Gibson 498T Hot Alnico

Humbucking Bridge position ( Zebra style) pickup

Bought as a bridge pickup replacement for a Seymour Duncan Jeff Beck in a Yamaha AES 620 but now its in the bridge of my PRS Tremonti SE .I found the Seymour duncan just a little too powerfull for some songs with too much treble when overdriven and didnt like the clean sound either .

Ive been playing over ten years and the music I play is Classic Rock , Punk and modern Indie .I use an Orange Rocker 30 valve amp . I 've owned numerous guitars and this is definately my favorite bridge pickup that Ive tried . It comes as standard in many Gibson Les Pauls .Its still gives a healthy out put but is nt as over the top as the Seymour Duncan and gives an excellent Les Paul / classic rock sound .

Excellent pickup I would definitely recommend it if u want the classic rock sound / Gibson Les Paul sound .

Passive humbucker. Have no idea what the specs are. Doesn't matter.

2006 Les Paul Standard thru a Marshall DSL 50 with a 4X12. Weber Lite Mass 100 attenuator. Took the stock Burst Bucker Pro out and put the 498T in. I've also got a DiMarzio Air Classic neck model in the neck position.

I changed the pickups because I found the stock BB Pros (especially the bridge pickup) to have way too much of an overall treble content for my liking. There was also something about the upper mids (combined with the excessive treble) that was VERY bothersome to the ears. And the guitars using 300K pots too!! Actually, the first pickup swap I did was to put a Seymour Duncan Custom Custom in place of the BB Pro bridge pickup. This was a definate improvement and while I still do like the CC I wanted a little more "tightness" on the lower end. Found the 498T in the "Used Pickup Drawer" at my local music store for $40.00 so I thought I'd give it a shot. Glad I did.

As far I can can tell the 498T's output is fairly comperable to the BB Pros, but the mids and treble aren't so "in your face." The mids are there to push it out and the clarity is there, it's just lowered a good notch or two. Seems like it's all pretty well balanced as well with a mid emphasis, but not those nasty, ear-grinding kind of mids. Bass is tight without being overbearing. I tend to prefer to keep my pickups height's a bit lower (close to the body) as I find it just all sounds a lot clearer to me when played clean or with overdrive. Purer and not so garbled.

The only time I use the bridge HB'er by itself is with overdrive. So with that in mind I really like this pickup a lot in the way that I use it. It's really hard to describe tones, so all I can say is that I find it works great for your "Led Zeppelin, Van Halen, Cream, Allman Brothers, Gary Moore" school type of tones. And I'm not saying you'll nail these artists tones with the 498T, all I'm saying is that it works very, very well for this kind of thing. Is it the best pickup out there for these styles? Does it blow this-and-this other pickup out of the water? Is it the absolute "bee's knee's?" Am I stupid for liking this pickup? Hell if I know and I don't really care!! It sounds damn good for what I use it for. DAMN GOOD!! Best $40.00 I've spent in a LONG time!

When combined with the DiMarzio Air Classic neck I get some very good, balanced sounds going for things by the Beatles, CCR, Stray Cats....things of that nature. By the way, I really like the Air Classic neck pickup. Sounds like a neck pickup should, IMO. By the way, I'm using the stock 300K pots that came with the guitar for both pickups. I can't even beging to imagine using 500K's as some recommend due to the DSL 50's bite.

Compared the BB Pro, for what I like to hear and in my VERY humble opinion I'd say the 498T is an improvement in my LP Standard. The BB Pros were just too "in-your-face" for me. Yeah, I'd probably replace it if it quit working. Is it perfect? Do I wish it has this-or-that quality to it? Am I still searching for "THAT" sound? I really don't know if it's perfect or not and again, I don't care becasue it sounds very good for what I need. I suppose there's always something that's better right around the corner, but I really don't like the idea of going too crazy with replacement pickups. Seems like too many people out there jump on the "flavor of the month" bandwagon, spend hundreds upon hundreds of dollars for some very expensive pickup sets only to find they aren't much close than before. Maybe (with some folks) their tone isn't any better than before because their PLAYING isn't any better than before. Something to consider.

I keep reading over and over that tone is in the hands and for the greater part I believe in that statement. (Look at all of our guitar heros. They didn't have replacement pickups! They made good with what was at hand and went about making music). So why did I change my pickups? Fair question. Well, my DSL 50 is a VERY brite amp, the BB Pros had a LOT of bite to them and of what I can tell my LP is a bit on the brite side. I had to shave some of that treble out of the equation and for $40.00 I'd say I lucked out and did pretty good.

