Northern Pickups

After the great success of the PAF® humbucker by Gibson® came the T-Top. Gibson didn't actually call it the T-Top, it was nicknamed that by players, due to the distinct T marking that came from the moulding.

​

The idea was to make a stronger humbucker that wouldn't flare (curve up at the edges) when winding. They were principally made between 1968 and 1980 and have a few variations to the PAF. The first difference is the coil wire coating. Whereas the PAF uses enamel coated wire, the T-Top used nylon coated wire. Nylon wire has a distinct orange tint in comparison to the brownish/purple hue of enamel. Gibson also started by using AlNiCo III magnets originally and then moved to AlNiCo V during the mid to late 70s. The construction is also slightly different whereas the PAF has the hookup wire running underneath the bobbin, the T-Top has the wire straight coming directly out of the underside of the bobbin.

​

The T-Top Clone comes with a nickel baseplate, no cover and cloth hookup wire with metal braided shield as standard

​

Options

Magnet

AlNiCo 3, for the early 70s sound or 5 for late 70s

​

Cover

Choose from no cover or nickel, as standard or upgrade for £12 per cover and choose from:

​

Unplated, cosmo, matt black, gold, distressed nickel, distressed copper, nickel or gold w/no copper underplating.

​

Hookup Wire

Choose from 4-core hookup wire or cloth wire with metal braided shielding

​

All information about options available is on the support page.

​

Note: our bridge pickups are shipped as standard with 52.5mm spacing and neck pickups with 49.2mm spacing. If you require 49.2mm bridge spacing as with most retro models, please be sure to let us know when ordering. 

​

Northern Pickups is not affiliated or connected to the Gibson Brands Inc. These pickups are intended as alternative replacements.