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Topic: Pick-up recommendations please |
Bill Bassett
From:
Papamoa New Zealand
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Posted 19 Sep 2014 11:22 pm |
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I have an old Moonstone electric guitar that I received as a gift earlier this year. Model M-80. It is similar to a Gibson 335 but it has an actual carved maple top. It has a solid block running the length of the body like the 335. Original pickups are Bartolin which I understand are fine pickups but I'm not crazy about them. A little dull sounding to my ear. Perhaps great for others but not my taste.
I'd like to replace with something more like the old 335 I used to have in the 70s. With hundreds of modern manufactures all claiming to reproduce the classic vintage characteristic, I'm a little confused. Just basic humbuckers with a little bite, that's all I'm after. Oh, I'll be replacing the pots and caps too. Maybe I should do that first and try the Bartolinis again.
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Chris Reesor
From:
British Columbia, Canada
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Posted 20 Sep 2014 4:47 am Pretty guitar, that.
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Any chance of posting a pic of the headstock?
About the pickup issue, I wouldn't be looking forward to swapping out the electronics in that type of guitar unless I had lots of time on my hands, but I'd be inclined to try a Seymour Duncan '59 in there. They have sounded pretty good in the guitars I've put them in. Not too heavily wound; decent highs for a 'bucker.
BTW, what does the mini toggle do? Coil cut?
Good luck with your search.
Chris
_________________
Excel Superb U12, MIJ Squier tele, modified Deluxe Reverb RI, Cube 80XL, self built acoustics & mandolins |
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Bill Bassett
From:
Papamoa New Zealand
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Posted 20 Sep 2014 5:58 am Headstock
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Howdy, the mini toggle is a phase/out of phase switch. Popular in 81 when she was built I guess. It serves to cut the gain in half and make her sound a little quacky.
Actually the F hold is pretty wide and the controls slip right out without a lot of trouble.
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Craig Baker
From:
Eatonton, Georgia, USA - R.I.P.
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Posted 20 Sep 2014 8:31 am
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Bill,
Beautiful guitar! I bet there's a ton of tone there. Have you considered using a buffer? My first recommendation is always a good buffer immediately following the pickup, as close to the guitar as possible. A Freeloader, Matchbox, Izzy or possibly an MXR can sometimes work wonders to let your guitar's overtones be heard. (perhaps for the first time.)
Craig
_________________
"Make America Great Again". . . The Only Country With Dream After Its Name. |
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John Billings
From:
Ohio, USA
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Bob Carlucci
From:
Candor, New York, USA
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Posted 21 Sep 2014 3:53 am
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Lollar, Lindy Fralin, or perhaps Duncan Antiquity.. There are dozens of other great pickups available, but any of these 3 brands will get you the authentic vintage humbucker sound.
_________________
I'm over the hill and hittin'rocks on the way down!
no gear list for me.. you don't have the time...... |
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Bill Bassett
From:
Papamoa New Zealand
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Posted 21 Sep 2014 2:22 pm Thanks all.
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Good recommendations all. Lollars are a little pricey but I have heard such good recommendations that I will probably save up and invest wisely.
B |
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John Billings
From:
Ohio, USA
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Posted 21 Sep 2014 2:39 pm
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Good thinking' Bill! Jason's Imperial Humbuckers are considered to be "First in Class." And the one I linked to you seems to be designed for exactly what you are looking for. The three set Bardens for my Zion Tele are about $450!.
On Monday, the tech should be back online. If he's not sure about something, he just asks Jason. Jason has done three for me, one his stock Chicago Style for Strat, but two were for my '50s National arch tops, and he did a stunning job on very hard to work on pickups! Obviously, I highly recommend him! And with his experience, he will know exactly which pup you need. |
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Dave Mudgett
From:
Central Pennsylvania and Gallatin, Tennessee
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Posted 21 Sep 2014 6:20 pm
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That's a nice guitar. I personally like those Bartolini pickups for jazz - but they're a bit clean if you want the standard bite of an old-school Gibson humbucker.
Lollars a great, you'll get no argument from me. On the other hand, I've played a bunch of repro type humbuckers (including some Lollars), and my personal favorite in most guitars like this - let's say a 335 type or Les Paul type guitar - is a Fralin wound as close as possible to old Gibson 50s humbucker specs - no overwound stuff. IMO, when they get overwound, it chokes all the life out of them when played clean.
I would also not overlook Gibson Classic 57 pickups - I have or have had a few Gibsons that came with them stock (e.g., 335, Johnny A, Howard Roberts Fusion) and they really do sound excellent to me - I haven't really even thought about replacing them. If it ain't broke ...
I think it's kind of hard to make absolute pronouncements about pickups. So much depends on matching pickups with guitar. I've had guitars with pickups that just didn't seem to work with it, and I'll replace them with something from another guitar that didn't work with that one, and it can be magic. Or not. There are so many variables. |
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Godfrey Arthur
From:
3rd Rock
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Posted 21 Sep 2014 9:16 pm
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The thing about pickups is it takes experiment to match the pickup to the guitar. Just getting a pickup, no matter who makes it, and expecting to bring your guitar to where your ears are happy is serendipity in the least. It's like trying to record a vocal. Sometimes it's not the most expensive mic that sails.
And then if you xhange caps and pots, you are adding to the matrix of pea-in-a-shell game gymnastics.
You may want to take things a step at a time so you can reference your progress otherwise you may not know what worked and why or end up enhancing some overtones in the guitar itself that is not pleasing.
Since the guitar was originally voiced with Barts, unlike Moonstone's latest offerings of Duncans, I like Dave would give Barts a try like their bucker 1C (if that's not already in your guitar) leaning more to a single coil tone if you're wanting something brighter.
http://www.bartolini.net/product/1c/
I have a 70's Gibson 335, the previous owner put (back in the '70's) '70's era Dimarzio Super Distortions in there, the white/cream variety with the allen-head screw pole pieces.
Took those Marzios out moved them to a Japan heavy Fender Strat and put a set of used Gibson generic buckers in the 335 to bring it back to concours.
Depends on what sound you are going for. Carlton? Lifeson? Van Halen?
And then every guitar is different as is the player.
Sure is a pretty Moonstone.
We're all on the hunt for the Grail.
_________________
ShoBud The Pro 1
YES it's my REAL NAME!
Ezekiel 33:7 |
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Bill Bassett
From:
Papamoa New Zealand
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Posted 21 Sep 2014 11:01 pm
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Such great and detailed comments.
I am replacing the wiring because it's the one disappointment I've had. One pot began to crackle then cut out altogether. When I dismantaled it to replace the bad one it was obvious the whole she bang was lousy. Solder joints look like they were done by an 8th grader in shop class for the first time. I figure I'll just do it right and start over with good parts and skillful work. |
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