The two guitars from late 70's have a bit less bite or brightness. From reading about the T-Top pickups, it's seems that many knowledgeable enthusiasts talk about the post 78 T-Top pickups using Alnico IV magnets. I am not that well versed on the topic of different magnet alloys, but the tone from the last two guitars is a bit less snappy. Great comparison demo.
In a band context, there is no difference to be heard, unless you change to a single coil fender, SG and a LP with the same pups will be 99% indistinguishable from one another. They all sound great, digging your collection of vintage gibbys
100% agree with you - if I go to a gig and a guitarist is using different humbucker guitars I can’t hear any difference when they change. Thanks for checking this one out - that old beat up Melody Maker is probably my favourite guitar that I’ve ever owned.
Think the difference shows better at clean tones... i play jazz on a 70ies SG from Ibanez with a t-top at neck (clean, mostly splitted) and a "dirty finger " at bridge (for overdrive to high gain) Nothing compares. I bought them in the 70ies for 50 deutsch marks each.
Thanks David, really appreciate you checking it out. Yeah, I really like these pickups. I guess the irony is that these were ripped out of loads of guitars when Dimarzio released their after market pickups.
I’ve got a Mahogany 74 sg II that had mini humbucker bridge and neck but a previous owner swapped a 1979 t-top in to the bridge it actually sounds pretty good, obviously the pick guard wouldn’t have fit too since they only made them in that led Paul style pick guard for the sg fitting mini humbucker for those couple of years and it had probably been lost many years ago, so I fit a viynl record, around the same thickness and same shape using original screw holes and hardware
I like that you used a vinyl record, excellent! I love the sound of these guitars - the neck profile on the '72 is really thin at the nut, did that continue into the '74 SG's?
Nice one, Jeff. I really like them. But I guess folks must have been ripping them out of their LP's during the later half of the 70's when Dimarzio started offering more powerful after-market pickups. Probably thousands in drawers all over the world that haven't seen the light of day in decades!
They all sound great...! Now, I'm thinking about picking up a set for my 2012 LP.... I had been wanting to put a set of DiMarzio '59 PAF's in her, but now that I've heard these, I'm having second thoughts. Ever had a chance to hear the DiMarzio '59 PAF's...? How do you think they compare...?
Hi Glen, only DiMarzios I've tried are Super Distortions, I'm afraid - but I love them for higher gain tunes. But I've read very good reviews of their PAF's. I saw a pair of T-Tops the other day for, I think, £500! Unbelievable! I use Tonerider AC2 in a few guitars and I really rate them for the price.
@@DunsysGuitarWorld I got it when I was 19 and washing dish's. I just thought they were all heavy, that it was an LP thing. I never weighed it. Gigged with it for years, always stood up when at rehearsal. I got used to it. Going to be changing pickups back to stock soon, just ordered them. Previous owner put SD's in it. This guitar seems to be the favorite guitar of everybody who plays it. I hung out with this working band from Wisconsin who were headquartered in the Twin Cities and one of the guitarists wanted to trade on the spot for the thing, his vintage white Strat. People really love this guitar, it is the envy of a lot of musicians I've known through the years. As much as the bursts/Murphy Labs have become all the rage, I feel like this one still holds it's own. I can't ever see myself parting with it.
I love those 70's T-Tops, although I remember when I first started playing all the older guys ripping them out of their Les Pauls and celebrating the arrival of the Super Distortion, lol!
I have ttops in a few sgs and a lespaul. Killer pickup Covers off is a tonal difference for sure. Also have tim shaws in 2 of my firebrand sgs They sound the best to my ear in walnut body , mahagony body is a bit brighter . Southern rock to hi gain ozzy stuff they sound killer
I applaud your efforts but this demo is inadequate without clean and crunch tones For example, LED Zep was mostly clean and crunch tones, and that’s where the T-top really shines, where you can actually hear a big difference in the years. I prefer the post Patent era myself...the most open sounding in the early years, very creamy middle position and mids.The one’s that came with the embossed Gibson coverts are also very good. They had a dirty fingers set...in my opinion they didn’t have the dynamic range or the regular models, way too middy and focused. Please do a comparison with the clean sounds.
Wow no wonder one of les Paul's tone sucks compared to other 5 cause t-tops are nasty tone pups! I not many Gibson pups are really good but Wow! But I guess to ear of the beholder but guess that's everyone sounded the same in 70's/80's. But thank u for the demo
![Les Paul Vs SG [Four Awesome Guitars, Four Classic Amps]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/WixK3bzMyS4/mqdefault.jpg)
The two guitars from late 70's have a bit less bite or brightness. From reading about the T-Top pickups, it's seems that many knowledgeable enthusiasts talk about the post 78 T-Top pickups using Alnico IV magnets. I am not that well versed on the topic of different magnet alloys, but the tone from the last two guitars is a bit less snappy. Great comparison demo.
Great comparison! That Melody Maker sure has the bite! Great tone!
Thank ya, yeah I love that old guitar - plays really nice.
In a band context, there is no difference to be heard, unless you change to a single coil fender, SG and a LP with the same pups will be 99% indistinguishable from one another. They all sound great, digging your collection of vintage gibbys
100% agree with you - if I go to a gig and a guitarist is using different humbucker guitars I can’t hear any difference when they change. Thanks for checking this one out - that old beat up Melody Maker is probably my favourite guitar that I’ve ever owned.
Hi there
Do you know if is an upgrade to change my bridge in an sg?
From Nashville to Gotoh ABR with nylon saddles?
I'm semi beginner
Cool. They ALL sounded Southern Rock as hell.
Thanks man, really appreciate it. Getting primed up for hopefully visiting North Carolina again this summer.
