T-Top Questions:

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.
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That sounds like it would be a good way to go...
 
SG John said:
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
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I think you are right and I came close to buying a set at one point. A buddy of mine who has incredible tone uses Manlius pickups in all his guitars and they are some of the best-sounding I have run across.

There's a temptation to load every one of my guitars with T-Tops/clones since they are my favorite but I have two that have them, and that seems like enough, just let the other guitars keep their different sounds.
 
gball said:
I think you are right and I came close to buying a set at one point. A buddy of mine who has incredible tone uses Manlius pickups in all his guitars and they are some of the best-sounding I have run across.

There's a temptation to load every one of my guitars with T-Tops/clones since they are my favorite but I have two that have them, and that seems like enough, just let the other guitars keep their different sounds.
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I have several of his pickup variations in different guitars. "Franken-Tele" in my Broadcaster build, "Goat's Growl" in SG Special, "Landmark" and "Fat Diane" PAFs in SG and Les Paul, and a set of his Strat pickups in the blue mongrel. The HesSG builds also had them. They all sound great. I like them in my builds, and then replaced many DiMarzio Super Distortions and mystery pickups with them. Haven't been let down, and the prices are very reasonable compared to Fralin or Lollar, yet the same quality.
 
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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.
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Do you prefer them in Les Pauls or SGs?
 
gball said:
Yes.


In all seriousness, yes I prefer them in both, but they really seem to suit LPs perfectly.
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Thank you for your response.

You mentioned Manlius pickups earlier. Have you actually had a chance to listen to those T-Tops?

Also, which of the clones do you think are the best representation of the Gibson T-Tops?
 
smitty_p said:
Thank you for your response.

You mentioned Manlius pickups earlier. Have you actually had a chance to listen to those T-Tops?

Also, which of the clones do you think are the best representation of the Gibson T-Tops?
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Good question!!!
 
Cadorman said:
I yanked the 496T and 500T out of my LP Classic and sold them to Don O. Maybe you can borrow his if he hasn't installed them in anything yet.
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I haven’t installed them in anything yet, too busy with the basement build out. Robert you’re welcome to try them if ya want.
 
I'm in such a quandary now...with our current lineup, my tone with the schecter and the Jackson is much more midrange and bright, which offsets the darker Gibson's...

But, that 500T might work good in my doubleneck!!!!
 
I recently put a set of Jim Wagner Darkburst pickups in my LP and they are amazing. I don't know much about Gibson pickups, but I know these are the best pickups I've ever had. They are clones of the pickups that were in Duane Allman's Darkburst LP which was a 1958-59 so I assume T-tops?
 
smitty_p said:
Thank you for your response.

You mentioned Manlius pickups earlier. Have you actually had a chance to listen to those T-Tops?

Also, which of the clones do you think are the best representation of the Gibson T-Tops?
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Have not tried the Manlius one. Only familiar with the brand because a good friend has all his guitars loaded with them (not the T-Tops) and they sound great.

I have tried the Jonesy Blues/Brandonwound ones (neck and bridge) and the Throbak (bridge). I think the Brandonwounds sound a bit closer to real ones; the Throbak didn't have as much of the high-end bite, but they were both excellent.
 
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