Why doesn't Gibson do made to order pickups?

Far Rider said:
Gibson is already outrageously expensive for everything else.
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This is true, but their standard pickups aren't that bad considering what boutique winders charge. It's not that they don't sell pickups, they do, but you can't order what you want, you have to settle for what ever they have available and most of them are double black with or without covers. It makes sense to me that if they made pickups to order people would rather put Gibson Pickups in their Gibson guitars if they could get the options they wanted rather than being forced to settle or go with another brand.
 
DirtySteve said:
This is true, but their standard pickups aren't that bad considering what boutique winders charge. It's not that they don't sell pickups, they do, but you can't order what you want, you have to settle for what ever they have available and most of them are double black with or without covers. It makes sense to me that if they made pickups to order people would rather put Gibson Pickups in their Gibson guitars if they could get the options they wanted rather than being forced to settle or go with another brand.
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We live in a cruel, cruel world brother.
 
This is my Tribute with the 490s that came in it. These are the only Gibson pickups I've ever liked and I actually I LOVE them. I took the covers off because I hate covers, the double black looks better than the covers, but doesn't look as good as it would with zebras...

PeSGngG.jpg


This is the guitar with reverse zebras in it. It looks sooooo much better this way, but these pickups, and several others I tried, don't sound near as good as the 490s that came in it so I want to keep the 490s, but I want this look.

OYcKwl2.jpg


Is it so much to ask, it's just a simple thing. :run:
 
DirtySteve said:
This is my Tribute with the 490s that came in it. These are the only Gibson pickups I've ever liked and I actually I LOVE them. I took the covers off because I hate covers, the double black looks better than the covers, but doesn't look as good as it would with zebras...

PeSGngG.jpg


This is the guitar with reverse zebras in it. It looks sooooo much better this way, but these pickups, and several others I tried, don't sound near as good as the 490s that came in it so I want to keep the 490s, but I want this look.

OYcKwl2.jpg


Is it so much to ask, it's just a simple thing. :run:
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IMO it looks a ton better with the double-blacks.

Then again, I hate zebras so don't listen to what I say.
 
Well, SD told me today that they don't clone other brands. I was misinformed.

So a funny thing... I was looking for my Dremel today and found a Jim Wagner Darkburst bridge pickup that I forgot I even had, I just have to find the neck pickup because I know I have the set. And they're reverse zebra! It's strange that they aren't both together, but I did pack in a hurry when I moved last year. I'm sure I'll find it and when I do I'm going to give them a try. I do know they sounded great in my Standard, but I wanted a hotter bridge pickup so I removed them. I bet they'll be perfect for this guitar, probably a lot like the 490s (if memory serves) only better.

Edit: oh, DUH!! the neck pickup is still in my Standard. :facepalm:
 
I'm sure you're all just dying to know where I am with this. :ROFLMAO:

I even contacted Gibson directly and they basically told me I'm SOL. So it looks like I'm stuck with either covers or double black. I just can't believe I can't buy what I want.

I did try my JWP Darkburst set and they are awesome pickups no doubt, but they just don't have the mojo these 490s do so they're coming back out.

I ordered some of those bobbin topper stickers the other day, I guess I'll give them a try when they get here next week. Had to order all the way from Ireland to get ones that are made to fit Gibson pickups. If they don't work (or if I don't like them) then I'm just going to learn to love the double black in here because once I put the 490s back in, they aren't coming out again.
 
DirtySteve said:
I even contacted Gibson directly and they basically told me I'm SOL. So it looks like I'm stuck with either covers or double black. I just can't believe I can't buy what I want.
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I don’t expect a major reaction to this, but….I like zebras, and I like Gibson pickups(I have zebra 57/57+, and chrome BB pro).
That said, I have a few sets from this guy….

www.manliusguitar.com

Manlius Guitar Pickups - Syracuse NY

Manlius Guitar Pickups is a custom guitar pickup manufacturer located in Syracuse NY providing the highest quality pickups for a variety of electric guitars!
www.manliusguitar.com www.manliusguitar.com

His T-tops are fantastic. The Vinyl (Hot) version is fantastic too, imho. I have a couple of his Asphalt pickups, paired up with a couple of his humbucker sized P90 pickups…excellent drive from them… Also have a super hot set of his P90 pickups, and a set of Tele pickups that I haven’t used yet. He’s been great to work with, and puts out some great stuff…but…. It seems like he offers his humbuckers in many bobbin color combinations….like this:
1707606236497.png
Note where the slugs are in his version of zebra vs reverse zebra.

I have had a few happy communications with Mick when in shopping mode, and he’s been pretty good with recommendations for my searches.
 
I also own several sets of Manlius pickups. I'm the one who turned Don onto Mick and his pickups. He does a fantastic job, and will make pretty much anything you want. And, at a much more reasonable price than Fralin and many others at the same level of quality.

I have a few PAF style (Landmark and Fat Diane), P-90, Strat, and Tele pickups. All are excellent.
 
DirtySteve said:
I'm sure you're all just dying to know where I am with this. :ROFLMAO:

I even contacted Gibson directly and they basically told me I'm SOL. So it looks like I'm stuck with either covers or double black. I just can't believe I can't buy what I want.

I did try my JWP Darkburst set and they are awesome pickups no doubt, but they just don't have the mojo these 490s do so they're coming back out.

I ordered some of those bobbin topper stickers the other day, I guess I'll give them a try when they get here next week. Had to order all the way from Ireland to get ones that are made to fit Gibson pickups. If they don't work (or if I don't like them) then I'm just going to learn to love the double black in here because once I put the 490s back in, they aren't coming out again.
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Thinking car like can they be Painted or some type coating. Heck they vinyl wrap or dip everything these days lol
 
I appreciate it, but I'm only interested in 490s and from some further research it seems the ones they put in the tributes are special voiced just for the Tributes so even buying any ole 490s they won't be the same.

I'm just going to keep these pickups and love them. I'll try the vinyl stickers when I get them and if they work great, if they don't then I'll just live with them being double black.
 
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