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Started By
Message
Need Some PAF-style Pickups
Posted on 10/31/16 at 11:27 am
Posted on 10/31/16 at 11:27 am
Recommendations?
This is a spinoff from the Epiphone thread. Instead of buying the Epi, I'm going to put the money into better pickups for the semi-hollowbody I already have (a cheap Korean Jay Turser). I've heard some boutique pickups that sound really good (such as the Ron Ellis LRP set) but paying twice as much for a set of pickups than I paid for the guitar seems wrong. My budget is probably in the $250-300 range so that limits me to Seymour Duncan, StewMac, Fralin, and similar.
Can you guys throw some suggestions out for me?
Also, there is no access to the cavity in this guitar other than through the F-holes. So the only way I can see to replace the pickups is to splice into the existing lead. Is there some magic that I'm overlooking here?
This is a spinoff from the Epiphone thread. Instead of buying the Epi, I'm going to put the money into better pickups for the semi-hollowbody I already have (a cheap Korean Jay Turser). I've heard some boutique pickups that sound really good (such as the Ron Ellis LRP set) but paying twice as much for a set of pickups than I paid for the guitar seems wrong. My budget is probably in the $250-300 range so that limits me to Seymour Duncan, StewMac, Fralin, and similar.
Can you guys throw some suggestions out for me?
Also, there is no access to the cavity in this guitar other than through the F-holes. So the only way I can see to replace the pickups is to splice into the existing lead. Is there some magic that I'm overlooking here?
5
Posted on 10/31/16 at 12:21 pm to MountainTiger
quote:
Also, there is no access to the cavity in this guitar other than through the F-holes. So the only way I can see to replace the pickups is to splice into the existing lead. Is there some magic that I'm overlooking here?
Not really, it is possible, but very, very difficult to take the knobs and nuts off of all the controls, input jack, and pickup switch, and pull the whole harness out through the F holes, change the pickup wiring and fish everything back in place, but I would just as you said splice the wires, it will work fine. I had the same issue on a old Harmony semi hollow that need a pickup replacement. I did eventually have to pull the whole harness out to replace the pickup selector switch, had to make several "fishing tools" out of coat hanger wire to get the controls and everything back into their respective holes.
Posted on 10/31/16 at 1:14 pm to MountainTiger
I bought some lightly-used "High Order" boutique PAF style buckers off someone on reverb and dropped em in my Epi Dot. Ended up paying something like half of a new set, and they sound amazing.
As you said, though, dealing with a semi-hollow can be a bear so I got someone else to install.
As you said, though, dealing with a semi-hollow can be a bear so I got someone else to install.
Posted on 10/31/16 at 1:28 pm to EA6B
quote:
Not really, it is possible, but very, very difficult to take the knobs and nuts off of all the controls, input jack, and pickup switch, and pull the whole harness out through the F holes, change the pickup wiring and fish everything back in place, but I would just as you said splice the wires, it will work fine.
When you did that, did you leave the leads on the new pickups full length or did you cut them short? I was thinking about leaving them long in case I want to install them in a different guitar later.
Posted on 10/31/16 at 11:19 pm to MountainTiger
quote:
When you did that, did you leave the leads on the new pickups full length or did you cut them short? I was thinking about leaving them long in case I want to install them in a different guitar later.
I usually leave the leads full length, because as you said I may use them in another guitar later. Just coil the excess up and use a couple of small wire ties to secure it and try to stuff it in the body cavity where it will not rattle around. The extra length will have no effect on the sound, the signal will be traveling a few extra inches before it enters a 15-20 foot cord.
Posted on 11/1/16 at 9:18 am to EA6B
Thanks EA, that's what I figured. After talking to some friends and doing some online research, I ended up going with Seymour Duncans. I got a Seth Lover for the neck and a '59 for the bridge.
Posted on 11/1/16 at 9:43 am to MountainTiger
What style of music are you into? Im assuming if you're playing a semi-hollow and looking for PAF's youre focusing on blues and jazz?
