Gibson 500T Super Ceramic

Humbucking pu. Passive. High output. Awesome!

This pickup came stock on my gibson les paul classic, in the bridge position, which is one of the reasons i bought this model of paul.
It has a 496r in the neck
Jimmy page

The output on this pickup is HOT! One of the hottest pickups i've heard. I run it through an analogman moded tube screamer (awesome overdrive!), a damage control solid metal pedal, boss dd-5 delay, boss compressor, and a visual sound chorus w/ echo, into a mesa boogie nomad 45 two 12 combo amp w/ celestion vintage 30's.

The tone on this pickup is not thin at all, it is huge. Plenty of bass and highs with just the right amount of mids for me. I play classic to modern rock to punk with this pickup and it serves me very well. Definetly a rockin pu, and if I want to cut through the mix a little more I just turn up the mids on my eq a little bit.

If it were lost or stolen I would definitely buy a new les paul classic with this pickup in it the next day. It has such a huge sound and the tone is awesome when paired with my mesa boogie combo. I've been playing for about 13 years and own a few other electrics: Fender strat, gibson les paul jr., Gretsch hollowbody, and for classic to modern rock to metal to punk, this is the pickup for it.

Pickup features: Humbucker
Impedence or other specs:

Model of guitar or bass: Epiphone ES 335
Position: bridge
Pickup being replaced: stock
Other pickups on guitar: 496R In Neck (the sister pickup)
Artists using this pickup: anyone who is awesome
You musical style(s): garage rock, classic rock, and blues (w/ or w/o slide)
Reason for pickup change: wanted a good sound, more umph, more

Perceived output level: enormous, if you want to end a show w/ feedback...look no further. But seriously, fantastic
Tone: My amp is pretty flexible (vfx5212 tube amp) and really really lets you do anything. This isn't a 'play nice' type pickup...if you like rough hardass dirty blues, or iggy pop style garage, or straight up led zeppelin, this is what you want. "smooth jazz" need not apply
Sonic evaluation: Again, using a VFX5212 (crate); 50 watt tube, 2 celestion 12" speakers
pedal chain: wah-->dd-5 delay-->cool cat chorus-->ds-1 distortion-->digitech overdrive pedal.
this is the key. put the ds-1 BEFORE the overdrive (weird, i know). It adds this ridiculous crunch that is amazing. its not a hollow distortion or a "tinny" bullshit sound...this is like a resonating rock machine. great for those frantic garage rock chords or for some nasty slide action.
note: in G tuning this thing is unreal...
This is made even weirder by the fact that these pickups are in a hollow body. its weird, the guitar looks to 'church' to make shuch awesome sounds.

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable:

Comments: this pickup is unreal
throw it through any good tube amp and you are locked and loaded

Pickup features: Ceramic Humbucker
Impedence or other specs: 16k

Model of guitar or bass: Epiphone Emporer II Joe Pass
Position: bridge
Pickup being replaced: Stock
Other pickups on guitar: Kent Armstrong OEM PAF
Artists using this pickup:
You musical style(s): Jazz, Rock, Blues, et al.
Reason for pickup change: Muddy sound.

Perceived output level: Too Damn Hot!
Tone: Overpowering
Sonic evaluation: Great on its own, but "QUACKS" when blended with the neck pick up. I had posted previously than I had the 500T in the neck position. Well, too much treble. This pick up does not play well with others. A solid body Hard Rock guitar is where it belongs.

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: Anytime you want to stick out and dominate, use the 500T.

Comments: Good, but not very versitle.

Pickup features: Humbucking Passive
Impedence or other specs:

Model of guitar or bass: Epiphone Emporer II Joe Pass
Position: neck
Pickup being replaced: Stock Epiphone
Other pickups on guitar: Epiphone
Artists using this pickup: Many
You musical style(s): Jazz, Blues, Rock & Classical
Reason for pickup change: Dull muddy stock pickup

Perceived output level: Hot & Punchy
Tone: Bassy & Trebly
Sonic evaluation: Roland Jazz Chorus 120 & Behringer GX110

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: I play mostly Jazz, Blues & Rockabilly. This pickup works well with them all.

Comments: I have been playing for 28 years. I use this pickup in the neck position and it provides me with brilliant highs, punchy mid tones and plenty of bass. I use flat wound strings that sounded very dull with the stock Epi pickup...... Not any more!!!!!!

Pickup features: Passive humbucker
Impedence or other specs: 10 K, or something... Ceramic magnet

Model of guitar or bass: 2003 Tokai Love Rock (lefty)
Position: bridge
Pickup being replaced: Tokai Stock bridge pickup
Other pickups on guitar: Stock neck pickup
Artists using this pickup: dunno... Page?
You musical style(s): Classic/Hard Rock (Thin Lizzy, The Darkness, etc. Songs with solos anyway...)
Reason for pickup change: Stock sounded nice, in a sort of classic PAF sort of way.
But it was too weak. I had to struggle with it just to get some pinch harmonics out of it. I had the 500 in another guitar (my Van Halen-mod for a Epiphone-strat with worn frets) which I was about to retire anyway... A friend of mine helped me out with the work.

