Members fabeon Posted December 30, 2008 Members Share Posted December 30, 2008 I tried one of these in a Gibson SG and though they sounded great, but I hear a lot of people saying there are better options. What other pickups offer the same voicing/characteristics of the 498T, but better? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members niceguy Posted December 30, 2008 Members Share Posted December 30, 2008 If you thought it sounded great, maybe you should stick with it. It's a great pickup, if you're into that sort of tone (I like it as well). Maybe you can list what you'd want, tonewise... more treble? Less output? More output? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members DAFSTRAT Posted December 30, 2008 Members Share Posted December 30, 2008 I swapped the 498 out of my Les paul for a Seymour Duncan SH-14 Custom 5. No comparison. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members fabeon Posted December 30, 2008 Author Members Share Posted December 30, 2008 I swapped the 498 out of my Les paul for a Seymour Duncan SH-14 Custom 5.No comparison. What exactly was better in regards to the tone? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members DAFSTRAT Posted December 30, 2008 Members Share Posted December 30, 2008 Maybe a bit darker sounding pickup with the exact same tonal qualities other wise?What exactly was better in regards to the tone? Clearer, more punch and sustain. I found it brighter than the 498. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members fabeon Posted December 30, 2008 Author Members Share Posted December 30, 2008 Clearer, more punch and sustain. I found it brighter than the 498. Hmm. Can you recommend me a pickup that is a bit darker than the 498T but has more punch and sustain? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members ashasha Posted December 30, 2008 Members Share Posted December 30, 2008 I'm the first one to rag on the 498T pickups, but if you like it that's all that matters. I've heard plenty of people get some great tones out of them; I'm just not capable of it. I find them harsh and brittle, but that could be my technique or something. I just don't know if you'll be happier with something else just because someone else liked it better than what you've already got. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members oryan Posted December 30, 2008 Members Share Posted December 30, 2008 Take it from me, I have gone through at least 10 different pickups for my SG and ultimately I went back to the 498T. It's a great sounding pup. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members GibsonQC Posted December 30, 2008 Members Share Posted December 30, 2008 I tried one of these in a Gibson SG and though they sounded great, but I hear a lot of people saying there are better options.What other pickups offer the same voicing/characteristics of the 498T, but better? Which SG did you play? Many have the 490T (as opposed to the 498T) in the bridge and 490R. Also, what guitar is this going into? To my ears, the SD JB (SH-4) sounds dangerously similar and has similar output, though it may be a little "smoother." But, if you're looking for something similar but smoother, you could try the 490T, which I believe is the same pickup but with an AlNiCo II magnet instead of the 498T's AlNiCo V. Also, as I mentioned above, the 490T is often in the SG, and may be the very pickup you heard (and like). I liked the 490T quite a bit, though I no longer have my SG Faded... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members oryan Posted December 30, 2008 Members Share Posted December 30, 2008 Hmm.Can you recommend me a pickup that is a bit darker than the 498T but has more punch and sustain? If you want something darker, then try a ToneZone by Dimarzio. I had one in my SG a few years ago and I found that it sounded really muddy in a all mahagony guitar. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members fabeon Posted December 30, 2008 Author Members Share Posted December 30, 2008 Which SG did you play? Many have the 490T (as opposed to the 498T) in the bridge and 490R. Also, what guitar is this going into? To my ears, the SD JB (SH-4) sounds dangerously similar and has similar output, though it may be a little "smoother." But, if you're looking for something similar but smoother, you could try the 490T, which I believe is the same pickup but with an AlNiCo II magnet instead of the 498T's AlNiCo V. Also, as I mentioned above, the 490T is often in the SG, and may be the very pickup you heard (and like). I liked the 490T quite a bit, though I no longer have my SG Faded... I played the SG Standard. AFAIK, it uses a 498T in the bridge. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Burningleaves Posted December 30, 2008 Members Share Posted December 30, 2008 A lower resistance volume pot can darken things up a lot. Generally the lower the "R" the darker. