
few years but as your ear gets pickier you can really start to pick out/ recognize the sound of a newer les paul.I think the stock pickups were a large part of that "wet" sound the newer guitars have.
These new pickups really made this guitar sound "older" and now my
guitar sound is clearer than it's ever been.They sound great clean
(i.e. when I back of the volume pots)and they "melt butter" when I
wack the volume back up.These aren't hot pickups either - tone junkies know you should let the amp and speakers do the distorting -
they really complement the guitars natural sound well.These make the
stock units sound like shit so I can see why gibson puts 57 classics in the reissues,I've played old pafs and these pickups are damn close
to that sound - their only downfall is they have yet to age 30 years!

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: Take the nickel covers off if you're gonna use tons of gain or distortion(squeal piggie!)

Comments: These Pickups are staying right where they are! I've fallen in love with the sound of my guitar again!If you watch "Song Remains the- Same"video by Led Zepp, you'll get an Idea of what sort of sounds I
am getting from these pickups!

Pickup features: Passive Humbucker
Impedence or other specs: I don't know!

Model of guitar or bass: Les Paul Studio
Position: bridge
Pickup being replaced: stock 498T
Other pickups on guitar: stock 490R
Artists using this pickup: I don't know!
You musical style(s): Hard rock, alternative/Pop
Reason for pickup change: The stock pickup sounded good but wasn't warm or well balanced. It also had a little too much bite for my taste.

Perceived output level: Close to the stock unit.
Tone: Well balanced and warm.
Sonic evaluation: I play a Les Paul through a Peavy 5150 head and cabinet. This pickup gave new meaning to tone! It overdives very nicely and played clean it is wonderful!

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: I play Rock and Pop. This pickup is IT! Great tone, not what you would want for heavy metal but it has a nice rounded, balanced sound!

Comments: I definetly would buy this unit again! I've been playing 18 years and have been through a plethora of pickups and if you want to get a PAF sound than get a 57 Plus it's the same as the Classic 57 just a little hotter! I tried a DiMarzio PAF Pro but it had no bottom end and was real midrangy. Also if you want to improve the tone of Gibson's stock 490R you can remove the original cover and put a real nickel/brass cover on it! I did this because the Classic 57 plus has a slightly "darker" chrome color I figured becuse it is real nickel or nickel plated but the 490R in the bridge has a bright polished aluminum look so I changed the cover for cosmetic reasons and the sound improved! I don't know what effect the type of metal used for the cover has on a pickup but it worked for me!

Pickup features: Passive Humbucking
Impedence or other specs:

Model of guitar or bass: Nighthawk Standard
Position: bridge
Pickup being replaced: Stock Nighthawk Bridge
Other pickups on guitar: Duncan Custom MiniHumbucker, Stock Single Coil
Artists using this pickup: ???
You musical style(s): Modern Praise and Worship - Rock, Gospel, Country styles
Reason for pickup change: I wanted a more PAF sounding pickup and this was the only choice available. I actually got the Classic Hawk Plus model, which is the 57 Classic Plus on a slanted Nighthawk style base.

Perceived output level: This is actually about the same output as the original, but with more highs and smoother sound
Tone: Sounds like a slightly hot PAF. Think old Les Paul or SG
Sonic evaluation: Gibson Nighthawk through either a Laney LC-50 tube amp or a Crate Vintage 30. This is a nice pickup. Before the change the neck pickup actually seemed to have more high end than the bridge. This gives the guitar just a little bit more versatility. The bridge clean sound is much clearer and the distortion is a great classic rock sound.

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: Modern Christian Praise music; musically it's Rock, Gospel and modern Country

Comments: Yes, I'd get it again. It really does the trick to make the guitar even more versatile.

Pickup features: Humbucker passive
Impedence or other specs: ?

Model of guitar or bass: Gibson Les Paul Standard
Position: all positions
Pickup being replaced: Stock pickups from 1977
Other pickups on guitar: Di Marzio PAF Pro
Artists using this pickup: ?
You musical style(s): Hard rock
Reason for pickup change: The stock ones' just didn't sound good.

Perceived output level: A little hotter than a '57 Classic
Tone: Balanced
Sonic evaluation: A modified Marshall. Sound something like the 5150 or a Boogie Rectafire, but better.... It's hot, but distinct and warm.

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: Hard rock. All positions

Comments: I'm not sure. I love the overall sound of the pickup, but I want more output, without messing up the tone. I've tried the PAF Pro and it works, almost. It hasn't got any bass, so you loose a lot of tone and "thump". For anyone who's after a PAFish sound but with a "nodge" more of everything. This is it!!

Pickup features: Humbucking passive
Impedence or other specs: 9.1k on my meter

Model of guitar or bass: Solid maple Tele, with pau-ferro fingerboard and non-trem Strat bridge
Position: bridge
Pickup being replaced: None, its a new installation
Other pickups on guitar: 57 Classsic
Artists using this pickup:
You musical style(s): Blues
Reason for pickup change: I wanted a vintage Les Paul sound in a Fender style package, hence the solid maple Tele with HB pickups.

Perceived output level: It's hotter than my Strat with the TX Specials, but doesn't sound quite as hot in the bridge position as I'd hoped for. Still, it balances well with the 57 Classic in the neck position.
Tone: It seems to have a higher treble response than the 57 Classic and about as much mids as that pickup. The bass end is somewhat lower than the 57 Classic. Overall then, I'd say its a brighter sounding pickup.
Sonic evaluation: It can be very nasal when used with my Varitone recreation. That means it put out mega mids. I'd say its closer to a new LP sound than the vintage sound I get with the 57 Classic.

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: It's gonna be killer when driving the Super Reverb at serious volume.

Comments: I'd probably get the 57 classic which is warmer sounding if I had to do it all over again. But even though I feel that way, its not a strong enough reason to change.