Perceived output level: So hot you can almost sing through it. (Didn't try that yet, but I'd bet you could)
Tone: Just right for me. A bit on the midrangey side for some, but that's what the EQ's for.
Sonic evaluation: At home, a 1998 Marshall Valvestate 15W. Thin Lizzy's "Jailbreak"-sounds jumpin' right out of the speaker. My friends couldn't tell the difference. ("I can't believe it's you!"-sort of phrase)
At the band's practice room, a Marshall MG100CDR head, coupled with a Behringer 412S cab. (I'm not favoring solidstate heads, mind you, I just have a tight budget.) Listening to the sound coming out, personally I thought it was close to Van Halen's first album, or "Fair Warning"-album. I just had to back off ont the gain a bit... It was overkill for me.

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: I try to play all kinds of music: Jazz to rock to reggae. This pickup isn't that kind for clean sounds, but that's what the volume knob and the neck pickup is there for

Comments: I'm lovin' this pickup. Wouldn't change it for the world.

Pickup features: passive humbucker
Impedence or other specs:

Model of guitar or bass: Gibson 67 V re-issue
Position: bridge
Pickup being replaced:
Other pickups on guitar: 496R
Artists using this pickup:
You musical style(s): Hard rock-metal
Reason for pickup change: Didnt have a good resonance for the V

Perceived output level: Probably Gibsons second loudest pickup(original dirty fingers are #1)
Tone: definite crunch
Sonic evaluation: The 500T came stock in a 67 V re-issue (mahogany body and ebony fingerboard. I use marshall and peavy tube amps. It sounded dark and crunchy . It really didnt complimemt the V's natural tone very well(leads just got lost )So I put a duncan JB in and it helped the V out a lot(not perfect but better).The 500 laid around for a couple months and I decided to try it in a 1977 Gibson RD . The RD is a total different tone than the V(rosewood fingerboard ,maple neck-body, and 300k pots came stock). WHAT A DIFFERENCE!It was the best passive pu I
ever had in that RD (and I had tried them all).Since the rd sounded very simular to a lp on its own, I must say I think the 500T was developed for a maple top lp and is an afterthought for the other Gibson models! The reason some owners of newer LP's dont care for this pickup may be that they have 500k pots and not 300k pots like the RD has (Gibson used to put 300K pots in a lot of guitars back in the 60's and 70's).The different pots tame some of that nastinest and are a lot cheaper than buying a duncan custom custom.

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: This is basically a bridge pu but you need it in a maple top axe or youll get buried in the mix.

Comments: If used in the right apllication I give it a 9.As it comes stock in a V I give it a 6.

Pickup features: Passive Humbucker
Impedence or other specs:

Model of guitar or bass: Gibson Les Paul Classic (black)
Position: bridge
Pickup being replaced: Non-working 500T
Other pickups on guitar: 498T
Artists using this pickup: Jimmy Page
You musical style(s): Goth+Industrial, metal, 70s' rock, indie
Reason for pickup change: Replace defective pickup

Perceived output level: High output
Tone: trebly & loud like a Duncan Distortion, tight crunchy sound
Sonic evaluation: The Gibson Les Paul Classic comes standard with the 500T.Tone falls somwhere between a Duncan JB and a Duncan Distortion, but with more grittiness in the midrange. This pickup can easily be used for metal. The midrange grittiness is a quality you may or may not like, but it never goes away. It's there even on clean settings. This pickup is standard on the Jimmy Page model Les Paul. I can't imagine why he would use this pickup, it's too metal for his style. If you play metal and aggressive rock & roll this is a very good choice. Real high output with a distinctive Gibson PAF sound, and a slightly scooped EQ curve.

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: This a good pickup for the goth+industrial style I play with the band I'm in, The God Project. For 70s' rock and indie rock you'll seriously need to back off your treble and overdrive settings.

Comments: If this pickup died I would replace it with the same thing. I like my Les Paul Classic and would prefer to keep it as stock as possible. If I bought a used Les Paul with some cruddy aftermarket puckups like "Dimarzio super distortions" or whatever, I would like to try the Gibson Burstbuckers for a more traditional vintage rock&roll sound. In any case, you can't go wrong with Gibson brand p-ups in a Gibson guitar.

Pickup features: Passive Humbucking
Impedence or other specs: not sure...

