T-Top Replicas on LPC

[massimo.grossi]

Hi, I would like to change the pickups on my Les Paul Custom, I really don't like the 498T and 490R, I'm looking for a classic sound, many of the pieces I play are U2 covers, and these pickups really don't convince me.
I would like to go back to the T-Tops, I had the Manlius T-Tops on a Les Paul and I liked them, but having to buy the gold colored pickups again, I would like to explore other possibilities.
Do you have anything to recommend?
I'm curious about the Solodallas Solo71 "T-Top" but I haven't found many reviews, do you know them?

 

[Cirrus]

In principle the T-top shouldn't be that hard for a winder to nail - there's nothing mysterious about it.

I would say that my mid-70s pair sounded better to me than the recent Gibson T-types, but there wasn't much in it. My guess is magnet strength wasn't quite the same. No experience with the Solodallas or Manlius stuff.

 

[Jarick]

Dean Deleo from Stone Temple Pilots uses Seymour Duncan Jazz set off the shelf when he needs new pickups because it sounds like T Tops to his ears. His main guitars were late 70s LPs with T Tops.

I bought a set of vintage T Tops to try a few years ago and can confirm there’s nothing super special about them. The Duncan Jazz should work well because they are lower output alnico 5 pickups made like they did in the 70s with that same wire and even wound coils.

 

[AutomationBias]

I bought a set of vintage T Tops to try a few years ago and can confirm there’s nothing super special about them.

Can confirm. I pulled the T-Tops out of my '70 ES-335. There are much better humbuckers out there.

 

[massimo.grossi]

Can confirm. I pulled the T-Tops out of my '70 ES-335. There are much better humbuckers out there.

What pickup did you decide to mount? Are you looking for some particular sound?

 

[AutomationBias]

What pickup did you decide to mount? Are you looking for some particular sound?

I went with the Throbak ESG-102B (PAFs). They're awesome.

 

[Jarick]

Also FYI, Duncan Alnico 2 Pro pickups are the same as Duncan Jazz except with alnico 2 magnets. So if you are the least bit handy, you can swap magnets for about $10. I have a set of Alnico 2 Pro that I just swapped A5 magnets into and they sound very much like you'd expect from T-Tops. Just another option if you find a good deal on a used set like I did.

 

[Eagle]

I went with the Throbak ESG-102B (PAFs). They're awesome.

Big fan of the 101.