I would check out the Bare Knuckle Mules. Those pickups are awesome! My buddy has them in a Warmoth Strat he built and they just sound so incredible with a ton of dynamic response.
LINK
LINK
I am a fan of Motor City Pickups as well. You can literally call the owner and he will wind what you want. I have a pair of Detroiter's in my Les Paul Standard and they made that guitar come alive. You will have to wait a few months and you will pay for them but they are within your price range.
LINK
I would check out the Bare Knuckle Mules. Those pickups are awesome! My buddy has them in a Warmoth Strat he built and they just sound so incredible with a ton of dynamic response.
LINK
LINK
I am a fan of Motor City Pickups as well. You can literally call the owner and he will wind what you want. I have a pair of Detroiter's in my Les Paul Standard and they made that guitar come alive. You will have to wait a few months and you will pay for them but they are within your price range.
LINK
Posted on 11/1/16 at 9:44 am to MountainTiger
quote:
got a Seth Lover for the neck and a '59 for the bridge.
Well disregard my previous post
As far as SD goes, those two are some of the best they have to offer in the PAF realm. I had a 59 in the neck of another Les Paul and loved it.
Posted on 11/1/16 at 10:22 am to dnm3305
quote:
Well disregard my previous post
That's still good info that I'll file away for later. I ran across the Mules in my research and everybody had good things to say about them. Appreciate your reply.
As for what sound I'm going for, I guess mostly a classic rock tone even though a hollow body isn't your prototypical classic rock axe.
This post was edited on 11/1/16 at 10:23 am
Posted on 11/1/16 at 11:11 am to MountainTiger
For affordable and readily available PAF-like units worth consideration, Dimarzio believe it or not has come out with some nice vintage output PAF replacements in recent years. Check out some of the online videos for the PAF Master series and especially the 36th Anniversary PAFs. Both are available as four-conductors, which is a nice bonus.
And for fishing the components harness back into a semi-hollow via the F-holes, I use aquarium tubing.
And for fishing the components harness back into a semi-hollow via the F-holes, I use aquarium tubing.
Posted on 11/1/16 at 11:48 am to TheFretShack
quote:
For affordable and readily available PAF-like units worth consideration, Dimarzio believe it or not has come out with some nice vintage output PAF replacements in recent years. Check out some of the online videos for the PAF Master series and especially the 36th Anniversary PAFs. Both are available as four-conductors, which is a nice bonus.
I ran across these also and thought they sounded pretty good. I wasn't planning to do a split coil because it would require me to replace the pots with switching pots and to rewire the components harness.
quote:
And for fishing the components harness back into a semi-hollow via the F-holes, I use aquarium tubing.
How does this work exactly? (in case I get ambitious one day)
Posted on 11/1/16 at 12:03 pm to MountainTiger
You can get a bundle of aquarium tubing (more than you will ever use or need for a F-hole harness job) in the pets section at Wal-Mart for around $5.
The tubing's diameter (more specifically, it's ability to both fit through the guitar's holes and "hold" the components) and the tubing's flexibility is perfect for the job. Best tool for the task I've ever used, hands down.
To get an idea of how that tubing comes into play, here's Part II of a four-part video on how to install an RS Guitarworks harness in a 335. Watch all four videos - you're sure to pick up a few extra tips going into the job.
LINK
The tubing's diameter (more specifically, it's ability to both fit through the guitar's holes and "hold" the components) and the tubing's flexibility is perfect for the job. Best tool for the task I've ever used, hands down.
To get an idea of how that tubing comes into play, here's Part II of a four-part video on how to install an RS Guitarworks harness in a 335. Watch all four videos - you're sure to pick up a few extra tips going into the job.
LINK
Posted on 11/1/16 at 6:45 pm to TheFretShack
quote:
To get an idea of how that tubing comes into play, here's Part II of a four-part video on how to install an RS Guitarworks harness in a 335. Watch all four videos - you're sure to pick up a few extra tips going into the job.
