An Underwound Take on the Lauded '57 Classic
The Gibson Accessories ’57 Classic Underwound humbucking pickup puts the true tone of a legendary Gibson pickup in your guitar. While the standard ’57 classic pickup is a top-class replication of Gibson’s golden-era humbuckers, the truth is that the vintage era’s specs were far less standardized than they are today — pickups were wound by feel, not by any technical measurement. A few extra seconds on the day’s low-tech pickup winders could result in the same model of pickup having a drastically different tone. This underwound take on the ’57 Classic represents one of those pickups that received fewer windings than the rest, resulting in a clearer, more defined sound with enhanced dynamics. Apart from that, the ’57 Classic Underwound is all classic PAF — a humbucker style renowned at Sweetwater for providing full-range richness and sparkling articulation with a completely hum-free operation courtesy of its dual-coil construction and wax-potted design.
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Underwound, but no underdog
Whether you’re talking underwound or overwound, the winding of a pickup refers to the number of times the interior wire has been wrapped around the pickup’s bobbin: the more turns a pickup has, the thicker and higher output the signal will be. So, why would anyone want a pickup with less body and power? The answer is simple: clarity and dynamics. Underwound pickups were the de facto standard during the golden age of guitar building because they deliver a more nuanced, clean tone and boast an exceptionally touch-sensitive feel when cranked into overdrive territory. It all comes down to your personal preferences. Still, any guitarist who values feel, subtlety, and vintage-style tone should consider popping a Gibson Accessories Underwound pickup into their favorite 6-string.
Gibson Accessories ’57 Classic Underwound Guitar Pickup Features:
- An authentic replication of a late ’50s Gibson PAF humbucker pickup, with an underwound design for a more dynamic and nuanced feel
- Can be used on both the bridge and neck position of a guitar — just like the originals
- Exceptionally articulate sound that manages to blend the best elements of single-coil sparkle and humbucker girth
- Vintage-correct construction, including enamel-coated wire, nickel-plated pole pieces and slugs, and Alnico II magnets
- Vintage-correct 2-conductor braided wiring