Passive Humbucker. I dunno the specs.

2004 Gibson SG Faded in the bridge position. Replacing stock 490T. Guitar has 490R in the neck position. I changed to the 498T because I like the 498T. I have a Les Paul Studio, and and SG Standard that both have 498Ts at the bridge.

The output level is definitely hotter then the 490T. I run this through different setups depending on the need ...

* Vox ToneLab into the nearest PA system.
* Crate V16 Palomino (all-tube class a.
* V-Series VFX5212 (All tube, class AB).

... Any 498T-carrying axe I own sounds great with these. Classic, organic, Gibson sweetness!

Would I buy another one! Hell yeah. I keep three of them in my tool box in case of an emergency.

I've been at this for 20 years. I own a mess of guitars and at least three rigs that I can keep track of.

Humbucker(Gold cover removed)
2 conductor wire(from a Gibson LP Supreme)

Installed in the bridge of an 03 Epiphone Les Paul Custom.
Replaced the muddy and undefined stock Epiphone 57.
I wanted a low cost but somewhat authentic Les Paul custom alternative and the Epiphone was the closest for less plus they are owned by Gibson as well.

The output is everything a Gibson humbucker lives up too. Its articulate,pick sensitive and has a nice mix of modern and classic voicing. I was sold on the Duncan Custom custom for a few years now but the 498T is becoming a favorite and thats going on 3 months now so no honeymoon talk here.
I like its mid uipper mid spike. It lends too some very sweet lead tones IMO also. I play in two hobby bands one originals 80's rock type vibe the other is all covers and jams. I play everything from Zep to Ozzy to Pantera to Nevermore to all kinds of classics and I havent found one thing my 498T loaded Epi LP cant cover very well. And yeah it sounds very much like the real Gibson Custom btw(owned one in the mid 80's)

Luckily these are floating around everywhere. Guys almost immediately replace these and think nothing about it(thats how I got mine. I suggest removing the covers if you find them too low of output or muddy as thats what I did and yes the difference is noticeable.

Humbucker w/ Nickel cover

Gibson Les Paul DC Studio - 24 fret

Sound was very midrangy and muddy, but then i removed the nickel cover, thats when the thing came alive. Now it kills my PRS. Also it contrasts much better w/ the 490R neck pickup, where before they really sounded almost the same cept for volume

if just the pickup were stolen, i would probably try something else, but as it is im completly satisfied with the tone this thing produces

Alnico 5 magnet...double black....humbucking.

I have this in the bridge position of a 2005 Cocoa Brown HWY 1 Strat HSS. I put this in to replace the crappy Fender humbucker!

This pickup is AMAZING!!!!!!!!!! I love it !!!!!!!! It suits my style (Blues/classic rock) PERFECTLY!! Not too over the top, but ballsy as hell!! The best pickup choice I've ever made for a guitar!!

I'm playing it through a Fender Hot Rod Deville 4x10 60 watt amp.

I love it so much that I'm buying a new 2006 HWY 1 Strat HSS and putting it's cousin...the Burstbucker Pro in that!! (for a different flavor) I totally love this Gibson pickup!! They sorta invented Humbuckers now...didn't they? It shows in the quality/sound!!

I'm Gibson humbuckers now all thwe way...they've won me over!! (and I'm a STRAT guy!!!)

Pickup features: Humbucker
Impedence or other specs:

Model of guitar or bass: Epiphone Les Paul Junior
Position: bridge
Pickup being replaced: Stock Epiphone humbucker
Other pickups on guitar: none
Artists using this pickup: comes standard on humbucking Gibson Les Paul's
You musical style(s): country, rockabilly, old school punk (Ramones)
Reason for pickup change: Stocker was muddy sounding, and I liked the rest of the guitar enough that it was worth upgrading.

Perceived output level: Definitely hotter than the Epiphone pickup, but not "metal".
Tone: It is bassy and dark, and likes mid level gain a lot. Likes reverb/echo too
Sonic evaluation: I use an inexpensive Epiphone Junior through a cheapo Kustom practice amp. However, the sound improvement over the stocker is amazing. Sensitivity is the big thing; play softly, and it is nice and clean sounding. Hit the strings hard and it roars. Awesome!

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: Country/rockabilly. Not a prime match, but still sounds great.