Great information about the aquarium tubing, never thought of that. Back when I was changing pickups on a hollow body the "internet" was not even a word you could find in dictionary.
Posted on 11/2/16 at 9:20 am to EA6B
Agreed. I haven't watched all of those videos yet but I will. One difference between that guitar and mine is that from the pickup routs he has access into the cavity where the harness is. Mine isn't like that. There's a solid block of wood where the pickups are with just a hole drilled through it for the leads.
Posted on 11/2/16 at 10:01 am to TheFretShack
I got the Dimarzio 36th anniversary PAF pickups on strong recommendation and I absolutely hate them. Luckily they are in my third favorite (of three) dual humbucker guitar which used to have SD JBs in it. So I went from seldom playing it to never playing it. Maybe it's a bad tone combo for this particular guitar, I don't know. But it sounds awful. Fuzzy and garbagey. I'm going back to Duncans in that one as soon as I summon up enough giveashit to do something about it.
Posted on 11/2/16 at 11:06 am to RockAndRollDetective
quote:
I got the Dimarzio 36th anniversary PAF pickups on strong recommendation and I absolutely hate them.
Opinions on the Dimarzio PAFs seem to be quite polarizing - folks love them or hate them, mostly.
quote:
I'm going back to Duncans in that one as soon as I summon up enough giveashit to do something about it.
Probably the right answer if you don't like/can't afford Gibson (although some SDs are getting into Gibson territory, price-wise).
Posted on 11/2/16 at 11:40 am to Ace Midnight
quote:
Probably the right answer if you don't like/can't afford Gibson (although some SDs are getting into Gibson territory, price-wise).
I've changed all of my Gibson pickups out. I've had 3 Les Pauls, two with 490R/498T set (these are terrible IMO, soooooo muddy) and my Standard came with Burstbuckers which weren't terrible but had zero bottom end for my taste. I put SD 59Neck/SDcustom in one Les Paul, a set of Motor City Detroiters in my Standard (incredible), and I'm about to order a set of Bare Knuckle Nailbombs for a Studio that also has 490R/498T in it. I can't believe Gibson puts that set in a $4k+ Les Paul Custom.
In Gibson's defense, the Classic 57/57+ sound great. My buddy has an SG Supreme with those and they rock! Awesome mid range growl. I've played an SG with some Dirty Fingers as well that I thought were pretty good.
Posted on 11/2/16 at 1:18 pm to dnm3305
quote:
I've changed all of my Gibson pickups out.
You aren't the only one. Fender and Gibson, almost by themselves, keep the aftermarket pup guys in business. Fantastic guitars, overall, but for a lot of folks "Meh" pickups.
I mean, stock Ibanez pickups aren't anything to write home about, but you have a lot more in the budget for SDs (just to stay consistent) when you spend less at Guitar Center. Know what I mean?
For the record, my stock pickups on my American Deluxe Strat (I know, subtle brag
) are fine, but I've never really pushed them. I'm more of a collector than a player. Posted on 11/2/16 at 4:04 pm to Ace Midnight
Fenders seem to be pretty hit or miss. One that I really like is the Custom Shop '69. I have one in my pseudo Black Strat in the middle position and I love the bluesy tone. The other two in that one are SD SSL-1 and SSL-5 which produce a nice Gilmour-ish sound, especially if I use them both at the same time.
On the other hand, my other Strat has Texas Specials and they're a little too brittle for my taste. One day I'm going to yank them out and put something else in there. Maybe I'll just drop 3 CS '69s in there.
On the other hand, my other Strat has Texas Specials and they're a little too brittle for my taste. One day I'm going to yank them out and put something else in there. Maybe I'll just drop 3 CS '69s in there.
Posted on 11/2/16 at 5:19 pm to Ace Midnight
quote:
I'm more of a collector than a player.
same here. Just started collecting. don't know how to play a damn thing.
i do like the '57 Gibson PAFs in my Epiphone Les Paul.
but some days I prefer the noiseless Pups in my American Standard Strat.
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