Gibson T-tops - $999

The escalating prices are what have me interested in trying these:

TTop.jpg


https://brandonwoundpickups.com/product/ttop-humbuckers/
 
Gahr said:
I'm pleading ignorance here, so forgive my stupid question, but what is special about the T-Tops?
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As with all things Gibson, the opinions are all over the place. But, from what I have read, the main differences between PAF/Patent Number pickups and the T-Tops are the wire that was used and the winding patterns. The PAF/Patent Number pickups are said to have used 42 gauge plain enamel coated wire. T-Tops used 42 gauge polyurethane coated wire.

The PAF/Patent Number pickups were hand-wound, and the winding patterns and the number of winds was quite variable. Around 1965 Gibson started using a automated coil winding machine, and both the winding patterns and the number of winds became more consistent, with an ohms value of around 7.5 ohms.

T-Tops always had Alnico V magnets, while the PAF/Patent Number pickups used Alnico II, II or V magnets at various times. After 1961 these pickups almost always used Alnico V magnets, or so I have read.

A second version of the T-tops showed up in 1975 when Gibson started stamping the steel base plates with the patent number. These second generation T-Tops were made until 1980 when Gibson started making the Shaw pickups, which were an attempt to get back to the tone of the original PAF's.

Gball can add to and/or correct this...
 
That's pretty well it Robert. T tops have 2.375" long (short) A5 magnet. Vineham pickups also produce stock wind T tops (60/70 Classic) single or as a pair, & a pair with a stock neck & a slightly overwound bridge (60/70). I have one of these overwound bridge pickups & also an overwound one by another winder. They sound pretty much identical when I have tried them both in the same guitars. This "other" winder told me they are an easy pickup to replicate due to the consistency of the original T tops, unlike PAF's which were anything but consistent. Cheers
 
On my Von Herndon double neck project, I'm using a Thro-Bak T-top SLE-101 clone on the 6 string neck and Thro-Bak PAF clones on the 12 string neck.

I learned about Thro-Bak from my tone guru friend Fil Oliveri. After he was permitted to examine some of Angus Young's guitars, he had Thro-Bak produce exact replicas for him.

Their replication abilities are phenomenal in every respect....
 
ivan H said:
That's pretty well it Robert. T tops have 2.375" long (short) A5 magnet. Vineham pickups also produce stock wind T tops (60/70 Classic) single or as a pair, & a pair with a stock neck & a slightly overwound bridge (60/70). I have one of these overwound bridge pickups & also an overwound one by another winder. They sound pretty much identical when I have tried them both in the same guitars. This "other" winder told me they are an easy pickup to replicate due to the consistency of the original T tops, unlike PAF's which were anything but consistent. Cheers
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One question I have never had answered - were T-Tops ever wax potted????
 
Robert Herndon said:
One question I have never had answered - were T-Tops ever wax potted????
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Good question, I honestly don't know. But between the pickups and the farraday shield on the 70's LP electronics they are the most dead-quiet and squeal-free pickups I have ever used.

Gahr, I couldn't tell you where the mojo comes from, but original T-Tops are really special. They are very smooth sounding, and have more complex harmonics than anything else I have ever played. They sound both dark and thick for rhythm work but then have bite and high end intensity for soloing, all without even fiddling with the knobs. They are, to me, the best pickup ever made for heavy music.

I really think Gibson screwed up when they changed the formula trying to replicate the 1950's. They had the essence of late '60's-to-late-'70's sound right there and the mucked it up because of the stupid "vintage" nonsense. Anyway, as Robert mentioned, they'd gone over to standardized machine-winding for consistency and so they molded the little "T's" into the top of the bobbins so the workers would know which way to orient them during assembly to keep everything correct and eliminate the inconsistencies that made the earlier pickups so hit and miss (I have played 50's guitars with truly terrible pickups, dispelling the myth of PAF superiority).
 
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ivan H said:
That's pretty well it Robert. T tops have 2.375" long (short) A5 magnet. Vineham pickups also produce stock wind T tops (60/70 Classic) single or as a pair, & a pair with a stock neck & a slightly overwound bridge (60/70). I have one of these overwound bridge pickups & also an overwound one by another winder. They sound pretty much identical when I have tried them both in the same guitars. This "other" winder told me they are an easy pickup to replicate due to the consistency of the original T tops, unlike PAF's which were anything but consistent. Cheers
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You are really making me want to try a set of the clones in my LP Traditional. It's got '57's in it, which I like a lot, but I find to be a little bright.
 
Robert Herndon said:
On my Von Herndon double neck project, I'm using a Thro-Bak T-top SLE-101 clone on the 6 string neck and Thro-Bak PAF clones on the 12 string neck.

I learned about Thro-Bak from my tone guru friend Fil Oliveri. After he was permitted to examine some of Angus Young's guitars, he had Thro-Bak produce exact replicas for him.

Their replication abilities are phenomenal in every respect....
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I have a set of Throbak PG-102s (Peter Green PAF clones) on my Derek Trucks SG. I love them. Their prices are really high, but they make some very nice pickups for sure.
 
gball said:
You are really making me want to try a set of the clones in my LP Traditional. It's got '57's in it, which I like a lot, but I find to be a little bright.
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gball said:
You are really making me want to try a set of the clones in my LP Traditional. It's got '57's in it, which I like a lot, but I find to be a little bright.
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My Traditional (great guitars) came with the 57/57+, my SG with BB1 & 2, though I preferred the 57s in the SG & BB's in the LP, until I tried a T top type. They quickly became my favorite pickup. I agree with you on Gibson screwing up by chasing the vintage "PAF" nonsense. FWIW, a 490r is the same "wind" as a T top, just wrong magnet. I first heard of the Vineham pickups on a Les Paul forum where they have a following. Checking their site I saw the price (in Canadian $) & thought for that small chunk of change I'll try them. Really glad I did. Cheers
Edit; not sure how I doubled up the quote, must need another coffee to wake up. Cheers
 
The 57+is the bright one. The regular 57 in the neck and the two regulars in my SG are fantastic, but I always have to roll the vol/tone back on the plus, it's just a tiny touch too bright and too hot.
 
gball said:
The 57+is the bright one. The regular 57 in the neck and the two regulars in my SG are fantastic, but I always have to roll the vol/tone back on the plus, it's just a tiny touch too bright and too hot.
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Thro-Bak has told me "don't worry" about their unpotted pickups causing problems...
 
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