Post by antigua on Nov 13, 2023 2:02:24 GMT -5
Gibson recently made and sold 57 Classics, a PAF replica, with two cream bobbins. Since 1979 or so, DiMarzio has had a trademark on that color scheme for PAF replica pickups. In fact they even trademarked the letters "PAF", because they really wanted to make sure nobody mistook their intentions with these trademark applications. For the past forty years they would threaten legal action against pickup makers who made and sold this pickup in the U.S. And then out of nowhere, Gibson started selling this pickup, which they called "Double Classic White". How Gibson has done this without apparent worry of legal action from DiMarzio is anyone's guess. Although as of now this pickup is out of stock on Gibson's website and has been for a few months now, so it might not come back.
I have two sets of double cream Donlis in two guitars, so I bought two of these 57 Classics in order to swap out in one of the two guitars, and get a little more variety between the two guitars.
The marketing copy says www.gibson.com/en-US/Product/57-Classic-Exclusive/PU57DCW2 :
Introduced in 1990, the '57 Classic provides warm, full tone with a balanced response, packing that classic Gibson Patent Applied For humbucker™ crunch. They are made to the same specs as the originals, including Alnico 2 magnets, nickel-plated pole pieces, nickel slugs, maple spacers, and vintage-style, two-conductor braided wiring. The ’57 Classic humbucker features balanced coils for a smoother, creamier tone and excellent hum cancelation. The pickups are also wax potted to remove all internal air space and any chance of microphonic feedback.
Position: Any
Magnet: Alnico 2
Wiring: 2-Conductor
Cover: None
Double Classic White Bobbins
Wax Potted
Average DC Resistance: 8K
Details: Vintage vibes with rich, warm tones and balanced coils.
I measured a 57 Classic a few years ago guitarnuts2.proboards.com/thread/7748/gibson-classic-stock-epiphone-humbucker , the values I measured this time are comparable. I measured the inductance at 1kHz in that old review, so the value there is different, but the DC resistance is right at 8k ohms. It kind of looks like Gibson decided the DC resistance should be 8k and left the other values up to chance.
With an inductance of 4.8H, a loaded resonant peak of 2.6kHz and a DC resistance of 8k, it's more of a bride pickup in typical aftermarket humbucker language, but not such a high inductance that it's not good for the neck also.
The capacitance reads high at 226pF, but that should really be ignored, there's nearly two feet of braded wire hanging off the pickup. The true capacitance is probably around 50pF, like most other PAF clones.
Gibson Double Classic White
- DC Resistance: 8.012K ohms
- Q @1khz: 2.18
- Measured L: 4.819H
- Calculated C: 225.6pF
- Gauss: 350G (AlNiCo 2)
unloaded: dV: 6.6dB f: 4.89kHz (black)
loaded (200k & 470pF): dV: 2.4dB f: 2.58kHz (blue)
I placed a Donlis beside the Gibson to compare the shades of cream, the Donlis has a more true cream shade, similar to the mounting rings you see on a Gibson or Epiphone Les Paul, where as the Gibson 57 Classic's bobbins have a more pinkish shade, but it's still plenty close.
