 |
Neck and Bridge
In the neck position, the uncovered 490R uses Alnico II magnets and features pole-piece spacing suitable to the string spread at the neck position. In the bridge position is Gibson’s uncovered Burstbucker Pro pickup, which features an Alnico V magnet that offers slightly higher output and allows preamps to be driven a little harder to achieve a more natural break-up. Like all Burstbuckers, the Burstbucker Pro has asymmetrical coils — true to the original PAFs — which supply a more open sound. The Burstbucker Pro pickups are also wax potted to allow loud volume pressures with minimal feedback. |
| |
Coil Tapping
The bridge and neck pickups can each be split via their own push/pull switch on the volume knob to achieve a single-coil tone. This coil-tapping function allows you to instantly achieve brighter, snappier tones from this humbucker-loaded guitar, to replicate the sounds of other classic guitars equipped with single-coil pickups, and to return to the Les Paul Studio Deluxe ’60s' thick, warm, powerful, full-humbucking tone at the push of a knob. |
| |
Wire Material
The wire used in the neck and bridge pickups is made from enamel coated copper. |
| |
Coil Material
The coil of each pickup is made from ABS plastic, which is hard and durable and can withstand a broad range of temperatures. |
| |
Pole Piece Material
The pole pieces inside each pickup are made of nickel plated steel. |
| |
Pole Piece Position From Nut
In the neck pickup, the pole pieces are positioned 18 5/8” from the nut, while the pole pieces in the bridge pickup are positioned 23 7/16” from the nut. |
| |
Magnet Position From Nut
The Alnico 5 magnet in the 490R is positioned 19” from the nut, while the magnet in the Burstbucker Pro is positioned 23 1/8” from the nut. |
| |
Tonal Characteristics
This combination of pickups gives you the warmth, depth and clarity you’ve come to expect from Gibson’s humbuckers, first introduced in the 1950s. |