Gibson 500T replacement for a 76 Gibson Explorer Reisue made in 1995

[Sancho]

If you keep changing the pickup only to go back to the 500T then I suspect the pickup for your guitar is the 500T.

However it is fun experimenting, albeit expensive.

+1

Sometimes there really isn't a "better" solution, just a different one.

I've thought about swapping the pickups in my Explorers as well. But then I play them, and they sound perfect.
The 500T really shines in an Explorer. But I hated it when I installed one in a Les Paul. Go figure...

[enuenu]

The C-pigs have that awesome doom tone I'm after in the clip on the BKP site. I just wonder if they would lack the bottom end cut I want.

As a longtime C-pig user and enthusiast I can safely say it has PLENTY of Low-end Cut! :p

Thanks a lot. I liked the Miracle Man but I think the C-Pig is just more evil sounding. My only reservation with the C-Pigs is that I've read that maybe in a mahogany guitar like my Explorer combined with a loose rig like my DR,  that they might not eliminate the flub I want gone. You seem to think they are plenty tight in the bottom end though it seems.

[Loomer]

"You seem to think they are plenty tight in the bottom end."

That's what SHE said!

:p

I digress; Yes, it is plenty tight, trust me. However, I dial in a distinctly flub-free sound for the stuff I do. My C-pig is in a Gibson SG-1 through a Randall RH100 and a Marshall 1982 Cab. It can do chug and slamming very, very easily, although that's not entirely what I go for normally. I use different settings for a harsher, more black metal type tone.

[enuenu]

Thanks. The guitar and and rig are obviusly major factors. I think I'm just confusing myself now. When I emailed BKP with my wish list, Ben said MM suits me best. Then the tone of the C-Pig in the modern metal clip on the BKP site really blew me away. (Got to mention that Ben has given me a heap of time and info on my quest, great service and I'm not even a customer yet).

However I have to remember that C-Pig tone was not created with my guitar/rig. I am getting a serious lack of definition at the moment. Power chords are OK but full chords are a mess.

My head is saying listen to the manufacturer and go MM.
My heart is saying go stupid and get C-Pigs.

While reading posts in various foums I've found that in general the MMs don't seem to get the attention that C-pigs, PKs, NBs and AMs do for metal. I wonder why? Are they a bit of a sleeper?

[Madsakre]

follow your heart. Ben does not have the same ears as you do, which is the most important thing. And the Cpig has plenty of definition in chords. it even sounds decent clean.


Bear in mind that all the bkp clips are recorded on a Axe-fx

[enuenu]

Thanks. I want old ladies to start praying when they hear my tone.

[Transcend]

I would personally or the aftermath if you want something that cuts more than both the MM & EMGS.

While they may not cut like an Aftermath, do the MMs have more bottom end doom?

However Dual rectifiers are very flubby amps by nature you could potentially be better off initially getting an overdrive pedal to tighten it up and keep the lows in check.
My vote pickupwise goes to the MM its by far my favourite BKP

Convincing vote for the MM. Backs up what Ben from BKP told me.

get a painkiller, never look back!

Why would you go for the Painkiller over the MM for what I want to do? Just curious

Back to topic: After all I have read I believe you should stay with the 500T.
Cheers Stephan

Sorry for the hijack, but do you think that the MM (or other BKP of similar taste) would out perform the 500T? No point in spending all that $ if they won't do better than the 500T.

The miracle man definitely has more low end and is also more aggresively voiced.

The best way to think about it really is teh Aftermath is surgically precise but rather clean sounding whilst the miracle man is more the bruiser of the pair that has the low end/low mid punch and growl and the high end snarl

[Brow]

I had a 500T in my V and really didn't like it. I put a Riff Raff in and couldn't be happier.

[enuenu]

The miracle man definitely has more low end and is also more aggresively voiced.

The best way to think about it really is teh Aftermath is surgically precise but rather clean sounding whilst the miracle man is more the bruiser of the pair that has the low end/low mid punch and growl and the high end snarl

Thanks a lot. What's your opinion on the C-Pig v MM for my guitar, rig and tone preferences (articulate doom)? C-Pig too flabby in my setup as some say (and others refute)? Not ignoring the advice of others, just gathering a few different opinions.

I had a 500T in my V and really didn't like it. I put a Riff Raff in and couldn't be happier.

I'm sure the Riff Raff is great but probably wouldn't do the metal tones I am after. A vote for BKP nonetheless.

[darkbluemurder]

... do you think that the MM (or other BKP of similar taste) would out perform the 500T?

