Gibson Introduces "New" Pickups.

[Equalphone]

FWIW, Peter sold the guitar to Garry for what he paid for it... which was something like $100. When Gary was down on his luck and needed money, he sold it to a dealer for a rumored $1M or so. It passed through a few dealers. Eventually Kurt bought it from a dealer who was rumored to be in need of money and supposedly got it for $500K.

We now return to our underwound thread.

 

[imnotcreative]

Oh people on various Gibbie forums picked up on it. Just that no one's really gone out of their way (incl. Gibson themselves) to show how they're different (if at all). I suppose they could publish a spec and tell you it's "4500 winds" vs. "5000 winds" ... fyi I made up the numbers. But they haven't even done that for the Burstbuckers which, across 1, 2 and 3, I have always assumed the only difference being a slight difference in the # of winds. i.e. a burstbucker 3 is an "overwound" burstbucker 1, or if looking at it in reverse, a Burstbucker 1 is an "underwound" Burstbucker 3. At least in the Burstbucker series, there is a clear audible difference and hence, warranting a different number designation. While I will reserve final judgment until I have one in hand (if ever), I highly doubt most people would be able to discern an underwound 57 from a normal one.

Unfortunately they don't state the exact specs anymore. However on some pickups that have been around some time in production models you can find some information when looking through the legacy website.
legacy.gibson.com
I have been able to find some more specific information when just browsing through the guitars individual page in the ''electronics'' section.
Information on Burstbucker1/2/pro, 490/498, 57classic(+) burstbucker 59 tribute, burstbucker 61 and custombuckers can be found.. You just have to know/guess which model a certain pickup was used in. But as far as i can tell it only states the information on pages with guitars from 2015/2016, after that it just states which pickups were in the guitar without further specs
IE:

Pickups	Rhythm		Lead
Style:	Custom Bucker		Custom Bucker
Winds/Coil: Screw side/Slug side:	5200-5590		5200-5590
Material of Wire (gauge):	#42 Enamel		#42 Enamel
Coil Dimensions (per coil):	2.61 x.68 x .375"		2.61 x.68 x .375"
Coil Material:	ABS		ABS
Coil Winding Process:	Machine Wound		Machine Wound
Pole Piece Material:	416 Grade Stainless Steel		416 Grade Stainless Steel
Pole Piece Position from Nut:	18.625"		59.7 cm / 23.5"
Slug Material:	416 Grade Stainless Steel		416 Grade Stainless Steel
Slug Dimensions (diameter x length):	.190 x .480"		.190 x .480"
Magnet Material:	Alnico III		Alnico III
Magnet Position from Nut:	18.975"		58.36 cm / 22.975"
Magnet Dimensions:	2.5 x .5 x .125"		2.5 x .5 x .125"
Polarities:	Nickel		Nickel
Cover:
Qfactor:	8.0

Style:	BB1		BB2
Winds/Coil: Screw side/Slug side:	5000 / 5200		5300 / 5500
Material of Wire (gauge):	Enamel (42)		Enamel (42)
Coil Dimensions (per coil):	6.6294 cm x 1.7272 mm / 2.61" x 0.68"		6.6294 cm x 1.7272 mm / 2.61" x 0.68"
Coil Material:	ABS		ABS
Coil Winding Process:	Machine Wound		Machine Wound
Pole Piece Material:	Nickel plated steel		Nickel plated steel
Pole Piece Position from Nut:	47.3075 cm / 18.625"		59.52998 cm / 23.437 inches
Slug Material:	Nickel plated steel		Nickel plated steel
Slug Dimensions (diameter x length):	4.7498 mm x 1.24206 cm / 0.187 x 0.489"		4.7498 mm x 1.24206 cm / 0.187 x 0.489"
Magnet Material:	Alnico II		Alnico II
Magnet Position from Nut:	48.26 cm / 19 "		58.7375cm / 23.125"
Magnet Dimensions:	6.35 cm x 1.27 mm / 2.5" x 0.5"		6.35 cm x 1.27 mm / 2.5" x 0.5"
Polarities:	Screw side is the south pole of magnet		Screw side is the south pole of magnet
Cover:	Chrome		Chrome
Qfactor:	5.54		5.51
ResistanceDC:	7.69k ohms		7.64k ohms
Resonant Frequency:	2767 Hz		2780 Hz

 

[Noodling Guitars]

Thanks! This is really neat info.

It's a little surprising that the variance within Custombuckers is almost +/- 200 (as opposed to +/- 100 for the BBs).

The word on the street has always been that the "underwound" ones that Wildwood and CME spec'd are/were roughly 10% underwound. That would theoretically mean the range of winds for underwound Custombuckers should be 4680 - 5031. In the most extreme cases, that would be 4680 (underwound) vs 5590, which I presume would make at least some discernable difference if not to the ears at least definitely to a meter. All other things being equal of course (tension, winding speed etc.).

 

[Raiyn]

I presume would make at least some discernable difference if not to the ears at least definitely to a meter.

Well, there are some who claim to be able to hear a mosquito farting in the backyard.

I like meters. Multimeters, oscilloscopes ....

 

[Darkness]

57 Underwounds are the ones for me. The scary part will be looking up the price....

In the US they're not too bad. Around $130-150 each depending on cover or open style. That's on par with similar SD pickups.

 

[Noodling Guitars]

In the US they're not too bad. Around $130-150 each depending on cover or open style. That's on par with similar SD pickups.

Gibson pickups are generally reasonable. It's just the Custombuckers /Historic collection that get a little out of hand price-wise (but still nowhere near the ridiculousness like Throbaks).

It's more of just having a bit of fun with those that swear by buzzwords like "underwound".

 

[Raiyn]

It's more of just having a bit of fun with those that swear by buzzwords like "underwound".

The other thing folks forget is there's a resistance variance / tolerance spec based on the metallurgy of the wire too. Positive or negative.