I have this pup in the neck position of my Gibson Explorer. It sounds amazing for buttery leads and warm clean tones. I recommend this pup to anyone who wants a smooth and creamy lead tone. This pup sounds amazing clean too!! roll back the tone a lil and great jazz tones spill out of your fingers!!!! Get this pickup!!!!

I bought a pair of 496R and 500T pickups to go in a Gibson SG. I was replacing the mild 490's with something hotter. I got hot alright. TOO hot. If you play metal and never need anything clean, you'll be as happy as a fox in a henhouse. I couldn't get them sound anything like they do in a Flying V or Les Paul. Don't put them in a SG; you won't like them

Ive played Gibson guitars for years. I got a Gibson Flying-V a while back and it had these awsome pickups in it. 496R at the neck, and the mighty 500T at the bridge. Three knobs on the guitar, one tone, two volumes. The pots were changed a month after I got it, apparently, some "V"'s and Les Paul's had pots in them that actally robbed tone, and sustain from the pick-ups. I had all the pots changed, and it did wake up the hotter than hell pick-ups up even more! For the "V" I had Gibson chrome covers (wax-dipped)installed, for looks, but it change the sound to something really unique. Incredible! Splurge, buy the 496R, and save up if you got to, and get its raw partner the 500T. You'll never complain about tone, or versatility again.

I put this pickup and a 500T in my ESP/LTD, and it brought everything I could want and more out of my guitar. It has a very sweet creamy low end that just makes you want to cry. And it has an ultra smooth clean sound for those bluesy players. If you want a classy tone, buy this pickup!!! Spendy yes, but well worth it!

I bought an Epi Les Paul becuase I knew that one day I would upgrade it so it would be as good as a Gibson. After 10 minutes of playing with this puppy installed on my guitar, I realized 2 things: 1. There IS a reason to use your rhythm toggle 2. I must have been tone deaf when I first bought this guitar thinking it had such incredible sound. Don't debate the price, becuase it IS worth it to upgrade to this pickup. Just add on the matching 500t, and you will KNOW that you have never made a better purchase on your guitar.