I think that I would like it better than the 500T but I have never played a 500T. The Gibson pickups I played (Classic 57 and older T tops and PAF replicas) were nothing spectacular though whereas I liked all BKPs I played.

I do like my MM in my alder bodied strat.

I do believe that the MM will outperform the 500T in terms of clarity if that is what you are looking for. The 500T is usually described as a very hot pickup that has a very grinding tone in the midrange. Most of the folks who change from the 500T seek more clarity and/or less output.  But if somebody seeks a super hot pickup with grinding midrange where clarity is not the main focus the 500T may outperform the MM in that regard.

In terms of build quality I am convinced BKP will outperform anything Gibson has put out in decades.

Bottom line is if you like the 500T I don't see much reason to change it.

Cheers Stephan

[ericsabbath]

the 500t is the typical super high output common people like
bassy, middy, trebly, saturated, compressed and has no dynamics at all
I'd say it's somewhere between the dimarzio super distortion and x2n, or between the duncan distortion and duncan invader
no bkp will have kind of mushy sound with harsh highs that some might love

miracle man has cleaner and leaner center and upper midrange, aftermath and painkiller have a lot less bass, cold sweat is much thinner and cleaner, c-bomb is still not as high output and compressed
I can't tell about the c-pig, but the alnico pig is still not as hot as a 500t
all of them are a lot clearer and a lot more sensible to pickup height, woods, guitar construction, amps, boosters and HANDS
but I understand some people might prefer a pickup that does most of the job without having to bother about anything else
I've been there until I met BKPs  8)

[wolfenstein]

Miracle man no doubt man...I´ve had 500T for a while and it´s great pickup...Now I have MM in the same axe and I´m quite happy with tone...As guys say MM it´s clearer,smoother not so harsh but palm mute riffs sound huge and deep....Only thing what you could miss it´s that gibsonish dirty midrange but as bonus you´ll get amazing clarity...

[DoomBuggi]

Close to getting a MM set for my '76 Explorer (2007) too. I find it flubs out a bit through my Dual Recto/412Recto cab. Wanting evil downtuned power chord tones (think Morgoth's Cursed album, I'm old!) that can hold that black tone through sustain. Also want some tightness for fast palm muting.

However opinion on the MM is divided it seems. The amp & guitar obviously have a big impact.

BKP returned my email questions fast and suggested MMs for what I want to achieve.

In some clips of the MM I have listened to I'm not sure if they are evil enough. I want a truly dark sound but I want cut and clarity too. Originally was going to throw good old 81/85 set in as my tech knowledge is fairly limited, but I knew these EMGs can cut through flub.  Mostly a metal rhythm player but also like to shred a little (if you could call it that). I mostly prefer to act as the war hammer  :twisted:

Should i get the MM set?

You may want to try a Maxon OD808 or a Keely TS9+ Mod to tighten up your the low-end.  They boost the mids to give you a cut, but you might want to dial the tone knob back on the pedal a bit.  I have both, recently just adding the Maxxon.  I have to say that I am more impressed with the Maxon, but I haven't given it time to let my ears open to it.

I always preferred the Stiletto cabs as oppose to the Recto-Cabs.  I always found the Recto-Cab to be a bit boomy, or flubby to my ears.  The Stiletto a little smaller in dimension, and has less air space to move, therefore giving a more of a percussive punch if you will.  I do like the Celestion Vintage 30's, and I use these speakers primary in any cab that I have used.
 
Tim seems really experience, and I can say he is very patient.  If he recommends the Miracleman, he is probably dead-on, if you have been very descriptive of your complaints and needs. 

[enuenu]

I have a Maxon OD9+ and just got a noise gate which makes the Maxon a lot more usable. Haven't done a lot of ecperimenting with these yet. I do like to get a good tone without pedals first if possible.

Ben from BKP recommended the MM set. Since getting this advice I've done more research and seen a few more clips  and am agreeing with the MM choice more and more. Still tossing up between MM, C-Bomb and C-Pig. The MM will give that EMG style cut I think I need to brighten up my sound.

[Brow]

I had a 500T in my V and really didn't like it. I put a Riff Raff in and couldn't be happier.

I'm sure the Riff Raff is great but probably wouldn't do the metal tones I am after. A vote for BKP nonetheless.

Probably not, but it's the best I could do as I have next to no experience in the style of music you're playing with the guitar  :D

From my V I wanted something along the lines of Randy Rhoads and Michael Schenker and Tim recommended the Riff Raff and he was pretty much spot on.