While Fender’s iconic Telecaster and Stratocaster are synonymous with single-coils, Gibson are the undisputed humbucker kings.
In 1946, they developed the acclaimed
P-90, before going on to truly revolutionize the
guitar pickup – creating the first two-coil humbucker in 1955. This was known as the PAF (‘Patent Applied For’) – a creation that completely changed the face of music forever. But they didn’t rest on their laurels, and instead went on to develop humbuckers of all shapes, sizes and tones.
Many guitarists have played Gibson guitars and their awesome pickups, although there are some names that go hand in hand with the brand and their tone. Legendary Gibson players include Les Paul (naturally…), Jimmy Page, Slash, Randy Rhoads, Zakk Wylde, Frank Zappa, Derek Trucks, Tony Iommi, and Angus Young in particular.
If you buy a higher-end Gibson, chances are you won’t want to change your pickups because they’ll already rock! However, for those with entry-level or mid-range models, or those players who just fancy a change, a new set of Gibson pickups can bring any guitar to life.
So we’ve put together a short chart to highlight some of the most popular Gibson pickups on the market – P-90s and humbuckers – to give you a flavor of what’s popular at the moment. Then stick around for a guide to everything you need to know about Gibson pickups.
The Top 6 Gibson Pickups:
Gibson Pickups: What They Are and What They Sound Like?
As you may have guessed by now, there is no one ‘Gibson pickup’ – they all differ in style and tone. However, they can be roughly divided into the following categories:
P-90
Of course, we start with the classic P-90. This is a
single-coil pickup, although sports some qualities of a humbucker. P-90s have a similar construction to the classic
Strat single-coil pickup, but are made with larger, flatter coils, along with a flat alnico bar magnet under the coil bobbin (instead of magnetic pole-pieces). P-90s offer a unique, versatile tone that is adored by audiophiles – vintage in feel, with a chunkier sound than a single-coil and more clarity and spark than a humbucker.
PAF Style
While the original PAF no longer exists – taken out of production in 1975 – Gibson still manufacture a big range of pickups that offer the true PAF tone, including the ’57 Classic and Burstbuckers.
There are three versions of the Burstbucker, all described by Gibson as ‘time machines’. These
humbuckers really do offer the much-desired classic tone of the late fifties, varying in output – Burstbucker 1 is underwound to provide a medium output, Burstbucker 2 is a little hotter, while Burstbucker 3 is overwound for huge tones!
The ’57 Classic is another popular model and isn’t too different to the Burstbucker, providing that delightful classic PAF tone, with ample richness. The focus is more on vintage than delivering the edgy tone that Burstbuckers offer.
Modern Humbuckers
Gibson also produce a big range of humbuckers for the modern player, such as the 490R and 490T, and 496R and 500T humbucker pairings – the latter pairing in particular offering a considerably higher gain that’s perfect for heavier rock and metal guitarists. Then you have their ultra-aggressive Dirty Fingers, which takes output to a whole new level.
Mini Humbucker
Created by Gibson subsidiary Epiphone in the late 1960s, the mini humbucker is exactly what the name suggests – a smaller, more compact humbucker with a narrower magnetic field that will fit into a P-90 slot. Made famous by the Gibson Firebird, mini humbuckers produce a bright, focused sound, and are pretty well balanced between a single-coil and humbucker in the tonal spectrum.
Where Are They Used?
You’ll find Gibson’s range of excellent pickups used across their guitar series. For example, the
Les Paul Classic T 2017 is loaded with a pair of ’57 Classics. On the
SG Special HP 2017 you’ll find both 490R and 490T humbuckers, and on the
Firebird T 2017 sits a pair of mini humbuckers.
Gibson pickups are therefore incredibly versatile and found in pretty much every area of music, from classic rock and
heavy metal, to jazz and blues.
The Final Word
We’ve established that there is no one-description-fits-all when it comes to Gibson pickups – they are a broad family, covering both single-coil and humbucker, medium and high output, and vintage and modern tones.
However, we hope our chart and guide has given you a little inspiration when looking for a new set or individual pickup for your guitar – whether it’s a Gibson, Epiphone or something completely different.
Make sure to read plenty of reviews and watch some videos of your shortlisted pickups, to give you a clearer idea of how they sound. Then buy them, fit them, and enjoy them!