I do love the 57 Classics....the only draw back is that I already have 25 other guitars with neck humbuckers, I kind of want to try something different, but if I don't this is likely the way I would go, even over a stock 498 replacement
the SPH90-1 has also been recommended.   Perhaps I should check that out, at least see what pricing is like, I wonder if I can find one I can try out before I get it installed....hmmm. 12th fret.  looking in your direction?

I checked out sustainers, and they are out as I have no urge to route out a space for a battery pack.

OK



outside of the fact that for many many years I considered this to be my main instrument and "the best playing guitar I've ever had", my trusty, rusty, dinged up (or "naturally relic'd") 1990 67 RI with it's twice broken neck is truely the definition of a players instrument, and as such I can probably let go of notions of keeping it in all original condition to preserve it's value.  Indeed, when the B tuner died last year, I had a nice set of sealed Gotohs installed.

ever since the change though, I've been playing mostly other guitars (mostly Robots)

I've been keeping this at my rehersal space of late, and I noticed the other day that the bottom coil bobbin of my neck pickup (which admittedly I rarely if ever use) was busted.  I know I didn't do it, so either the plastic disintigrated on it's own, or one of the rapscallions I share my space with busted it. (generally they are good roomates, so I'm going to let this slide, besides I don't know what happened)

at any rate, I figure the exposed coil windings are not good.  I was thinking, sure I could go for a stock replacement part, but to keep things interesting, perhaps I should get a less conventional pickup put in.

maybe a Sustainer?  I'd love to get a P-90, but I don't think it would fit in the routing without having to alter it (which I don't want to do), so perhaps a P-100?

any ideas or suggestions?

true true...
just got excited when I didn't see dots, but you are, of course, correct.

personally I prefer the look of trapezoids overall...that being said...I would never *ever* turn down a V with blocks.
never seen one in person though.  given rarity, I suspect thereis a good chance I may not.

I saw one in the store the other day when I was buying my Robot V, but didn't play it, as it was not on sale like the first generation Robots.  In hindsight I should have tried it out, as I like the 1st gen Robots so much, would have been interesting to try a Darkfire, get a sense of how much faster it really is (I'\ve seen vid, it's pretty impressive), possibly consider the upgrade kit when it comes available.

unfortunately I see 2 issues with the Darkfire itself
1) I've never bonded with a gibson that has a non gloss finish (I've tried a couple of times)
2) $3k is too rich for me.  Even for my Robot LP that I payed early adopter top dollar for I paid $2400 (CDN) was pushing what I'd like to pay.  Obviously the recent sales that dropped prices down to around a grand were too hard to ignore

certainly, I love the first generation Tronical stuff.  Love. It.

+1 on Classic 57.  Great pickup, works well in both positions.
the 500T is about as hot a pickup as you will ever find, but as people say, they can sound harsh if you don`t dial in your tones around them.  I used to have my tones all built around 500T output, and never got what people were talking about, but then spent several years dialing tones around Classic 57`s and 498T`s and then noticed when I went back to the 500T.

the 500T with it`s nearly 16-18k resistance is also going to be affected more by longer cord runs than something like a Classic 57 which is more like half that.