Think the difference shows better at clean tones... i play jazz on a 70ies SG from Ibanez with a t-top at neck (clean, mostly splitted) and a "dirty finger " at bridge (for overdrive to high gain) Nothing compares. I bought them in the 70ies for 50 deutsch marks each.
I have t tops in my CME Gibson SG. love the 70’s vibes you got going in the demo.👍
Thanks David, really appreciate you checking it out. Yeah, I really like these pickups. I guess the irony is that these were ripped out of loads of guitars when Dimarzio released their after market pickups.
Its always pleasure to hear you play 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
Thanks man, appreciate it. I love the sound of these old 70's guitars.
No complaints from me ...kicks ass.....have a great week boss ....
You too - stay safe out there.
I’ve got a Mahogany 74 sg II that had mini humbucker bridge and neck but a previous owner swapped a 1979 t-top in to the bridge it actually sounds pretty good, obviously the pick guard wouldn’t have fit too since they only made them in that led Paul style pick guard for the sg fitting mini humbucker for those couple of years and it had probably been lost many years ago, so I fit a viynl record, around the same thickness and same shape using original screw holes and hardware
I like that you used a vinyl record, excellent! I love the sound of these guitars - the neck profile on the '72 is really thin at the nut, did that continue into the '74 SG's?
The 65 and the 79. :)
Not much different to my ears, they all sounded real good, really dig the chord progression!!!
Definitely a hint of Skynyrd in there!
Just grabbed a late 70’s stamped T-top in double cream for my R8 bridge
Nice one, Jeff. I really like them. But I guess folks must have been ripping them out of their LP's during the later half of the 70's when Dimarzio started offering more powerful after-market pickups. Probably thousands in drawers all over the world that haven't seen the light of day in decades!
They all sound great...! Now, I'm thinking about picking up a set for my 2012 LP.... I had been wanting to put a set of DiMarzio '59 PAF's in her, but now that I've heard these, I'm having second thoughts. Ever had a chance to hear the DiMarzio '59 PAF's...? How do you think they compare...?
Hi Glen, only DiMarzios I've tried are Super Distortions, I'm afraid - but I love them for higher gain tunes. But I've read very good reviews of their PAF's. I saw a pair of T-Tops the other day for, I think, £500! Unbelievable! I use Tonerider AC2 in a few guitars and I really rate them for the price.
Add them all together 😉
A MONSTER guitar, literally!
same t-tops same sound excellent video
Cheers Bruno, appreciate you checking it out.
I like the 79' standard quite a bit. I have a 78' Custom.
Nice guitar! How heavy is it? This Standard isn't too bad, but I've had 70's Customs that were seriously weighty guitars.
@@DunsysGuitarWorld I got it when I was 19 and washing dish's. I just thought they were all heavy, that it was an LP thing. I never weighed it. Gigged with it for years, always stood up when at rehearsal. I got used to it. Going to be changing pickups back to stock soon, just ordered them. Previous owner put SD's in it.
This guitar seems to be the favorite guitar of everybody who plays it. I hung out with this working band from Wisconsin who were headquartered in the Twin Cities and one of the guitarists wanted to trade on the spot for the thing, his vintage white Strat. People really love this guitar, it is the envy of a lot of musicians I've known through the years. As much as the bursts/Murphy Labs have become all the rage, I feel like this one still holds it's own. I can't ever see myself parting with it.
Anytime I get to hear a The Paul, I'm in love. Would love to hear some UFO stuff on it, brother.
I might well be doing that soon!
I have Firebrand SG and T Tops sing like no other humbucker man
I love those 70's T-Tops, although I remember when I first started playing all the older guys ripping them out of their Les Pauls and celebrating the arrival of the Super Distortion, lol!
@@DunsysGuitarWorld LMAO, I remember my first cheap Epiphone LP and shoving Super Distortions in them lol, man being 13 was a simpler time
I have ttops in a few sgs and a lespaul. Killer pickup Covers off is a tonal difference for sure. Also have tim shaws in 2 of my firebrand sgs They sound the best to my ear in walnut body , mahagony body is a bit brighter . Southern rock to hi gain ozzy stuff they sound killer
I applaud your efforts but this demo is inadequate without clean and crunch tones For example, LED Zep was mostly clean and crunch tones, and that’s where the T-top really shines, where you can actually hear a big difference in the years. I prefer the post Patent era myself...the most open sounding in the early years, very creamy middle position and mids.The one’s that came with the embossed Gibson coverts are also very good. They had a dirty fingers set...in my opinion they didn’t have the dynamic range or the regular models, way too middy and focused.
Please do a comparison with the clean sounds.
Thanks Frankie, I appreciate you checking it out - yeah, totally right, I will do another video at some point with just the clean tones.
Whats your fvourite to play ? soundwise i prefer the melody maker but i like Rickenbackers so what do i know eh .
The Melody Maker is definitely the best of the bunch playing wise. Might be the best of all the stuff I have. Nae tartan paper on it tho!
Wow no wonder one of les Paul's tone sucks compared to other 5 cause t-tops are nasty tone pups! I not many Gibson pups are really good but Wow! But I guess to ear of the beholder but guess that's everyone sounded the same in 70's/80's. But thank u for the demo
Thanks for checking the video out 👍
Dunsby's this rocks, great stereo image. Love Brad Whitford and Derek St Holmes. rock on dude.
Thanks man - the Whitford St. Holmes album is one of my all time favourites.
The early T-Top has more honk and chime..
They sound fantastic on that old Melody Maker. Probably my favourite guitar to play.
What was your amp setup for this, any dirt boxes?
Just the Joyo Preamp, no pedals.
Covers off!