What are your favorite pickups in a semi-hollow?

[YeRedHouseOverYonder]

Re: What are your favorite pickups in a semi-hollow?

^^ p90/humbucker setups are often ignored or underrated. I fell in love with the middle position looonngg ago. You can dial in a great "chirp" with a vol./tone for each p'up. Still sound good with a master vol/tone. I'm using a p90/humbucker on my jazzcaster. Love it.

Yo, that rig tho! Nice build too. I'm over here drooling haha.

[Nacho8807]

Re: What are your favorite pickups in a semi-hollow?

Great suggestions and sweet guitars guys!

I don't know how I didn't think of Seth's, but those seem like they'd fit perfectly! I'll look into those. I also saw a lot of mentions of set I had already been considering, such as the PG, A2/Slash, and the BB Pro. I even already have a BB Pro set and some extra magnets so I will definitely be experimenting with those, although I think the neck pickup might not work as well as the bridge, based on how I liked them in other guitars.

What instances do you guys reach for your semi-hollows over other guitars? Playing through my songs, I can only find a couple tunes that the tone really suits it. The cool thing is I find myself writing and playing new stuff that does fit it well.

[Lewguitar]

Re: What are your favorite pickups in a semi-hollow?

I'd go with Alnico 2 Seth Lovers or Antiquitys.

335's just look "right" with pickups with covers.

Larry Carlton's famous 335 would have Alnico 5 pickups though.

Sure sounds amazing.

So covered Duncan 59's are worth considering. Would be nice if they were offered with Unoriented Alnico 5.

[leevc5]

Re: What are your favorite pickups in a semi-hollow?

How's the low end in the neck slot? I had a '59N in a Sheraton that was pretty bassy/boomy. I know they don't always do that, but it does happen occasionally. A common solution being an A4 or A3; I made mine into a hybrid with a '59B coil, and that thinned out the tone.

I love that bassy boomy sound. I have Gibson BB King signature strings (10-54s) on it to help get that bassy sound. For me it is exactly what I'm looking for out of the ES-335.

[Nacho8807]

Re: What are your favorite pickups in a semi-hollow?

I love that bassy boomy sound. I have Gibson BB King signature strings (10-54s) on it to help get that bassy sound. For me it is exactly what I'm looking for out of the ES-335.

Wow those are even bigger than what I use for drop C#. Did BB tune down? Or did he just like big meaty strings that fought back?

[Mincer]

Re: What are your favorite pickups in a semi-hollow?

I would only consider the Seths in a Dot. They really sound that good. If it was a strat-sized, or 339-sized smaller semi-hollow, it might be different, but for full 335-sized ones (or 175-sized hollows), the Seths are the ones I'd pick every time.

[dystrust]

Re: What are your favorite pickups in a semi-hollow?

SD 59s in my ES-335.

I have a '59 set in my 335 as well.

How's the low end in the neck slot? I had a '59N in a Sheraton that was pretty bassy/boomy. I know they don't always do that, but it does happen occasionally. A common solution being an A4 or A3; I made mine into a hybrid with a '59B coil, and that thinned out the tone.

The low end was a little boomy right after install, but a pickup height tweak took care of that. Now the '59n has a full low-end paired with a nice chime on top; it also balances great with the '59b.

[blueman335]

Re: What are your favorite pickups in a semi-hollow?

Wow those are even bigger than what I use for drop C#. Did BB tune down? Or did he just like big meaty strings that fought back?

BB King wasn't one for 'big meaty strings that fought back.' He told Billy Gibbons decades ago that he used 8's (a story he recently told on Live at Daryl's House).

[leevc5]

Re: What are your favorite pickups in a semi-hollow?

BB King wasn't one for 'big meaty strings that fought back.' He told Billy Gibbons decades ago that he used 8's (a story he recently told on Live at Daryl's House).

This was his standard set up although at times it is true he did use 8's but still 54s for the bass E
BB King Gibson ES-355 thinline semi Lucille 010 .013 .017p .032w .045w .054w

[blueman335]

Re: What are your favorite pickups in a semi-hollow?

This was his standard set up although at times it is true he did use 8's but still 54s for the bass E
BB King Gibson ES-355 thinline semi Lucille 010 .013 .017p .032w .045w .054w

I don't think Gibson could have gotten away with putting 8's on Lucille's. Most guys that bought them probably prefer 10's.

[superpete]

Re: What are your favorite pickups in a semi-hollow?

I only have one semi hollow, a sheraton with fralin p92s in it, and they sound awesome.

[hamerfan]

Re: What are your favorite pickups in a semi-hollow?

No matter what pickups you use (my fave set are BK Stormy Mondays). Be sure to use the right hardware. Semis have more attack than soilds. If you like are more woody sound, use a heavier tailpiece (brass or zinc not alu) with steel studs. i like nylon or graphite saddles over brass or steel. the creamtone bonamassa bridge seems to be a shot in the right direction.

[Aceman]

Re: What are your favorite pickups in a semi-hollow?

I play the Semi on:

Talk Dirty to Me by Poison
Bathroom Wall by Faster Pussycat
Cold Blood by Kix

Intro for JB rhythm tone
2:20 for Rock Star moves…

[elelpe]

Re: What are your favorite pickups in a semi-hollow?

I settled with A2Pro bridge and Jazz neck in my Dot after using '59 set and A2Pro set.

[Mincer]

Re: What are your favorite pickups in a semi-hollow?

Awesome, let us know how it turns out!