Model of guitar or bass: Epiphone Les Paul Standard
Position: bridge
Pickup being replaced: Stock Epi garbage
Other pickups on guitar: Stock Epi garbage
Artists using this pickup: errr....
You musical style(s): Rock/Blues/Metal/etc.
Reason for pickup change: stock pickups were junk

Perceived output level: way hotter than stock, not quite as hot as an active
Tone: Pretty well balanced
Sonic evaluation: I put this pickup in the bridge of my brand new Epi Les Paul standard, and play through a digitech RP200 running into my Fender M-80. The M-80 is a solid state paperweight, although not as bad as some that I've played through... and the RP200 sucks for any kind of clean sound - it will KILL your sustain, no matter HOW great your guitar/pickup/amp is. This pickup, however, even sounds great through this pile of garbage. I originally played this pickup in (I believe) a '57 reissue with a 496R in the neck through a Mesa/Boogie Dual Rectifier head and a 4x12 cab at a music store, and the sound was apocalyptic. Harmonics abound, so hot it'll sear your skin off, and a bone-shattering crunch. I was looking for a pickup that was capable of performing a range of tasks - my stock pickups were horrible, with no definition and very muddy. I hooked up this pickup and I was astonished! Playing on a clean channel I went from nasty sounding chords with no mids (stock) to clear-ringing, beautifully sustaining sounds (500T). Playing it dirty (the way I like it) it can bite, growl, scream and crunch. I tried it through a range of settings and could get all kinds of sounds out of it, from an Angus-esque crunch to a steel-shredding Wyldeness. Even through my junk rig, harmonics and sustain are awesome, which is why I wanted a Paul in the first place (wish I could have afforded a Gibson). Playing the stock neck pickup and this combined, it surprisingly sounded pretty darned good... though the neck pickup alone still sounds like junk. This pickup really woke my cheapo Epiphone up!

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: I think this pickup is very versatile, good for rock, blues, metal - covers all my bases!

Comments: If this pickup were to somehow meet an ill fate, I would probably replace it - this guitar is my versatility guitar, and I feel this pickup meets that task well. I AM dying to try out an EMG-81/85 combo tho... planning on those for a goth Paul when I get the cash!

Pickup features: Passive humbucker
Impedence or other specs:

Model of guitar or bass: 2002 Les Paul Classic
Position: bridge
Pickup being replaced:
Other pickups on guitar: 496r
Artists using this pickup:
You musical style(s): light finger picking to heavy n fast
Reason for pickup change: Looking to replace it

Perceived output level: Hot, loud. Easy to distort on a clean ss amp.
Tone: Overpowers everything. Way too trebly, too bassy.
Sonic evaluation: I am currently using a Randall rg75 with a Zinky 2x12 cab. Had a Fender Hot Rod Deville and Zinky MOFO that I played this through, but downsized to the solid state amp until I find the tube amp for me. Constantly use different effects or none at all. No matter what amp I play this guitar through, it sounds like poo. I have to roll the treble and bass back on the amps, the sound is too big, so much so that notes don't sound articulate. I play with the volume and tone knobs on the guitar rolled back to half. Sure, the sound is fat and powerful and distorts easy, but there is no singing tone, no definition, no magic. Just balls out, overload everything mud. The Les Paul has a beautiful acoustic sound, and I want to capture that accurately. If you know how to do that, please email me with your advice. Thanks.

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable:

Comments: Wouldn't buy this pickup. Might try it in my Carvin V220 for kicks. The overpowering boost in tone might be just what the all maple Carvin could use to give it a unique tone. Or kill it with way too much treble. Who knows. I've been playing for about 17 years? I really haven't liked this pickup no matter what I've tried. I hate that it overpowers the amp so much that the tone just turns to mud. Any recommendations for a les paul pickup combination that lets the tone come through, retains definition from clean to distorted with effects? Please let me know. Thanks. BTW - The neck pickup is crap, too.

Pickup features: black open coil passive humbucker
Impedence or other specs: ask gibby

Model of guitar or bass: esp ltd-100 flying V
Position: bridge
Pickup being replaced: stock duncan designed hb103b
Other pickups on guitar: same, but for rhythm (hb103)
Artists using this pickup: nomad
You musical style(s): nomad rock - see sepultura
Reason for pickup change: wanted something earth shattering.

Perceived output level: high output ceramic humbucker, on bar with the duncan custom or thereabouts.
Tone: hot, dark and sizzling. decent clean, malevolent distortion.
Sonic evaluation: flying v -> orange twin channel -> mesa 2x12 custom with eminence (patriot series).

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: this is a good metal guitar pickup.

Comments: heavy and dark, might have to roll down the bass a bit on your eq. it could be the tonal characteristics/sustain properties of this guitar, but i digress. a bit too muddy and dark, high end is clear but not singing enough. output level is ok. i would use this for rhythm primarily but as it does not bode well for guitar switching (in terms of eq) i will pry not keep this one. nice pickup, just not for me. i'm putting a JB model humbucker in my V like mustain has in his custom model. made the switch, the mids/highs and high output has done wonders to compensate for the V's sustain and depth.