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Inspector #20

Inspector #20

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A musical chum has a Gibson T-Top. I was shocked to see such low ohms readings, all the way down to 7.5k. Are these characteristically this low???

Thoughts???
 
Robert Herndon said:
Right...I've heard that about them...I'm barely hitting hard enough at 14k, so less concerns me...
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The DC resistance rating of a pickup is all but meaningless. Purely the BS of marketing departments, but it became such a "thing" for people comparing pickups that even the small winders got sucked into using it as some kind of metric. All it really tells you about is what the resistance in the wire is, nothing about the magnet(s), nothing about the gauge of the wire, nothing about the actual inductance of the pickup - which is what matters the most.
 
gball said:
The DC resistance rating of a pickup is all but meaningless. Purely the BS of marketing departments, but it became such a "thing" for people comparing pickups that even the small winders got sucked into using it as some kind of metric. All it really tells you about is what the resistance in the wire is, nothing about the magnet(s), nothing about the gauge of the wire, nothing about the actual inductance of the pickup - which is what matters the most.
Click to expand...

I'm wondering if it would give me more gain than my 489T/Epiphone HOTH8B in the guitar at present???
 
Robert Herndon said:
A musical chum has a Gibson T-Top. I was shocked to see such low ohms readings, all the way down to 7.5k. Are these characteristically this low???

Thoughts???
Click to expand...

From what I've read that's normal. The 69' SG you played at my shop has T-Tops, otherwise known as Patent Number in their early production.
 
Robert Herndon said:
I'm wondering if it would give me more gain than my 489T/Epiphone HOTH8B in the guitar at present???
Click to expand...

Definitely worth a try. Consider that pretty much all the hard rock and metal you listened to as a kid was either a T-Top or a Super Distortion, so you have a pretty good chance of hitting a home run with it. They can be very aggressive sounding but clean up beautifully when you roll back the volume. My favorite pickup ever.
 
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Yep, fairly light wind with short A5s. Bright but never harsh, that's their greatest magic. I love T-tops, especially in neck position.
But I used one at the bridge on a FrankenStrat for years. Given plenty of gain, that thing absolutely screamed.
Still have that pickup. I should repurpose it - too nice to be gathering dust.

As for level relative to a 498T, it likely will have a bit less output but more air & sparkle.
And far better clarity, especially when you back off on the volume knob.
 
Robert Herndon said:
I'm wondering if it would give me more gain than my 489T/Epiphone HOTH8B in the guitar at present???
Click to expand...
Does it have 500K pots? You might get a little more out of it w/ a 1 meg pot.
Is the PU raised as close to the strings?
There "is" a way to tweak the magnet I think....
but it's going to reach a point where it squeals from feedback.

In the never ending quest to boost sensitivity, the boost might be done inside the amp instead.
The PU can only be "so" hot before it becomes microphonic.
 
eclecticsynergy said:
As for level relative to a 498T, it likely will have a bit less output but more air & sparkle.
And far better clarity, especially when you back off on the volume knob.
Click to expand...

Good point.. I've never used any pickup that remained as clear and detailed with gain. One of my big wishes is that Gibson would find the formula to the secret sauce somewhere in the vault and start making real, exact duplicates of T-Tops again. Obviously there are a few winders out there doing their take on them, but there is something special about the real things that seems lacking, at least in the couple I have tried.
 
gball said:
Good point.. I've never used any pickup that remained as clear and detailed with gain. One of my big wishes is that Gibson would find the formula to the secret sauce somewhere in the vault and start making real, exact duplicates of T-Tops again. Obviously there are a few winders out there doing their take on them, but there is something special about the real things that seems lacking, at least in the couple I have tried.
Click to expand...


I haven't tried Mick's take on the T-Top. If they're anything like his other pickups, they are probably quite good.

T-Top Replica
 
Amp Mad Scientist said:
Does it have 500K pots? You might get a little more out of it w/ a 1 meg pot.
Is the PU raised as close to the strings?
There "is" a way to tweak the magnet I think....
but it's going to reach a point where it squeals from feedback.

In the never ending quest to boost sensitivity, the boost might be done inside the amp instead.
The PU can only be "so" hot before it becomes microphonic.
Click to expand...

Pot's are 550k. Pickups on all my guitars are 4/32" from the strings.

I'm thinking 500T maybe....:-)

 
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