Burstbucker 1 and 2

Burstbucker 1 and 2

One of the most accurate paf tones from gibson, the BurstBucker are wound at an uneven rate and amount using some of the inconsistencies that are credited to original Gibson humbuckers from 1957-’62. Available in three output strengths, BurstBuckers are made with unpolished Alnico II magnets and unpotted coils that are wound to slightly different numbers of turns. While using two mismatched coils depletes a humbucking pickup’s noise-canceling abilities slightly, it also gives the pickup a little more edge—a sound that you could even say comes a little closer to single-coil bite—than can be achieved with perfectly balanced coils.

BurstBucker 1 (IM57A-NH) is slightly underwound, with medium ‘vintage’ output, and works well in both bridge and neck positions.

BurstBucker 2 (IM57B-NH) is wound in the range of Gibson’s ’57 Classic, with slightly hotter ‘vintage’ output than the BurstBucker #1, and works well in the bridge position with a BurstBucker #1 in the neck position.

The BurstBucker 1 is slightly under wound to achieve an output toward the lower-medium end of the PAF range, an output that brings it in just slightly below the ’57 Classic. It is intended for either position, but offers added clarity mixed with vowel-like tone in the neck position, with the added bonus of good volume balance when paired with a BurstBucker 2 in the bridge position. The 2 has a slightly hotter output in the range of the ’57 Classic, for more grind and sustain from the bridge position. Or, pair a BurstBucker 2 in the neck with a BurstBucker 3—the hottest of the trio—in the bridge, for a guitar that offers excellent balance and a vintage voice that is still accurate, but biased toward the hotter end of the PAF scale. All are available with gold-plated or German silver nickel-plated covers.

Review

Pros	Cons
1. Provides a beautiful paf/rock n roll tone and sound. 2. Comes in different designs to customize for a specific guitar. 3. Standard humbucker size interchangeable with other standard humbucker slots	1. Does not offer in the most favorable double white or double cream paf pickup styles. 2. Not easily attainable from guitar dealers and most of the time must be bought second hand out of a Gibson Les Paul. 3. Burstbucker 1 and 2 are not sold new with 4 conductor for coil splitting.