The Gibson T-Top pickup. Extremely overlooked for metal

[team13chad]

Is it just me or does this pickup work fantastic under high gain for lower tunings?

Sure it's low output but even in drop B in a Les Paul it's voiced very well and sounds extremely clear.

Am I nuts or does anyone else agree?

 

[smdb]

I love that pickup, in both positions.

 

[nigelpkay]

I think it’s a great pickup, had it for a short time when I had a 1980 Gibson “The Paul”.
Had the perfect kerrang for 70’s hard rock (I.e. playing Rock Bottom on it sounded just perfect)
I think it’s EQ really sits well, never tried it downtuned. I don’t think it’s as harmonically complex or as thick as say the hotter Duncan JB but it does a lot of things well.

 

[team13chad]

It's just voiced really well to my ears. It's not too "much" of anything.

 

[glip22]

I really like a good PAF or replica for high gain. I use Wizz pickups in my Les Pauls. 15-20 minutes in my wax potter and all great for high gain and volume.

 

[fearhk213]

I've never played an original T-Top, but I've played MCP's take on the T-Top, the T-wreck, and I would agree. It has a great percussive top end with lots of clarity.

I really like a good PAF or replica for high gain. I use Wizz pickups in my Les Pauls. 15-20 minutes in my wax potter and all great for high gain and volume.

Not to highjack the thread, but I'm curious how you find the Wizz stacks up against the OX4 in a high gain metal setting? I remember in previous posts you really liking the OX4 under high gain. I do as well, but I haven't revisited the OX4 in a while. I get recurring gas with Wizz pickups lol.

 

[glip22]

I've never played an original T-Top, but I've played MCP's take on the T-Top, the T-wreck, and I would agree. It has a great percussive top end with lots of clarity.

I really like a good PAF or replica for high gain. I use Wizz pickups in my Les Pauls. 15-20 minutes in my wax potter and all great for high gain and volume.

Not to highjack the thread, but I'm curious how you find the Wizz stacks up against the OX4 in a high gain metal setting? I remember in previous posts you really liking the OX4 under high gain. I do as well, but I haven't revisited the OX4 in a while. I get recurring gas with Wizz pickups lol.

Maybe the OP is cool with expaqnding on the T-Tops as they are in the same family.
I had 4 sets of OX4. High winds, Duannes and standard winds. To be fair they were really good as well. I was able to control squeal with the OX4 and didn't need to pot them from what I can recall. It's been awhile so it's tough to say in all fairness.
Going from my recollection, the OX4 had a softer low end and was darker. I potted my Wizz pickups in paraffin only rather, than a combo of beeswax, which seems to take away some highs. Paraffin by itself takes a very small amount away but took care of all squealing under gain and volume. Without being able to a/b I would say I prefer the Wizz. They have a great compression and zing to them. They are brighter but not in a bad way.

 

[team13chad]

I just like the T Tops because of how much control I have on my amp. To me they are fairly balanced and I'm not finding myself fighting the pickups trying to EQ something out of them I don't like. Plus they are super clear under high gain. I do have to crank my gain a little more than normal but so what.