Comments: I wanted a genuine Gibson 498T because that is what they used to put in their best guitars. This pickup is such a quality product. It costs a bit more than a Seymour Duncan, but I'm glad I spent the money. If you want to make your cheesy old Epiphone, Ibanez, Yamaha, whatever sound better, you can't go wrong with the 498T.

Pickup features: Passive Humbucker
Impedence or other specs: Don't know

Model of guitar or bass: Stock on swamp ash Les Paul Studio
Position: bridge
Pickup being replaced:
Other pickups on guitar: 490R Neck pickup
Artists using this pickup:
You musical style(s): Rock, blues, classic rock
Reason for pickup change:

Perceived output level: Guessing the output to be in the medium range.
Tone: Balanced. Very balanced.
Sonic evaluation: Using the Les Paul thru a Peavey Classic 30. You know, I'm really surprised by the number of people who feel they HAVE to change the pickups in thier LP's almost as soon as they buy one. It's almost like they think they have to. It's no crime to change the pickups in your guitar but one should at least work with what you have for a while before finding fault. I cannot find any fault with this pickup at all. I've owned a Strat, Wolfgang Special and a Telecaster and have wound up changing the pickups in all those guitars. Again, I cannot find any fault with the 498T pickup. It sounds great by itself clean or with OD/distortion. Always clear, strong and articulate. It's all a matter of getting the height right. I'll admit when I bought my guitar the pickups were in fact set way to close to the strings. But once I backed them off I was set and knew I had a winner.

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: I play rock, some blues and classic rock. The 498T sounds great along with the 490R neck pickup. Combined you get a great rockabilly tone going. Using the 498T alone with an OD or distortion pedal can handle all that is rock orientated with no problem.

Comments: If for some reason this pickup quit working I would replace it with another, no problem. Again, it's no crime to change pickups but if you work with them for a bit you'll find out how good they really sound.

Pickup features: Passive Humbucking
Impedence or other specs: dont know...

Model of guitar or bass: '97 SG standard
Position: bridge
Pickup being replaced: stock
Other pickups on guitar: 490R
Artists using this pickup: probably 70%
You musical style(s): Hard Rock, Occasional blues & Metal
Reason for pickup change: they came styock in my SG

Perceived output level: Medium I suppose...
Tone: EMphasis on high midrange to get that sort of "edge" to your sound... classic hard rock tone
Sonic evaluation: I play through a Line 6 Spider II. I find this pickup is great for 70's and early 80's hard rock and even some metal. I say some metal because, honestly, the 498T really doesnt cut it for extremely high gain and heavy metal shit, especially stuff with rediculously low tunings (Of course I am playing an SG, so obviously the guitar has something to do with that as well). The bass is not what I would consider tight, and the highs have a sort of high mid range girth to them which isnt as cool as it sounds. However, if you are more into zeppelin stuff, AC/DC, black sabbath etc. this pickup is great.

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: Again I play mostly classic Hard Rock and this pickup gets the job done

Comments: Honestly, if this pickup were somehow stolen I would probably get a seymour duncan JB but that would only be part trying something new and part getting something different just for the hell of it. Or I might go with burstbuckers, I dunno... I am very happy with this pickup, it just has a sort of personality to it that I just dont get out of my PRS. I mean sure, the PRS has way better clarity, and a much more responsive bass among other things, but it just doesnt nail those classic gritty tones which I usually play.

Pickup features: Passive Humbucker
Impedence or other specs: Who cares...

Model of guitar or bass: Gibson LP
Position: bridge
Pickup being replaced: Came Stock
Other pickups on guitar: Gibson 490t
Artists using this pickup: Who cares, lots probably
You musical style(s): Death Metal, Thrash, Power Metal
Reason for pickup change:

Perceived output level: Not to quiet, Not to hot
Tone: Very balanced
Sonic evaluation: I'm using a Marshall jcm 800, which i have linked to a fender cyber twin, going to 2 marshall 1960A cabs. This pickup is very nice, It's got a really balanced tone and a lot of power. This would be a very nice pickup for heavy blues, or even some extreme shit.

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: This pickup could be used anywhere on the guitar, for my styles this pickup isn't as clear as i would like it to be, and not as crunchy as i'd like it, I am getting an emg 85/ 81 set, i just works better for me.

Comments: this is a great pickup, for my styles of playing however, I would not replace it. I have been playing my whole life, and have heard some really good pickups, dont get me wrong, this pickup could be your dream sound, it's very high quality. You'll just have to try it out and see for yourself