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members whiteyanderson Posted December 30, 2008 Members Share Posted December 30, 2008 Which SG did you play? Many have the 490T (as opposed to the 498T) in the bridge and 490R. Also, what guitar is this going into? To my ears, the SD JB (SH-4) sounds dangerously similar and has similar output, though it may be a little "smoother." But, if you're looking for something similar but smoother, you could try the 490T, which I believe is the same pickup but with an AlNiCo II magnet instead of the 498T's AlNiCo V. Also, as I mentioned above, the 490T is often in the SG, and may be the very pickup you heard (and like). I liked the 490T quite a bit, though I no longer have my SG Faded... SG standards have the 498t in the bridge and the 490r in the neck. the specials and special fadeds uses a 490 in each slot. i have both and IMHO i prefer the 498 in the bridge much more. but, you (OP) may like the 490 better? it is darker but, i have a darker amp (orange) so it was too dark (and trust me i LOVE dark). the 498 is a perfect balance for me. i'll be swapping the 490 in the bridge on the faded soon to a 498 so i may have one available. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members samuraiBSD Posted December 30, 2008 Members Share Posted December 30, 2008 What's wrong with the 498t? If you like the tone, stick with it! That's why I haven't switched out the pickups in my Epiphone LP...I really just like them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Alecto Posted December 30, 2008 Members Share Posted December 30, 2008 Maybe a bit darker sounding pickup with the exact same tonal qualities other wise? Rio Grande BBQ. That's a fairly dark bridge pickup, but it gets a nice hot-rodded PAF tone. I have one in my Carvin and it gets a nice grind going. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members soundcreation Posted December 30, 2008 Members Share Posted December 30, 2008 Put in a 500T It's like 2 better than the 498T! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members BG76 Posted December 30, 2008 Members Share Posted December 30, 2008 Take it from me, I have gone through at least 10 different pickups for my SG and ultimately I went back to the 498T.It's a great sounding pup. I think I would sell a guitar before I changed pickups 10 times. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members curseoftruth Posted December 30, 2008 Members Share Posted December 30, 2008 SG standards have the 498t in the bridge and the 490r in the neck. the specials and special fadeds uses a 490 in each slot. i have both and IMHO i prefer the 498 in the bridge much more. but, you (OP) may like the 490 better? it is darker but, i have a darker amp (orange) so it was too dark (and trust me i LOVE dark). the 498 is a perfect balance for me. i'll be swapping the 490 in the bridge on the faded soon to a 498 so i may have one available. I really like the 490R but the 498T is a bit thin sounding IMO and in an SG Standard, they bridge is thin sounding, almost getting into Tele territory IMO with out the major twang. If I wanted that tone, I'd get a Tele. The neck, sweet. Depends on what you want tone wise. I just got a set of Duncan 59s for one of my projects after much research. I have a set of SG Standard pickups sitting around the house for a project and considered using those but opted for a more vintage, PAFish tone. I be willing to sell if someone is interested in those SG pups. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Meowy Posted December 30, 2008 Members Share Posted December 30, 2008 Maybe a bit darker sounding pickup with the exact same tonal qualities other wise?What exactly was better in regards to the tone? Swap the A5 magnet in the 498T to an A2. You can just do a straight swap with a 490R if you have one. It will make the 498 less shrill and warm it up. Bass will soften. OTOH the 490R will become punchier / less muddy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members GarysBlues Posted December 30, 2008 Members Share Posted December 30, 2008 I like the 498 just DON'T like it in combination with a 490 neck. I dropped a BB-Pro in my SG neck position and left the 498....GREAT TONE. Did the exact same thing with a 07 Ebony Studio I own. But I agree with the above poster who mentioned the SD-SH-4. Thats a similar pup with a slightly different midrange EQ. But I also agree that f you like the 498 stay with it. Its a Great Rock and Roll and Blues pup. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Norcal_GIT_r Posted December 30, 2008 Members Share Posted December 30, 2008 I make several pickups that could work great for you. I'd checkout my PUFs and BG Darks. Clips and info can be found at www.bg-pups.com/hb.html I also offer a forum member discount. If I can answer any questions feel free to send them my way. Thanks, Bryan Gunsher BG Pups Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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